You're My Zing

Broken Down

Steve sighed as he tried once more to get his car started. The thing was a million years old, so he wasn't exactly surprised that it broke down, he just wishes it could've done that closer to the airport or at least somewhere he had cell service. He went ahead and sent a group text to his friends, hoping his phone would just give in and send it anyways, but no such luck. There was nothing but thick forest on both sides of this road. "Nice shortcut, Sam," Steve thought bitterly.

He kicked at his tire, like that was going to actually do anything. He sat on the trunk of the car hoping that someone would come along and be able to help him, only to be disappointed a few hours later when not a single car had passed by and there were dark clouds forming in the already darkening evening sky. Steve got back in the car and closed the door. He turned on his phone's battery saver and tried one more useless time to start the car. He groaned in frustration as it only sputtered before going silent again and completely shutting off.

"Of all the times and places you had to break down in the middle of absolutely nowhere." he griped, smacking the steering wheel.

He looked out his window and saw the dark clouds still forming, but nothing had started falling yet. "Guess I'm trapped here for a while." he said. He reached behind him and grabbed the emergency blanket from his backseat that Sam always made him keep in here just for situations like this.

Sam had a deep mistrust of Steve's car, always telling Steve he should get a newer one and that he'd even help pay for it if Steve needed him to.

But Steve was stubborn.

The car had been his mother's, he'd helped her pick it out when he was a kid, and it was one of the last things he had from her that still held their fresh memories. Losing this car was almost like losing her all over again. Sam understood Steve's feelings about it, but ever since they'd broken down three times in one day and Sam found out that the tow people knew Steve by name, Sam made him promise to always keep a pack of things in here; Snacks that couldn't go bad, clothes he could have if he ever needed them, and of course that emergency blanket.

Steve also had a hat and some gloves but those were due to his own forgetfulness leaving them in the car.

Steve could hear thunder now and figured he'd wait for the storm to stop before walking and trying to find some form of civilization somewhere where he could call a tow truck and get back home.
He knew his friends would be gone to the airport by now and he was starting to regret declining Sam's offer of getting a ride with him and not risking Steve's car not making it. Now he'd have to tell Sam that he'd been right and Sam was never going to let that go. As the rain started to pound down on Steve's car, he grabbed his sketchbook (Because yes, Sam, he absolutely does have to bring his book with him) and he started sketching the view out his window, getting so lost in it that when he snapped out of his trance, he noticed he'd drawn eyes staring through the trees at him.

Millions of glowing eyes peeking from between trunks and dead branches, watching his every move, waiting for the perfect time to race out and grab him and drag him away. They knew he'd have to leave his car eventually, and when he did-

Steve's eyes snapped open as his heart raced and his breathing was fast and shaking. Steve looked around at the trees and saw nothing there besides what should obviously be there. He looked at the sketchbook in his lap and saw no eyes between the trunks he'd drawn. There were no tops on those trunks, meaning he'd fallen asleep halfway through his drawing.
Steve sighed and ran his hands over his face. Still feeling tense, he risked a glance into the trees again, seeing nothing but wet earth and lights and leaves.

Steve looked out again and squinted, focusing on the yellow lights shining dimly in the distance. Steve got a hopeful feeling in his chest. If he could make it back there, he could maybe call someone and get his car fixed in time to rent a new one for the trip. Steve popped his trunk and grabbed the bag that had his clothes inside of it, then grabbed a few snack s from his emergency pack that he could snack on as he walked. It would definitely be a journey, but Steve knew he could make it.

He pulled the straps up his arms, and started his walk.