Imprint of Mate

Chapter 5

The campground the unsettling old man had mentioned was, in fact, exactly one mile away. It wasn't ideal. I didn't like being alone in the middle of nature. But here, enclosed by the four walls of my car, I was far from Jhon and in a place where I could easily escape if he appeared. Perhaps it was exhaustion or the last bit of sanity slipping away, but at this moment, this was my safe refuge. I couldn't trap myself here. I couldn't be cornered in a room with only one door. I had four doors, and my feet could easily reach the accelerator pedal.

Shirley's ready-to-go pack was stored in the passenger seat, and I was quick to close all the doors before pulling out my sleeping bag. It wasn't the elegant silver Mercedes Jhon had traded for my 4Runner, nor the high-end condo with an ocean view he liked, but it was a cozy, personal refuge.

My eyes began to wander as I watched the stars through the open sunroof. The air was cool, too cool for comfort, so I slid the sunroof cover shut before nestling into my seat. The land of sleep called to me, promising the comfort of my mother humming to me as she stroked my hair. A comfort I barely had time to enjoy before being interrupted by a distant howl.

My eyes cracked open. Darkness seeped into the car, infiltrated it. I pulled the sleeping bag tighter around me as my drowsy eyes tried to wake up, blinking.

Another howl sounded. Closer. Close enough for my eyes to pop open wide. Only the dark forest stared back at me, like open water. I could see the faint outline of branches swaying in the wind, but only silence spread over the dark blanket around me.

My heart raced. Maybe I was being irrational?

Dramatic?

A thud.

Something struck the back of the car. The car rocked, and I clutched the blankets over my head. My hand covered my mouth as I peered over the edge of my sleeping bag.

The darkness watched me like an animal licking its lips, daring me to delve into its embrace.

"It's nothing," I murmured to myself.

Thud.

The car shook violently, like a ship in an enraged sea.

My teeth sank into my lip, a metallic taste filling my mouth as I inhaled deeply, preparing to move. My head spun, searching for something, although I expected whatever it was wouldn't show itself.

My eyes were squeezed shut tightly and wanted to stay that way, but instinct told me to move. Like a thief, I carefully slid out of my comfortable sleeping bag and reached for the keys. As I turned the ignition key, there was another thud, this one closer to the driver's door, rocking the car again like another angry wave.

My breath caught in my throat as the engine stuttered. The darkness around me seemed to thicken as my heartbeat pounded in my chest. A cold sweat danced on my neck as I continued to listen to the stuttering of the engine.

"Come on, Ted!"

The engine caught, and I floored the accelerator just as something smashed into the passenger door, making me jump from my seat. A scream tore from my mouth as I fought to find the accelerator pedal. Gravel flew around me.

Gripping the steering wheel, I floored the accelerator, covering ten meters towards freedom. But in the darkness, I didn't see it coming. Something struck the front of the truck.

The metal groaned as glass shattered around me, the car starting to roll slowly onto its side. There was a crash, crunches, what sounded like growls? Growls? And the faint sound of a pained murmur. Was that me?

When I finally opened my eyes, I found absolute silence.

A pure, terrifying silence.

This kind of silence meant I had to get out of here before it was too late. The unsettling old man lived nearby; he must have been close to have walked out to where I was in the field. I had driven over a thousand miles to escape a monster; I could drive another mile from whatever was out there.

The silence was interrupted by the crackling of shattering glass as it fell around me, small shards falling like spring rain in a gentle spring storm. I could see the moon peeking through the cracked windshield like a bright, guiding light in the clear night. The cold seeped into the car, sliding over my shoulders as the glass continued to fall beside me.

Suddenly, it was all too noisy: the sound of glass falling beside me, my breath leaving my mouth, my heartbeat thumping in beats I was sure could be heard a mile away, and my own screams in my head, which I knew would burst from my mouth if I opened it.

The metal easily buckled under whatever was walking over it, each assault preceding each new dent with groans that made me twist in pain within the fortress I thought these four walls of steel would provide.

I had to escape.

I examined my options. Staying was not an option, but the windshield didn't seem viable either. Breaking it would be too noisy. It was so dark outside that I wasn't sure I could even run if I could, especially with the trees blocking the moon. The moon was out, yes, but the trees seemed determined to keep me in complete darkness.

But I had to move. In my mind, I could picture the road. I could retrace my steps to it. I just needed the cover of silence.

My brain chewed over the options. I needed a silent escape, something that wouldn't reveal my location.

Breaking a window and running was a deadly trap.

My eyes searched the cabin frenetically for options. The sunroof. I had closed it, but I left the sunroof window open before falling asleep. I could open it quietly and slip away without making a sound. Well, that was what I hoped, at least.

I closed my eyes tightly. I only had one chance. My fingers moved in my shoes, my legs ready to run the moment they touched the ground.

My fingers found the cover and stopped. I looked around to ensure I hadn't betrayed myself before reaching for the handle. Carefully, I slid the cover back. A cold breath of the vast, dark stillness of the forest brushed my face. Cold but inviting, like a siren calling me to my death.

I felt like my soul would tear if I looked too long.

I dared not breathe. I pulled my t-shirt over my mouth and bit down to resist screaming. The darkness exhaled another soft breath inside. I advanced carefully, pushing myself upward as I began to crawl.

The soft earth sank under my hands as I slid carefully out into the night. When my whole body was outside the car, I burst forth like I was running the hundred-meter dash in the Olympics. I dropped the t-shirt from my mouth and sucked in sweet breaths of air to keep my limbs moving.