Formerly known as Cheating Death, also major editing with plot and Maddie's gender. Inspired by the song, "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry and a commercial for Final Destination 4. Still looking for a beta so please excuse any errors (please still me about them though, please).
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10: 28 NIV
The alarm sounded off, filling the room with an annoying beeping sound. Madeleine blindly smacked at the alarm until the noise stopped. She put on her glasses before finally forcing herself to get up from the comfy bed.
The Canadian yawned and stumbled off to the bathroom to get ready for the day. It looked like it was going to be another slow, typical day. Oh god, even a Friday was now considered boring. Summer couldn't come fast enough.
After a long shower found her brushing her teeth while simultaneously trying to pull her long blond hair into two pigtails. She briefly considered cutting it for convenience's sake but that would risk her looking even more like her twin.
As if his brother heard his thoughts, someone began loudly banging on the door. "Maddie, hurry up! We're going to be late!" Alfred's voice could be heard through the door.
Maddie simply raised an eyebrow at the door, even though Alfred couldn't see her. Since when did Alfred care about being late? Unless this had something to do with seeing a certain junior before school started…
Maddie let the door swing open, stepping out and finally ready to go. As tempting as the thought was to make Alfred suffer a little longer, she did have a paper to finish before second period. Damn US History Class.
"Jeez, will you give me a second? I'm sure your British lover will not die from waiting a few extra seconds." Maddie simply grinned and innocently blinked her large violet eyes when Alfred lightly punched her arm.
"He's not my lover. I'm too busy with my heroic duties to bother with romance. And have you met Arthur? If he's kept waiting too long someone will die."
Maddie didn't bother pointing out Alfred's obvious denial, instead grabbing the keys to the car before her distracted brother could make a dive for them. Ignoring Alfred's continued rambling; she cast a longing glance at the pantry where the maple syrup was kept before heading out to the car. She'd kill for some pancakes but Alfred was right (for once), they really were running late.
Her brother finally noticed that Maddie had gotten to the keys before him. "Aw, come on! Let me drive for once." Maddie had to duck to avoid her brother making a grab for the keys to the Ford Taurus.
"You drove yesterday," Maddie reasoned. Not to mention that I don't think this car could handle anymore of your reckless driving, she added silently. Maddie began to open the door of the car when Alfred changed tactics.
"I'll finish that history paper for you," Alfred offered.
Maddie stiffened at this new offer. She and her brother both knew that Alfred was better at US History. Maddie couldn't afford a bad grade with the end of the year approaching so quickly. Maddie silently cursed. Why couldn't they still live in Canada?
"Alright, but I'm reading over it before it gets turned in." Madeleine tossed the keys to her brother before walking over to the passenger side. Damn US History Class.
"Aw, sweet!" Alfred shouted before swinging himself into the driver's seat. Maddie said a quick prayer that for once Alfred wouldn't think the car next to them at the stoplight was challenging him to a race. Especially if said car happened to be a police car. Again.
Maddie had barely buckled her seat belt in when her brother hit the gas, sending the car down the driveway at a speed that would get them pulled over on a highway even in Italy. That paper had better be the best piece of goddamn literature Alfred had ever written.
Somehow, Madeleine eventually managed to relax during the drive despite Alfred's reckless driving. It wasn't like she had never been in a car with her brother before, but lately the car was beginning to look a little worn down and Alfred was getting… bolder with his driving.
Still, Maddie began to grow nervous again when the rain started to fall. The forecast hadn't called for rain; otherwise she wouldn't have let Alfred drive. It did nothing to elevate her worries when the rain began to pick up until it was a huge downpour.
"What's up with the weather? It was supposed to be nice out today," Alfred whined, turning on the windshield wipers.
"Keep your eyes on the road; it wouldn't be good to crash in weather like this." She nervously twirled one of her pigtails. Oh yeah, she definitely shouldn't have let Alfred drive.
"Relax, Maddie. If we do crash I'll be the hero and save you." Maddie rolled her eyes and turned to watch the rain drizzle down the window in a steady river.
"I'm sure you would Alfr-Watch out!" Maddie was able to watch in horror and almost slow motion as the car in the lane next to them swerved on the rain slick road, turning so that the front end was coming directly at her.
She couldn't do anything. Everything was moving too fast and starting to blur together.
Not quite snapping out of her trance in time, Maddie tried to flinch away from the car coming at her but in the end what saved her was Alfred grabbing onto her arm and yanking the slightest bit back. She vaguely noted in the back of her mind that her hat had flown off.
Maddie could hear Alfred shouting something at her but it was like her brain had been stuffed with cotton balls. Nothing made sense at the moment.
But despite her state of shock, she noticed a man watching her from across the street. Maddie squinted at the man, trying to make out features through the blurriness. The guy staring at her appeared to be disturbingly pale with white hair. Maddie couldn't make out anything else about the man except that he seemed incredibly...irritated.
She blinked, trying to clear her vision before suddenly becoming aware of a stabbing pain in her side. Overwhelmed by the pain and shock of what happened, Matthew let her eyes roll back into her head and everything went white.