Time of Dying

Kiera's POV

"Look, I'm sorry Mum and Dad couldn't make it to the Christmas concert. They had to see Granddad. Anyway, I showed up," Molly explained, "Kiera, Granddad's getting old. He can't help it, just like he can't help forgetting. You understand, as people get old, they sometime forget things. Right?"

I nodded, aware of what she was saying.

"Molly, will that ever happen to us one day?"

"Possibly, but even if we do, that's years away." She answered and gave me a smile. "Hey, we're almost home. Mum and Dad won't want to see us sad."

"But we are," I protested, at the same time hearing Molly release a sigh.

"I know, Kiera, I know."

Molly drove off the motorway and we came to the junction, close to Burgess. I tightened my seatbelt and rested my head against the window, watching the houses flash by in a blur while passing them. Grinning at Molly, toes twitching in my winter boots, I knew she'd adored the concert, especially when I'd sung my solo and caught a glimpse of her smile – the way she'd blinked away her tears, like the other parent's who'd sat amongst her in the school hall. Mum and Dad would've loved it.

I lent back in my seat, smiling at the recent memory. Straight away the car jerked, ice scraping the wheels. I jolted forward, the seatbelt keeping me inches from the windscreen and my heart thudded in violent beats.

Calm down, everything's fine, I told myself.

My eyes darted to Molly; her hands were white and tightened on the wheel while her breaths were short and shallow. Her muscles remained stiff as she shifted in her seat.

The car skidded again. I felt my heart pounding, pounding, pounding and my eyes fixed on the road.

"MOLLY!"

My voice caught in a sudden gasp. The whole thing happened too fast. Molly slammed her foot, down on the brakes, but the car kept skidding. We turned, tumbled, my heart thudding and my eyes wide; the world a blur around me. We hit a tree, yards from the pond. Molly's head slammed against the window. CRACK. My breathing stayed rapid, heavy and my stomach rose. Was that glass – or her head?

When I was sure the car wouldn't move, certain it was fixed in the blanket of snow, I shrieked. At the same time, I faced Molly. Her head was limp against the window and blood cascaded down her face, dripping onto her hoodie.

"Molly! Molly wake up! Molly, please! MOLLY!"

I kept screaming. My entire body shook and tears spilled from my eyes. On instinct, I reached for Molly's phone, dialling 911 like Mum had told me to do if something like this ever happened. Someone answered. At that moment, I sobbed down the phone.

"Help me, please! My car's crashed. My older sister, Molly, was driving – she's seventeen and she's hit her head!"

"Alright, just stay calm. Tell me your name and how old you are. Do you know your location?"

"K-Kiera. I'm n-nine."

"Can you tell me if Molly's moving or breathing?"

I began to shake her, doing exactly as the woman told me.

Just wake up, I pleaded, Open your eyes. Look at me, please.

More and more tears streamed down my face, as I continued to shake her gently.

"She's not moving…and…I don't t-think she's…"

My breath hitched, I chocked, knowing the answer without the question.

"They'll be an ambulance on the way, Kiera. Try to stay calm."

"Okay," I sobbed, despite constantly shaking.

Moving my head and wincing, I looked at Molly again, staring at her in disbelief. Her once bright and comforting smile was no longer there. I believed she was somewhere in Heaven, as I looked now at only an emotionless face, limp and still, against smashed glass. I wanted to remember her better, like the time she smiled when I sang only hours ago, and when she'd huff and chase me for throwing snowballs at her.

For a second I looked away from her body. All of a sudden I leapt back. My heart pounded in my ears, the sound numbing me. I froze when a pair of golden orbs looked into my eyes. The orbs did nothing; just stared. Reaching towards them, my fingers inches from the windscreen, I grew aware it was a man. He had grey skin, along with black spikey hair and he was dressed in black. He stepped closer and I cowered back. Something of understanding flickered in his eyes – hurt, pain, irritation – I wasn't sure.

"Don't be afraid. They'll get you out of here."

His calm voice held me still, somehow reassuring me. Before I had a chance to respond, a blanket of black sand covered me.

"Did you do that?"

He nodded. A moment later, his golden eyes darted to Molly's body.

"She won't forget you, Kiera."

Then I froze, unable to hide the quiver in my voice. "You know my name. Who are you?"

"Pitch Black. But you'd remember me as the Boogeyman."

I swallowed hard, tightening the blanket around my body.

"When's the ambulance coming?"

Pitch glanced away before turning back to me. "Soon, I'm sure."

"They said to stay calm, but I can't. I just can't!"

Tears cascaded down my face and I wiped them on the blanket. Pitch came near the window. I placed my hand against the glass. To my surprise he did the same. His eyes fixed on me, cold and still.

"They're coming, Kiera."

He inhaled the instant I shuddered and I moved my hand away. For a second, I shut my eyes. The moment I opened them, Pitch was gone.

Minutes later, I noticed the wailing of sirens and the flashing of lights advance this way. Letting go of Molly's cold stiff hand, I caught a glimpse of the ambulance and the fire engine, when both stopped close to where we were trapped. The ambulance people dashed over first, placing an oxygen mask on my face and attempting to keep me calm as they waited for the firemen.

I cried and cried, when I said Molly had died and kept my eyes on the fire crew, as they cut through the dented car, getting me out before her. The ambulance people wrapped me in blankets, laid me on one of those wheeled beds and checked me over for injuries.

Molly was lowered onto another bed, but they placed a blanket over her body. I couldn't even see her face.

A/N: This first one's a one-shot that takes place when my OC Molly dies. Hoping to link into a series of drabble fics, centring on Ghost. I'll try to update and I hope it was okay. Please feedback.