Adam

Chasing through Birmingham to find Justine, Josie's body gives out. 

Written and produced by Adam C. Prince.

Digitally narrated using the voice clone of a real Brummie.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): 

Typography - Infraction

https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/typography

License code: UZMHVPFBINTSKJRA 

Waves - Danijel Zambo

https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/waves

License code: UKFDUFPMUZFU3XI2

Transcript:

Girl in Control. Episode 3. Girl in chase. 

I don't know how long I stood there, frozen on the pavement. My sister was gone, in a red car, with a stranger.

And I was just standing there, so I ran. Still stuck in the past, still seeing what had already happened. But maybe, just maybe, I could catch up and see where she might be in the present.

Saturday afternoon Birmingham was chaos. Shoppers everywhere, families with pushchairs, youth standing around. I pushed through them all, my lungs burned, my feet slammed the pavement.

Those red tail lights were weaving through traffic ahead of me, taunting me. I ran harder, past the bullring, past Selfridges, with its weird spaceship exterior, through crowds of confused shoppers who definitely thought I was mental. Saturday traffic was brutal.

Cars everywhere, buses, delivery vans, but somehow that red car seemed like it knew exactly where to go. I sprinted across New Street, a taxi beeped their horn, the driver shouted something I chose to ignore. The car was heading toward the industrial area.

Away from the shops, away from people, but I could still see those tail lights. I still had a chance. Then the car darted through a yellow light.

I tried to follow, but a bus pulled across, blocking my path completely. I was stuck on the other side, pounding the pedestrian push button like a maniac. Through the gaps between vehicles, I watched helplessly as the car grew smaller and smaller, swallowed by the city.

The lights changed, finally. I sprinted across, but it was too late. The red car had vanished completely.

My breath came in ragged sobs. I sank to my knees on the cold pavement, clutching the remote like a lifeline, like it could somehow bring her back. I had all the power in the world.

Until I didn't. And now Jussie was gone. The vision faded.

I was back in the present. Back in the real world where my sister was missing and no clue as to where she could be. I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn't cooperate.

They wobbled like jelly. Each step felt heavier than the last. Like my joints had turned to rusted hinges.

The run. The panic. The cold Birmingham air.

It had worn me raw. My knees ached. My hands were numb.

The cold sliced into my chest with every breath. This was bad. Really bad.

I stumbled along the pavement. Shop signs blurred past through tears and dizziness. A closed bakery.

A darkened pharmacy. A boarded up cafe. Just when I thought I might collapse right there on the street, I saw it.

A corner shop's open sign. I staggered inside and almost sobbed with relief. I grabbed painkillers and water from the fridge.

The cold plastic stung my numb fingers. My knees buckled and I caught myself on a rack of crisps. I sank to the floor between rows of snacks.

Clutching the water bottle like it could save me. The remote hung uselessly from my other hand. The adrenaline was gone.

Replaced by deep, aching exhaustion. My body was failing me. And I was out of time.

The girl in control wasn't in control anymore. And for the first time in my life, I was truly, completely terrified.