The Thirteenth by G L Twynham Read Free Book Online Page B

speed, with the black BMW in hot pursuit. Val and Delta watched as the BMW clipped the back end of the Ford, causing it to spin uncontrollably off the road. It collided with a lamppost, which fell on top of the car amongst a firework display of sparks. The BMW hadn’t even changed gear and had now disappeared from view. Delta looked at Val in disbelief.
    “Why are we here? And what are we going to do?” Delta looked to Val for answers that she couldn’t supply.
    “Don’t worry about that for now, let’s go and help the driver.” Val started to cross the road and Delta followed slowly, almost begrudgingly. As they got to the centre of the road Val could see the driver waking up and she waved at him to reassure him that someone was coming to the rescue, even if it was just two teenage girls who had no idea how they had arrived here or how they were going to save him.
    “Come on Delta,” Val urged. “I don’t like the look of those sparks.”
    She had barely spoken the words when the car exploded into what seemed like a million fireflies rising into the air, and was completely engulfed in flames.
    Val was thrown back by the explosion and for a moment she stared around in confusion. When she looked back at the car, she could see that the man was now frantically trying to get out, pulling desperately at the handle of the door. Val jumped back onto her feet and went to check that Delta was OK.
    “I’m on the floor in my new Dior skirt,” Delta whimpered. Val knew that Delta was fine and although she was sitting on her bottom in the middle of the road, she would survive. Val lifted her by the arm and dragged her quickly onto the grass verge. Now she needed to help the man in the car.
    Val crossed the road again and moved closer, expecting the heat to be intense. However, she had already made up her mind that she was going to get as close as possible, though she wasn’t sure exactly how this was going to help the man. She was going to have to do this in stages. The closer she inched towards the fiery car, the more she expected to get burnt.
    ‘Why aren’t these flames even hot?’ Val thought. Then she felt the irresistible urge to reach out through the flames that were licking all around the car. Her hand passed straight through them and she felt nothing; it wasn’t even warm. How could this be? Val felt scared but exhilarated at the same time.
    The intense heat emanating from the flames didn’t seem to be harming her. The flames seemed to dance over her like feathers brushing her skin.
    “Val, no!” screamed Delta looking up from her skirt and becoming aware of her friend’s fiery journey.
    “I’m OK,” Val waved back at her.
    Val looked through the window of the car and saw the panic in the man’s face as she called to him, “It’s OK. I’m going to save you.” She smiled through the flames as he proceeded to passed out. The side of his face hit the window and instantly started to blister under the intense heat. Val looked back for a moment at Delta who was sitting on the floor with her mouth wide open, obviously unable to comprehend the fact that she was watching her best friend in flames.
    “Great, now no one will remember my moment of glory,” Val muttered. She pushed forward and as she reached the door, the flames engulfed her whole body. She pulled at the handle, readying herself to grab the man. After several forceful attempts, she managed to pull the door open. The man’s limp body fell out. Val grabbed him under his arms and pulled with all her strength, trying to drag him away from the blazing car. The edges of his hair were beginning to singe from the intense heat. She had to get him out of this, and fast.
    Val was surprised at how quickly she managed to move away from the car. Although the man didn’t seem too heavy she was beginning to feel fatigued. She called over to Delta for assistance. Delta had realised that Val might need her and had managed to compose herself and go to her