Darker Than Black

:Darker Than Black: [Chapter: 17] //An Original Story//

I froze, my mouth dropping open. Was Hudson for real? I swallowed nervously, my mouth becoming dry. My heartbeat was racing again.

"Tell him to pull over! Now!"

"Excuse me," I started, noticing how scared my voice sounded. "I change my mind, could you actually drop me off here?"

The taxi driver looked me curiously for a second before nodding. "I can't pull off right here, but after this light I can."

"Okay," I responded, relaxing again.

"Is he letting you out?" Hudson asked.

"Yeah."

"Try to keep him occupied, I'm almost there."

"Okay."

I closed my eyes for a second, breathing deeply. This had been a close one. If Hudson hadn't said anything, I would have probably died today. Hudson's breathing on the other side of the phone was also helping to calm me. Suddenly I felt a change in the car, and thought we were pulling over.

"Shit," the taxi driver swore.

My eyes snapped open and I looked over at him. His foot was working at the brake. Which wasn't working. Immediately my heart beat increased and I began to panic. It was happening.

The taxi driver reached for the emergency break, and ripped it. The car didn't stop. In fact, it was steadily gaining speed. The driver swore again and tried the other brakes again, pumping them furiously. He accidentally pressed down on the gas pedal, sending the taxi jolting forwards.

I screamed, being thrown forwards and banging into the dash.

"What's wrong?" Hudson demanded in an alarmed voice.

"Shit, shit, shit," the driver repeated, slamming his fists on the wheel.

"Willow!" Hudson shouted through the phone. "Answer me!"

I tried to control my breathing. It was coming out in short rasps. I gasped, trying to stop it. Was this what people called hyperventilating?

"It's happening," I panted, my voice shaking. "The brakes broke! We're going to crash!"

Hudson swore. In fact, he swore quite a few times. I continued to hyperventilate, grabbing the dash and trying to calm myself. I had to be calm in a situation such as this otherwise I would die

"Willow, Willow calm down or you'll have a heart attack!"

I took deep gasps of air, trying to do as Hudson said. "I'm... trying..."

"I need you to tell me where you are."

I looked at my surrounding, my breathing becoming a little easier. "In front of the pet store."

"Shit," Hudson muttered, and I heard a horn blare from his side.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing," Hudson responded. "There's roughly two minutes before you make it to that gas station."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. The taxi driver looked at me frantically.

"What do I do?" he asked, his hand shaking. "The brakes failed!"

"I don't know," I told him, my hand shaking. "I don't know! We're thinking! Hudson!"

"Hold on!" he responded, sounding irritated. "I'm thinking! Shit!"

"I don't want to die," I told him, feeling my eyes water up.

"You're not going to die," Hudson responded forcefully. "Close your eyes. I'm going to count to sixty with you. And when we're done counting, I promise I'll be there and make sure you don't die."