October 30, a little after midnight, Liberty kissed her date on the cheek as he shuffled away. Her keys rested in the bottom of her bag as she stepped out of the restaurant, left-overs in her hand.
For late October, it had been a crisp night. The air was light, and the chill was mild at best. There was so much peace in this town, it was unsettling. Usually there were kids lighting up by the fountain, or vandalism on the marble. Sometimes, there was a kid, lazily writing while underneath the spray.
But tonight there was none of that. Liberty walked to her car and pulled the handle when she heard the screech. The first was followed by a second, and a roll of steel-vent thunder. Behind her tense back, there was a shatter of glass and a shrill scream.
Thomas smelled blood before he lifted his forehead from the steering wheel. Glass lined his hands and lips, and blood dripped gently from his forehead. The window next to him was shattered, but intact, enough for him to rest his pounding head on.
Water spilled from the side of the fountain where the car rested. his drunken eyes focused on the water, somehow relaxing him as it flowed. He didn't hear the sirens, or Liberty's screams, or the Jaws of Life tearing his car to shreds around him. He just watched the water slowly turn pink, red, dark red, and then let himself fade to black.
YOU ARE READING
The Heart of Turnpike
Fiksi UmumThomas and Liberty are driving back towards Turnpike, a town full of haunting memories for both. On the anniversary of Liberty's sisters death, the two are about to face the demons they've been hiding from for five years. A short coming-of-age story...
