Unknown Narrator

I yanked the nozzle free, spilling some gas in my rush, and practically dove into my truck. The engine hesitated for a split second before roaring to life. In the rearview mirror, I caught sight of them stepping closer, their silhouettes looming larger. The overhead lamp flickered a few times, throwing their shapes in and out of view.

I yanked the nozzle free, spilling some gas in my rush, and practically dove into my truck. The engine hesitated for a split second before roaring to life. In the rearview mirror, I caught sight of them stepping closer, their silhouettes looming larger. The overhead lamp flickered a few times, throwing their shapes in and out of view.

It was unsettling enough that I didn't even consider sticking around to see what they wanted. Gripping the wheel, I slammed the accelerator to the floor. The tires spun briefly on the cold pavement before the truck surged forward. As I pulled out onto the road, I couldn't help glancing over my shoulder.

It was unsettling enough that I didn't even consider sticking around to see what they wanted. Gripping the wheel, I slammed the accelerator to the floor. The tires spun briefly on the cold pavement before the truck surged forward. As I pulled out onto the road, I couldn't help glancing over my shoulder.

They were still there, just a few steps away from where I'd been, and I thought I caught a gleam in one of their gazes. under the dying fluorescent light. My breath rattled in my chest as I sped away, the station shrinking in the mirrors. Part of me felt stupid for reacting like that.

They were still there, just a few steps away from where I'd been, and I thought I caught a gleam in one of their gazes. under the dying fluorescent light. My breath rattled in my chest as I sped away, the station shrinking in the mirrors. Part of me felt stupid for reacting like that.

Maybe they were just harmless locals, but something about that silent approach and those intense stares convinced me otherwise. The entire town, or what passed for one, seemed to vanish behind me, and I told myself, I wouldn't stop again until I hit a place brimming with neon lights and other people.

Maybe they were just harmless locals, but something about that silent approach and those intense stares convinced me otherwise. The entire town, or what passed for one, seemed to vanish behind me, and I told myself, I wouldn't stop again until I hit a place brimming with neon lights and other people.

Little did I know, my heartbeat was about to spike all over again because the road behind me wouldn't stay empty for long. I'd barely cleared that rickety gas station when I caught headlights in the rearview mirror, a telltale sweep of harsh white cutting across the road. The rational part of me hoped it was a coincidence.

Little did I know, my heartbeat was about to spike all over again because the road behind me wouldn't stay empty for long. I'd barely cleared that rickety gas station when I caught headlights in the rearview mirror, a telltale sweep of harsh white cutting across the road. The rational part of me hoped it was a coincidence.

that maybe these guys were just heading in the same direction, out for a spin at an hour that made zero sense to normal people. But this definitely didn't feel normal. My hands started to shake on the steering wheel, and every nerve in my body went on high alert as those lights grew stronger, closing the gap in seconds. My old Dodge rattled as I floored it,

that maybe these guys were just heading in the same direction, out for a spin at an hour that made zero sense to normal people. But this definitely didn't feel normal. My hands started to shake on the steering wheel, and every nerve in my body went on high alert as those lights grew stronger, closing the gap in seconds. My old Dodge rattled as I floored it,

The engine growling like it was ready for a fight. The cold air blasting through the cracked windows whipped around me, and the tires screeched in protest when I veered onto the main highway. In the mirrors, the low rider's shape cut through the darkness, a sleek predator hungry for a chase.

The engine growling like it was ready for a fight. The cold air blasting through the cracked windows whipped around me, and the tires screeched in protest when I veered onto the main highway. In the mirrors, the low rider's shape cut through the darkness, a sleek predator hungry for a chase.

They stuck to my tail for the first half mile, headlights flickering against the battered tailgate of my truck. I kept praying to see any sign of other cars or some night shift folks commuting somewhere. but the highway was as empty as a tomb, just a lone set of bright beams bearing down on me. The truck shuddered again, but it held on, which was a small miracle.

They stuck to my tail for the first half mile, headlights flickering against the battered tailgate of my truck. I kept praying to see any sign of other cars or some night shift folks commuting somewhere. but the highway was as empty as a tomb, just a lone set of bright beams bearing down on me. The truck shuddered again, but it held on, which was a small miracle.

I figured they assumed I was driving an underpowered, rust bucket that would fold under pressure. Poor assumption on their part. My heart pounded so hard that my breath kept catching in my throat. The engine roared as we tore along the open road, and I leaned forward, silently begging my truck for more speed. Some part of me relished how unsuspecting my old ride seemed.

I figured they assumed I was driving an underpowered, rust bucket that would fold under pressure. Poor assumption on their part. My heart pounded so hard that my breath kept catching in my throat. The engine roared as we tore along the open road, and I leaned forward, silently begging my truck for more speed. Some part of me relished how unsuspecting my old ride seemed.

On the outside, it was all peeling paint and squeaky belts, but beneath that hood, I'd put in a performance-tuned hemi. I never imagined I'd actually be relying on that secret weapon to outrun a group of shady characters. In the dead of night. But here we were. They tried to keep up, pushing that lowrider for everything it had.

On the outside, it was all peeling paint and squeaky belts, but beneath that hood, I'd put in a performance-tuned hemi. I never imagined I'd actually be relying on that secret weapon to outrun a group of shady characters. In the dead of night. But here we were. They tried to keep up, pushing that lowrider for everything it had.