Page 5 of The Wrong Drive-
You haveto be kidding me.
I throw my truck into reverse, my anger causing a lead foot against the gas. It jerks backwards, and then hangs again, the tires spinning. I put it back in drive and try to send it forward, but I only bury it further in the drift of powdery snow.
I glance around, my heart throbbing in my temple. “Fuck!” I shout at the steering wheel, punching it with the bottom of my fist. I push my hair out of my face, and then force myself to take a deep breath. I squint into the whirling of vicious white flakes, making out what Ithinkmight be a cabin about two hundred yards ahead. It’s impossible to tell for sure.
For all I know, it might just be an optical illusion. I sweep up my phone and call Adam once again as I cut the engine and shove the door open.Please answer.
“I’m getting around to come and get you, even if you want a break,” he snaps with greeting. “I’m just waiting on you to tell me where the hell you are.”
“I’m just calling to tell you I’m stuck,” I say, the wind feeling like a blade on my face as I ignore everything he just spat at me. “And I guess I have to walk the rest of the way to the cabin.”
He’s silent.
“Adam?”
“You’re kind of breaking up with the wind.” His annoyed tone lightens. “Did you say you’re stuck and walking now?”
“Yeah.” As my answer leaves my lips, I hear something in the distance—something that sounds a lot like dogs barking. It sends a shockwave of nerves through my shivering body…But at least it’s a sign of life up ahead?
“You said you can see the house, right?”
“I don’t know…” I squint into the snow as I start forward, cradling the phone against my ear. “I think so.” I make out some sort of structure, but again, it’s almost impossible to tell for sure. “I hear dogs barking.”
“That’s a good sign,” he sighs, sounding relieved to some degree. “Just tell them you’re stuck. Like I said, I can come and get you if you hurry up and get an address. I still can’t see your location, Em. I’m getting ready to leave. Most people around here are nice, and they’re going to be understanding with the weather. They might be able to get you unstuck…ifyou hurry.”
“I’m moving as fast as I can,” I exasperate, my hiking boots not warm enough for this kind of trek. “I should’ve put on my insulated boots.”
“Just keep your head down, and you’ll be?—”
“What?”
Silence.
I pull the phone away from my ear, the sound of the dog’s bark growing as the wind dies down for a moment. I look ahead in the break, spotting the two-story log cabin ahead. It’s not nearly as far as I thought, and based on my distance judging skills, it’s only about a hundred yards away.
I sniff hard, my nose already beginning to run.I can make it.I glance down at the phone, and see thecall failedpop up on the screen. I let out a sigh as chills run down my spine. I’m alone in this, but it’ll be fine.
Most people are nice. And hopefully these people are the nice kind.
But the thought is hardly comforting as all the reruns of crime shows start playing in my head. My hands shake as I break through the trees, and I hold onto my hood as the wind tries to tear it off. I have no idea what I’m walking into, and as the dog barking grows increasingly incessant, I start to grow wearier.
I manage to make it another fifty yards before I can make out more details of the cabin. It’s not in the best shape, but it’s not run down and abandoned, either. There’s definitely a dog baying, though I can’t pinpoint from where, exactly.
Someone has to be home. They have to feed their dog, right?
With one hand holding my hood, I shield my eyes with the other, and as I do, I think I make out movement on the porch. It’s difficult to see, but for the sake of how cold I am, and how desperate I am to get out of here…
“Hey!” I shout above the blowing snow. “I’m stuck, can you help me?”
There’s no response. Maybe they can’t hear me over the shrill of the wind. Or maybe it was just the dog?
I yell out again, my voice cracking with the ache of the brutal cold in my lungs. It was in the fifties back home—which is where I should’ve stayed.
No one answers, and as my eyes start to water, I do my best to blink it away. The snow doesn’t seem to be coming down as hard at the moment. I sigh in relief, rehearsing what I’ll say when I reach the porch.
I made a wrong turn, I’m really sorry. Can you help me get unstuck? My boyfriend is on the way. Or is it myex-boyfriend? Are we even together anymore?
My mind comes to a screeching halt as a loud crack pierces the winter air.
