but only half. So we should do it before too much longer.”
“You guys have fun." Wayne waved. "I’m heading over to Linda’s.” The engine growled to life then sped away. Soon his thumping music faded. Corey frowned at the place where Wayne’s car had been.
Several other people left. The crowd thinned while Lance and Corey opened a bottle of bourbon. After several shots and a couple more beers, the two decided to have one more drink and go back to pick up Beth. Corey figured she would have calmed down. "She'll be grateful for the ride." Corey shouted. Lances burped his agreement. Getting shakily into his car, Corey took the lead. He watched Lance weaving slightly in his rear view mirror. He could tell that Lance hadn’t stopped drinking while they were on the way. Corey was having a little trouble keeping his own car between the lines, a task made harder by changing songs on his Ipod and drinking another beer.
The drive back to where he left Beth only caused Corey’s annoyance to resurface. He had tried to be patient, he thought, but they had been dating long enough. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He had been more than patient. He had taken her out, bought her things. He deserved it. The more he thought, the more he blamed her friend Wesley.
“That little geek was always hanging around her.” He yelled at a passing car. “Then there’s her stupid brother. The hell with her!”
He was considering turning around when the thought of Beth’s brother came back to him. The former captain and quarterback of the Football team would not be pleased if anything happened to his baby sister. Corey threw his empty beer can out the window and concentrated on the road.
About a mile from the bridge, Corey swore and swerved across the road. His tires screamed as he nearly lost control. Looking quickly in the mirror, he watched as Lance also barely kept on the road while narrowly missing the woman who had stumbled out from the woods. Corey was sure it wasn’t Beth but this only annoyed him more. He swore loudly again, punching his steering wheel. “What the hell? Is everything against me tonight?” By the time they reached the bridge, Corey was in a towering temper.
Beth was nowhere to be found. The boys called out for her. They had tramped around near the creek and across the bridge. Corey was inspecting some skid marks when Lance spoke up.
“That wasn’t her that I almost hit? Was it?” He slurred trying to focus on Corey’s face.
“No, that was some crazy old bitch.” Corey pulled out his phone. He called Beth, she did not answer. “I bet she got that little emo puke to come get her.” He snarled. “This was a total waste of time.” Corey advanced on his friend, “You thought she might go for you didn’t you?”
“Wha? Dude thas just shtupid, you better hope it wash Wesh and not her brother.” Lance defended while backing away. “I’m just lookin out for ya Bro.” He weaved over to his car and grabbed the half empty bottle of bourbon.
“You know it was Wesley. He is the only person who wouldn’t have anything else to do tonight." Corey grabbed the bottle away from Lane's lips. Taking a burning swig of the amber liquid he surmised. "How else would he get out here so fast?” Lance merely hiccupped and shrugged taking back the bourbon. He shook the bottle frowning at the little that was left.
“Like he has a chance with her.” Corey grabbed the bottle back from Lance and drained it. Throwing the empty into the woods. A frustrated yell erupted from him. “What the hell is wrong with her?”
“Yeah, how coulds shom one reshist your charm?” Lance laughed.
Corey opened his mouth but stopped He glared at his laughing friend. His attention was caught by the sound of an animal crashing through the brush just out of their headlight glare. He strained his eyes to see what it was. Only darkness stared back.
“Well, you didn’t get anywhere, maybe she prefers…” Lance started but was silenced by a hand held up by Corey. Smirking, Lance decided to get a fresh bottle this thought drown out the other so instead he asked, “So what do you want to do about it?” An innocent look crossed over Lances's face as he blinked repeatedly trying to clear his vision.
“Oh, we’ll get him. I doubt the tires on that hunk of shit he drives are long for this world.” Corey spat.
“We’ll do it tomorrow night." Lance pushed himself off of the side of the car. He swayed for a second. "I want to hit the party tonight.” He continued stumbling over to the edge of the road.
Corey nodded, “Come on man let’s go! I need to get wasted after this crap.”
Lance waved over his shoulder, “I’ll catch up. I gottsa take a piss.”
“All right, I’ll meet you over at Linda’s” Corey was in his car a moment later he sped off.
Lance listened as the car rumbled down the road. Swaying slightly, he began to relieve himself. The snapping of a fallen branch reached his ears. He looked up as something large was moving around in the brush. Straining to see through the darkness and his alcohol impaired vision, he staggered slightly losing his balance for a second. Shaking his head, he decided it was nothing. He turned to stagger back to his car. His foot slipped on the spot where he had made the grass wet. Trying to recover he tripped over a log.
“Shit!” he laughed. “Guess I’m pretty messed up.”
“UUUUNNNGGHHHH” cried out the darkness. Lance flipped over, staring around for the cause of the sound. Even in his stupor, fear gripped his heart.
“Who’s there?” He shouted. Another groan followed by the heavy rustling of leaves and brush answered him. A figured appeared in the pool of light from his headlights. His head snapped around to the shadow cast across his vision.
He looked up and saw a woman, the woman he almost hit, shuffling toward him. She was dragging a leg that was covered in blood. The front of her shirt was also stained deep, dark red. She held out one arm toward him. She was moaning as she continued closer and closer.
Lance pushed himself up to his feet staring at the woman. “You OK, lady?” He asked in a whisper as he began to back away. He pray her injuries were not of his making.
A crashing sound to his left alerted him to the presence of a man. His face was bruised and bloody. His teeth were bared as he moved toward Lance. Lance began to edge toward his car when an arm grabbed him by the throat. Pain shot through his shoulder.
He wrenched himself free. He was shocked as he looked into the gaunt face of another woman. Fresh blood, his blood, dribbled down her chin. Now the man grabbed him as Lance tried to back away from the shriveled woman. Fresh pain burst forth from his arm as the man bit into his flesh. Lance screamed to the trees and empty bridge as the pale woman from the road joined the other two.
A couple of hours later, Corey mumbled something about Lance never making it to the party then passed out. Linda and Wayne didn’t notice.
It Started as a Nice Day
Lying in bed, Wes relived the events of the night over and over in his mind before falling into a fitful sleep. His dreams began with Beth but ended with the man banging on his hood. The man was coughing, pounding and scraping on his door trying to get him. Wes woke up terrified. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. He stared around the room for a moment before he realized it was morning. He was safe at home.
Wes
