Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 897

"Sorry, we haven't found anything yet. If there was anyone in that car, they're gone."

Clara's hand dropped to her side. She'd bitten her lip so hard it was almost bleeding.

She'd been standing by the river since sunset, waiting, watching, barely moving as the sky turned from deep blue to pitch black. The search teams kept working, dragging the water with their big nets and floodlights.

Finally, they pulled the car out. It was empty. Not a single clue inside. An expert came over to explain-because of the recent flooding, the current was strong enough to sweep away anything, even bodies.

The river was wide and fast, especially with the tide rising. People always gathered here to watch, but tonight, the crowd was bigger. Everyone wanted to see for themselves.

With the tide so high, there was no way anyone could have survived. If anyone had been in that car, they were gone.

Clara stared at the empty metal shell, her eyes burning, rimmed red.

Someone in the crowd recognized Dylan's name and started whispering. The news had already reported that Dylan was missing-maybe dead. Social media was a mess, everyone speculating, sharing theories.

Ryan finally found her by the water, after pushing through a wall of people.

"Clara, it's already midnight. Let's go home, okay?"

Her mind was buzzing. She barely heard him. All she could do was stare at the river, blank and numb.

Ryan tried again, gentler this time. "They haven't found a body. That's something. There's still hope. Let's get you home."

to him, her voice flat but stubborn.

just disappeared. He was

it together. Even if the car hadn't gone into the river, even a small

She managed a few steps

"Clara!"

ground, panic in

herself up, wincing. She looked out the window,

Let's just get

pressed her hand to her forehead, throat raw. “I said I'm fine. Just

had to be a nightmare, she thought. She'd wake up and everything would

shaky breath, just relieved

got home, Clara didn't

her room didn't bother showering, She just collapsed on her bed putting

a nightmare. She'd wake up and everything would

asleep and didn't wake up for two whole

checking on her, quietly opening her door to make sure she was still breathing, terrified shred do Something drastic But she was only sleeping.

worried. She couldn't go

"Clara."

ceiling she'd seen a thousand times

sounded desperate. "You've been asleep for two days.

look at the food-she

news.