Through the haze, I watched as Tara deliberately fell to the ground, grabbing a sharp stone and dragging it across her arm. Fresh blood welled up from the cut.
"Derek! Help!" she cried out. "She pushed me! She tried to kill me and then set everything on fire!"
I pounded harder on the windows, my strength fading as the smoke filled my lungs. "Derek! Please!"
When Derek reached us, he didn't even glance at me trapped in the burning car. Instead, he knelt beside Tara, cradling her head.
"Who did this to your perfect face?" he asked, wiping blood from her face.
"She went crazy," Tara sobbed. "She hit me, then pushed me down. When I tried to stop her, she threatened to burn everything."
I slammed my palms against the glass. "Derek! I'm in here!"
He finally turned, his eyes meeting mine through the smoke-stained window.
"How dare you," he snarled. "Because you don't like her, you're trying to destroy everything?"
"She locked me in here!" I choked out between coughs.
Derek turned his back to me, helping Tara to her feet. "Let's get that cut treated. We can't have your beautiful face spoiled."
"What about her?" Tara asked. "The smoke... I know she's awful, but—"