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If there was ever a time when I could prove my point about night being a bad time to be away from home, this had to be one. I had made plans to visit a friend in another state. But, what I failed to plan, or insist upon, was an earlier start for the long drive. I could have booked a flight but thought it would be a waste to fly just one state over when I could take the time to see some sights. If not for my new GPS system, I might not have even thought it possible for me to make such a journey without prior experience. But, I trusted technology(a huge leap of my faith) to guide me safely through the wilderness.
It was roughly 3 PM when I had the car packed and locked the front door to my place. I had hoped to be on the road by 11 AM. [But, I guess second-guessing yourself can be a real bitch.] The hum of my car's engine gave me a little boost of confidence. And, as the screen of my GPS lit up with a friendly chime, I took a breath and smiled before heading out toward "the country".
I kept a small cooler loaded with snacks next to me as I drove. Someone I knew had once tipped me off to this idea for battling nerves. It also made eating a little more convenient. Of course, I always get a little anxious shortly after leaving home. So, I hastily devoured a dry sandwich and downed a small bottle of cranberry apple juice(good for the digestion). It was just enough to get my "cylinders" pumping. I gave my drying eyes a few blinks and reminded myself to breathe as I adjusted my grip on the wheel. Then, I turned off the A/C which was responsible for my dry eyes. [I had left it on from a previous trip.]
Fifty miles into the journey, I had a little light go off in my head. I looked at the fuel meter. It was a hair above half-full. I assumed I was doing fine and would not need to make a stop anytime soon.
I looked at the odometer a few times. I had set it to check distance travelled. I had already covered sixty-five miles. I shook my head for obsessing and tried to think of something else to do with my driving time.
I turned on the radio. As usual, when venturing out of the city, the stations were a mess. I would have been better off bringing a few CDs. But, that was one little detail that didn't engrave itself in my busy mind.
Traffic was a breeze. The country roads were smooth sailing. I only had a handful of cars buzz by, and not one gave me a hard time. Only a couple of semi trucks along the county lines presented a minor problem. I tried darting around one only to have someone in a white sportscar come flying at me while honking their horn. I luckily slipped back behind the truck and let the sweat dry on my face and chest while shaking off my impatient mistake.
As the sun began to set and paint the sky with the last of its daily colors, I thought I might be turning depressed by the long drive. The sun took back my motivation with its rays. While passing a stretch of farm land with a white picket fence, I spotted a young woman with shoulder-length curly red hair along the roadside. She wore a green-and-white striped long-sleeve shirt with blue jeans and toted a light blue spring jacket over her right shoulder while towing a small piece of wheeled luggage with her other hand. She looked at me and smiled warmly. I noticed the freckles on her face as I passed by before her smile quickly faded. As I caught sight of her in the rear-view mirror, I assumed she was looking for a ride. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like stopping for such things. Nor did I know what it would take to get her where she was going.
I heard crows caw as I passed the one hundred mile mark. The sun was down, and no one was in sight. Not one car. Not a single pedestrian. I was alone in a strange land of blue trees and purple roads.
"Turn left in 2.3 miles."
Ah. The soothing feminine voice of my trusty GPS. I had almost forgotten. SHE would not let me down and would remain my faithful companion.
But, the battered sign I passed at that next turn read "Turner Gulch 2.5 miles". It didn't sound like a friendly place(and, frankly, like something out of a corny Western movie). And, I had the slightest doubt in the pit of my gut that I was going the wrong way.
I stopped the car, shifted into reverse and changed course. There. That felt better.
"Turn left in 2.3 miles."
Strange. She said the same thing just a few minutes ago.
"Fog ahead. Maintain visual contact with the road."
That was ALSO something unusual for her to say. I had never heard weather conditions. But, sure enough, I was heading into a bank of fog without noticing it. The sky was unusually dark. And, in no time, it vanished beneath a grey blanket.
I switched on the high beams and tore a few holes in that fog, teaching it some respect for my presence. Before I could relish in my bravery, the veil vanished; and I was able to see just the black silhouette of the country landscape beneath an eerie canvas of reds, blues and greens. Again, I heard crows caw in the distance.
Stopping the car, I relished in the silencing of the engine long enough to appreciate the chirping of crickets. It sounded as if swarms of the little critters were "getting busy". Quite an orgy that evening. It was strangely soothing sitting out in the middle of nowhere.
I heard something scratching the side of the car. Suddenly, a shadow leapt atop the hood and flashed its eyes at me. Although, with little ambient light, they were not menacing(much less visible).
The creature made a shrill sound.
"RRReeeeerWH!"
And, then, it leapt across the road, vanishing into darkness. [I assumed it was a black cat. But, it could have been any color.]
I couldn't be sure if it was still lurking out there. I made sure my windows were closed just in case it tried to leap inside. But, having the windows closed made it a bit difficult to breathe. I felt partially deaf not being able to hear every little sound. So, I lowered the driver-side window and listened carefully.
The crickets had stopped chirping. [If you have any knowledge of crickets, you might know that it was a bad sign for them to be silent at this time of night.] I felt my drying eyes popping from their sockets. My lips and throat were parched. I kept telling myself to grab something to drink while squinting out the window in an attempt to spot something on the horizon. I had never experienced such a dead calm in my life. [This is the part where you say, "Wait. I think I've seen this one. This is where..."]
"Rawrh!"
A large shadow leapt in front of me and latched its shaggy paws onto the window frame. I stared right into its bright yellow eyes with red pupils before screaming like a little girl. I didn't think about it. I just peed in my pants and reached for the key in a hurry. I thought I'd be dead by the time I got the car started, again. But, luckily, I survived and made my hasty escape down the country road. I didn't look back for a second. I just locked my eyes on the path between the trees ahead and jabbed my foot down on the gas pedal. I had never driven so fast nor enjoyed the roar of the engine as I did at that moment. My hands were like two sticks of rapidly melting butter on the wheel.
[How did I get away from that creature? It had to be a trick. Some punk in a costume, maybe. If it had been real, I would have surely been dog food in seconds. And, my car would have looked worse than a can of Spinach after Popeye had his fill.]
"Turn left in 2.3 miles."
[Again? Where was she taking me?] I sighed and trusted my GPS gal to lead me to safer pastures. But, upon seeing another sign which read "Turner Gulch", I started to wonder if this whole trip was a mistake. I was there. A small town of rundown buildings basking in the moonlight(like something out of that Western movie I was imagining earlier). I was all set on driving around the perimeter and simply carrying on with my journey into the neighboring state when I found myself turning down a stretch which cut right through the middle of town. [How and when did I make that turn?] I passed one of the more "polished" two-floor wooden structures which had a light on in one of the upper corner windows. I slowed down to get a better look.
Suddenly, the light went out. [Maybe whoever was inside was going to bed.] I hoped my car wasn't disturbing the peace. As if to answer my question, it started to sputter and then came to a full stop. I heard a faint hissing sound before feeling a wave of heat wash over my face. I couldn't see the dashboard well. So, I dug a flashlight out of the glove compartment and took a closer look. The fuel meter was verging on empty. The radiator was nearly bone dry. [I must have exhausted it when I was speeding.] At least, I could hear crickets, again.
A light came on in the window beside the front door of the same building(which looked a bit like a more modern day saloon). An owl somewhere outside of town contributed its usual two cents. I saw a shadow moving near and then toward the door. I heard the knob squeak and the wood creak as the stranger poked his or her head outside. I almost said "hi" before choking on my words. I thought I might die of thirst waiting to see a face. [But, why was I waiting when anyone or anything in this little town might be another threat?]
As the shadow came forward and into focus, it took shape. The shape of a very slender person wearing what appeared to be a tattered dress(or robe). The narrow strips of fabric hanging from the forearms danced in the night air as she(assuming it was a "she") glided across the gravel path to the side of my car. When she was within two feet of the window, I was finally able to see a trace of her gaunt face in the moonlight. Striking features, skin like moon rock, eyes like sparkling black marbles, sharply tapered cheekbones, slender lips and a head of long, black hair swaying down past her hips where a rope belt was tied firmly around her non-existent waist. The longer I stared with fear in my heart, the softer her appearance became. Soon, I could see the whites of her eyes.
"Evening, stranger," she said in the most soothing(yet haunting), deep(yet feminine) voice. "Have you come far to this neck of the woods?"
[What a colorful choice of words she used.]
"Uh...I guess so. It seems my car just...led me here."
[Considering I had no clue who this woman was or if my life was, in fact, in danger, I had no idea why I was even talking to her.]
"Ah. Then, perhaps, it was fate."
[Yeah. That's it, lady. Fate. That old chestnut.]
I didn't know what to say in response to that one. So, I shrugged and cracked a half-smile as I continued to gather a vibe from her.
"You must be tired. Would you like to come inside? I have plenty of space for you to share. A nice cozy bed."
[Yep. That was it. I had to get the heck out of there. I knew where this story was going. And, I was not about to be the next victim in a grim fairy tale. Though, I imagined the bed WAS rather inviting in a...sexual fantasy sort of way...basking in the moonlight...with...red-and-gold covers and a matching canopy framed with old wood posts, golden tassles...] I tried to start the engine, but it just clicked and sputtered.
"Tsk. Tsk. I don't think it's going to start again so soon. Besides, your tank is a little low.
[How could SHE tell that? Surely, she couldn't read the meter from where she was standing in the dark.]
You should give it a break and, at least, rest your eyes. I'm sure you have a long drive ahead of you. In the morning, you can surely reach a gas station for a refill. Til then, won't you keep me company? Or, may I keep YOU company?"
I felt her hand snaking up my left shoulder. I couldn't turn my head sharply enough to get a good look at her boney fingers. But, I could see her other hand massaging the base of the window frame just below the shallow curves of her meager bosom. Those polished black nails with a few random cracks in the tips. Like a cunning python, she worked her arms around me as she poked her head through the window. She seemed amazingly flexible. Her head kept changing directions as if her neck was a garden hose.
I thought I caught a glimpse of closed eyes on a pale moon face before her dark lips latched onto my own. Cold and dry at first, they gave me a fright before I discovered an alien warmth passing between her and I. I felt like I might pass out as she refused to remove herself. Her kiss was like a vacuum on the verge of extracting my teeth. Her long black hair brushed against my face. It was cool and smooth as silk, easing my mind of lingering fears. Her warm, wet tongue grazed my lips as she moaned softly and pulled me forward by the back of my head. I found myself giving in to her embrace and wanting more.
I heard the door click. She had opened it herself and was guiding me out of the car. [Did she have extra hands somewhere?]
"Come on inside. I will make sure you are comfortable for the night. No telling what might be lurking out here."
[No scarier words were ever spoken to me by a woman in a long, long time. Or, at least, they didn't sound friendly coming from her.]
"Uh...No thanks. I-I'd really prefer to stay with the car. I don't...want to trouble you with--"
She gave my right hand a tug with her icy fingers and pulled me to my feet. I gazed deep into her dark eyes. Her long, black hair flapped slowly in mid-air as if moving through water.
"No trouble at all. Please. Do not refuse me, again."
"W-Well, I'm sorry to tell you--"
"Do not say you are sorry."
"Uh, okay...I-I am just telling you...I'm staying out here with the car."
Suddenly, she let go of my hand and retreated a step. The previous whistling of the air with the motion of her body abruptly halted.
"Very well. Then I will remain here with the car, as well. We will ride the night together under the moon."
I shook my head as a painful knot quickly formed in the coils of my mind.
"W-Wait; what?!"
Like a ragdoll, she grabbed me by the neckline of my shirt and tossed me atop my car before joining me on the roof with her legs straddled over me. My body made a distinct thump across the plexiglass bubble. I felt her hair wash down over my face and curl at the sides like the tentacles of a curious octopus. I could barely make out the features of her face and chest perking up from the plunging neckline of her dress in the shadows as she lowered her head toward my lips.
"Come. Let us make this night...memorable."
Before I could say anything in disagreement, she had forced her lips over my own and began sucking the life out of me. [Probably literally. I couldn't be sure at the time.] I heard her moaning and laughing under her breath. She pressed our chests together while holding my wrists firmly against the top of the car with her boney "hand-cuffs". I could feel the curves of her breasts shifting with every passing second as if they were growing. [Probably filling with my life energy.] I was gradually becoming paralyzed as she wrapped herself around me. And, yet, I found enough vim and vigor in me to
[Technical difficulties. We will return to our current programming shortly. Please stand by. Thank you.]
"Chirp. Chirp. Cuh-caw! Caw!"
I opened my eyes. It was morning. A tangerine and cornflower blue sky littered with golden puffs of mashed potatoes. I shot upright and discovered that I was still in the driver seat. My face had been pressing against the wheel and now ached from the impression made in the left side. I wiped the drool from my chin and the leathery frame before squinting out the side window. I could see the old house clear as day. But, there was no sign of life. And, as I scanned the rest of the town from the safety of my car, it looked the same.
I decided not to waste another minute second-guessing myself(not this time) and to start the car as fast as possible. Luckily, it worked the first time. [Very luckily.] I cranked my only friend into reverse and peeled out of Turner Gulch, praying I would not find myself right back in the middle of "spookville" when I made the next turn.
As I raced along another nameless country road with the voice of my GPS still ringing in my ears, I noticed the similarity between its voice and that of the frail woman I had...met...last night. I shook my head, trying to remove that thought quickly.
Then I saw the streamer dangling from my driver side mirror. It looked like half a pair of black sheer pantyhose. It had to be a piece of that woman's dress. I kept looking at it for about two miles before finally tugging at it til it broke free and flopped past the rear bumper. [Adios, muchacha peligrosa.]
I checked my meters, once more. Gas was still verging on empty(as was coolant). I needed to find a gas station soon.
I noticed someone walking along the side of the road. Just a few feet from a white picket fence. It was the same red-haired girl I had seen yesterday. Only, now, she was carrying an armful of books. But, I had left her far behind in a distant county. [How was she walking here in front of me?]
I slowed the car and pulled alongside her before stopping.
"Hey! 'You live around here?!" I shouted, trying to get her attention. "I thought I saw you yesterday. But, somewhere else."
She turned and looked at me plainly.
"You DID. But, you didn't stop. I had to walk aaall the way home...alone."
[Gee. Thanks for the guilt trip, stranger. It's not like I owed you anything.]
"Well, if you'll forgive me, I'll happily drop you off somewhere. 'That okay?"
Her eyes perked up and a small smile curved across the left side of her face as she slowly stepped toward the car.
"Sure. Thanks. That'd be nice."
I moved my small cooler of snacks and squirmed across the partition to open the passenger door. She slipped inside and threw me a silly grin. I thought she might be suffering from the long walk.
"So...where to?"
"Oh. Not far. Just a little neck of the woods known as...Turner Gulch!"
The color drained from my face as I turned to see her red curls turn black and snake across the grey interior. Her dazed green eyes became dark and ominous. And, as her youthful lips and cheeks began to wither, I heard her cackle wildly in that already familiar deep, seductive tone. Her hands were already latched onto me. And, I knew I was in for a fright.
.......Or, maybe, the ride of my life!
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Tune in next time(if I am still alive and free to speak) for another installment of...
Road Trips with Brainstormer!
Remember. Drive with others as you would have them drive with you. And, have a safe and happy Halloween(or Dia de los Muertes).
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