Shownotes
In this dark twist on “The Three Little Pigs”, one of the pigs, in an attempt to flee from his troubles, ends up stranded on the side of the road when a mysterious wolf offers him a ride.
Tonight’s story is “Rearview” by Sean “Duroc” Silva. Originally featured in Allasso Volume 2 and nominated for a Coyotl award, Rearview was reprinted in The Coyotl Awards anthology. Duroc has also had stories featured in Different Worlds, Different Skins and Roar Volume 4, all of which were featured on The Voice of Dog. He was the original founder of the Furry Writers’ Guild and currently lives in Texas with his partner and numerous puppies while spending way too much time and money on video games.
Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/rearview-by-sean-duroc-silva
Transcripts
Welcome
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog,
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s story
Speaker:is “Rearview”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Sean “Duroc”
Speaker:Silva.
Speaker:Originally
Speaker:featured in
Speaker:Allasso
Speaker:Volume 2
Speaker:and nominated for a Coyotl award,
Speaker:Rearview was reprinted
Speaker:in
Speaker:The
Speaker:Coyotl
Speaker:Awards
Speaker:anthology.
Speaker:Duroc
Speaker:has
Speaker:had
Speaker:stories
Speaker:featured
Speaker:in
Speaker:Different
Speaker:Worlds,
Speaker:Different
Speaker:Skins
Speaker:and
Speaker:Roar
Speaker:Volume 4,
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:which
Speaker:were
Speaker:featured
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:He was the
Speaker:original
Speaker:founder
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Furry
Speaker:Writers’
Speaker:Guild
Speaker:and
Speaker:currently
Speaker:lives
Speaker:in
Speaker:Texas
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:partner
Speaker:and
Speaker:numerous
Speaker:puppies
Speaker:while
Speaker:spending
Speaker:too
Speaker:much
Speaker:time
Speaker:and
Speaker:money
Speaker:on
Speaker:video
Speaker:games.
Read
by
Speaker:Ta’kom
Speaker:Ironhoof,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Equine
Speaker:Charmer.
Once
upon
Speaker:a
Speaker:time,
Speaker:there
Speaker:were
Speaker:three
Speaker:little
Speaker:pigs,
Speaker:with
Speaker:whom
Speaker:you
Speaker:may
Speaker:be
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:by
Speaker:reputation.
Speaker:But little pigs
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:remain
Speaker:little, and
Speaker:Once
Speaker:Upon
Speaker:a
Speaker:Time
Speaker:has
Speaker:a
Speaker:troubling
Speaker:habit of
Speaker:turning
Speaker:into
Speaker:Here
Speaker:and
Speaker:Now.
Speaker:And
Speaker:the
Speaker:things
Speaker:we
Speaker:face,
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:roads
Speaker:alone
Speaker:at
Speaker:night,
Speaker:can
Speaker:topple
Speaker:our
Speaker:safe
Speaker:illusions
Speaker:as if
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:built
Speaker:of
Speaker:straw.
Please
enjoy
“Rearview” by Sean “Duroc” Silva
Those eyes.
Those
fiery,
Speaker:malevolent
Speaker:eyes.
They
were
Speaker:still
Speaker:there,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:rearview
Speaker:mirror.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they’ll
Speaker:probably
Speaker:follow
Speaker:me
Speaker:forever,
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:headlights
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:car
Speaker:trailing
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:dark
Speaker:lonely
Speaker:back
Speaker:road.
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:wish
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:whose
Speaker:they
Speaker:were.
Speaker:Because
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:my
Speaker:plump
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:stubby
Speaker:snout
Speaker:looking
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:in the
Speaker:reflection,
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:They
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:been
Speaker:mine
Speaker:for
Speaker:quite
Speaker:sometime
Speaker:now.
That’s
when
Speaker:a
Speaker:loud
Speaker:noise
Speaker:startled
Speaker:me,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:my
Speaker:focus
Speaker:to
Speaker:shift
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:and
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:darkness
Speaker:that
Speaker:stretched
Speaker:out
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass.
Speaker:The
Speaker:jarring
Speaker:cacophony
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:car
Speaker:horn
Speaker:brought
Speaker:my
Speaker:senses
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:reality,
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:began
Speaker:twitching
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:what
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:like
Speaker:hundreds
Speaker:of
Speaker:little
Speaker:feet
Speaker:running
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:vehicle.
Speaker:I must’ve
Speaker:dozed
Speaker:off
Speaker:again,
Speaker:probably
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:continued
Speaker:rhythmic
Speaker:drumming
Speaker:noise
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:downpour.
Yet…
it
Speaker:was
Speaker:mesmerizing
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:way,
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:hammer
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:while
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:lights
Speaker:from
Speaker:passing
Speaker:vehicles
Speaker:illuminate
Speaker:all
Speaker:those
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:droplets
Speaker:of
Speaker:water.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:them
Speaker:glisten
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:someone
Speaker:had
Speaker:dumped
Speaker:a
Speaker:bag
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:diamonds
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:windshield.
Then
my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:moved
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:road,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:after
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:rocket
Speaker:by
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:where
Speaker:I had
Speaker:parked
Speaker:my
Speaker:car
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:streaking
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:highway
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:endless
Speaker:tail lights,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:trail
Speaker:of
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:ants
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:marched
Speaker:along
Speaker:a
Speaker:black
Speaker:canvas.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:still
Speaker:traveling
Speaker:though,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:should’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:doing.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:continue
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:stare
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:damn
Speaker:well
Speaker:it
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:safe
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:moving
Speaker:again,
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:foggiest
Speaker:idea
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:headed
Speaker:or
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:actually
Speaker:got
Speaker:there.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:really
Speaker:mattered.
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:go.
I
needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:away.
After
a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:more
Speaker:vehicles
Speaker:passed by
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:down
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:thick
Speaker:cloven
Speaker:hand
Speaker:and
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:the
Speaker:key,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:held
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:ignition’s
Speaker:tight
Speaker:grasp.
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:it
Speaker:one
Speaker:slow,
Speaker:agonizing
Speaker:click,
Speaker:hearing
Speaker:the
Speaker:soft
Speaker:jingle
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:keys
Speaker:imprisoned
Speaker:on
Speaker:that
Speaker:cold
Speaker:metal
Speaker:ring.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:mouthed
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:prayer,
Speaker:begging
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:please
Speaker:start
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:the
Speaker:key
Speaker:the
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:distance.
Speaker:The
Speaker:car
Speaker:moaned
Speaker:and
Speaker:growled,
Speaker:protesting
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:sick,
Speaker:angry
Speaker:dog
Speaker:that
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:bed.
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:released
Speaker:the
Speaker:keys.
That
settled
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:car
Speaker:was
Speaker:dead,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:stranded.
Speaker:All
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:night
Speaker:I
Speaker:happened
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:my cell
Speaker:phone
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:dresser.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:for
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:in
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:hurry.
“Damn,”
I
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:before
Speaker:taking
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:shuddering
Speaker:breath.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:my
Speaker:snout
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:wiry haired
Speaker:arm,
Speaker:aggravating
Speaker:the
Speaker:already
Speaker:irritated
Speaker:skin.
Speaker:It itched
Speaker:even
Speaker:worse
Speaker:now,
Speaker:burning
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:agonizing,
Speaker:relentless
Speaker:ache
Speaker:that
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:go
Speaker:away.
Speaker:It
Speaker:just
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:stop,
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:like
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:things
Speaker:happening
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:back at
Speaker:home.
And
that
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:trigger,
Speaker:because
Speaker:it
Speaker:brought
Speaker:everything
Speaker:rushing
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:flood
Speaker:of
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:and
Speaker:images.
Speaker:It
Speaker:overwhelmed
Speaker:me,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:think
Speaker:straight
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:started
Speaker:panicking
Speaker:and
Speaker:twitching
Speaker:nervously
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat,
Speaker:frantically
Speaker:looking
Speaker:around
Speaker:for
Speaker:any
Speaker:possible
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:But
Speaker:no,
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:just
Speaker:continued
Speaker:running
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:control
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,
Speaker:but
Speaker:yet,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:all
Speaker:those
Speaker:things
Speaker:flashing
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:over
Speaker:again
Speaker:until
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:impossible
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:anything
Speaker:else.
Why?
Why
Speaker:was
Speaker:this
Speaker:happening
Speaker:to
Speaker:me?
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:understand
Speaker:it;
Speaker:none
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:sense
Speaker:anymore.
Speaker:There
Speaker:were…
Speaker:those
Speaker:things.
Speaker:Odd,
Speaker:strange
Speaker:things
Speaker:going
Speaker:on…
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:stuff, it
Speaker:was
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:place
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:house.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean
Speaker:my
Speaker:wallet,
Speaker:my
Speaker:keys,
Speaker:my
Speaker:medications,
Speaker:even
Speaker:the
Speaker:damn
Speaker:toothbrush
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:where
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:Nothing
Speaker:was
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:it—nothing.
And
then
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:money
Speaker:that
Speaker:vanished
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:lockbox,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:open
Speaker:windows
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:unlocked
Speaker:doors
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:missing
Speaker:clothes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the—oh
Speaker:god…
Speaker:those
Speaker:bleach
Speaker:stains
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:carpet.
What
were
Speaker:they?
I
don’t
Speaker:remember
Speaker:them
Speaker:being
Speaker:there
Speaker:before,
Speaker:ever.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:why,
Speaker:or
Speaker:where
Speaker:they
Speaker:came
Speaker:from,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was…
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:driving
Speaker:me
Speaker:insane.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:if
Speaker:someone
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:house,
Speaker:I
Speaker:would’ve
Speaker:smelt
Speaker:them,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:There
Speaker:would’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:scents
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:place,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:weren’t.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:just…
Speaker:that
Speaker:odor.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:disinfectant
Speaker:or
Speaker:something,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:everywhere,
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:time,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:remember
Speaker:using
Speaker:it.
Speaker:So
Speaker:I…
Speaker:I
Speaker:figured
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:crazy.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:eat,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:sleep,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:coming
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:so
Speaker:fast
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:else
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,
Speaker:so…
Speaker:so
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:when I knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:away.
But
where?
Speaker:Where
Speaker:could
Speaker:I
Speaker:possibly
Speaker:go,
Speaker:completely
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:blue
Speaker:and
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:absolute
Speaker:dead
Speaker:of
Speaker:night,
Speaker:no
Speaker:less?
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:crazy
Speaker:notion,
Speaker:but…
Speaker:really,
Speaker:what
Speaker:choice
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:have?
At
first
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:about
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:Garvis,
Speaker:since
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:time
Speaker:I
Speaker:talked
Speaker:to
Speaker:him
Speaker:he’d
Speaker:just
Speaker:bought
Speaker:that
Speaker:wood
Speaker:cabin up
Speaker:by
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Flat,
Speaker:but
Speaker:then
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:country
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:business
Speaker:partners
Speaker:on
Speaker:something
Speaker:important,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:like
Speaker:him.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:always
Speaker:off
Speaker:gallivanting
Speaker:somewhere,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:pretend
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:problems
Speaker:just
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:us.
Speaker:Some
Speaker:brother
Speaker:he
Speaker:was.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:that he’d
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:anyway,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:chance
Speaker:with
Speaker:him
Speaker:then
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:Woodley.
Woodley…
had
Speaker:it
Speaker:really
Speaker:been
Speaker:that
Speaker:long
Speaker:since
Speaker:either
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:bothered
Speaker:to
Speaker:speak
Speaker:one
Speaker:word
Speaker:to
Speaker:each
Speaker:other?
Speaker:The
Speaker:last
Speaker:time
Speaker:was…
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:daddy
Speaker:went
Speaker:to
Speaker:trial;
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:was…what—like
Speaker:twelve
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:more.
It
felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:distant
Speaker:memory
Speaker:now.
Speaker:Some
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:fantasy,
Speaker:like
Speaker:those
Speaker:stories
Speaker:they
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:us
Speaker:all
Speaker:before
Speaker:bedtime.
Speaker:Back
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:three
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:were
Speaker:just
Speaker:little
Speaker:pigs
Speaker:without
Speaker:a
Speaker:care
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:world…
Speaker:when
Speaker:we
Speaker:still
Speaker:acted
Speaker:like
Speaker:brothers.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:friends.
Speaker:Back
Speaker:when
Speaker:momma
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:alive.
So…
so
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:time
Speaker:I
Speaker:decided
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:and
Speaker:start
Speaker:driving.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:depend
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:brothers
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:me.
Speaker:That
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:sure
Speaker:about,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:figure
Speaker:out
Speaker:someplace
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:eventually,
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:own.
Which
is
Speaker:how
Speaker:I
Speaker:ended
Speaker:up
Speaker:here;
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:pounding
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:harder
Speaker:than
Speaker:ever
Speaker:before,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:those
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:little
Speaker:raindrops
Speaker:were
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:laughing
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:incessantly.
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:it
Speaker:all
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:And
Speaker:it
Speaker:did
Speaker:once
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:headlights
Speaker:brightened
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:rearview
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:predator
Speaker:stalking
Speaker:its
Speaker:prey
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:cover
Speaker:of
Speaker:night.
Speaker:So
Speaker:I
Speaker:froze,
Speaker:rigid
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:statue
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:seconds
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:sunk
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:driver’s
Speaker:seat
Speaker:ever
Speaker:so
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:glimpse
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirrors.
Speaker:Unfortunately,
Speaker:the
Speaker:blinding
Speaker:light
Speaker:drowned
Speaker:out
Speaker:everything
Speaker:else, and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart
Speaker:flutter
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:The
Speaker:term
Speaker:sweating
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:pig
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:strangely
Speaker:ironic
Speaker:at
Speaker:that
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:because
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:were
Speaker:actually
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:sweat,
Speaker:I
Speaker:would’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:pouring
Speaker:buckets
Speaker:right
Speaker:about
Speaker:then.
Who
was
Speaker:it? A
Speaker:cop?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:person
Speaker:who
Speaker:broke
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:house
Speaker:and
Speaker:did
Speaker:all
Speaker:those
Speaker:things
Speaker:to
Speaker:me?
Speaker:No,
Speaker:no,
Speaker:no,
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:crazy,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:Someone
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:go
Speaker:around
Speaker:following
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:that,
Speaker:now
Speaker:would
Speaker:they?
Speaker:Would
Speaker:they?
My
back
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:a
Speaker:shadow
Speaker:burst
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:driver’s
Speaker:side
Speaker:door
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me.
Speaker:It
Speaker:streaked
Speaker:toward
Speaker:my
Speaker:car,
Speaker:flowing
Speaker:like
Speaker:death
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:prowl
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:looked
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:soul
Speaker:to
Speaker:steal.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:hesitate
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach for
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:making
Speaker:sure
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:securely
Speaker:locked.
Speaker:The
Speaker:shadow
Speaker:eventually
Speaker:migrated
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:side
Speaker:front
Speaker:window
Speaker:and
Speaker:rapped
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:dull
Speaker:claw.
Speaker:It
Speaker:looked
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:beak
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:hawk
Speaker:frantically
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:through
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:rodent
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:side,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:swallow
Speaker:a
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:lump
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:throat.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:stare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:wet
Speaker:glass
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:seconds
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:reacted
Speaker:and
Speaker:cracked
Speaker:the
Speaker:window.
“Car
troubles?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:figure
Speaker:questioned,
Speaker:his
Speaker:tone
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:elevated
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:him
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:passing
Speaker:cars.
My snout
flexed,
Speaker:sucking
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:burst
Speaker:of
Speaker:air
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:grunt.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:wolf.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:that
Speaker:much
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:hot
Speaker:earthy
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:wonder
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:a
Speaker:whiff
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:scent
Speaker:too.
Speaker:Could
Speaker:he
Speaker:smell
Speaker:my
Speaker:fear?
Speaker:Were
Speaker:his
Speaker:instincts
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:pick
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:that?
“Y—yes,”
I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:replied
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:cracked
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:further,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Even
though
Speaker:less
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:talking
Speaker:figure
Speaker:was
Speaker:distorted
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:sopping
Speaker:wet
Speaker:glass,
Speaker:it
Speaker:still
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:help.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:his
Speaker:entire
Speaker:face,
Speaker:partially
Speaker:because
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:red
Speaker:hood
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:wearing
Speaker:kept
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:shrouded
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:shadowy
Speaker:veil,
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:only
Speaker:the
Speaker:faintest
Speaker:glimpse
Speaker:of
Speaker:gray
Speaker:fur
Speaker:visible
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf’s
Speaker:protruding
Speaker:muzzle.
Speaker:But
Speaker:when
Speaker:cars
Speaker:roared
Speaker:by,
Speaker:they
Speaker:temporarily
Speaker:illuminated
Speaker:his
Speaker:visage
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:those
Speaker:teeth—and
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:standing
Speaker:out
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:darkness. It
Speaker:definitely
Speaker:startled
Speaker:me.
“Where’s ya
headed?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:asked.
His
voice—it
Speaker:was
Speaker:deep.
Speaker:Very
Speaker:masculine,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:enticed
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:strangely
Speaker:pleasant
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:way
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:quite
Speaker:pin
Speaker:down.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:country
Speaker:vibe
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:more
Speaker:like
Speaker:he
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:uneducated,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:genuine,
Speaker:homey
Speaker:charm
Speaker:to
Speaker:him
Speaker:which
Speaker:made
Speaker:you
Speaker:take
Speaker:notice.
Speaker:And
Speaker:the
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:awfully
Speaker:benign
Speaker:given
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:standing
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:busy
Speaker:highway
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:pouring
Speaker:rain.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:he
Speaker:really
Speaker:was
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:me
Speaker:out?
Speaker:Regardless
Speaker:though,
Speaker:I
Speaker:still
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:something.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:even
Speaker:if
Speaker:this
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:doing
Speaker:those
Speaker:things
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:him
Speaker:know
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:running
Speaker:away.
Come
on dammit, think.
“Fl—Florin… I’m going to
Florin,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:replied
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:adolescent-like
Speaker:stammer
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:locked
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf’s
Speaker:fiery
Speaker:golden
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:which
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:lure
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:cobra
Speaker:enchanting
Speaker:its
Speaker:prey.
“Florin?
Ain’t
Speaker:that
Speaker:just
Speaker:south
Speaker:a’ Manning?”
I
pondered
Speaker:that
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:unsure
Speaker:myself
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:answered
Speaker:him
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:nod.
“You’re
a
Speaker:long
Speaker:way
Speaker:from
Speaker:home,
Speaker:ain’t
Speaker:ya?
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:you’re ‘n luck, cause I’ma headed
Speaker:right by there.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:give
Speaker:ya
Speaker:a
Speaker:lift.”
“Well,
umm…
Speaker:I—I don’t think I—”
“Hey, don’t
worry ‘bout
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:lupine
Speaker:insisted
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:backed
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:door. “Let’s
Speaker:jus get
Speaker:ya outta
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain.”
I
hesitated
Speaker:stepping
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:car,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:been
Speaker:glued
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat. But
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:pried
Speaker:my
Speaker:hoofed
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:steering
Speaker:wheel
Speaker:and
Speaker:opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Speaker:The
Speaker:noise
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:increased
Speaker:dramatically
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:vehicle,
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:so,
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:shout
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:heard,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:when
Speaker:another
Speaker:car
Speaker:drove
Speaker:by
Speaker:and
Speaker:drowned out
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:sounds.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:headed
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:larger
Speaker:vehicle,
Speaker:his
Speaker:bushy
Speaker:gray
Speaker:tail
Speaker:swaying
Speaker:to
Speaker:and
Speaker:fro
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:hypnotist
Speaker:swinging
Speaker:his
Speaker:watch.
I
moved
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rear
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:car
Speaker:and
Speaker:opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:trunk
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:small
Speaker:hatchback.
Speaker:I
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:my
Speaker:duffel
Speaker:bag
Speaker:from
Speaker:inside
Speaker:before
Speaker:slamming
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:and
Speaker:locking
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:push
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:button
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:keys. The
Speaker:lights
Speaker:flashed
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:and
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf’s sedan,
Speaker:watching
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:opened
Speaker:the
Speaker:passenger
Speaker:side
Speaker:door
Speaker:and
Speaker:began
Speaker:fumbling
Speaker:around in
Speaker:the
Speaker:car.
Speaker:Another
Speaker:vehicle
Speaker:sped
Speaker:by,
Speaker:blinding
Speaker:me
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:flew
Speaker:passed
Speaker:us
Speaker:and
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:fine
Speaker:droplets
Speaker:of
Speaker:water
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:face.
When
I
Speaker:got
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:car,
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:his
Speaker:radio
Speaker:blaring,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:child
Speaker:seat
Speaker:strapped
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:passenger
Speaker:side
Speaker:and
Speaker:was
Speaker:struggling
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:it
Speaker:loose.
Speaker:This
Speaker:struck
Speaker:me
Speaker:as
Speaker:odd.
Speaker:Why
Speaker:did
Speaker:he
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:pup
Speaker:carrier
Speaker:but
Speaker:no
Speaker:pup?
Speaker:Then
Speaker:another
Speaker:car
Speaker:sped
Speaker:by,
Speaker:showering
Speaker:us
Speaker:with
Speaker:more
Speaker:water
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:dip
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:road,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:reminded
Speaker:me
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:moving.
“It’s
okay.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:sit
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:back,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:before
Speaker:opening
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:rear
Speaker:door.
The
wolf
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:in
Speaker:agreement
Speaker:and
Speaker:headed
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:driver’s
Speaker:side.
Speaker:I
Speaker:threw
Speaker:my
Speaker:bag
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:and
Speaker:got
Speaker:in,
Speaker:quieting
Speaker:the
Speaker:noises
Speaker:outside
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:slam
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:the
Speaker:radio
Speaker:more
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:now,
Speaker:the
Speaker:song “Brick
Speaker:House”
Speaker:thumping
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:aged,
Speaker:tinny
Speaker:sounding
Speaker:speakers
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:dashboard.
Speaker:My
Speaker:lupine
Speaker:driver
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:inside
Speaker:and
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:shut
Speaker:the
Speaker:radio
Speaker:off
Speaker:before
Speaker:situating
Speaker:himself
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:wheel,
Speaker:adjusting
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:and
Speaker:lowering
Speaker:the
Speaker:hood
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:red
Speaker:coat.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:damn
Speaker:taxicab.
“Sorry ‘bout
that,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:child
Speaker:seat. “I
Speaker:jus
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:my
Speaker:little
Speaker:one
Speaker:off
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:grand mama’s
Speaker:place.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:rare
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:passengers
Speaker:anymore,
Speaker:if
Speaker:ya
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean.”
Deep
down,
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:should’ve
Speaker:let
Speaker:things
Speaker:be
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:inquired
Speaker:more.
Speaker:But
Speaker:the
Speaker:pup
Speaker:carrier
Speaker:was
Speaker:nagging
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:brain
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:odd
Speaker:reason,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Lord
Speaker:knows
Speaker:why, I
Speaker:just
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:it
Speaker:go.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:nerves.
“I
thought
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:law
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:carrier
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:seat?”
The
sentence
Speaker:just
Speaker:shot
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:mouth,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:slap
Speaker:myself
Speaker:as
Speaker:soon
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:an
Speaker:irritated
Speaker:look
Speaker:wash
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:lupine’s
Speaker:face
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:glared
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:rearview
Speaker:mirror.
“Only
if
Speaker:ya
Speaker:face
Speaker:it
Speaker:forward
Speaker:and
Speaker:ya have
Speaker:airbags.
Speaker:But
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:piece
Speaker:a
Speaker:junk—”
Speaker:he
Speaker:paused,
Speaker:just
Speaker:long
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:shake
Speaker:his
Speaker:head, “airbags
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:heard
Speaker:of
Speaker:yet.”
Way
to
Speaker:make
Speaker:friends,
Speaker:jackass.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:shut
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:up
Speaker:so
Speaker:he
Speaker:can
Speaker:drive. “Sorry—I…
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:curious,
Speaker:is
Speaker:all.”
That
seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:satisfy
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:because
Speaker:he
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:side
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:vehicles
Speaker:littering
Speaker:the
Speaker:highway.
Speaker:We
Speaker:were
Speaker:going.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:the
Speaker:Lord,
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:finally
Speaker:going.
Speaker:As
Speaker:long
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Anywhere
Speaker:but
Speaker:here.
“So
let
Speaker:me
Speaker:introduce
Speaker:myself,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:said
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:chipper
Speaker:tone. “The
Speaker:name’s
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:Hooten,
Speaker:but
Speaker:my
Speaker:friends
Speaker:call
Speaker:me
Speaker:Hooter.”
I
hesitated
Speaker:when
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:found
Speaker:mine
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:rearview
Speaker:mirror.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:wanted.
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:had
Speaker:trouble
Speaker:coming
Speaker:out.
I
had
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:something
Speaker:though,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:eventually
Speaker:dribbled
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:reply, “I’m
Speaker:Ben.”
Speaker:No—no,
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:give
Speaker:him
Speaker:your
Speaker:real
Speaker:name,
Speaker:idiot.
“What?
No
Speaker:last
Speaker:name?”
Speaker:Mike asked,
Speaker:switching
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:road
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:again. “Do
Speaker:I
Speaker:gotta
Speaker:get
Speaker:all
Speaker:huffy
Speaker:and
Speaker:puffy
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:it
Speaker:outta
Speaker:ya?”
He
chuckled
Speaker:at
Speaker:that,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:humor
Speaker:in
Speaker:it.
Speaker:My
Speaker:mind
Speaker:was
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:occupied
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:rationally,
Speaker:let
Speaker:alone
Speaker:clearly.
Quick—a
name.
Speaker:Give
Speaker:him
Speaker:a fake one, hurry. “It—it’s Huffington.”
Crap.
That
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:ridiculous.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:as
Speaker:Mike
Speaker:gave
Speaker:me
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:perplexing
Speaker:look,
Speaker:which
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:hairs
Speaker:all over
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:stand
Speaker:up
Speaker:straight.
Speaker:I
Speaker:must’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:shaking
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:dang
Speaker:fish
Speaker:out of water.
“Ya alright
there,
Speaker:partner? You sure
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:sumthin’
Speaker:has
Speaker:ya all knotted up.
Speaker:You ain’t in
Speaker:some
Speaker:kinda trouble,
Speaker:are ya?”
There
was
Speaker:heat
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:now.
Speaker:He
Speaker:knew
Speaker:something
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:right.
Speaker:I
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:quell
Speaker:his
Speaker:curiosity—and
Speaker:fast.
“No—no,
good
Speaker:heavens,
Speaker:no.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:just… I—I
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:bad
Speaker:week
Speaker:at
Speaker:work
Speaker:and
Speaker:I… I’m
Speaker:just
Speaker:getting
Speaker:away
Speaker:for
Speaker:awhile.”
“Oh…
well,
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:Jus don’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:little
Speaker:tail
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:twist
Speaker:or
Speaker:nuthin’.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:laughed
Speaker:again,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:surprised that
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:find
Speaker:his
Speaker:clever
Speaker:pun equally
Speaker:amusing. “Lighten up there, ol’ boy. I ain’t one
Speaker:a’
Speaker:those
Speaker:big
Speaker:bad
Speaker:wolves
Speaker:like
Speaker:your
Speaker:momma
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:ya
Speaker:about
Speaker:back
Speaker:when
Speaker:you
Speaker:was
Speaker:younger.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:guy
Speaker:tryin’
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:another
Speaker:guy
Speaker:out,
Speaker:is
Speaker:all.”
I
didn’t
Speaker:respond.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know how
Speaker:to, and Hooten
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:on
Speaker:because
Speaker:he
Speaker:turned
Speaker:his
Speaker:attention
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:driving.
Speaker:We
Speaker:rode
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:ten
Speaker:miles
Speaker:or
Speaker:so,
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:beat
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:while
Speaker:streaking
Speaker:headlights
Speaker:flew
Speaker:past
Speaker:us
Speaker:in
Speaker:both
Speaker:directions.
Speaker:It
Speaker:caused
Speaker:everything
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:by
Speaker:in
Speaker:flashes;
Speaker:from
Speaker:light
Speaker:to
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:light
Speaker:to
Speaker:dark.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyelids
Speaker:heavy.
Speaker:Made
Speaker:me
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:sleep.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t,
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to.
It
was
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:night’s
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:in
Speaker:well
Speaker:over
Speaker:a
Speaker:month.
And I
really
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:situation.
Speaker:I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sleeping
Speaker:pills
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:help,
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:for
Speaker:dang
Speaker:sure.
Speaker:They
Speaker:only
Speaker:caused
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:even
Speaker:more
Speaker:paranoid
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:thing,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:drinking
Speaker:simply
Speaker:made
Speaker:everything
Speaker:worse.
Speaker:But
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:kept
Speaker:this
Speaker:up,
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:most
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:lose
Speaker:my
Speaker:job.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:lose
Speaker:it
Speaker:all,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:what?
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:just…
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:what might
Speaker:happen…
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:down right
Speaker:scary.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt the
Speaker:panic
Speaker:building
Speaker:up
Speaker:again,
Speaker:getting
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:boil
Speaker:over
Speaker:inside
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:started
Speaker:shifting
Speaker:around in
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:myself
Speaker:calm.
Don’t
do
Speaker:it,
Speaker:Ben. Not in here.
Speaker:Please…
Speaker:not
Speaker:right
Speaker:now.
“So,
Mr.
Speaker:Huffington,
Speaker:why
Speaker:ya
Speaker:goin’
Speaker:to
Speaker:Florin?”
That
jarred
Speaker:me.
Speaker:It
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:so
Speaker:weird
Speaker:hearing
Speaker:a
Speaker:fake
Speaker:last
Speaker:name
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:Hooten’s
Speaker:mouth,
Speaker:but
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:it
Speaker:snapped me
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:attention.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:swell
Speaker:of
Speaker:panic
Speaker:begin
Speaker:to
Speaker:subside.
Speaker:But
Speaker:now
Speaker:my
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:were
Speaker:racing
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:up
Speaker:with
Speaker:me, and
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:wondering
Speaker:if
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:I had
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:asleep.
Speaker:Did
Speaker:I
Speaker:black out?
Speaker:Did
Speaker:I
Speaker:miss
Speaker:something
Speaker:important?
Speaker:I
Speaker:met
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:stared
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:lap.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:reply,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:hard
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:still
Speaker:there,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.
Why?
Why
Speaker:did
Speaker:he
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:toy
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:this? Why couldn’t he simply shut up and
Speaker:drive?
Speaker:Or
Speaker:just
Speaker:kill
Speaker:me
Speaker:now
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:it
Speaker:over
Speaker:with?
Speaker:What
Speaker:was
Speaker:he
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for?
An
answer?
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:an
Speaker:answer
Speaker:would
Speaker:get
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:glaring
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes.
“I’m
going
Speaker:to
Speaker:visit
Speaker:my
Speaker:brothers,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:back. “One
Speaker:lives
Speaker:in
Speaker:Florin,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:just
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:hill
Speaker:near
Speaker:Badger
Speaker:Flat.”
“Sounds
like
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:deal
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.
Speaker:So
Speaker:what’s
Speaker:the
Speaker:occasion?”
“Oh—uhhh, it—it’s family
business.
Speaker:Nothing
Speaker:I
Speaker:really
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about
Speaker:though…
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:mind?”
“Not
a
Speaker:problem.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:relate
Speaker:when
Speaker:it
Speaker:comes
Speaker:to
Speaker:family
Speaker:matters.
Speaker:Got
Speaker:enough
Speaker:problems
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:own.”
“Thanks,
I
Speaker:apprecia—”
And
that’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:a
Speaker:phone
Speaker:started
Speaker:ringing.
Hooter
began
Speaker:fumbling
Speaker:around
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:console,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:to
Speaker:swerve
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:continued
Speaker:to
Speaker:blast
Speaker:that
Speaker:annoying
Speaker:chime. It
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:shriek
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:crying
Speaker:piglet
Speaker:set
Speaker:to an obnoxiously upbeat electronic
Speaker:tone,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:were
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:start
Speaker:bleeding
Speaker:at
Speaker:any
Speaker:moment
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:Hooter picked
Speaker:up the
Speaker:device
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:screen. But
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw a
Speaker:wretched
Speaker:snarl
Speaker:form
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:muscles
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:back
Speaker:tighten
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:I
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:grimaced
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:twinge that crawled
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:spine.
“Sorry
I… I
Speaker:gotta
Speaker:take
Speaker:this,”
Speaker:Hooten
Speaker:muttered.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:almost
Speaker:hear
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:grinding
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:spoke.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:about
Speaker:this
Speaker:phone
Speaker:call
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:bad.
Speaker:Really
Speaker:bad.
I
choked
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:aching
Speaker:lump
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:throat
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:flip
Speaker:open
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:and
Speaker:raise
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:ear.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:a
Speaker:strident,
Speaker:almost
Speaker:piercing
Speaker:howl
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:voice
Speaker:resonate
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:speaker,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:loud,
Speaker:even
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:choice
Speaker:words
Speaker:clearly.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:made
Speaker:a
Speaker:really
Speaker:big
Speaker:mistake.
Speaker:I
Speaker:should’ve
Speaker:never
Speaker:gotten
Speaker:into
Speaker:this
Speaker:dang
Speaker:car.
“Hey!”
Mike
Speaker:shouted,
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:ear
Speaker:as the
Speaker:yelling
Speaker:intensified. “Wai—wait
Speaker:a
Speaker:damn
Speaker:minute.
Speaker:What
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:ya
Speaker:screamin’
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:for?”
The
voice
Speaker:answered,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:became
Speaker:muffled
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:moved
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:back
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
“Now
look
Speaker:here,
Speaker:I
Speaker:came
Speaker:by
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to,
Speaker:aw’ight?
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:it
Speaker:if
Speaker:ya
Speaker:got
Speaker:your—”
Another
pause,
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:hoofed
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:began
Speaker:digging
Speaker:their
Speaker:way
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:worn
Speaker:leather
Speaker:seat.
Speaker:The
Speaker:muffled
Speaker:voice
Speaker:was
Speaker:getting
Speaker:louder
Speaker:now.
Speaker:More
Speaker:aggressive.
“Well,
if
Speaker:ya didn’t
Speaker:invite
Speaker:every
Speaker:Tom,
Speaker:Dick,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Harry
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:momma’s
Speaker:house,
Speaker:than
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:I wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:interruptin’ nuthin’,
Speaker:now
Speaker:would
Speaker:I?”
I
heard
Speaker:a
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:come
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:before
Speaker:that
Speaker:voice
Speaker:started
Speaker:howling
Speaker:again.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach
Speaker:turn
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:caught
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:Hooten’s
Speaker:tail
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat.
Speaker:He
Speaker:was
Speaker:getting
Speaker:pissed.
“No!
You’re
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:screwed
Speaker:things
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:go
Speaker:blamin’
Speaker:all of
Speaker:this
Speaker:on
Speaker:me.”
Hooter
didn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:realize that
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:drifting
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:until
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:side
Speaker:tires
Speaker:started
Speaker:banging
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:rumble
Speaker:strips.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:he
Speaker:swerved
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:back
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:road,
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:smacked
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:window.
“No.
Screw
Speaker:you,
Speaker:ya
Speaker:stupid
Speaker:bitch.
Speaker:And don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:bring
Speaker:Kayla
Speaker:into
Speaker:this
Speaker:mess
Speaker:either,
Speaker:ya
Speaker:hearin’
Speaker:me?
Speaker:You
Speaker:leave
Speaker:my
Speaker:daughter
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:it!”
There
was
Speaker:more
Speaker:talking
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:other end
Speaker:now,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:quieted
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:way.
Speaker:Hooten’s
Speaker:tail
Speaker:hammering
Speaker:against the
Speaker:seat
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:that
Speaker:much.
“Don’t
you
Speaker:threaten
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:that. If
Speaker:you
Speaker:take
Speaker:my
Speaker:daughter
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:me,
Speaker:I
Speaker:swear
Speaker:to
Speaker:God
Speaker:I’ll—Mary Ann?
Speaker:Mary?
Speaker:You—”
That’s
when
Speaker:he
Speaker:pounded
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:wheel
Speaker:before
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:it
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:dashboard
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:loud
Speaker:crack.
Speaker:And
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:see
Speaker:much
Speaker:inside
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:vehicle,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:sure
Speaker:something
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:broken.
Speaker:Hooter
Speaker:slammed
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:steering
Speaker:wheel,
Speaker:then
Speaker:he
Speaker:repeated it
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:more
Speaker:times,
Speaker:producing
Speaker:a
Speaker:solid
Speaker:thumping
Speaker:sound
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:twitch
Speaker:inside
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:quietly
Speaker:begging
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:conversation
Speaker:to
Speaker:end
Speaker:as
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:as
Speaker:possible,
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:beginning
Speaker:to
Speaker:regret
Speaker:that
Speaker:wish.
Speaker:I
Speaker:attempted
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:tension
Speaker:hovering
Speaker:inside
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:confines
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:suck
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:right
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:lungs.
Speaker:It
Speaker:felt
Speaker:thick
Speaker:and
Speaker:oppressive
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:worse
Speaker:than
Speaker:before.
Speaker:Much,
Speaker:much
Speaker:worse.
The
wolf
Speaker:hung
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:breathed in
Speaker:a
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:sigh
Speaker:before
Speaker:muttering, “I’m… I’m
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:ya
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear
Speaker:that.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:jus…”
I
don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:managed
Speaker:to
Speaker:inhale
Speaker:enough
Speaker:air
Speaker:to
Speaker:start
Speaker:speaking. “It’s
Speaker:okay, I—I
Speaker:understand
Speaker:that…
Speaker:you
Speaker:know,
Speaker:these
Speaker:things
Speaker:happen,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:replied,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:fake
Speaker:as
Speaker:soon
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:escaped
Speaker:my
Speaker:mouth.
Speaker:Probably
Speaker:because
Speaker:they
Speaker:were.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:something,
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:I didn’t
Speaker:care
Speaker:what,
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:long
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:changed
Speaker:the
Speaker:conversation.
“Yeah,
but
Speaker:I…”
The
wolf
Speaker:trailed
Speaker:off,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:watched
Speaker:him
Speaker:bend
Speaker:over
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:seat.
Speaker:Hooten
Speaker:belched,
Speaker:than
Speaker:he
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:groan
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:wheel.
Speaker:The
Speaker:car
Speaker:swerved
Speaker:again,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:Hooten
Speaker:finally
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:back
Speaker:up,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:panting.
“Hooten…
maybe
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:You
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:look
Speaker:so
Speaker:good.”
He
nodded
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:rumbling
Speaker:growl,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:seconds
Speaker:later
Speaker:he
Speaker:flipped
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:blinker.
A
blue
Speaker:sign
Speaker:with
Speaker:bright
Speaker:white
Speaker:lettering
Speaker:reflected
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:headlights that
Speaker:read, “REST STOP 1 MILE AHEAD”.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:sped
Speaker:up,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:got
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:exit
Speaker:he
Speaker:tore
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:off
Speaker:ramp
Speaker:before
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:parking
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:in
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:many
Speaker:empty
Speaker:slots.
Speaker:He
Speaker:stormed
Speaker:out
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain,
Speaker:slamming
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:paw over
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:and
Speaker:raced
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:men’s
Speaker:bathroom.
Speaker:And
Speaker:just
Speaker:like
Speaker:that,
Speaker:he
Speaker:disappeared
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:darkness.
Only
two
Speaker:lights
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:working
Speaker:here,
Speaker:and
Speaker:none
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:were
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:facilities.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:place
Speaker:look
Speaker:completely
Speaker:dead,
Speaker:other
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:cars
Speaker:which
Speaker:littered
Speaker:the
Speaker:small
Speaker:parking
Speaker:lot.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:movement
Speaker:inside
Speaker:any
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:though.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:sneaking
Speaker:suspicion
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:had
Speaker:probably
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:just
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:some
Speaker:sleep.
Speaker:Yet
Speaker:here
Speaker:I
Speaker:was,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:stranger’s
Speaker:car
Speaker:while
Speaker:he
Speaker:ran
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:throw
Speaker:up
Speaker:in the restroom.
I contemplated leaving. My brain
kept
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:at
Speaker:me, “Just
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:bag
Speaker:and
Speaker:run,
Speaker:you
Speaker:idiot.
Speaker:Go!”
But
when
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bathroom,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:bad
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:poor
Speaker:schmuck
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:there.
Speaker:That
Speaker:must’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:his
Speaker:wife
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:phone,
Speaker:or a
Speaker:soon
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:ex-wife
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:probably
Speaker:screwing
Speaker:around,
Speaker:making
Speaker:life
Speaker:miserable
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:daughter.
Speaker:What
Speaker:a
Speaker:horrible
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:live.
Speaker:And
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:everything
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:happening
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:month
Speaker:or
Speaker:so
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:fade
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Yeah
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:I
Speaker:may
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:freaking
Speaker:mess,
Speaker:but
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:this
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:had
Speaker:tried
Speaker:his
Speaker:damnedest
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:me
Speaker:out.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:though
Speaker:it
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:like
Speaker:his
Speaker:life
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:hell
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand basket.
Speaker:And
Speaker:what
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:do?
Speaker:Run
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Good
Speaker:Lord
Speaker:Ben,
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:try
Speaker:and
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:decent
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:guy
Speaker:in
Speaker:return.
And
that’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:decided
Speaker:to
Speaker:step
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:car.
I
ran
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:bathroom,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain
Speaker:assault
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:attempted
Speaker:to
Speaker:block
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:cloven
Speaker:hand.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:tripped
Speaker:when
Speaker:my
Speaker:right
Speaker:hoof
Speaker:clipped
Speaker:some
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:busted
Speaker:up
Speaker:concrete
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:walkway.
Speaker:When
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:did
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:door,
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:just
Speaker:about
Speaker:knocked
Speaker:me
Speaker:backward.
Speaker:I
Speaker:covered
Speaker:my
Speaker:snout,
Speaker:which
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:much
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:stench
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:Hooten
Speaker:gagging
Speaker:in
Speaker:one of
Speaker:the
Speaker:stalls.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:heavy,
Speaker:clumpy
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:fluid
Speaker:being
Speaker:expelled
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:body
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:hit
Speaker:the
Speaker:toilet
Speaker:water
Speaker:below,
Speaker:which
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:belch
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:mouth.
Speaker:He
Speaker:coughed
Speaker:and
Speaker:choked,
Speaker:muttering
Speaker:something
Speaker:like ‘fucking
Speaker:bitch,’
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:wondered
Speaker:if
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:better
Speaker:off
Speaker:just
Speaker:going
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:car.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:inside
Speaker:anyway,
Speaker:hearing
Speaker:Hooten
Speaker:spit
Speaker:and
Speaker:hack
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:toilet
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:flushed
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:evidence.
Speaker:When
Speaker:he
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:stall,
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:was
Speaker:wiping
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:meet
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:again.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ones
Speaker:that
Speaker:were
Speaker:clouded
Speaker:with
Speaker:anger
Speaker:and
Speaker:hatred,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:just
Speaker:looking
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:to
Speaker:channel
Speaker:it
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:stomped
Speaker:toward
Speaker:me.
“Hooten?
You
Speaker:alrig—”
Speaker:I
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:say,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:the
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:finish
Speaker:my
Speaker:question.
The
wolf
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:me
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:collar,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:my
Speaker:feet
Speaker:become
Speaker:light
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:swung
Speaker:me
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:wall.
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:something
Speaker:break
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:pain
Speaker:bit into
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:skull.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:entire
Speaker:body
Speaker:feel
Speaker:woozy
Speaker:and
Speaker:energized
Speaker:simultaneously,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:out
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:twinges
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:nerves
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:all
Speaker:my
Speaker:limbs
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:jump
Speaker:and
Speaker:contract
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:spasm.
Speaker:And
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:it.
Speaker:That
Speaker:sensation,
Speaker:it
Speaker:ended
Speaker:up
Speaker:being
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:bright
Speaker:flash
Speaker:lit
Speaker:up
Speaker:behind
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyelids.
“Do
I
Speaker:fuckin’
Speaker:look
Speaker:alright
Speaker:to
Speaker:you?”
Speaker:a
Speaker:voice
Speaker:said
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:popped
Speaker:open.
My
head
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:like
Speaker:hell,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:tinkering
Speaker:of
Speaker:glass
Speaker:hitting
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor
Speaker:when
Speaker:my
Speaker:senses
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:around.
Speaker:What
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:wake
Speaker:up.
Speaker:This
Speaker:place
Speaker:was
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:like
Speaker:piss
Speaker:and
Speaker:vomit.
Speaker:My
Speaker:snout
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:stench,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:zeroed
Speaker:in
Speaker:on
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:when
Speaker:everything
Speaker:else
Speaker:started
Speaker:coming
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:focus.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:lupine
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:too,
Speaker:belonging
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:who
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:reason
Speaker:had
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:me
Speaker:by
Speaker:my
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:collar.
Who
the
Speaker:heck
Speaker:was
Speaker:this
Speaker:guy?
“What
are
Speaker:you—get
Speaker:off
Speaker:me!”
Speaker:I
Speaker:shouted,
Speaker:moving
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms
Speaker:in-between
Speaker:his
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:push
Speaker:outward
Speaker:and
Speaker:force
Speaker:them
Speaker:apart. “Who
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:are?”
Glass
crunched
Speaker:underneath
Speaker:my
Speaker:hoofs
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:away
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:around,
Speaker:glancing
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:broken
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:checked
Speaker:for
Speaker:blood.
Speaker:There
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:any.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:small
Speaker:pieces
Speaker:of
Speaker:glass
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:hair.
How
in
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:end
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:dirty
Speaker:public
Speaker:restroom
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:guy?
Speaker:Dammit,
Speaker:my
Speaker:fucking
Speaker:head.
I
rubbed
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:skull
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:my
Speaker:attention
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf,
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:now
Speaker:backing
Speaker:away
Speaker:while
Speaker:shaking
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:were
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:start
Speaker:crying
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:flaky
Speaker:little
Speaker:pansy.
Speaker:Guy
Speaker:must’ve
Speaker:lost
Speaker:his
Speaker:mind;
Speaker:some
Speaker:drunk,
Speaker:homeless
Speaker:bastard
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:looks
Speaker:of it.
“Look, Ben—I’m… I’m sorry, ‘kay? I…
I
Speaker:jus
Speaker:lost
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf said
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:finally
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:eye
Speaker:contact
Speaker:with
Speaker:me. “I’m
Speaker:under
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:stress and…
Speaker:I’m really sorry.”
Ben? Who the hell is Ben? “I’ll
say.
Speaker:What
Speaker:the
Speaker:fuck
Speaker:is
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:with
Speaker:you,
Speaker:anyway?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:half
Speaker:pissed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:half
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:figure
Speaker:out
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:heck
Speaker:was
Speaker:going
Speaker:on.
“Look,
I…
Speaker:why
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:I
Speaker:jus
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:car
Speaker:and
Speaker:call
Speaker:ya
Speaker:a
Speaker:cab,
Speaker:alright?
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:the
Speaker:least
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:after…
Speaker:well,
Speaker:this.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:motioned
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:and
Speaker:added, “Again,
Speaker:I—I’m
Speaker:really
Speaker:sorry.”
I
could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:heading
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:door
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:around
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:mirror.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:it.
Speaker:A
Speaker:nice
Speaker:piece
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:hanging
Speaker:there,
Speaker:about
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:fall
Speaker:off
Speaker:and
Speaker:shatter
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor.
Speaker:What
Speaker:a
Speaker:waste.
Speaker:So
Speaker:I
Speaker:made
Speaker:sure
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:save
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:obliteration.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:big
Speaker:and
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:and
Speaker:pointed—you
Speaker:know,
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:broken
Speaker:piece
Speaker:of
Speaker:glass
Speaker:should
Speaker:be.
Speaker:I
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:cloven
Speaker:hand and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:it
Speaker:free,
Speaker:and
Speaker:thankfully
Speaker:my
Speaker:porcine
Speaker:skin
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:rough
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:slice
Speaker:through
Speaker:me
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:gripped
Speaker:the
Speaker:chunk
Speaker:of
Speaker:mirror
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:bit
Speaker:tighter.
“Yeah.
Yeah,
Speaker:I
Speaker:bet
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:Real
Speaker:sorry,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:to
Speaker:myself
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:walking toward him. “I’m gonna make sure
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.”
> * <
When
the
Speaker:world
Speaker:came
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:it
Speaker:did
Speaker:so
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:panicked
Speaker:flash
Speaker:of
Speaker:awareness,
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:when
Speaker:you
Speaker:wake
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:horrid
Speaker:nightmare.
Speaker:I
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:dark
Speaker:out
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:blinked
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:haze,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:realize
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:blacked
Speaker:out
Speaker:or
Speaker:something.
Speaker:But
Speaker:yet,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:inside
Speaker:the
Speaker:car,
Speaker:parked
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:road
Speaker:just
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:before
Speaker:Hooten…
Wait.
No.
Speaker:No,
Speaker:this
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:my
Speaker:car.
Speaker:This
Speaker:was
Speaker:Hooten’s
Speaker:car.
Speaker:So
Speaker:then…
Speaker:why
Speaker:was
Speaker:I
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:driver’s seat,
Speaker:and
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:hell
Speaker:was
Speaker:Hoo—
Then
I
Speaker:smelt
Speaker:it.
Speaker:A
Speaker:pungent,
Speaker:burning
Speaker:odor
Speaker:assaulted
Speaker:my
Speaker:nostrils
Speaker:like
Speaker:someone
Speaker:had
Speaker:waved
Speaker:smelling
Speaker:sauce
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:face.
Speaker:And
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:moved
Speaker:my
Speaker:hands
Speaker:up
Speaker:toward
Speaker:my
Speaker:snout,
Speaker:the
Speaker:scent
Speaker:just
Speaker:got
Speaker:stronger
Speaker:and
Speaker:stronger.
Speaker:It
Speaker:saturated
Speaker:everything,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:turn
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:interior
Speaker:light
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:because…
Speaker:that
Speaker:smell,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:too
Speaker:distinct.
It
was
Speaker:blood.
Speaker:Dried
Speaker:blood…
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:mine.
“No.
No,
Speaker:no,
Speaker:no—please,
Speaker:no,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:to
Speaker:myself,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:panic
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:cab
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:hands
Speaker:held
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:touch
Speaker:anything. “This—this
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:happening.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:please.
Speaker:It
Speaker:just
Speaker:can’t—it—”
And
that’s
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:saw
Speaker:them.
They
were
Speaker:right
Speaker:there,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:sad
Speaker:reflection
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:rearview
Speaker:mirror.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:them.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:those
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:Those
Speaker:fiery,
Speaker:malevolent
Speaker:eyes.
But
this
Speaker:time…
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:question
Speaker:as
Speaker:to
Speaker:whom
Speaker:they
Speaker:belonged
Speaker:to.
This
time…
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:mine.
They
always had
Speaker:been
Speaker:mine.
This
was “Rearview”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Sean “Duroc” Silva, read for you by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer.
As always, you
can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web at thevoice.dog, or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.