MY SHORT STORIES

DEAD AT NIGHT - PART 2

Liam sat in the dark interior of his car, the only light coming from the dashboard, he ran a hand through his hair as he clenched his jaw. His car was in a corner between two street lights that seemed to far and all they did was cast a ghostly light that never seemed to reach his car.

Outside it was dark, no star shone as a thick cloud covered the night sky with a promise of rain. It was also cold and the cold air seemed to seep into the car because Liam was a shivering mess and his car heater seemed to not be working.

There were a couple of houses flagging the road but they were all shrouded in darkness with lit porch lights here and there. The streets were silent, no car passed and the only sound that Liam could hear was the purring engine of his Lamborghini.

The consultant had told him that the police would be there soon but it felt as if they were taking their own sweet time. He still hadn't gotten out to check on his wife and there was nothing on hell or earth that would make him get out of the safety of his own car to check up on someone who was supposed to be dead.

He shifted on his seat as he sank lower so that he wouldn't be tempted to get on top of his seat to look at what his car had hit. She was probably under the bumper but he wasn't taking any chances.

He still couldn't believe how his day went from great to just straight down hill.

The insurance company had finally payed out that day and it was more than he expected, hopefully making him the newest millionaire. He had bought a new car, a bright red Lamborghini, the one he was currently sitting in.

Never in his life had he thought that a mistake or wrong doing could bear such sweet fruit but what he forgot was that karma never forgets, no matter where you are she will find you and she will make you pay.

He was just returning from his date with Cindy, they have been together for about six months. He had dropped her off at her place and was rushing home so that he could pack his things and move in into that pent house in town, it felt more like a bachelor pad.

His car had been flying down the street and when he took a sharp left he saw a figure dart into the road. He tried hitting the breaks but it was too late, the car stopped on impact. Though his car was moving very fast, the accident happened so slow every detail of his wife darting into the road was still imprinted into the back of his mind.

Judging by the icy cold glare that she sent his way when the car's headlight lit up her face, you might have thought that she was just committing suicide due to her husband's infidelity. But the thing is, Liam was a widower. His wife died two months ago and the insurance company payed out that day. And no, she didn't know that he was cheating.

Before the car hit her, Liam saw the last thing he had seen her wearing at the time of her death, or first death. It was a long white silky nightdress that had a large red stain on the front, bright red over the left breast, that's where the knife was plunged.

In all honesty it was an accident, he didn't mean to kill her. They were in the kitchen arguing over him coming home late and he just snapped. The next thing his wife was on the floor with the handle of a kitchen knife poking out over the left side of her chest.
He was scared out of his mind and jail was one place he wasn't willing to visit.

Thanks to the strings of robbery that had been taking place in their neighbourhood, all he had to do was wipe off the finger prints on the knife, open the back door just a crack and then change his clothing. He took her wedding ring, some of her jewellery and went to throw them at a river on his way to the local diner. He bought takeaways and drove home. That's when he called the cops about his gruesome discovery.

It was ticked off as a robbery gone wrong. Though no other clues were found such as foreign fingerprints, footprints, strands of hair or any source of DNA, no foul play was suspected because none of those were found in the other robbed houses.
That's how Liam actually got away with murder but no one knew that not even Cindy.

The temperature in the car kept on dropping, until his teeth were chattering and every time he exhaled he could see the vapour. The windows were fogged up and every now and then he would curse when he thought he saw a figure moving outside the car. He had the urge to get out of the car but it would take the devil himself to get him out.

He heard a light tap on the driver's window and his head whipped in that direction but to find nothing. Then he felt a cold chilling breeze fan his neck, he whipped his head to the passenger side and came eye to eye with pale grey eyes.

He felt a throat wrenching scream start from deep within but it never passed his lips. He felt frozen in place and was trembling something crazy.

The pale lifeless eyes before him were attached to a face that was also in that same condition. The woman had black hair matted to her forehead and was in a blood stained silk night dress, it was his Maria.

"Liam", she whispered through cold blue lips.

The word echoed throughout the car but it was silent and dead.

"Wha..what do you want?", he stammered with his back to the window and her leaning in to him.

"Remember your vows?", she asked.

"Yeah..yeah, till death do us apart", he replied his hand creeping towards the lock. Apparently there was something that could make him get out of the car, his dead wife.

"No, Li. You said death shall never do us apart", she whispered.

"But... But you are dead", he said jiggling the lock furiously but the door wouldn't budge. He had only changed that part in his vows because it sounded romantic and had never thought twice about it.

"Yes, and whose fault is that?", she asked.

"It was an accident".

"You plunged a knife into my heart and in more ways than one".

"But.. But", he tried to come up with an excuse.

Before he could even figure a way out of death's grip, behind his dead wife he saw lights glowing a soft blue and red heading in his direction. They were still too far away for Liam to hear the sirens but he could still see the lights.

He looked at his dead wife and grinned at her. All she did was lean towards him and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek before whispering,
"I'll see you soon", and disappeared.

Liam sat up straight and he jiggle the lock but the door still wouldn't open. The engine of the car revved up and the car started moving forwards, increasing speed tremendously while heading towards a lamp pole.

He didn't have time to scream as he watched the lamp pole crash into the car and glass went flying everywhere. Everything was still and silent apart from the ringing in this ears and the heaviness accompanied by the numbness in his chest. From the corner of his eyes, he saw two blurry figures rushing towards him but it was already too late for him.

A car accident was later reported where the driver had died at the scene after a large shard of glass was embedded in his heart.