On the Back Roads
This happened back in 1995, but I remember it vividly to this very day, as if it happened just yesterday.
I was driving down a lonely back road on an interstate trip. The scenery was consisted mostly of thick forests, fields overgrown with rough grass and bushes separated by dilapidated wooden fences, and ancient barns or farmhouses sagging under the weight of time and neglect. The rolling hills meant that I wasn't really able to see all that far ahead, my perception limited to a much smaller space.
The weather was grey but oddly humid. I had a window open to let the slipstream help keep me cool, but it wasn't working very well. There was a heaviness to the air, a thickness that felt as if it was slowing down my car.
As I was travelling down a gentle slope, the engine just cut out. I coasted slowly to a stop, moving over to the side of the road. I had a feeling I knew what it could be, and I was right. The timing belt had snapped.
For those who don't know, the timing belt helps synchronize when valves in the engine open and close. There's a possibility that when it breaks, it causes valves and pistons in the engines to collide, which can DOA your engine. It's a bit more complex than I'm putting it, but basically there was a good chance my engine was fucked and I was stuck on a lonely rode in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.
The worst part is, I actually had a couple of spares, since I did a lot of travel by car back then. If was my own fault for not checking it properly before I started my trip. So, I crossed my fingers and went to replace the belt.
But I couldn't because I didn't have any spares. I must have forgotten to replace them or something, I suppose.
It was around midday and despite being outside the car for ten minutes or so I was soaked in an uncomfortable sweat. I could hear the incessant buzzing of cicadas from a miserable looking clump of trees in the middle of a nearby field. It was piercing my mind, pissing me off.
As I was staring at the engine, I was startled to hear the passenger door open and close quickly, the car moving slightly as if someone had just gone inside. I got a chill up my spine at that, realizing anyone could have sneaked up on me... And they had, and had apparently entered my car.
A sense of dread took hold of me, and I reluctantly closed the hood of the car and looked to the passenger seat. It appeared empty at first, but then I saw a slight movement. I leaned closer, and the next thing that happened is why I have these nightmares, why I stay in this institution.
A skeleton popped out.
Credited to dontdoitd00d
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