Simon Barker

Simon walked down the aisle, looking into every seat, but not a single one was occupied.

The teenagers were gone.

The woman with the tuna sandwich was gone.

The man who looked like his grandfather was gone.

He was entirely alone on a bus that didn't stop moving.

A cough sounded behind him and he startled.

He turned back to the front of the bus to find the horrifying devil monster in front of the wheel.

But now it had a large gash in its neck that bled profusely all over the wheel, dripping down to the floor and sliding to coat Simon's shoes.

Simon whispered.

The devil smiled back.

Look behind you.

Simon didn't want to look, but he forced himself to peek out the back window.

The fog lifted enough for him to see the intersection they'd just passed through, where a semi-truck had collided with the 17A bus.

The bus was completely crushed, both ends squished together like an accordion.

A single glance made it clear that no one survived.

And yet, Simon was still here.

He stared at the crash until the fog obscured it, but he'd never forget that image.

He walked on unsteady legs, his shoes soaking up blood, and he fell into the seat behind the monster.

What's happening?

The words were a plea, a cry for a reasonable explanation that he would never get.