The Man in the Backseat (#FreeYourShorts #horrorthriller)

Duo

       You stumble through yet another prickly bush and finally catch sight of your car. Shoving the cart full of gallons of gas in front of you, you stagger weakly towards the stopped vehicle. You don't notice the rock jutting out of the earth, ready to make you fall. You smash your nose into rough red plastic, causing you to cry out in pain. A single drop of crimson falls slowly, slowly to the ground and splatters, sending up an infinitesimal cloud of dust in its wake. Gripping your nose in your hand to staunch the blood flow, you push the cart to the side of the car with one scratched up hand. You curse the world yet again as you fill it with gallon after gallon of gas, tossing the empty jugs into the trunk when you're done with them.

       But what about the cart? 

        You attempt to heave it into the trunk, but your muscles are exhausted. Yep, that's definitely not happening. Guess you'll just have to come back and get it tomorrow. Now that the car has gas, you climb in and slump against the seat, breathing heavily. Your feet are sore, your back aches, and your lungs feel like they've been set on fire. Of course there weren't any taxis in sight, so you were forced to walk the torturous five miles. You would've called your mom, but that would've been humiliating, plus you couldn't find any service.

       Somehow finding the strength to start the car, you make a sloppy U-turn and start back on the way home. But for some reason, you feel... off. Like maybe something's... wrong. But you dismiss it as the achiness flowing like molasses through your body. Pins and needles seem to poke you in every area of your body. If you don't fall asleep on the way home, you'll be surprised.

        And if you make it home alive, you'll be even more surprised.