Gone After the Wind

BEGINNING Poring over her left shoulder, Sandy Hupman let out another gust of chilling breath as she silently prayed for the service bus to come immediately. The snowstorm that took over this small part of Redvine continued to get uncontrollable as the night went deeper. The snow has been pouring harshly over the last two hours, terribly inconveniencing anyone who had the misfortune to travel this isolated highway. To Sandy, however, the storm's damage was far worse. Not only her work shift was cut off out of a sudden, but the possibilities of coming home early had started to run out as well. With the current violent blows of the southern wind and the perilous pouring of the snow, Sandy knew she had long hours to wait before someone could save her from this troubling situation. Her muscles tensed as the chilling sensation brought by the wind continued prickling her skin. Unfortunately, the quilted coat she wore was useless to defend her frail body from the coldness of the night. To think that it could provide her enough warmth to survive another hour in a lone waiting shed was stupid. The wind blew aggressively again, disturbing the pile of snow on the metal roof of the waiting shed. Sandy had to step back further inside of the shed so she wouldn't get caught at the impact as it fell in front of her. It created a whoosh sound, but it came muffled because the wind was howling loudly. She lifted her eyes ahead, looking if another pile would fall. As she did, she caught a glimpse of the sky. It's only half-past the afternoon, and yet the whole surroundings were already brewing in extreme darkness. Involuntarily, her skin crawled with the sight of it. This long stretch of Redvine highway has always been the traveling platform for tourists and locals. The number of cars that usually passes on this wide road does not fall from a hundred. Even the weather had been stubborn in the past days, the people who resided in different towns didn't let the pressure affect their traveling plans. Tonight was an exemption, though. Any car hasn't occupied the highway. Sandy barely saw any living creature there other than herself. The only hope she had for tonight was the service bus, the prime reason why she dared to go to work today, despite the storm being broadcasted all over the town. She knew she would be carried home safely without needing to fear the storm. But her supposed savior has been late for two hours, a trait that she never saw in the driver ever since she took this route towards home. She was confident that he could be here just after finishing her shift from the nearby diner she currently works as a waitress. And yet, not a single trace of the four-wheel transportation was visible on the road. Could it be the bus already went this way just before she got out of her work? Had she been here early, would she encounter this blistering snow? This is not the time for blaming anyone or anything, Sandy, she thought as she clasped her hands coated with thick gloves. You don't have to ponder anything except how you will get home. Shaking her head, she straightened her back and looked over to the empty highway again, keeping her hopes in check and not letting negative thoughts conquer her mind. As she continued staring at the seemingly endless highway, her eyes started squinting when she saw two moving lights that were getting bigger and bigger as seconds went by that she watched it. Her heart jumped in joy when she realized that someone was coming on her way. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. She immediately stepped out to the shed, making herself visible to the highway. To halt the driver from passing her, she stuck out her thumb. She may have no idea how hitchhiking is usually done. The mere fact that she was out there alone in the midst of a snowstorm could signal anyone that she needed help. The driver of the green pick-up seems to have thought of that. It began slowing down. As it approached Sandy, she that it was an average mini-van, only the plain green paint decorated the whole of it. She covered her eyes when the headlights hit her eyes. She stepped backward, a bit delighted that she stumbled upon a good samaritan, although she still had doubts if she would be able to get onto the vehicle. The tinted windows of the front seat rolled down. Sandy ducked to see the driver, and her eyes found a view of the man with an approachable look. He was good-looking. Could be mistaken as a celebrity because of the structure of his face that would surely pass an audition. Sandy felt a distinguishing pang of relief because not only does he seems familiar, his aura doesn't emit any dangerous ambiance. His smile was friendly, and he seemed worthy of her trust, there's no way he's harboring any ill intent towards a lone woman who happens to see him on this highway. But those characteristics weren't the reasons why Sandy's face lit up, and a smile crawled on her lips. It was the fact that she had seen him before. Not in her work but somewhere along with the town. "Hi," the driver greeted her. His low voice tickled her ears. "Looking for someone to get you home?" "Uh, yeah." Nodding, Sandy shielded her eyes from the falling snow. "The bus ditched me, so I have no one else to rely on at this hour. Do you mind if I ride with you?" she trailed off, pointing to the front seat. "Sure, sure, no problem!" the driver said with a glee in his voice. "Glad I could be of help!" She heard something that clicked before the door pushed open. The wind blew, and her body instantly reacted to the freezing sensation. She wasted no time and climbed up to the car. Once she settled inside, the cramps she ached from standing too much decreased slightly. The warmth of his vehicle soothed her. It reminded her of the comfort of her home. "So, where are you heading?" the driver politely asked as the car started to move. Relief rushed through Sandy as the waiting shed grew distant. She slumped on her seat. "Hansen Ville. But you can drop me off at the nearest motel. Thank you." "Are you sure? I lived near that neighborhood. It's not that far, you know. I could drive you straight towards your home." Head still filled with doubts, Sandy contemplated if whether she should agree to the offer or stick with her safest plan. She was tempted, of course. That cannot be denied. Particularly if she just suffered an almost near-death situation. Getting home without having further troubles is a great idea but is it going to be worth it with the presence of a stranger? Sandy never forgets the fact that he's a local. She had spotted him frequently in different local stores across town, and he never struck her as a suspicious man. Still, she can't lay out all her trust in this man. She didn't know him personally. What could be the chances of not getting harmed by him? "I think I'm fine with the motel. I'm not hoping to come home early tonight," Sandy said, sounding truthful in spite of the lie she indicated. The truth is, she's more than eager to make it home. But she just can't disregard the whisper of her instinct not to trust easily. The driver nodded appreciatively. Sandy hoped that would be their last exchange of barely related sentences, but the man seems not okay to be enveloped by silence. He launched another phrase to start a conversation. "I'm actually delighted that I found you. It's not safe to wait there alone, you know," he sounded concerned. "I know. I just need a ride to get off from that place. My son is having a birthday party tomorrow morning. I'm the one who's going to organize it. That's why I need to be there on time." Sandy couldn't help but to smile as she looked out the window, remembering the excited look on her son's face when she exploded the news that she'd be organizing his party tomorrow. It was why she requested an overtime shift because she wanted to extra money for the gift she was planning to buy. But due to the storm and the absence of the nocturnal service she was expecting, the plan didn't go the way she anticipated. "Oh?" The driver glanced her way. He looked forlorn at what he heard. "He must be waiting for you now. You could've gotten home early if I came right on time." "No, it's okay," she assured with a fixed smile, slowly finding it ridiculous to hear something like that from a stranger. He sighed. "This storm won't be out 'till tomorrow, that's what the reports said. It might take you some time before you meet your son." Sandy only nodded. She chose not to blurt out another word because she didn't want to make it seem that she believed that. Whatever the odds, she will make it home. Even if this storm lasted for a week, she wouldn't postpone the party. "By the way, are you comfortable with a radio on?" the driver requested with a rather loud voice. It startled her to the point that she felt weirded out. Eyes rounded a bit, she nodded subtly as a response. The driver nodded, smiling as he fiddled something on the mini-stereo. There was a crackling noise before it produced a mellow song. The rhythm was too calm and steady, Sandy's senses immediately succumbed to its lethargic tune. She didn't know how it added to the serene sound made by the pattering snow outside and the constant whooshing of the wind. As the car went on to the road covered with thick snow, Sandy felt the few bumps that the tires had to go through. The car wasn't doing an offending speed but the storm's blast was enough to yield its force from it. The wiper on the windshield was having a hard time sweeping off the pile of snow falling from above, and pure darkness was beyond the headlights. Sandy couldn't determine if they reached the nearest gas station she often saw on her trip. Until the left side of the road remains blank, she wouldn't know whether she's near her town or still has a long and cold trip to endure. Withdrawing a long breath, she leaned her head on the window and let her muscles relax with the warmness enveloping her. She closed her eyes, attempting to take a nap when suddenly the car rattled, and the engine started to fade in her ears. "Oh, s**t," the driver muttered under his breath, leaning over the steering wheel with a confused look. Sandy jolted from her seat and looked at him. "What's wrong?" "I think something's not right with the car," he said as the car slowed down at the side of the highway. "I need to stop the car and see what caused the rattling. Would that be fine with you?" Sandy couldn't let out an answer, for the car had already settled near a big oak tree. She shifted on her weight and glanced back to the driver, who kept tapping his indicators and the dials as if he could make the car move again through that. "I just lost power. How could that happen when my gas is full?" the driver wondered. "Sorry, this hasn't been brought to proper maintenance before, and I only started using it yesterday." "I-It's okay," Sandy said, her voice laced with concern and alarm. She couldn't complain about anything now. They have been on a trip for almost half an hour. Finding another source of the ride would take too much time. After all, there haven't been any vehicles coming in and out of this highway. "Do you know how to start a car?" "I do," Sandy answered. "Although, I never used one before." "Must be a struggle for a working lady, huh?" The driver put out a smirk. Sandy grinned back. "Well, you could use that little knowledge on our dilemma. I'll open up the hood outside, and you must turn the ignition on so that I can tell what's going on with this thing." With nothing much to oppose or say, Sandy agreed. She finds the task easy and safe. If this man has something ill in his mind, she would be secured inside. All the possibilities to escape lies in that car. She watched the driver cover half of his face with a thick blue scarf before he went out. As what she was asked to do, Sandy replaced him on his seat. She studied the wheel and the indicator to see if she still remembered how to handle them. Luckily, her brain brought tidbits of information, just enough to say that she knew what she was about to do. "I'll give you a signal!" the driver repeated from outside that came out muffled in her ears. She nodded and observed him as he strode towards the hood. Despite the strong wind, he managed to pull the hood open. He gave her a thumbs-up in which Sandy did the task. The engine revived, and although it sounded strange that nothing seemed out of place from the vehicle, she continued switching the ignition. "Should I do it again?!" she shouted from the car after she turned it on for two times. She waited for his signal again, but all she received was the humming of the wind outside. She peeked through the window in an attempt to see what he was doing, but it didn't pay off. She couldn't see anything except to the endless snowfall and the hood of the car blocking her view. Getting uncomfortable by the deafening silence because of the driver's lack of response, she shouted again. "Hello?! Are you still there?!" No response emerged once more. Concerned that the storm might've put the driver into danger, she reached for the door handle and pushed the door open slowly. As she did, the storm bombarded her with chilling air and the gushing of snow that sent shivers through her spine. She swallowed hard and embraced her frail body. She started walking closer to the hood to take a peek. "Did you find out anything—" She stopped midway, blinking, and started to get confused as she stared at the empty space where the driver was standing earlier. Panicked rushed within her, the adrenaline spreading through her body like wildfire. Alerted and fearing for the worst scenario, she turned away and started walking hastily to the car. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest. She didn't know why but she felt extremely scared at this point. And the idea of getting back inside the car where she can be worried-free it's the kind of refuge that she badly wishes for at the moment. But before her fingers could touch the door handle, something wrapped around her neck with just one blink. It was getting tighter and tighter as if someone was pulling it hard behind. She reached for it instinctively. It was thick and fuzzy, a common feature in a type of fabric that is well-known for her. The scarf... She tried grabbing it, her fingers only hurting because the force was squeezing too much of her breath. She hit out blindly, throwing her elbows behind, but none of her efforts provided her the chance to escape. The scarf tightened even more, and her vision started to resign. Her knees wobbled like a piece of jelly that was cut in the middle. She gasped for air as she did all her might to get the fabric out of her neck. I had to go back. I must make it home— One more pull from the back of the scarf, and she heard something snap. She stopped wriggling, her body collapsing to the bare snow and her face falling down sideway. The last thing she was aware of was the man stepping forward, casting out a shadow from the headlights as he kneeled down, gazing at her with an unknown smile before the whole world turned dark.