Chapter 4 Highway saga

It was a dark night. The sky was moonless and a little drizzle of rain was falling. Tia was sitting in her bedroom chair flipping through a magazine. Tia was, a brunette with medium built. She had just finished her post graduation in physics Her boyfriend Luke was, a nice looking guy with wavy hair and when he smiled his, eyes crinkled. This was his quality which had endeared her to him. And her best friend Ness who was a bit short with curly mop of hair and always, up for any kind of adventure.

This three had decided to go on a, cross state trip in Lukes car as an experience because they had the time for it too. She was finding the magazine a bore with the same models and fashion products. Suddeny her phone rang. She picked it up. " Who could it be at this time calling now " she wondered. As Tia picked up the reciever she heard some mechanical kind of mumbling but it was chilling. " Absolutely its someones idea, of a prank vary not good this is. " Again it rang and again the same mumble but this time it was, audible and clear. " Did you checked on your front door lock " it said. Tia felt cold all overand ran down and the door was locked! The phone was ringing upsrairs in her room she hesitantly picked it up. And there was laughing and Lukes voice came on the line. " I really did scared you didnt i " he said. " Luke it was you " Tia said angrily. " Allright okay dont get so angry now. It was just a joke. So tomorrow we are going on our road, trip so why dont you sleep " he said. " I was, just going to sleep and you called up okay. And yes ofcourse i do remember that tomorrow is, our trip " Tia said exaperatedly. " So have you done all the packing " he asked. " We are not going on some fashion parade , i always pack light " Tia, answered.

" The main thing would be telling Ness to be on time as shes always late " Tia said. " Okay sweet dreams. And what did your parents say about our this trip " Luke asked. " They are fine with it but have told us not to pick up any hitchhiker on the way and always keep a spare tyre in case. And, to carry some torchlight " Tia, said. " Is it because of that news report of a prisoner having escaped and roaming the highways. I still dont understand how they have still not nabbed him yet " Luke said. " Okay bye see you tomorrow then. Are any of your friends, coming too " Tia, asked. " Maybe a guy named George from our highschool grade could join us but i am not sure. Hes a bit of a punk. You have met hum remember in a party " Luke said. " I think i do " Tia said. " Okay i think its my mother who is knocking on the door i am keeping the phone down "Luke said.

The next morning. Tia got up and had pancakes made by her mother. " So Tia do you remember what we advised you about this road trip of yours " her mother asked. " Of course we, will pay heed to all that you said dont worry " Tia, said and filled her cup with more of coffee. " And that gothic friend of yours Ness shes a kind of wild child i am sure she will make you all participate in some of her so called fun activities " her father said. Tia got up and walked ourside in their back garden. It was a mildly sunny day and a cool breeze was blowing. She was wearing jeans, and a, white top her favourite attire. " Now anytime Luke will come i should bring my one bagfage down from upstairs " Tia, said and went up. Her mother called her " Tia come down fast your friends have come. " Tia hurried down with her bag and said goodbye to her parents. And went.

As their car drove on. It became dusk and the sky grew darker. Luke switched on the radio. Tia said " its going to rain i think. " And heavy clouds filled up the sky. A perfect weather for driving it became. " Just like in the movies as they show, a group of young people go on a long drive and, meet with a, storm " Ness exclaimed while listening to her music on her earpods. " Anyone want a, beer " asked Luke passing on a, bottle. " You know its not good to drink and drive Luke " Tia, said. " Thats fine i am just drinking a, little bit to energise myself " Luke replied. " Who said, that drinking beer energises, someone " Ness, added. " Me, says, " Luke laughed. After driving for one hour. Luke said " now who wants, to sit in the drivers seat i think i need a rest. " " I will drive for sometime but wat happend about that goth friend of yours he was supposed to join us " Tia asked. " He said that he will join us un midway maybe as hes visiting one of his uncle who lives in a, forest house " Luke replied. As Tia was, driving a, news flash came on the radio telling drivers to watch out for a, medium built man with a, ear stud and spiky hair as hes, a escaped prisoner and is supposed to be roaming the nort part of the rriver ridge side of the forests. " That was a chilly news , just check on the car locks " Tia said. " No need to get paranoid now " Ness said. " I am not being ok " Tia answered.

As Ness was sleeping. Tia, started to feel sleepy too. " Hey is there a, nearby some petrol station and a inn. We need to stop for filling fuel and to eat something. And to take a break " Tia, said. Checking on is, gps on his cellphone Luke said " yes, after half an hour there is one. " " We are surrounded by all forests and its, a, rainy night. Isnt it thrilling " Luke said. Suddenly in middle of the road they saw, a man hitch hiking. He was, dressed in casuals and was, wet from the rain. But there was no baggage along with him. " Should i take him " Tia, asked. " Of course not " Luke said. The rain stopped. And the moon came out of the clouds washing the lush green trees with a cool glowing white light. A cool breeze was blowing. Tia opened the window. And drank a sip from a can of coke. Ness got up. " Allright guys i will do the driving now " she said. A petrol station came up and they halted there. To fill fuel. Luke said theres, a, inn nearby we can stop there for the night. " " Sure, we will " Tia, said. After filling fuel they resumed their trip. A inn came, by it looked spooky and isolated. " Are, you sure you want to spend the night ere " Ness asked. " Come, on what did you both expected in the, forest. A, five star hotel really " Luke told, them while halting their car.

They got out of the car. It was drizzling now. Before they could enter the inn all of them were soaked. But as they entered it they found it was empty. No one was at the reception.Then a spooky kind of man entered. He asked them what they wanted. " A room of course " Ness said. " But there is no vacancy " he said. " Listen man forget about no room available we think this inn is, totally empty okay " Luke said. " Its my lodge and i say what i want. " Dude if you dont give us a room then we will take forcefully " Luke told him angrily slamming his hand on the desk. " Lets go from here we will spend the night in the car itself " Tia, said pulling him. " Yes and its already weird here , i would rather sleep in the car " Ness added. Luke nudged away Tia. " We are staying here only. " " Come on Luke stop arguing with this guy and lets, go " Ness said and Tia took Lukes, hand and they got out of there. " Can you believe that man " Tia said. " I know " Ness, said. They reached their car. And got in and with a, spare blanket slept. The rain drops were pattering on the car window panes. In middle of night Tia woke up and saw a shadow of a man at the lodges window. She was surprised as to why that man inn keeper was standing there. Again she slept. Later after some time. A slight knock could be heard on the window. She got up with a, jolt what could that be now. Maybe a, tree twig or something. So she again went back to sleep. But this time the knocking was louder. She screamed when she saw, a, mans face at the window. It was the inn guy. " What do you want " she shouted. " You can spend the night in my inn room. One is vacant i checked " he shouted back against the noise of the rain. Luke got up. " Okay so now you are telling us this " he said angrily. Ness too woke up and said " lets go if he himself is, saying. By the way my legs i am not able to stretch in this car. " And so a bit hesitantly they got out of the car with their bags and went with the inn guy inside his lodge.

They entered his lodge. All lights were out. " What is wrong with the lights " asked Tia. " The power has gone but dont worry there are candles to light " lodge guy said. He showed them two rooms one for Luke and the other for Tia and Ness. " Okay so i will leave now " he said and went. Tia went towards the window and opened it. The forest could be seen. And a, gusty wind was blowing. The bed was, small but they just had to spend the night. " Here take this pink pillow and i am taking the blue one " said Ness. So they slept. After half an hour the sound of footsteps could be heard oytside. Of some one walking. " At this hour who could be walking around here " Tia wondered and slowly got up. She opened the door and peeped out and saw it was the inn keeper walking with a, candle in his hand. " Oh my god what is, this, creepy guy doing at this time of the night now " Tia thought and quickly closed the door. In morning as they got up. Mild sunlight was coming inside the lodge room. " Wake up fast weave to go from here " Tia said to Ness. " There is no hurry as such lets have some breakfast " Ness said. And slept back again. Tia shook her up and Ness got up. As Tia picked up the phone next to the bed whether it had a, dialtone but as she guessed it did not. " We can eat on the way now just lets go from here. In night i saw that inn guy walking outside our room " Tia said. Ness was, a bit surprised. " It is his inn he can walk wherever he wants " Ness said. " In middle of night ! " Tia said unbelievably and opened the curtain. Outside it was still raining and the sky was filled with grey clouds. " Lets wake up Luke and we go okay " Tia said. So they woke up Luke next dooe and quickly took their bags and went down to the lobby.

As they were leaving. The inn guy said " are you people going on some road trip i would say you rater be careful if that escaped prisoner whose on the loose. There are news, flashes coming. " " We know that okay thanks for your information " Luke replied to him sarcastically and they went. As they reached their car and were entering inside Tia screamed. " What happened why did you screamed " asked Ness. " Look at the seat covers. They were shocked to see slashes on the cover seats of their car. " Who did that " shouted Nesd. " I am sure it must have been that inn guy " Tia, said. " Whatever lets go its, just a, sceatch " Luke answered. " But wait a, minute the car was locked wasnt it how, did he get inside " Tia asked. " Maybe with a pin he opened the car door " Ness was wondering. " Okay lets go now " Luke said. And they drove on. On the way as they were driving. Tia said " now lets halt to eat something here " pointing towards a small restaurant on the way. Luke parked the car and they entered inside. And ordered burgers with coffee. Smell of french fries was wafting from the kitchen. The waitress came and served them. As, they were eating Tia saw, a guy siting beside them on the next table. He was, sitting in a hunched position. Tere was,something suspicious about him. " He looks similar doesnt he i bet hes that hitchhiker guy " Tia said. Luke turned around and saw him. " So he did got a, ride last night " he said and told Tia, to have coffee. " Is he following us " Ness asked. " Why would he " Tia, said. " Maybe he is that escaped prisoner " Ness told. They finished and went off. But they missed seeimg him turn and look their way. Evening started falling. " So are we now halting at ur goth friend Georged house because i am tired " Ness was saying. " Yes, we are tonight " Luke replied. After one hour a, cottage came in view in the forest. " Thats his, uncles place we, will spend the night here and, return tomorrow " Luke said. George himself opened the, door he was dressed in a t shirt with a, tatoo on his, arm. " Was looking forward to your coming ow, was, the trip. So this, are your friends, you used to talk about " George said, telling them to come inside. A, fire place was lit in the corner. And his uncle was, reading a book he too got up and welcomed them. " You guys need to rest and i would say you cut short your trip and go home. Look at the weather its, raining. And a storm has, been already forecasted " Georges uncle said. George offered them mugs of hot soup and they sat down. " Same thing i have been telling that we already did, a, two day trip so now, we return " Tia, said.

So in the night. They sat down having some sandwiches. Georges uncle told them about how he had built up this house because he was always interested in living around nature. But he also told them not to go oyt in the forest at night. " So what have you guys, decided about tomorrow. George will come along with you he will drive. Its been a long time hw as bot driven his car. Because the last time he did he met with two puncture tyres " Georges uncle said. Tia told " so i think i will call up my parents " and she got up and, went near the window. And outside she saw the forests, all dark but then a shadow darted among the trees. " What was that i saw, something " she said. She turned back. Ness got up to check too. " Maybe it was an animal. No one stays here for far a distance except you " Tia asked. " Whatever its the woods close the window and make your call fast " Georges uncle said. Tia called her mother and told her that they were returning tomorrow. Her mother said it was good that they were making the trip short. " So thats it mother said that shes glad we not doing more of the, road, trip " Tia told everyone. Luke said " her mother is, always the worrier. " And Luke tried to on the television. But there was no network showing. " Here sometimes the net does not catches " George said. " You know what we did saw a, hitchhiker on the way and to me he fitted the escaped prisoners description. And in a restaurant on the way too i spotted him " Tia said. Next day they drove back. To return. George was driving the car. He was a fast driver. After few hours of driving night came and jerkily the car halted to a, stop. " What was that " Ness exclaimed. " Let me go out and check the car " George told and got out. He opened the bonnet and was checking. It was taking him too long. " Its so dark outside we shouldnt have had let him go out to check alone " Tia, was saying. " So did you found out what it is it " Tia, asked but no reply came. So Luke and they all out and, saw George lying on the, road. Upon going near him they saw he had been hit with something heavy on the head. " Some one is, here lets, fast get him inside the car and go " Ness said. " But the, tyres, are puncture of the right side " Luke exclaimed. " Get the spare tyre and fix it quick i will keep a, watch around, here and, first pick George up and get him inside the car " Tia, told. So she kept a, watch and as, Luke was, fixing the tyre. She saw, some movement among the, trees. " Hurry up hes, coming that man whose out there " Tia, said. " Its, done lets go " Luke said, and got up. Tia, screamed when she saw, the hitchhiker behind, exactly Luke with a, rod. But he fell down. Ness had hit hit him with the torch light. Hurriedly they left from there. " I knew it he, was the prisoner " Tia said with short breaths. They kept on driving as rain was, falling on the wind shield.

And as they drove on. Night became and the sky grew darker. The only light was the cars headlights and there was silence in the car. " You know what when George was not replying i thought he was pranking. But he really had fallen down there " Tia, said as, she saw that George was opening his eyes and coming back to consciousness. " What is, that i see something on the, road in middle it looks, like a belt of nails " Luke said shocked. Hitchhiker was standing on the, side with a, menacing grin on his, face. But Luke did not stopped the car. He immediately took reverse and drove back through another route. " This weirdo how is he following us i think he does has, a car. And do you know this path that we, are, driving on " Tia was panicking as Luke kept driving. From behind them a car followed them and Ness, shouted " its that man hes following us hurry up. " " Wait we, will halt here in the trees let that creep pass by " Luke said and halted the blue car under some thick shrubs. And switched off the car lights and they waited for the escaped prisoner to go by. Sound of a coming car could be heard it was him. Slowly there was quietness all around as he went ahead missing them thinking they had gone ahead. Tia said " now lets just sit here only for some time. "

For some time they sat. Then Tia, said that " lets just stay here for some time. Let that man go. I dont want to encounter him again. " But after a, few moment as they were sitting from behind them some car lights could be seen. And a, few moments later some car came and bumped into them from behind. It was such a huge jerk. All of them were jolted. " That mans back drive on the main road " shouted Tia. " Yes i am and see how fast i drive now. I feel like killing him with a gun " Luke said and he started the car. Very fast e was driving. With the psycho trailing behind them. " Call the cops and tell them that escaped prisoner is, here behind us chasing us. Give them the location " Luke said. As Tia, was calling Ness looked back and saw that the car was still there. And gaining speed too. " Hurry up " she shouted. " I am already driving at full speed okay " Luke said. " They are coming in their patrol car " Tia said. Tia turned around and saw that suddenly the mans car was not in sight. " Hes gone! " she exclaimed and soon her breath became less rapid. Luke said " must have gone back or taking another route. " But the remaining way he was not seen and after two hours of driving they reached Tias house. All of them got out of the car. " You both if you want can sleep here. Hope the cops catch him and it comes in the newspaper tomorrow. " " No its fine i will drop Ness and go " Luke said. With her extra key she opened the door. Her parents were sleeping. So now shall i tell them about the hitch mans incident " she asked. " " They will come to know ultimately so ypu can go ahead and tell "Ness replied. And the three of them hugged each other as they left. And Tia went to her room. And laid down on the bed. From window the half moon could be seen. " How calm the night is looking outside " she thought.