The Longest Trail to Blaze

Day Two. Pt II

I watched the rolling plains spanning for miles in all directions as the suv flew down the country road. I looked around the cabin I had been in for the past hour with a stranger I didn't even have the name of. He gripped the drivers side "oh shit handle" as we drove with only a crackling radio station cutting through the uncomfortable silence. "You got any siblings?" He half-heartedly inquired keeping watch on the winding road. "A sister" I replied, he nodded in understanding and resumed the shared silence. I had no idea where we were going and frankly, it was the least of my concern. I had told him I needed a ride and possibly some food, he exited the car and got the door for me, putting my bag in the trunk and getting back in the driver seat. After I had gotten settled in the vehicle he took off like a shot, saying only that he was on his way to get breakfast and that I'm welcome to join him. I examined my driver from head to toe, sizing him up as I did so. His hands were rough and cracked, and he wore a tarnished gold ring on his right pinkie finger. He took a silver travel mug out of the center console's cupholder and took a long drink. His free leg was nervously jumping up and down, and he was breathing heavily, his mind was very obviously on places other than the road. He pressed the gas pedal down further pushing the speedometer to 85 as the bright Texas morning sun illuminated the car cabin. "Where exactly are you taking me?" I asked feeling my own leg beginning to shake in tandem with the unease. He didn't reply instead he quickly took another turn and continued driving, I pretended not to notice the unmistakable scent of perspiration slowly getting stronger as the driver began to sweat noticably, beading up on his forehead and dripping down his face before finding a resting place in his beard. I felt the car gradually begin to slow as the road because less paved and a forest was visible in the distance, this road lead to a dead end. The car came to a slow stop as he turned off the engine and sat gripping the wheel still shaking his leg. I felt Mason grip my hand and I didn't need to look at him, I knew he was gazing ate with wide eyed terror. I threw off my seatbelt and grasped the door lock, pulling it up into the unlocked position. I pulled the door handle hard while trying to push the door out, it didn't budge. I tried again feeling my pulse spike as my thoughts raced trying to find a reason why it wasn't opening the when it hit me. "Child safety lock" he said through shaky breaths and as he pressed the lock button on his side panel causing my door lock to come back down with a click that sent a wave of silence throughout the car. This man was obviously someone who worked with his hands, he was well built and had a glimmer in his eye that made my blood freeze over. "We're not getting breakfast are we?" I asked with a question that desperately didn't want an answer. He replied by turning up the radio and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Nope" he said as he turned his body to face me. "We have payment to discuss" his hand reached for my leg and stopped on my inner thigh "Let's get to it shall we?" I examined him, looking, praying for a sign that he was joking, only to be met with his voice taking me out of my thoughts "Gas isnt cheap and I'll pay for food, you just have to sit still for me and it'll be all over shortly." His hand on my thigh gripped tightly as his free arm extended quickly towards my face.