SECRET (UNDER EDITING)

Chapter 5

HAZEL

I lurch forwards as a violent force crashes behind from the vehicle. I hear a scream escape my mouth as the car swerves, hitting the side of another car. Navir curses, looking in the rear-view mirror before slamming a fist against the door.

"Shit! We're being followed."

Fern whimpers beside me and I reach out to hold her. Another violent crash from the left side sends us spinning, the car vehicle struggling to regain control. I feel pieces of glass fall onto my hair and I cover my face from being cut from the jagged shards.

"Get down!"

We waste no time in obeying Seraphine's command. My shaking hands find Fern's, and I briefly look up to see Navir undo his seatbelt. He smashes the window, his one hand still on the wheel. Seraphine slides over, taking over just as her partner leaps out, his body twisting gracefully before a thud over our heads confirm his landing. Seraphine glances over to our hunched bodies, the feeling of fear returning to me in full force.

"Hold on, things are going to get a little rough."

The car violently swerves again, making me hit the side of the passenger door. I can already feel the bruise beginning to form on my hip.

"Shit!"

The sound of the back-window smashing sends glass tumbling down. From above I hear a grunt and see flashes of white that momentarily light up the car. More thuds drum the car roof, causing us all to glance up in fright.

From the corner of my eye, I see Ivy looking at me with wide eyes. I turn my head, mouthing what? to the curious expression that forms on her face. She glances behind at the pursuing vehicle and up at the car roof before looking between me and Fern.

"We've got to help him!"

"No, you most certainly won't!" Seraphine cuts in, making another jolting swerve to avoid another collision.

Ivy shakes her head, reaching out to steady herself against the passenger door.

"Watch me."

Ignoring all our protests, she unfastens her seatbelt and turns to face the back, propping herself on her knees as she does so. The cold air blows her dark hair, revealing narrowed and focused eyes. She brushes off the shards of glass that have fallen on the back seat, fixing her gaze on the black SUV behind us.

"Ivy what the heck are you doing?" Fern yells.

Ignoring her, Ivy lifts a steady palm and directs it to her target. With a face of concentration, I briefly see a flicker of a smile before a stream of fire erupts from her open palm and encapsulates the black vehicle. I look in shock and amazement at the consuming flames which appear fiercely bright among the dark. Me and Fern slowly sit up, our eyes glued to the scene behind us.

A white glowing ball suddenly hits the vehicle, causing a loud bang which sends the heap of metal flying to the side. I gasp in amazement, watching as it continues to burn in flames at the side of the road. The scene soon fades away as Seraphine accelerates, and we all slowly turn to sit in a stunned silence.

Navir gracefully enters through the smashed window feet first and lands in his seat just as Seraphine glides back over. Rolling back his shoulders, he takes the wheel and checks the rear-view mirror for anymore following vehicles. Satisfied, he concentrates his gaze ahead.

Silence fills the atmosphere once again. I sit there, brewing in a state of the need to ask burning questions and in shock from what had just taken place.

"Don't do that again." Navir eventually says, his plain tone cutting through the silence.

Ivy scoffs and leans back in her seat in bemusement.