My late-night shift at the small cashier register in a 7-11 had just finished. I closed the building, flicking off the lights, ready to go home and into the comfort of my home. The night was cool, and the moon was out. I felt the wind rush through my hair as I walked to my SUV. I reclined in my chair, exhaling. This was the last day I had to do this job; then, I could quit and move on to a better-paying position.
The ignition starts, and I pull out into the road. The car rumbles as I listen to the local radio. “Today has been quite unfortunate; Sophia Lee’s boyfriend has been reported missing. He works at 7-11 as a cashier register, and today is his last day.
I listened intently to the radio. The reporter continued, “Sophia Lee has said she had just finished preparing dinner when he texted her that he’s almost done with his shift.
I gasped. That was my girlfriend on the radio! True, I had texted her about 30 minutes ago, but there was no way I was missing. I hadn’t been gone for that long, had I? Sweat started beading on my forehead.
Suddenly, I saw a man standing on the sidewalk. I passed him, terrified. I saw him for a split second; he looked ragged, wounded, and ghastly. I gripped my steering wheel and focused on the road ahead. Only ten more minutes until I can get home and greet Sophia. Suddenly, a flash of red appeared in my peripheral vision.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man. I kept driving. The man looked more ragged and beat each time, and his shirt became redder. He looks like he’s trying to claw at me and tell me something. I step on the accelerator, and before I know it, I’m speeding 80 miles an hour without cars on the road. My eyes are trained on anything red.
I didn’t see him for three minutes and believed I had finally lost him. For a brief second, I breathed a sigh of relief. I thought of my Sophia and wondered what she would think of what I had seen this evening. It was perhaps an illusion brought upon by late nights at the 7-11.
I look at my side mirrors and then glance at my rearview mirror. I see the man in my backseat. I shriek and swerve into the road.
The next thing I knew, I lay unconscious in my car. I don’t know how long I have been unconscious, but it is still dark, with only the lights illuminating the road. I wake up with searing pain in my abs. I grimace in pain as I move my head. I look down and see my white Nike t-shirt is stained red with a wide gash running diagonally. My jeans are torn. I grunt in pain as I get myself up and out of the car. I begin trying to walk to my house, limping after each jolting through my leg to my spine. I broke a bone in my leg somewhere. Crows are screeching, and clouds shroud the moonlight.
.
A cold chill ran down my back as I heard a car coming. I quickly go to the side of the road, waving my arms, trying to get the attention of whoever is in it. It speeds off, ignoring me. My hopes are shattered. I shuffle forward, tears streaming down my cheeks. The same car comes back, and I realize it was my car.
The ignition starts, and I pull out into the road. The car rumbles as I listen to the local radio. “Today has been quite unfortunate; Sophia Lee’s boyfriend has been reported missing. He works at 7-11 as a cashier register, and today is his last day.
I listened intently to the radio. The reporter continued, “Sophia Lee has said she had just finished preparing dinner when he texted her that he’s almost done with his shift.
I gasped. That was my girlfriend on the radio! True, I had texted her about 30 minutes ago, but there was no way I was missing. I hadn’t been gone for that long, had I? Sweat started beading on my forehead.
Suddenly, I saw a man standing on the sidewalk. I passed him, terrified. I saw him for a split second; he looked ragged, wounded, and ghastly. I gripped my steering wheel and focused on the road ahead. Only ten more minutes until I can get home and greet Sophia. Suddenly, a flash of red appeared in my peripheral vision.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man. I kept driving. The man looked more ragged and beat each time, and his shirt became redder. He looks like he’s trying to claw at me and tell me something. I step on the accelerator, and before I know it, I’m speeding 80 miles an hour without cars on the road. My eyes are trained on anything red.
I didn’t see him for three minutes and believed I had finally lost him. For a brief second, I breathed a sigh of relief. I thought of my Sophia and wondered what she would think of what I had seen this evening. It was perhaps an illusion brought upon by late nights at the 7-11.
I look at my side mirrors and then glance at my rearview mirror. I see the man in my backseat. I shriek and swerve into the road.
The next thing I knew, I lay unconscious in my car. I don’t know how long I have been unconscious, but it is still dark, with only the lights illuminating the road. I wake up with searing pain in my abs. I grimace in pain as I move my head. I look down and see my white Nike t-shirt is stained red with a wide gash running diagonally. My jeans are torn. I grunt in pain as I get myself up and out of the car. I begin trying to walk to my house, limping after each jolting through my leg to my spine. I broke a bone in my leg somewhere. Crows are screeching, and clouds shroud the moonlight.
.
A cold chill ran down my back as I heard a car coming. I quickly go to the side of the road, waving my arms, trying to get the attention of whoever is in it. It speeds off, ignoring me. My hopes are shattered. I shuffle forward, tears streaming down my cheeks. The same car comes back, and I realize it was my car.
