Chapter 901

The silence inside the car made the pounding rain outside sound even louder.

Evelyn Sinclair stared hopelessly at the water cascading down the windows. "Why did I agree to come with them? Could this situation get any worse?"

Natalie Beaumont glared at her with narrowed eyes, her crimson nails tapping impatiently against the dashboard. "If I wasn't such a refined lady, I'd have murdered you and left your body in a ditch by now!"

Isabella Montgomery nodded vigorously in agreement. "Absolutely!"

Sebastian Hart's lips twitched as he glanced at Evelyn. "At least you're still treating me decently."

Evelyn lifted her gaze. "I'll make sure to bring your favorite flowers to your funeral."

As minutes ticked by, the temperature inside the vehicle continued dropping.

No one's phone worked - no service, no signal. Their only options were waiting for help or venturing out into the storm.

The downpour lasted hours, finally stopping as darkness fully enveloped them.

Tension hung thick in the air. Isabella had exhausted herself berating Sebastian earlier, while Natalie now slumped listlessly against her window.

Sebastian stepped outside briefly to search for signal, returning empty-handed. The eerie silence outside felt oppressive.

An unnatural cold seeped into their bones, making them feel like the last people on earth. Isabella shivered violently, clutching her shoulders. "We're not seriously going to freeze to death out here, are we?"

Natalie kept redialing frantically, her face twisting with growing panic as each attempt failed.

The remaining warmth in the car dissipated rapidly, ratcheting up everyone's anxiety.

"We should walk for help," Evelyn suggested through chattering teeth.

Isabella shook her head violently. "We'd die of hypothermia before finding anyone!"

Sebastian returned moments later, shoulders slumped. "No signal. This mountain's practically deserted. Our only hope is someone passing by..."

Evelyn gave him a skeptical look. "Who exactly do you expect to come driving through here at night? And even if someone does, would they actually help us?"

Kind strangers existed, but Evelyn doubted their luck would hold tonight.

Sebastian swallowed hard, knowing his poor planning had led them to this terrifying predicament. He took a deep breath before announcing dramatically, "To make it up to you all, I'm willing to sacrifice myself!"

Evelyn and Isabella stared blankly while Natalie remained stone-faced in the front seat. Sebastian continued, "I'll sit in back and keep you ladies warm with my body heat!"

"Get lost!"

All three women rejected his offer simultaneously.

Sebastian's door clicked shut as his hopeful expression crumpled into disappointment. He'd meant well!

Their conversation dwindled to sporadic, half-hearted remarks as time crawled by.

9:00 PM.

The consuming darkness outside seemed capable of swallowing them whole.

Damp, frigid air continued invading the car until rain began falling again, pattering ominously against the roof.

Though terrified, everyone maintained façades of calm, refusing to voice their darkest thoughts.

Isabella trembled against Evelyn's shoulder, her face ghostly pale from the cold. Nobody fared better. No lights shone in the impenetrable blackness outside.

Then Natalie voiced everyone's unspoken fear: "There was a massive mudslide here years ago. With this much rain..."

The others instantly stiffened, hearts pounding.

Evelyn's lips pressed into a thin line, her frozen fingertips nearly numb. If this continued, hypothermia would claim them before morning.

A deafening roar suddenly shattered the night - not thunder, but something far more terrifying. The sound seemed to originate from the mountain's core, vibrating through their bones.

"You cursed us! It's happening!" Isabella shrieked.

Sebastian shouted over the chaos, "Out of the car! Run!"