Traded My Hammer for a Toy

It happened on Thanksgiving Day. I was on my way to my girlfriend's house when a car slammed straight into mine.

The road was deserted, not a single person was around. The doors were jammed shut from the impact, and flames were licking toward the engine.

I fumbled for the safety hammer, only to find that someone had replaced it with a toy hammer shaped like a cartoon bear.

Panicking, I called my girlfriend. But before she could even pick up, her ringtone started playing from the car that had just hit me.

Luna Hill stepped out, hand in hand with her childhood sweetheart, Julian Ford.

Julian put on a show of alarm. "Oh no, I'm such an idiot! My first time driving, and I already hit a car."

When Luna saw that it was me in the crushed car, she quickly tried to calm him down. "It's fine. He probably did it on purpose."

I pounded on the window, shouting for her. "Luna, the safety hammer's been switched out! Please, help me get out!"

Julian burst into a grin. "Sebastian, that was me! The little bear hammer's adorable, isn't it?"

Luna's face twisted in disgust. "You're fine. Stop being dramatic. Figure it out yourself."

Thick smoke was billowing inside the car, and it was about to explode. I begged her to get me out.

Julian chuckled. "Sebastian, are you cooking in there or what? That smoke's killing me!"

He patted his stomach and said with a laugh, "Man, I'm starving. Luna, let's go home and eat."

Luna hooked her arm through his and tossed a parting line over her shoulder. "Enough already. My parents are waiting for us to start dinner."

Just as I was about to pass out from the smoke, I slammed my hand on the car's emergency button.

The Fire She Wouldn't Believe

This button could send my exact location and the live audio feed straight to my sister.

The moment I pressed it, the system let out a sharp alarm. Luna Hill and Julian Ford, who had already started walking away, stopped in their tracks and turned back.

Luna rushed to my car window and slammed her fist against the glass.

"Sebastian, what the hell is wrong with you? Can you not make a scene for once? It's just a little smoke, and you hit the emergency button? You think the city's rescue teams exist just for you? Could you be any more dramatic?"

Julian folded his arms and let out a snicker. "Don't be so hard on him, Luna. It's my fault, really."

He pulled out a small black device about the size of a matchbox and waved it proudly.

"Remember when you picked me up last time? I bought this smoke simulator and slipped it into Sebastian's car. Thought it'd be funny to prank him a little. Look, press this button, and poof, instant smoke. Totally harmless, no smell. Cool, right?"

Luna's expression darkened even more.

"You hear that, Sebastian? It's fake. Julian was messing with you. What's wrong with your head? Or do you actually think everyone's supposed to babysit you twenty-four seven like I do, just to keep you happy?"

My whole body trembled with rage. They'd been flirting in the car, and Julian had deliberately jerked the steering wheel, ramming his car right into mine.

But there was no time to argue. I pointed to the thick smoke spilling from the gap in the hood.

"Luna, it's real! The engine's burning! The doors are locked from the inside. Open it from the outside, now!"

Luna let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Sebastian, you're really unbelievable. You'd rather fake a car fire than admit you're jealous of Julian? You think I'll fall for that again?"

I didn't bother wasting another breath. Every second spent talking was one more second of oxygen slipping away.

I suddenly remembered the emergency kit on the backseat. My sister had packed a spare heavy wrench there just in case of something like this.

I reached back as far as I could, trying to get to it.

The crash had warped the latch. I pulled with everything I had until it finally snapped open.

Relief flooded through me. I reached inside, but when my fingers closed around the wrench, I froze.

It wasn't metal. It was soft. A wrench-shaped piece of chocolate.

"Chocolate?" My mind went blank.

Outside the car, Julian burst out laughing, clapping his hands like a kid at a carnival.

"Wow, you found it, Sebastian! I told Luna that keeping real tools in the car is such a downer. What if you bump into one? Hurts like hell! Isn't it way better to keep something sweet instead?"

He grinned, proud as ever. "I had that custom-made in Aurenheim, imported and all. Handmade gourmet chocolate. Pretty pricey, but hey, you're welcome!"

Rage surged through me. I crushed the chocolate in my hand and shouted, "Who told you to mess with my car? Are you out of your damn mind?"

Julian's smile disappeared instantly. His face twisted into mock hurt. "Sebastian, why are you being so mean? I was just trying to be nice…"

Luna immediately stepped between us, shielding him like some fragile porcelain doll. Her tone softened as she comforted him, then she glared at me, her voice dripping with fury.

"Do you have any manners left? Julian left you imported luxury chocolate, something he wouldn't even eat himself, and you're acting like a spoiled brat? Show some gratitude!"

The smoke inside the car had thickened, wrapping around me like a black shroud. The heat beneath my feet grew unbearable.

Then, I saw it, flames licking up from under the hood.

"It's on fire! The car's on fire! It's going to blow!" I turned to Luna, desperation breaking my voice. "Luna, please, open the door! The car's burning. I swear it's real! I'm begging you, please!"

"You've completely lost it, haven't you, Sebastian? To get my sympathy, to make me feel guilty, you'd even set your own car on fire?"

Her voice shook with fury, her words cutting like glass.

"You'll do anything for attention! Look at you. Your eyes are tearing up, and your face is covered in soot. You look pathetic. You think this is attractive? It's disgusting!"

My breathing grew harsher, every inhale burning through my lungs like fire. The smoke clawed at my throat, thick and suffocating.

With what little strength I had left, I pounded on the window again and again, my voice breaking into ragged gasps. "Please, open the door… Help me… I'm going to die…"

Through the smoke-choked glass, I caught a glimpse of Luna's face.

For the first time, the anger in her eyes faltered. Something uncertain flashed across her expression as the flames beneath the hood roared brighter.