The drive home was quiet, exept for the steady sound of rain drumming against the car's windows. Tessa gazed out at the storm, the drops thick and relentless, blurring the world outside. The downpour had only intensified since they left the school, the wind whipping the rain sideways, making everything look like a blur of gray and silver.

"Dad, you won't believe how well today went," Tessa exclaimed, unable to hold in her excitement any longer. "I made a friend! And I didn't freak out once! I think Liam was right-I really am good at adapting to new things."

Her dad glanced at her, a proud smile tugging at his lips. "I knew you'd do great, kiddo. Always been good at facing challenges."

As they neared their street, the rain had become a torrential downpour, the kind that made the road nearly impossible to see. Tessa's heart raced as she thought about everything she'd learned today. She couldn't wait to share every detail with Liam. She had missed him, and she wanted to tell him how well she'd done.

Pulling into the driveway, Tessa practically jumped out of the car. The moment she stepped inside, she was ready to burst with all the stories she couldn't wait to share.

"Mom! You won't believe what happened today!" she said, her voice full of enthusiasm.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Her mother looked up from her phone, her expression softening. "Tessa, sweetie, Liam hasn't come home yet. He's still at work."

Tessa's smile faltered. "What? But he should be home by now. He said he'd be back early."

Her mom nodded, though there was a faint worry in her eyes. "Some of the residents at the clinic had to stay late. He'll be home soon."

Tessa tried to mask her disappointment, but she couldn't help the letdown that settled over her. She had been so eager to tell Liam everything. With a resigned sigh, she dropped her backpack by the door. "I guess I'll just rest a bit, then."

She headed to her room, where the fatigue of the day weighed heavily on her shoulders. She lay down on her bed, staring at the rain hitting the window. The excitement from earlier had already begun to fade, replaced by the comforting quiet of her own thoughts. The storm outside seemed to match her mood-a bit unsettled, but also calm in its own way.

---

Meanwhile, Liam was just finishing up his shift at the clinic. The storm outside had grown fiercer, and the streets were slick with rain. The familiar weight of exhaustion settled on him as he walked to his car, eager to get home and hear about Tessa's day.

The rain hit him hard as soon as he stepped outside, soaking him in seconds. He hurried to the car, hoping to get on the road before the storm worsened. He climbed into the driver's seat, starting the engine, and was soon speeding down the road, focused on getting home.

But the storm was unforgiving. As the rain intensified, visibility dropped, and the road became slippery. Liam's grip on the wheel tightened, his eyes darting from the windshield to the road ahead, trying to stay focused. Suddenly, a gust of wind slammed against the side of the car, and in a split second, he lost control.

The car slid, the tires screeching as it fishtailed across the wet road. He struggled to regain control, but the rain and slick pavement worked against him. A loud crash echoed through the air as his car veered off the road, slamming into a barrier.

Dazed and disoriented, Liam's thoughts flickered to his family. *Tessa. Mom. Dad. * His heart raced as pain coursed through his body. He blinked, trying to stay conscious, but the world around him was darkening rapidly.

Before everything went black, he saw a dark figure through the rain-soaked windshield, standing still in the distance, staring at him with an unsettling intensity.

Then, nothing.