Chapter 2 Getting My Bearings

Vivianne

I shook my head, sure that this was just left over adrenalin from the nightmare I’d had a few moments ago, there wouldn’t be anything that big out here to run past the front of my car. I shook it off and looked down at the seat beside me. Seeing my phone lying there where I’d thrown it when I decided to close my eyes for a minute, I decided to text my best friend Sarah, just to see if I was awake and ground myself by checking in with her. I needed to know everyone back home was safe and okay.

“Hey, you still awake?” I waited, and within a couple of minutes, I saw the screen light up with a reply.

“Yes, who do you think you are talking to? There’s a reason why we are best friends hon, that’s because we insomniacs have to stick together. So, how’s the vaca going?”

I breathed in, “Well, other than the fact that I resent the hell out of having to be here in the first place, I got tired and pulled over to rest my eyes. Then I fell asleep and had a nightmare.”

“Fuck honey, was it like some of the other fucked up scenarios or did your brain come up with a new way to torment you with visions of his death in ways it never really happened?” I chuckled slightly and let out a huge sigh.

“Nope, this was a whole new version my fucked up head came up with. So, now that I am awake, I need to try to get to the next town. I’ll get a motel room for the night and then figure out where I’m off to from there.”

“Okay, girl, you be careful with traveling out there by yourself. I wish I had been able to go with you, then it could have been a whole family thing. So, please check in and let me know where you are so I don’t have to launch some massive manhunt and call out the US Marshals or some shit okay. We are good here, so don’t stress about us.” I laughed lightly.

“Will, do, I’ll call you in the morning. I know this is useless, but try to get some sleep.”

She sent me an emoji with its middle finger raised in a fuck you. I laughed and threw my phone back onto the seat next to me.

Before, when it had been Calen and me, when we had been so happy and so much in love, I had many friends and had a fun and varied social life. Until the day I lost Calen.

After that I had to shut down my emotions, I became cold and distant, always working, pushing, keeping myself busy, so the memories didn’t swamp me. It was hard to be around the people Calen and I had been friends with because being around them brought back so many memories, then things changed so drastically, and they bailed. Now, Sarah was the only one I had I could call my friend or part of the family really.

I started the car, determined to reach the next town and find a place to stop for the night. I sighed when the headlights split the darkness before me and I could actually see what the fuck was in front of me. I didn’t see any animals, so no doubt that had, as I’d suspected, just been my fucked up brain messing with me yet again.

I tried the radio but got jack shit. I was still puzzled about why everything looked so different from earlier. This landscape was definitely different. Was I so tired that I got turned around? Maybe I should go back to that last sign I had seen.

There should have been more lights here. Usually, there were lights up and down the road to help drivers see where the hell they were going. Was it this dark when I pulled over? Fuck, I was losing it, no doubt just too damn tired, yet again.

Okay, this was stupid I chastised myself, I was being weird because the dream had scared the fucking shit out of me, and brought up way too many feelings of loss. So, now, this was my brain fucking playing tricks on me. I shook my head, put the car in gear, and started to turn around. If I found that last sign saying the name and distance of the next town, I’d get my bearings and be on track again.

As I maneuvered the car and had almost turned all the way around without landing in the ditch, I stopped cold, my skin broke out in goosebumps, and the hair at the base of my skull stood on end.

I’d heard a scream, but not just any scream, this was a scream of someone in pain. I kept my foot firmly on the brake, looking around, trying to see through the inky darkness that enveloped everything outside of the car where the light from my headlights didn’t reach. I slowly put my car in park.

Then, just out of the direct light from my headlights, I saw a figure. It stumbled and leaned from side to side like a drunk. Then they stumbled down the embankment and through the ditch. I saw the shadow disappear into the trees off to the side of the road.

Fuck, what the hell should I do? Someone needed help out there. Could I just drive away without at least checking it out? No, I couldn’t. I unlocked and cautiously opened my door, and then carefully got out and stood, holding the door, just trying to will myself to be able to see through the dark to where I’d seen it disappear.

I didn’t see anything, but what I did notice was that familiar, coppery scent in the air of fresh blood. It was something I was teased about, this ability I had to smell blood, but this was strong. Obviously, someone was hurt, and I couldn't just leave them there.

I grabbed the first aid kit I always kept in the car, slung the strap over my shoulder, and ran into the trees where I’d seen the form disappear. As I approached the scent of blood increased, and it actually caused my mouth to water with the heaviness of the scent.

I saw a man finally, lying prone on the ground. I ran to him, kneeling beside him to check over his obvious injuries. I pushed the hair back on his face, and he briefly opened his eyes. When our eyes collided, I felt the world tilt, and I caught my breath. What in the hell was that? I hadn't reacted to someone like that in forever it seemed. No matter, he needed help and I was determined to help him.  Now, I just had to figure out how.