Echoes of Innocence

05

Matéo's POV

The highway stretched endlessly before us, a dark ribbon cutting through the night. The cab of Maylin's old pickup truck was quiet, except for the steady hum of the engine and the occasional rattle from the loose parts of the car. I stole a glance at her—she was curled up in the passenger seat, fast asleep. Her breathing was soft and steady, but even in sleep, there was a crease between her brows, like she couldn't fully relax.

She hadn't told me why she'd decided to come with me at the last minute, but I wasn't stupid— it was clear that she was running away from something she didn't want to talk about.

Not that I didn't appreciate her company. I didn't know how I would have made the trip without her. The thought of driving across the country by myself—after everything that had happened—wasn't something I was ready for. Her presence, while confusing, was oddly comforting.

Suddenly, a loud bang shattered the silence. The truck jerked violently to the side, the steering wheel yanking from my hands. I swore under my breath, gripping it hard to steady the vehicle as the truck lurched to a halt. The hiss of air escaping the tire was unmistakable.

Maylin shot upright, her eyes wide with alarm. "What the hell was that?"

"Blown tire," I muttered, pulling the truck to the side of the road. I killed the engine and stepped out into the cold night air. My breath fogged up in front of me, and the chill cut through the thin fabric of my shirt. Squatting down, I checked the tire. Just as I suspected—it was completely shredded.

Maylin came around the truck, rubbing her arms to keep warm. "Do we have a spare?" I asked.

"I don't think so." I stood up and ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling in my chest. I'd been ready for a lot of things, but getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but darkness and trees at this hour wasn't one of them.

She groaned, hugging herself tighter. "Great. What do we do now?" Her gaze flicked toward the trees, her fingers twitching. The forest was thick, shadowy, and unnervingly silent. You couldn't see much past the first row of trees, but what you could see felt foreboding. Maylin's face tightened with unease, and I could tell this wasn't sitting right with her.

"We can't stay here," she said quietly, her voice shaky. Her eyes kept flicking towards the trees, as if something might emerge from the darkness at any second.

"I'll call for help," I replied, pulling out my phone. I called the closest auto shop I could find, the phone rang a few times before a gravelly voice answered on the other end.

"Jackson's Auto. What can I do for ya?"

"I'm out on Route 63. Blown tire. Can you send someone out?"

"Middle of the night, man," the guy on the phone said, his voice heavy with sleep. "Earliest I can get there is 7 a.m."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Alright, just get here as soon as you can."

I ended the call and turned back to Maylin. "Help won't be here until morning," I said, leaning against the truck.

Her eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding. We're not seriously staying here, are we?"

"We don't have a choice. We'll lock the doors and wait it out in the truck."

She hesitated, glancing back at the dark line of trees, her body stiff with tension. The night was getting colder by the minute, and I could tell she was trying not to show how much it bothered her. I could tell she hated the idea of staying put, but there wasn't a safer option. With a reluctant nod, she climbed back into the truck.