Darkness

Exercise from the second week of writing class.

From behind the steering wheel, Mick peered into the darkness. Little snow flakes floated down from the heavens and landed on the windshield. The wipers periodically devoured those unique pieces of nature as the metal beast hurtled down the quiet highway.

“It was nice to see Alan and Heather again”, Mick said out loud. His eye lids felt tired. Saying things out loud seemed to help. The hint of bourbon lingered amongst his words.

Two accusing eyes glared at Mick, boring themselves like lasers into his chest. Mick winced. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. The leather felt slick against his sweating palms.

“When was the last time we saw them?”, he paused waiting for an answer.
“We’ve not seen them…..”, his eyes closed infinitesimally longer than he wanted to.
“Watch the road!”, Loretta screeched. Mick’s eyes popped open in a sudden.
“I’m fine. I’m fine”, he said trying to appease his concerned passenger.

Her eyes looked away. Loretta leaned her head onto the window. She looked out at the little flakes going by them. She sighed and started making little patterns on the window with her finger. She turned her head to him to say something.

It sounded like thunder. The entire car shuddered. Her seat belt locked as her body snapped forward and then slammed her into the seat. She closed her eyes as pain filled the back of her mind. Squealing brakes filled the darkness. She opened her eyes. The acrid smell of burning brakes made her eyes water. Her hand reached to the dull pain in her head. MIck was choking the steering wheel. Knuckles white. Eyes wide open.

“It was just one last drink”, he said defensively.
“That’s always your excuse”, she snapped back.
“C’mon I have not seen those guys in ages, are you alright?”, Mick’s hand reached out to Loretta.
“Don’t touch me!”, she slapped Mick’s hand away.

The car door slammed.
“C’mon Loretta! I didn’t see anything. I didn’t have that much to drink”, Mick shouted from inside the car.

Loretta glanced at the car. She could not see anything in the dark. Her coat flapped in the wind. She pulled her coat closer, extracting all the warmth she could from it. Mick reached into the backseat for something before exiting the car.

A beam of light shot out from Mick’s hand. He shone the light into the distance but all they could see was the road fading into the night.