Survive the Night by Riley Sager

INT. VOLVO—NIGHT

Water on the windshield.

That’s what Charlie sees as she regains consciousness.

A line of it runs right across the glass. Above it is night sky and streaks of stars. Below is murky water illuminated by the Volvo’s headlights. Charlie guesses it’s about fifteen feet deep and that the Volvo, pitched forward, will be reaching the bottom sooner rather than later. Water gushes into the car from below, already up to her lap.

Charlie looks to the passenger seat.

Robbie’s still there, wide awake and watching. The slam against the dashboard has left him bruised and bleeding. A large red mark covers half of his face. Blood trickles from his right nostril.

“Is this what you wanted?” he says. “To kill us both?”

“No,” Charlie says. “Just you.”

She unhooks her seat belt, not worried about getting out of the car. She knows what to do. Wait until it fills completely with water, which alters the pressure against the side of the car, then open the door and swim out.

She knows because she saw it in a movie.

The water, up to her chest now, keeps rising. As the car fills, it makes a worrisome groaning sound and tilts even farther forward. The Volvo’s headlights sweep across the bottom of the ravine before flickering and going out.

In that newfound darkness, Charlie doesn’t see Robbie’s bent elbow coming right toward her face. She’s only aware of it after the fact, when his elbow slams into the bridge of her nose.

The blow is hard.

A firecracker of pain.

Charlie’s head smacks against the driver’s-side window.

She sees stars as Robbie leaps on top of her.

“Shh,” he says. “It’ll all be over soon.”

Then he grabs Charlie by the hair and shoves her head underwater.