Ghost Town

Collide [Chapter 1]

Tree line, rain, road, and a deer hurtling out of thicket onto the street... I understood all that lay before my eyes. I understood all too well. My body plays catch up, I clutch the steering wheel, and maneuver the car away from the deer. The car skids sideways, the tires seemingly without purchase on the tar. The tree line leaps forward with each burst of comprehension. The events piece themselves together with a horrifying ease.

One moment we were driving down the road, under a clear sky, and then we weren't. A storm rolled in, scaring the wildlife out on to the high way. I never saw it coming - bad weather turned into a matter of life and death. 

The trees become dark, menacing figures, against the blinding flashes of lightening. They grate against the wind. Closer they come, they extend, straining their roots. They beckon us to a tragic end. The trees drew near, their limbs reaching for us, to hold us in a fierce embrace .... A fatal embrace.

The thunder claps are near deafening. The wind whistles as it moves between the trees. I need to do something-  anything to regain some control over the car. I try to correct the steering, apply the brakes in hopes of slowing down. But attempts to reign in the car backfire, and the tires lock up sending us closer to the trees. The motions of the tree limbs turn into frantic jerks, like a child shaking in anticipation. Fear emerges from the darkest corners of my mind and starts taking over.

The moment stretches infinitely, it might be seconds but it feels like a life time and yet it is not long enough for me to do anything. I can't save her, the thought is heart wrenching, it robs me of my ability to breathe. I'm hoping, wishing, and praying for a miracle.

The inevitable takes over.  The result of a choice made between two equally bad options: either drive straight through the deer or swerve out of its way and crash into the tree line. I don't think I even made the choice, it was simply reflex.

There it is; the impact that threatens our lives. Squeezing my eyes shut, I give a silent prayer for her life, for her safety. There is a bright flash of light behind my eyelids and the world goes still.

A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CRASH ....

Hayley knocks at my door, punctual as ever. "Hey," Hayley says hauling a huge overnight bag in with her. She is all dressed up for Ace's party. Hayley looks stunning in her teal dress, it shows off her long legs, and makes her hazel- green eyes seem greener.  "You look nice," I reply when I find my voice. I sound like an idiot to my own ears but I couldn't take back the words now "Thanks," she says, "are you ready to go?"

"Almost just let me grab my bag from upstairs" I tell her. I climb the stairs two at a time Hayley follows me up and into my room. She sits on my bed, as she has done a hundred times before, we grew up together after all. Now that we are older the sight of her on my bed, messes with my mind. It invites way too many ideas that I know I shouldn't act on. I shove a few more things into the bag. "Come on, hurry up" Hayley says impatiently, bouncing on the bed. I quickly finish packing before I do or say something that I'll regret. 

Hayley ushers me out of the room, I don't bother resisting, because she always gets her way. I grab my keys from the living room, as well as her overnight bag, and we leave. Once the bags are all in the car we head off.

It might seem excessive to drive a town over for a party, but we haven't seen  Ace since his family moved, this was as good an excuse as any for us to catchup.    

Ace, well Mason is his real name, but after one unfortunate prank involving  Mace, which we vowed to never speak of, his nickname became Ace. Whatever nickname we called him: One thing never changed and that was the fact that he and Hayley have been my best friends for as long as I can  remember.