Karma's Way

The Accident

The tranquil evening air was abruptly shattered by the piercing screech of tires against the asphalt, followed by a deafening bang that reverberated through the surroundings. Smoke billowed from the wreckage of an overturned car, casting an eerie haze over the scene.

As bystanders rushed to the site of the crash, their attention was immediately drawn to the twisted metal and shattered glass strewn across the ground. Amongst the chaos, the overturned car lay on its roof, its wheels still spinning weakly.

Amidst the scattered debris, pieces of cash glimmered amidst the shattered glass from the car, the dimming light catching fragments of blood staining the shards. The juxtaposition of wealth and tragedy painted a stark picture of the events that had unfolded, leaving onlookers to ponder the grim reality of the situation.

In the distance, the wail of sirens grew louder, signaling the approach of emergency responders. But amidst the flurry of activity, a small detail caught the eye of those with a keen sense of observation—a hand, its nails painted in a striking shade of red, protruding from the broken window. While most were focused on the larger elements of the scene—the overturned car, the tire marks on the asphalt—there were those who couldn't help but notice the broken nail on the woman's ring finger.

As whispers rippled through the gathering crowd, speculation ran rampant about the events leading up to the crash. Yet, amidst the chaos and confusion, the broken nail remained a subtle detail that only a select few had noticed, adding an air of mystery to the unfolding scene.

****

Suzanne felt a gentle tug on her shirt, pulling her attention away from the chaos around her. Looking down, she saw the little boy clinging to her, his eyes squeezed shut as tears streamed down his chubby cheeks. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Mommy," his fear palpable in the trembling of his body.

Without hesitation, Suzanne enveloped the child in a tight embrace, trying to soothe his trembling form. "It's okay, kid," she reassured him, her voice steady despite the turmoil around them. "We'll get out of here."

As she held the frightened boy close, Suzanne couldn't help but feel a surge of responsibility wash over her. One moment, she had been engrossed in a meeting, discussing the intricacies of the newly launched toy, and now she found herself trapped in an elevator, her prosthetic leg wedged between the closing doors. The elevator had malfunctioned, leaving them suspended between floors, and Suzanne acted on instinct, using her prosthetic leg to prevent the doors from closing completely and trapping them in darkness.

She quickly called for emergency backup, but as the minutes passed without any sign of rescue, Suzanne's thoughts were consumed by fear. Despite the pressing deadlines and the weight of her responsibilities as supervisor, her focus was solely on the safety of the child in her arms.

With each sway of the elevator, Suzanne's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of their predicament pressing down on her shoulders. But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, she knew she couldn't afford to succumb to fear. She had to stay strong for the child relying on her, to find a way to guide them both to safety, no matter the obstacles they faced.

A few minutes had passed and security, along with maintenance officers and emergency firefighters, came to their rescue. They slowly opened the door, thankful that Suzanne had used her prosthetic leg to prevent it from closing entirely. It also acted as a stabilizing force, preventing the elevator from falling further. As they were both rescued, Suzanne felt a sudden sense of relief flood over her. But just as she was about to catch her breath, a loud thud echoed behind her.

The elevator plummeted, the sudden drop leaving her reeling and her chest tightening with panic. The world around her seemed to blur, and she struggled to comprehend the situation as darkness closed in. Strong arms guided her to safety, but Suzanne could barely muster the strength to remain upright. And then, everything went black.

Suzanne's brows furrowed as she heard muffled sounds around her. She tried to open her eyes and move her head, but pain shot through her temple, causing her to wince. Despite the discomfort, she could make out figures looming over her, their shapes obscured by the dim light. There was something unsettlingly familiar about the scene, but she couldn't quite place it.

Suddenly, harsh words cut through the haze of confusion, piercing her consciousness like a knife. "You b*tch! You're no better than a rat in the sewers, you bimbo!" The voice was filled with venom, dripping with hatred and resentment. Suzanne's heart pounded in her chest as the words echoed in her mind, sending shivers down her spine.

The voice continued, each word like a dagger aimed at Suzanne's heart. "Because of you, my mom and I were abandoned by your good-for-nothing father! Now that he's gone, along with your sl*t of a mom, you'll serve us and pay for what they've done!"

Panic surged through Suzanne as she struggled to move, her body slick with sweat and her heart racing with fear. With a sudden jolt, she was fully awake, her eyes snapping open to take in her surroundings. She found herself in a hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air.

A man, about mid-30s, sat in a couch near her bed, his expression filled with concern. As soon as he saw her awaken, he stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with relief and worry.

"You're awake! Thank heavens! How are you feeling, miss?" he said as he walked towards her bed. She made a confused expression. "Oh, I am Liam Gomez, I am the uncle of the little boy you rescued a while ago," he said, seemingly anticipating her question.

"little boy?" she muttered, her mind still foggy from the ordeal. Then it clicked—she remembered the accident, the elevator, the trapped child. The memories flooded back, bringing with them a surge of adrenaline. "Oh, right! How is he?" she asked him.

"He's alright now. He's father's taking care of him at the other room." he said motioning outside of the door.

She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good to hear."

Then, as if she remembered something important, she looked around, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on her right thigh, where her prosthetic leg should have been. "Sorry, but do you know where my prosthetic leg is?" she asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

Liam's expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Oh, about that, it's been broken and deformed. I asked for a replacement, it will be here in a few minutes."

Suzanne raised an eyebrow incredulously. "You asked for a replacement and it'll be here in a few minutes? What did you order? Fast food? Wow!" she quipped, amusement in her face.

He seemed taken aback by her response, but quickly recovered. He smiled back at her. "Well, that's how I get things done," he said, with a hint of mischief in his tone. She lowered her head, shaking it. She reached for her phone at the bedside table and saw that she must've been asleep about an hour after the incident.

"Oh! And here, take this. I saw that even your phone screen was cracked so I ordered a replacement." He shoved a paper bag of an expensive phone brand towards her. She couldn't suppress a hint of surprise at his gesture, finding it both unexpectedly generous and thoughtful.

She pushed it back at him. "Sorry, but I can't take it. This is too much. I understand that you're thankful about what I did for your nephew, but I'm alright."

"Oh, no! Please take it. I'll be in trouble if you don't," he insisted, his voice taking on a pleading tone.

Suzanne hesitated, unsure of what to make of the situation. "Why would you be in trouble?" she said. "Sorry, this is really too much for me. Besides, I only did what I have to. Insticts!"

"Come on, miss-" he paused. "Wait, what's your name again?" he suddenly asked.

"Suzanne." she shortly answered. "Suzanne Lopez."

"Okay, Suzanne. Just take this phone because I don't have anything to do with it aside from giving it to you." He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Come on. Don't make me say 'Please'."

But still, Suzanne continued to shake her head. With that, he looked resigned. "Then if you don't want it, just throw it. At the very least, I also did what I had to, and it was your decision to throw it away or not."

Hearing that made her roll her eyes. "Fine," she surrendered. "Alright, I'll take it."

Liam then smiled. "Great!" he said then reached for his phone to make a call. "Hey, can you bring the prosthetic leg now? She's awake," he said into the receiver.

Just then, a nurse and a doctor entered the room, carrying the replacement prosthetic leg. They proceeded to check Suzanne's vital signs and ensure that the prosthetic was comfortable for her to put on.

As Suzanne slipped on the new prosthetic, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. She thanked the medical staff and Liam for their assistance, but there was also a nagging sense of unease. Who was this man, and what did he want from her? She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. But for now, all she could do was accept his gift and wait for the doctor's orders.