Chapter 2: Rain, Scams, and Ruin

I still don’t understand how it all unraveled.

Sometimes, late at night, I replay every moment in my mind, searching for the crack, the first sign of trouble. Was it a careless word? A missed smile? Or just the world’s cold indifference, waiting for any excuse to turn on us?

“Babe, it hurts so much.”

Savannah moaned, her pale hand gripping the back of my seat.

Her nails dug into the leather, knuckles white, breaths coming in ragged gasps. The contractions were closer now, each one stealing a little more of her strength. The rain hammered the windshield, and thunder rolled in the distance. I reached back, trying to squeeze her hand, offering what little comfort I could.

I forced myself to comfort her, but my hand on the steering wheel was slick with sweat.

My heart pounded against my ribs, and I kept glancing between her and the road. "Almost there, honey. Just hold on," I whispered, though I could hear the panic in my own voice. My palms left damp prints on the wheel, the car’s heater fighting a losing battle against the cold sweat running down my spine.

I never imagined our child would arrive on such a dark and stormy night.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the empty streets in ghostly flashes. Every puddle reflected the chaos above, and the wind rattled the car. I kept telling myself this was just bad luck, that soon we’d be laughing about this, baby in our arms, safe at home.

Even more unexpectedly, at a deserted intersection, a shadowy figure suddenly darted out, right in front of my car.

I barely had time to react. The figure seemed to materialize out of nowhere, hunched and shuffling, umbrella forgotten in the downpour. My heart leapt into my throat, and my foot slammed on the brake.

“Screech…”

With the harsh squeal of the brakes, my heart nearly stopped.

The car fishtailed for a split second before shuddering to a halt. Savannah let out a strangled cry, clutching her belly. The world narrowed to the sound of rain hammering metal, the acrid smell of burning rubber, and my own racing pulse.

Ignoring the darkness and pouring rain, I flung open the car door and rushed out.

I barely noticed the rain soaking my clothes, or the cold seeping into my bones. My only thought was: did I kill someone? I stumbled toward the shadow on the ground, shoes slipping on the wet asphalt.

“Ah… ah…”

The figure lay sprawled on the asphalt, groaning in pain. My heart eased a little.

The groans meant she was alive. Relief crashed over me, mingling with dread. My hands shook as I reached for her, the rain plastering her hair to her face.

As long as nobody died, it would be all right.

I clung to that thought like a lifeline. I could fix this. I could make it right. I just needed to get Savannah to the hospital, and everything would be okay. Please, God, let it be okay.

“Are you hurt?” I hurried over to help her up. “We’re on our way to the hospital—let us take you for a checkup.”

My voice wavered, but I tried to sound calm. I bent down, offering my arm, glancing back at the car where Savannah’s silhouette was barely visible through the rain-streaked glass.

The person I’d hit was an elderly woman with snow-white hair. She grabbed my sleeve. “I don’t want to go to the hospital. Just give me money for my injuries!”

Her grip was surprisingly strong, nails digging into my jacket. Her voice was high-pitched, trembling, but there was a practiced edge to it. She looked me up and down, eyes sharp despite her frail appearance.

So it was a staged accident.

I’d read about these scams on Reddit, but never thought I’d get tangled up in one. The realization hit me like another punch to the gut. My frustration warred with panic—Savannah needed me, but I was stuck here, negotiating with a con artist in the pouring rain.

Normally, I wouldn’t put up with such a scam, but Savannah was writhing in pain in the car—I couldn’t waste time arguing over money.

I glanced back at the car, saw Savannah’s face twisted in agony. My priorities were clear. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm, even as anger simmered beneath the surface.

“How much do you want?” I asked, desperate.

My words came out sharper than I intended, but I was out of options. I pulled out my wallet, ready to end this nightmare.

The old woman’s eyes darted. “Three thousand!”

Her lips trembled, but her eyes glinted with calculation. She licked her lips, watching my reaction, as if testing how far she could push me.

“Fine. Take out your phone, I’ll Venmo you now.” I pulled out my phone without hesitation.

I fumbled with the phone, the screen smeared with raindrops and sweat. My fingers slipped, but I managed to unlock it. I could feel the seconds ticking away, every moment stretching the distance between us and the hospital.

To my surprise, my willingness to pay made the old woman realize she’d asked for too little. She immediately changed her tune.

Her face twisted, eyes narrowing. She straightened up, suddenly less feeble, and her voice grew shrill. "No, my back hurts, my legs are killing me, I want ten thousand! If you don’t pay, you’re not leaving!"

She let go of my sleeve, half her body draped over my car, shrieking, “Help! Somebody just hit me!”

Her wails pierced the storm, echoing down the empty street. She pounded on the hood, drawing even more attention to the scene. My frustration boiled over, but I bit my tongue, desperate to keep things from spiraling further.

“What’s going on?”

A man ran over through the rain.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and moved with a swagger that set my nerves on edge. He wore a battered Yankees cap, jeans that had seen better days, and a plaid shirt that looked straight out of a local dive bar. He glanced at the old woman, then at me, his eyes narrowing with suspicion—or maybe calculation. He looked like someone who’d done this before.

I didn’t have time to care about him and said to the old woman, “Ten thousand, fine. I’ll transfer it right now.”

My voice was flat, brittle with exhaustion. I just wanted this over. My fingers trembled as I tried to open the Venmo app, the rain making everything harder.

I pulled out my phone decisively.

It was the latest waterproof iPhone. Even though it was soaked by the rain, it still worked, but the wet, slippery screen lagged for a moment, and Face ID kept failing, forcing me to punch in my passcode twice.

The phone glowed in the darkness, a small island of light. I could see my reflection in the glass—wild-eyed, desperate. I just needed to get Savannah help. That was all that mattered.

As the balance on the screen lit up, the man’s expression froze in shock.

He leaned in, peering at the numbers. For a second, I thought he’d back down. But instead, a greedy smile crept onto his face, and I realized I’d just made things worse.

“Wait, what’s ten thousand going to do?”

He stopped me, glancing at the old woman. “You’re already this old. What if you have complications? Treatment and home care—a hundred thousand wouldn’t even cover a live-in nurse.”

His words dripped with fake concern. He put his hand on the old woman’s shoulder, squeezing just a little too hard. I could see the act for what it was—a shakedown, plain and simple.

“Right, right, you have to pay me more. I want, I want…”

The old woman mumbled, but her eyes were on the man.