I always knew there was something useful to be gained from all those long distance trips =)
This is an attempt of mine to keep a story short for a change ;) I think that its worked out but then again I see things differntly than most =P
The highway stretches before him in an unending black ribbon. The late afternoon sun beat on him through the car window and he found himself settling in for the long drive ahead. Music thudded from the car speakers as his favorite song played. Enjoying the music and the peaceful scenery his mind relaxed.
As he rounded the bend an image shimmered on the horizon. Paying little attention to it he steadily approached. As he came to see it was a man, the heat and haze rose off the highway playing tricks with his eyes. Curious now the young man began to concentrate. As the car pulled even with the man it looked as though he was wearing a dark uniform. A chill ran down his spine when he realized the man was staring right at him and held him in his gaze as they passed.
Shaking his head he looked in the rear view mirror to see if the man was still watching. Only to see that he wasn't there. "What? What the hell?" Jerking his head around he tried to calm his heart and find his breath. As his heart slowed he took one last glance behind him, seeing the stump on the side of the road, he felt the sweat begin to cool, on his clammy skin and laughed. The haze off the road and an overactive imagination he thought, that's all.
Moving back onto the highway he resumed his travels. Making the next turn on the tree lined highway he was still laughing at himself. As he continued his drive though, he noticed that the hairs on the back of his neck had stood up again. He felt the isolation of the old country highway as a feeling of loneliness and despair settled on him. This is nuts he thought, its just the light and the heat playing with my mind, that's all. Forcing a laugh from himself he focused his eyes on the road ahead. Slowly a feeling of not being alone came to him, a feeling like someone was staring into the back of his neck began to form as well. Turning the stereo up a little louder the young man forced himself not to look back. Just keep going, Dan, just keep going this is not happening, he chanted to himself over and over, refusing the impulse to look behind him. Then suddenly feeling foolish he looked behind him and sighed.
See nothing there old boy, just your overactive imagin- whoa! Oh my god! Slamming his breaks as he looked forward again and saw the old wagon quickly approaching. Trying to regain control of his car he slid off the road, but managed to get the car back onto the road and under control. As he looked at the road again it was clear. Now completely confused and upset, Dan decided that he had to get off this highway and he had to do it now! A sign up ahead announced the little town of Dresden. Turning his blinker on he turned toward the little town and sighed with relief as he exited the highway.
The feelings of foreboding and doom left the young man as the highway disappeared from sight. The setting sun on the horizon told him that it was time to stop for the night and get something to eat. Beginning to feel truly foolish as he gained more distance from the highway, Dan chided himself for his silliness. This is a trip you make every year, what is the matter with you? Its not like your some kid who's afraid of the bogeyman or something either. Your just tired and hungry,that's what you get for skipping lunch, you idiot!
Pulling off the main strip into a neat little motel, Dan decided that a nice hot meal and a good nights sleep was what he needed. Stepping out of his car he looked the quiet little town over, clean streets, little traffic and peace and quiet. This is definitely what I need he thought. After checking in and getting his room the young man walked across the street to the little diner. As he ate his hot meal he felt his strength retuning and more of his normal holly nature as well. What a nice little town and what nice people he thought, well that's southern hospitality for you, shame its dying out everywhere except for little places like this. I wouldn't mind staying here forever. After paying his bill he left and headed back to his room. Exhaustion kicked in as he entered the room, so instead of getting the shower he had wanted he simply flopped onto the bed and let sleep take over.
Gotta get away, don't stop, don't look back. Run, run as fast as you can.
The misty haze that surrounded him though made it impossible to know where
he was or where he was running to. He only knew that he was being followed
and he had to keep running. In the distance the sounds of gun fire were
drawing closer. Then the great echoing sound of the cannon thundered near
him. The sounds of moaning, crying and pleas for help began to fill his
ears. With a sudden realization he knew that he was in the middle of a
battle. With that realization the fog cleared and he saw he was in the
middle of a battlefield. Dead and dying men lay around him in dark uniforms
that could not hide the blood stains of their wounds. Another rumble of the
cannon shook the ground beneath his feet and he fell. Looking up he saw the
advancing army firing at him. Dear god what is happening? Where am I?
Someone help me.
Then before him appeared a man, he grabbed the young ones hand and pulled
him up. Dragging him along they moved back behind their lines as the bullets
whizzed past their heads. Once behind the barricade the man looked at Dan and
he realized this was the man from earlier. What is going on? Dan asked,
Where am I? What am I doing here.
The man said nothing, though as he opened his mouth to speak Dan saw that he
had been shot in the neck. Blood poured from the gaping mouth and the man
slumped to the ground. His eyes pleading with the young man for help he
could not give. Terror gripped the young man as he wildly swung his head
around looking for help. But everywhere he looked he only saw the dead,
blood flowing freely on the ground until it seemed that it was a field of
blood with dead soldiers blossoming in it. The scream of a bullet past his
head reminded him that he was the enemy as he looked down at his dark
uniform. Screaming with terror and horror darkness gripped the young man as
he felt something pierce him.
AAHHH! He screamed as he sat up in bed. Coming to his senses Dan realized that he was in his bed. The sweat poured from his body and soaked his cloths and sheets. Still shaking Dan realized he was dreaming, but it had seemed so real. After cleaning himself up he once again returned to bed, feeling more secure in the knowledge that it was just a dream. As he lay there trying to go back to sleep a distant sound came to him. A thudding sound that seemed familiar yet he couldn't quite peg it. Getting up he moved to the window and pulling back the curtain looked out on the night. Soft moonlight bathed the little town in its gentle glow. Everything seems all right he thought, and then came again the distant thudding. Those cannons are awfully close he thought, what, wait a minute how did I know those were cannons. Freaked out by the knowledge the young man jumped back from the window and jumped back into bed. Pulling the covers over his head the young man began to pray. The longer he prayed the farther away the thudding grew, until finally it ceased. Sighing Dan took the Bible from the nightstand and put it under his pillow, there that should do the trick.
The sun shone bright on Dan as he exited the little room and went to the front desk to check out. Smiling to the clerk as he paid and left, Dan reveled in the warm sunshine. Here in the daylight it all seemed so silly and childish, the visions and the dream. Ah well chalk one up to my overactive imagination he thought. As he got back on the highway he waited to see if the old feelings returned but there was nothing there. And so he relaxed, cranked up the stereo and resumed his trip. As he approached the bridge he noticed that there was a slight back up. So as he slowed down he began to plan how much longer he had left to drive and how much time he had lost by stopping last night. Well its not that bad he thought, I'm only a few hours behind, since I rarely drive straight through to the beach anyway. Well I guess that Clark and Diane are already there enjoying the surf. Smiling he remembered last years little get together and the great time they had all had cooking out and drinking. Ahh I can't wait to get there, he thought. Smiling he saw the traffic pick up again and he took off as an opening developed. Passing a couple cars he sped on towards the bridge. As he drove onto the expansion stretch that connected the road to the suspension bridge he gained the lead on the others and had the road to himself. Just as he was about to start the climb on the suspension bridge thought there was a load explosion and the bridge rocked. the road before him opened and there was no time for him to even slam on the breaks. Falling toward the water below he screamed in terror knowing that he was going to die.
AAAHHHH! Then he sat up realizing that he was in bed. Oh oh my god! Reaching
for the bible under the pillow he grabbed hold of it. Oh my god that was
just a dream. A dream that's all. Looking around he decided that he couldn't
go back to sleep again. So he reached for the remote to the tv and turned it
on. He watched the channel for a few moments and decided he didn't like this
so he changed the channel. The same program was on. Ugh! And he changed it
again, the same thing. Getting up from the bed he went to put on his clothes
and realized they were still on him. But I took them off when I woke up from
the first nightmare. Looking down at his hands he saw that the bible was no
longer there. Walking back to the bed he lifted the pillow, not there. So he
opened the nightstand drawer, there it was. But I don't understand, sitting
down on the bed he tried to think straight, but couldn't. The harder he
tried to grasp the details of what had gone on before he had laid down the
last time, the more they slipped away from him.
What is going on? I'm getting out of here. But as he stood up to leave the
door to the room vanished and then the walls themselves. He found he was
then standing in the middle of the field. All was quiet, except for the
distant thudding. Suddenly he felt someone behind him. Turning he saw it was
the man from the road. As he began to run a haze enveloped him and he didn't
know which way to go. Just keep moving, don't stop. Run, you have to keep
running he's behind you. The thudding grew closer and louder as he ran. The
sounds of gun fire filled the air. then the sounds of moaning and pleas for
help. Oh no I'm on the battlefield. With that the haze cleared and he saw
the battlefield again.
No, no what is going on, he thought. This is a dream I have to wake up. What
is going on, someone please help me. And then there was the man, grabbing
his hand and pulling him to safety. As the man leaned over him he heard the
words, are you ok mister? Come on now your gonna be fine just answer me.
Mister... it was the man speaking this time he thought, and as he tried to
open his mouth to speak he couldn't.
The water in his lungs was suffocating him, the rescuers tried desperately
to get the water from out of him. As they worked his vacant eyes stared up
at them and the water poured from his mouth like the river they had just
pulled him from. I'm suffocating he thought, I'm suffocating on my own
blood. The pounding of the cannons grew louder and closer to him as the
bullets pounded into him. Darkness crept in all around him as death took
over.
The state troopers quietly talked as the ambulance screamed away from the scene. What a shame, he was so young. To bad he didn't pay attention to the signs to move to the other lane. What possess a person to drive like that? Must have been in a hurry, to bad. Ah well witnesses say he had a smile on his face as he drove past them into the construction hole. Perhaps he wanted to die? Shrugged the officers.
AAHHH! Screaming he woke up. What a dream...
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