Death City (Book 1)

Chapter 1: Later Days

Dawn carelessly sped down the open highway, driving like a convict on the run. But the only thing she was leaving behind was her life in the big city. Today was the beginning of a new life for her. A fresh start back in her quiet and rural hometown of Verina, Oregon. As she raced up the road in her father's truck, humming to the tune of a catchy pop song on the radio, she seemed happy to be moving. 

Admittedly tired from the hours spent making the trip from Southern California, this was more restlessness and impatience than anything. Determined to arrive at their destination, her large brown eyes remained locked on the streets ahead until her father, Rick, reached out and turned the volume knob down.

"Slow down, Dawn," he said.

"Relax Dad." She smiled at him, brushing back her long, brunette hair. "We've been at it for like five hours now. I'm just trying to get us there already."

He leaned over and turned on the windshield wipers as it began to sprinkle. "And I just want us to get there safely."

"Oh I wasn't expecting rain."

"Yeah." He looked out through the window. The dark, overcast skies gave the early afternoon the appearance of nighttime. "Looks like it's gonna start coming down harder soon. You better pull to the side and let me take over."

Dawn did a double take. "Seriously? I literally just started!"

"You've been at it for almost two hours now." Rick smiled as he sat upright, reaching behind the driver's seat for a green windbreaker that he quickly put over his red flannel. "Sit back over here while I get us the rest of the way. Besides, it's stormin' out and I don't want you speeding and wrecking my Ford."

"Ugh," she groaned. "I knew you were going to say that. Fine."

Though the highway was empty, Dawn still glanced in the rear view mirror before pulling over to the side of the road and parking. Petite as she was, Dawn had to practically climb down from the driver's seat once they stopped. Rick chuckled to himself as he watched her slowly drop back onto the ground. As the rain fell increasingly harder, she sprinted around the truck and made her way to the passenger's seat. 

Dawn looked out across the open field and the surrounding forest in the distance as she closed the door shut. There had not been any heavy winds, and yet the trees danced and swayed. Almost as though they were being moved by some unseen force. But it was dark out and she was exhausted. She brushed off the oddity, laying back in her seat as Rick drove onward.

It wasn't long before the rainfall grew heavier, pouring down onto the hood of the car as if it were hail. Flashes of lightning from above soon followed along with thunderous roars. What had been a mild gray afternoon began to look more like a black, stormy night. Dawn again gazed out into the forest, but was barely able to see anything beyond the dark, desolate grasslands. 

Listless, she flubbed her lips before gathering her hair, still damp from the rain, and tying it back into a ponytail. As she tied the knot, her cell phone that had been sitting on the dashboard suddenly vibrated, buzzing its way right onto her lap. Rick refused to let her use it while driving, leading her to nearly forget it was there. She picked up the phone to see a number of missed calls and texts. The latest one, sent from her friend April, read:

"OMG i cant believe I missed you!!! L L Serena told me you were leaving for Oregon tonight, I'm SO SORRY! Plz tell me ur gonna be back soon Dawn"

Dawn giggled to herself as she quickly typed up a reply.

"OH GEE THANKS. >: ( haha jk, of course I will! Later days..."