A peculiar encounter in the middle of nowhere

Nothing felt the same anymore.

She felt the moment she put her left foot in that car that something shifted. The air around her turned into an ominous prediction, like a deja vu of some sort, but not quite. She took a deep breath, and her long hair slid on her shoulders, effortlessly beautiful, as she sat down and closed the door with a quiet “cap” sound.

She felt the leather of the car cold under her palm. Comforting, she loved the refreshing sensation. Her ring was shining like a cunning secret in the dark, that steals your sleep entirely.

Her mind wandered, as her heart instinctively knew, something was off.

The moon was rising high and mighty between two rocky mountains. Its pale light sank quietly like the white light of a scene, above all the brownish field of corn they were passing by. The driver didn’t utter a word other than asking if the temperature was ok in the seats, and if she would prefer some music. That was the type of relationship they had. Keeping things fiercely professional was ingrained in her from a young age.

Some jazz felt like it would soothe her body and mind, so she consented to it at a low volume.

The corn field seemed endless. Dark yellow engulfed by the night, with only the moon rays sliding with the speed of the car. It felt like floating, that car. She could feel her muscles unwind and sank slowly into the perfectly shaped back seat, but still, a part of her mind was vividly alert.

After they passed the deserted area, her silver wristwatch showing 4:30 AM, the car and the music stopped at a gas station. She opened her eyelids, and the image turned from foggy to clear in just a few seconds. She had fallen asleep for a good hour or so, realising after watching her watch.

She saw her driver coming out of the gas station with absolutely nothing in his hands, but two small bottles of water and a pack of chocolate M&M’s. He would never eat in the car or get food for her, unless she specifically requested it. But he’d make sure he always had water, exquisite perfume, all sorts of music, sometimes something sweet for her, most of the time M&M’s because it wouldn’t make a mess, and soothing driving skills. That’s all that mattered, and she appreciated him for that delicate care he had for her comfort.

She sighed long, as freshly awakened from sleep, and the driver handed her the M&M’s and the bottle of water, at room temperature. She thanked him, and right after starting his engine, she saw the man from the gas station coming towards the car, as Matt lowered the window 3 fingers and heard him say — Excuse me, sir, there’s some boy in ‘ere that says he must see you immediately o’else he won’t leave the gas station. He didn’t say anythin’ else other than it’s important that he sees you now. Could you just uh..you know…come check what this is about?

There it was. The feeling she had earlier, the bulb in her throat came back and had risen now, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Her first urge was to lean in, touch his shoulder and say no. Don’t go. But she didn’t. She trusted him too much, or else she couldn’t explain to herself why she didn’t.

– This is odd, I don’t know any boy, certainly one whose urgency to see me would be so big that I needed to check and see. And I didn’t see any boy in there just now when I paid you for the waters.

– Why no, it wasn’t. I mean.. he wasn’t here then, see, he just came through the bathroom, there’s a back door. He might have gone to the bathroom first, you see. And then he came in right after you left the door. Look, he’s there — he said while leaning away from the car, so Matt could see him, standing patiently at the counter, with a hoodie on, dressed normally. The boy looked towards the car, standing still, no fidgeting, no moving from one foot to another.

Besides that, Matt noticed the man was talking like he was from 40s or something. Butchering the words and very southern. And they weren’t in the south, so odd.

– What’s a little boy doing here at 4:30 AM anyway? Look, I’m sorry, but I am in my working hours. Please go away and tell that boy he has no business with me.

– Oh, but he has, sir. See, he insists that he won’t leave me ’til I bring you to him. Please. Now his eyes looked worried and glassy. Matt knew something was definitely off here. He locked the doors, closed the window and pressed the pedal to march off.

They marched for just a few feet, and then the engine suddenly stopped.

– But you just put gas — said Sheena.

– I know. I don’t understand this.

– Please. — Sheena said in a higher-pitched tone almost instinctively. — Calm down, keep the doors locked, and don’t get out of the car.

– Miss, I should see if there’s something wrong with the engine; there’s no one around here.

– Matt, listen to me. It’s an order. Whatever you do, keep quiet. Do you want me to come in front?

– Ok. However you want, I am good either way.

– I’m coming. — And she jumped ahead from two moves.

– Why do you want us to just stay here? Matt asked, obviously shaken by her decisive reaction. — Is there something I should know? Do you know who might have done this to the car?

– When Matt? The car was working just fine a few seconds ago. Who can I know that might have damaged the car?

A pause, and a stare in her grey eyes.

– Exactly, and I don’t know either. That’s why we should keep quiet until daylight.

– But …why ? Why are you afraid? What are you afraid of?

– I don’t know, I have this feeling, and my instinct never fails me. We’re safe here.

Matt sighed and looked at the window at a field of crops, pitch dark now. No illuminating road lights, no nothing. He started the music at low volume.

Sheena felt every muscle in her body contract; her silk blouse felt like a thousand pounds weighing on her delicate hand, irritating her skin.

A few minutes passed by so slow as if time warped on the emotional curve of their internal shiverings.

– Do you want some M&M’s? Matt finally broke the silence.

– Yes, please. — and she already reached out for the candy bag resting on the backseat, when she saw in the rear window a kid standing by. Her whole body contracted, and her heart pounded like a gong in a big empty room. — Matt, there’s the kid behind us. I was right. Do not open the doors, no matter what.

– Jesus Christ. — Now Matt turned around and saw him just standing there.

– Try your car again.

Nothing. A dead engine.

Sheena felt cold. Colder than ever before, and she couldn’t say another word. She wanted to ask Matt if he felt cold too, but she froze completely in her seat. Her jaw was crunching her teeth, and her eyes were two dark bowls of terror.

She could turn her head slightly towards Matt when she saw him by the driver’s window. Her heart was pounding like crazy now.

Two knocks on the window, and Matt looked at Sarah, horrified. The boy looked normal, absolutely nothing weird besides a weird scar on his hand. A really big one, starting from his small finger, extending upward on his arm, as far as we could see. It was still night, so he couldn’t really distinguish the colour of his skin, although he seemed pale. More pale than a usual kid.

They both heard him say “Can you please take me to where you’re going?. I promise I will be good.”

Sarah felt thorns in her throat when she swallowed. She never had this sensation before, but it felt like the closer the kid got, the worse she felt. She forced herself beyond to open her mouth and say to Matt — When was the last time you were really happy, Matt?

He looked slowly towards her, consternated by the question; his eyebrows raised, and his forehead made a few straight vertical frowns right in the middle. — What?? I don’t know.. I guess.. Why are you asking me this, Sarah? — He looked at her, engulfed in worry.

– ‘caus we’ve to t-t-talk, YOU need to focus on me and this conversation NOW. Her eyeballs resembled two blueish grey pinballs.

– Ok. OK. OK. happy. Ok. His breathing accelerated with every word, but he was looking at Sarah now, just at her. — I… I remember when I took you to dancing lessons huhh, I.. I stopped by a coffee shop and went in to get a coffee, when I saw a lemon tart just like my sister used to make. It had the.. the the texture and — sigh — the same color. So I got one, and it was exactly like my sister made. Of course, she couldn’t have bought it because, huhh.. we lived in a small town. No Starbucks there, no coffee shops whatsoever. But it took me there. To a cosy Sunday afternoon, when she’d make lemon tart, and we’d watch classical old movies, and laugh our asses off at the pompous talk they had, and you know.. Just laughing silly. — I imagine. That’s beautiful, Matt. How was your sister? Tell me about her.

In the meantime, the kid had come to Sarah’s window, but there were no knocks anymore, and he was standing farther away from the window, as far as she could notice with a side eye. At some point, they heard a “please, I can’t go in unless you agree. I can’t go home either. Help me.” and other utterings that were meant to convince you of his innocence and that you’re just being mean and thoughtless for not taking care of a strained kid.

As they talked, Sarah held his cold hand in hers, they closed their eyes really tight, and they talked and talked for some time. It’s unclear how much time has passed, but when they opened their eyes, it was daylight, there was no kid anymore, and there was absolutely no gas station behind them. They were in a supermarket’s parking lot, and people were craning along between cars, in the direction of the supermarket. Everything seemed like a normal, busy Monday.

They opened the Maps and checked where they were, and the supermarket was somewhat close to their destination. To a solitary but beautiful place where Sarah will spend a few days by herself.

She knew three things as clear as the sun rays that were hovering over their red skin. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. The memories came back, flooding her mind, of how she instinctively knew what not to do. Something similar happened when she was 9.

And also.. Matt was not a simple driver for her. Not anymore.

Initially posted on Medium