RUNAWAY'S GUIDE TO FINDING HOME

Chapter Six: Odd Times (Mike)

I couldn't explain what I saw to them. They would think I was crazy, or that I was playing some sort of joke. But it wasn't a joke. That face I saw in that dark scar the lightning left on the asphalt was all too real. It had been a woman's face, young and beautiful, but there was something unsettling about it. At first, I thought I was just seeing things, until it's expression changed. It smiled. It was an eerie, awful smile. I swore I saw black arms stretching from the spot. That was what frightened me. It couldn't have been real, could it? I must have been just hallucinating...stress, maybe? I had heard of stress causing hallucinations.

Ashleigh obviously noticed my discomfort, and refused to let me drive. So, instead, I sat in the back with JoJo while Ashleigh and Vic took up the front. Once we were far from that place, I felt myself begin to calm down. Seriously, though, what the hell was that? It seemed so real, but nobody else seemed to have seen it. Nobody seemed even phased by the odd storm, or the van's behaviour, either, no one except....well, except JoJo.

As soon as the speedometer started acting up, I noticed that JoJo was bothered. She had been so relaxed before then, writing in her journal, lost in her own thoughts. But, as soon as I mentioned there being something wrong with the van, her disposition completely changed. Had she simply been worried, or had she sensed something? She hadn't seen the face in the lightning spot, but something was bothering her. 

Then I figured I must have been over-analyzing. I was just paranoid. I had left my anxiety medication behind, thinking I wouldn't need them anymore. This was probably what happened when you cut cold turkey. Things couldn't get and weirder....or so I thought.

The van began to stall. "Shit!" Ashleigh cursed. She pulled over to the side of the road. This was bad, especially since the rain had began to pour heavily, pounding on the roof of the van. Thunder roared all around, and lightning struck every which way. This was a terrible time to break down.

"What should we do?" Vic asked, clearly nervous. Despite how I felt, I tried to think positively. It could have just been the battery. Occasionally, it needed a jump start, just a little jolt to keep it going. That was probably the issue.

"I'll take care of it," I said, climbing out of the van and grabbing the jump-starter out of the back. It should have been enough, but something cold was settling in my stomach. There was something odd about the events of that day.

I opened the hood and hooked the cables up and tried to jolt the van awake, ordering Ashleigh to press on the gas whenever I thought it right. Each time, nothing happened. I groaned, running a hand through my hair. This was bad. This was really, really bad. This van was our only way of transportation, and nobody was going to let a group of teenagers hitchhike. This was just absolutely ridiculous! I couldn't help but feel furious, an emotion I rarely experienced. Was all hope lost? It couldn't really have been over so soon, could it? Then, I couldn't help but wonder...had that hallucination at the truck stop been an omen?

I slammed my fist on the side of the van, overcome with both sorrow and rage.

"Mike?"

I turned to the voice. It was JoJo. A grim expression was set on her face. I forced a smile on my face and chuckled nervously. I tried to speak, but I couldn't seem to get any words out of my mouth. There was just nothing good about this situation. I hung my head, unable to look JoJo in the eye.

"We'll figure it out," I heard her say.

I snapped my gaze back up. I small smile was tinged on her face, a smile I had never really seen before. Was she trying to be positive. "Being optimistic?" I gave a small laugh, "Don't steal my job, JoJo!"

"Me? Optimistic? Pff."

I turned back to the van, rubbing the back of my neck. There really was no hope. I buried my hands in my face. "What am I gonna do?" I could feel the rain beating down on my back. It was like every drop stung. Did it really have to end so soon?