Prologue
A mix of ashen grey rocks and mud flung from the large wheels of the speeding red truck. Inside, the driver was screaming to the lyrics to some song on the radio. As the rain continued to bear down on the cars windshield, the trucker inside began to head bang. Out of nowhere, the driver stopped his head banging and leaned into the passenger’s side.
“Henry Pickle, where tha’ hell is your sorry ass?” A voice practically screamed from the speaker. The driver grew a shade of red as he yelled in response,
“On my way, woman! Aint no damn reason to call your husband screaming!”
“There is when you promised to take Hunter to that house party!” The woman yelled back. A faint sound of crying could be heard on the woman’s end as she softly cusses.
“Well, I’m on my way Debbie. I cant move any faster in this rain, Hun,” Henry replied. The shade in his cheeks simmered down to his normal sun-burnt skin.
“I know, Henry. It’s just-I’m stressin’ because Daisy’s feeling sick after eating those sausages this morning.” Debbie sighed as the sound of a baby crying grew louder.
“I’ll hurry up then-“Henry started.
“Okay, love you dear,” Debbie replied as the line cut. Letting out a sigh of his own, Henry turned back to the road as something darted across the street-colliding with the truck.
“Shit!” Henry yelled, Slamming the breaks with a screech, he jumped out of the truck; nearly slipping on the muddy road. In front of his truck lay a young boy, his short red hair cast a shadow on his face. Not even 18, panicked Henry as he rushed to the boys side. The boys eyes were wide, pale blue irises stared lifelessly into the moon.
“Hey kid, say something-please, “Henry yelled, looking the child over. Blood streaked his clothes and cradled his head- flowing as Henry’s panic rose.
Shit, shit! I have to call the cops! I’ll explain that the kid ran out in the dark! Complete accident! They cant charge me on anything! It was an accident! Henry rose to his feet-rushing to the car door and grasping for his phone that had fallen under the seat. Behind him, the boys body began to convulse as the once ruby red blood that poured out of his skull mixed with an oily black liquid pouring out of his ears, then his eyes and his nose.
“Found ya’!” Henry exclaimed, turning on his phone as a clash of lightning struck in the distance. The sudden burst of light illuminated the second shadow as it lunged.
∞
The phone cast a warning for low battery as Henry’s bloodied body convulsed next to it-foam turning black as he shook. As the shaking stopped, the boy outstretched his hand; clean of any cuts and bruises. Henry gripped his hand in response and led the boy to the truck then climbed into it himself and flipped the radio back on,
“Lie back and dream of me, Red death to set you free-” the radio blasted as the truck continued pleating down the muddy road.
