437: MOVING PERFECTLY

ARIEL'S POV Luke's words hung in the air, and a sense of panic began to rise within me. I turned my gaze to him, watching as his hands gripped the steering wheel with a white-knuckled intensity. His brow furrowed in concentration as he pumped the brakes repeatedly, but the car continued to hurtle forward, unheeding of his efforts. My heart raced as I glanced out the window, the passing scenery blurring into a dizzying whirl. Fear gripped me tightly, squeezing the air from my lungs as I braced myself for what seemed inevitable. "Celine, hold on tight!" I shouted, my voice tinged with urgency. Celine's eyes widened in alarm as she reached out to grab onto anything she could find for support. The car careened around a bend in the road, tires screeching against the pavement as Luke struggled to regain control. With a sickening lurch, the car veered off the road, crashing through a thicket of bushes before coming to a jarring halt. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through my body,