1 The Cursed Day - I
Three Months Ago
"Dear Diary,
"I think something wrong is going to happen."
Rain quickly scratched that out. *Why would I write it?* She pondered. It was going to be an amazing day. Today was the start of her three months of summer vacation. The day she had been waiting for really long. After the barely manageable final terms, it was time for her to let loose all the worries and enjoy her holidays before she starts college.
Although one of the things that was making her wish the three months could pass in a blink of a second was the visit by her best friend. She couldn't wait to meet her. But well it can wait.
Wait till she gets all tanned under the warming sunlight of the beaches she was about to spend her all day at.
She was now chewing the end of her favorite pen, while a long streak of her black hair waved in front of her eyes. She could always tie her hair up, but she liked them loose, liked the feeling when they would bounce up in the air, as she danced to her favorite song, when the wind would make her look like a witch. Her big black eyes, her slender body, and her craze for black clothes, would often make her the center of attention anywhere she went, so it was always good to have messed up hair, which would make her look like a freak, which she never minded.
"Dear Diary,
It's going to be an amazing, fantabulous, freaky, dry throat (due to the fact that, I am gonna be screaming all the time during our plane ride) warm, sunny..."
The lights in the room were suddenly dimmed. She tried to focus on the page she was writing on through her thick glasses but still, it didn't help.
The rattling sound of the window made her head snapped up. She launched to her feet and made her way to the window. Slightly moving the curtain aside, she peeked outside and slowly her gaze moved up.
The sky was covered with thick grey clouds. She has never seen the weather like this before. Rains being her favorite, she would have been dancing with joy now, but the look of the aura being radiated was ominous.
She shook her head, trying to get all the bad thoughts out of her mind.
"No no rain, you are just too excited for the trip, it's making you all jumpy." Even saying those words out loud, something inside her was telling her that it was a lie.
Like a habit, her fingers traced the bluestone in her neckpiece and she recited her happy song.
"The sun might be hiding, but it's still there, our hope might be lost, but that path lies ahead
If you don't know what to do, say the alphabets in back
You have yourself and that's all that matters"
Her rosy lips changed their shape from a thin line to her favorite curve, her dimple smile.
Not waiting anymore further, she closed her diary, and started to check the contents of her packed bag again.
"Passport check, Tickets check, Phone check.." "Dammit, why isn't it charged. Mom is gonna kill me now" she quickly plugged the phone with the charger in the near socket.
*I hope it gets a little bit charged before we leave"
*Ding*
"Rain, Rain, Are you ready yet? We have to leave in 5 mins"
"What?" She glanced at her watch now, they still had like half an hour to leave. And still they would reach almost 1 hour before their flight.
*Ding*
She slid her way across the room annoyed by the continuous notification. She knew it was probably by a browser and cursed herself for not turning those off.
As she clicked the screen on, her eyes widened seeing the words written in front of her.
"Dear Gamer, You have been chosen to accomplish the hurdles which lie in front of you to be the part of one of the upcoming Biggest Game"
She quickly scrolled down to read the following message. Pulling the chair back, she sat comfortably, knowing that she couldn't miss this opportunity.
"If you are able to qualify, you would unlock our very special secret game"
"HURRY, RAIN" she growled out loud on hearing the warning tone in her mother's voice.
"Mom, could we wait for 5 mins, I have got something important to do"
She knew the answer to it already, so she sighed.
*Bang Bang*
"Why do you guys always do this?" She closed her laptop after a final look on the inviting screen and cursed inwardly. She promised her family that she would leave the laptop at home, which means losing her chance to participate in what seems like an epic game. She picked her luggage and started to drag her legs. Her eyes were on her feet as she opened the door, and didn't talk to her parents at all.
"You can always play when you are back" Her mom patted her head slightly, as they sat in the car. Her dad's gaze on her through the rearview mirror, completely aware that he had to quickly buy her chocolate to lighten up her mood.
"It's okay, Mom. I am really excited about this vacation" She held her mom's hand and patted lightly on her dad's shoulder when suddenly the car made a jerky movement.
"Is everything okay?" Her mom's eyebrows furrowed but her dad smiled at her and it quickly eased her worries.
"Why are we taking the bridge? We still have time, we don't need a short route" the feeling of uneasiness was starting to come back.
"There is something, I need to tell you and the route is too crowded for that" Before Rain's dad could complete his sentence, her mom slightly squeezed his shoulder.
"It can wait, darling" he just nodded while looking at her.
"DAD....LOOK OUT"
The scream was followed by complete silence,
a sudden sucking of teeth, an inhale of air, or a gasp. Seeing the truck coming milliseconds before it happens.
*CRUNCH*
Rain's dad had already pressed the brakes, but it was too late.
The sound of grinding and rattling of glasses followed, and before Rain could comprehend what was happening, her dad had already turned the steering wheels in the direction of the bridge.
Her body hit the side of the door, and her vision blurred by the sudden ache, she felt on her side.
"We love you, Rain" Rain's lips parted to repeat the words, but she couldn't speak. Her mom opened the door to her side, and her body fell into the cold water, away from the parents, seated in the car.
The words died in her mouth, as her body froze and the rain started pouring heavily.
