Page 14 of Claimed by the Fallen
“Sure,” I answer his question. “Why were you talking toPreston?”
Joey tightens his grip on the steering wheel. “He saw me talking to Scott. They’re friends. Preston came over to say hi, and then he asked aboutyou.”
“Me?” My voice squeaks. I take a second to make sure I sound normal before I ask, “Why was he asking aboutme?”
Joey shakes his head. “I don’t know. I told him it was your birthday, and then you showed up before he could ask anything else. I just thought you’d want to know Mr. Daydream asked about you.” I don’t miss the bitterness in Joey’s laststatement.
“Hey.” I lean forward to try and get Joey’s attention. He spares me a quick glance before looking back at theroad.
“Hey,what?”
I don’t understand his clipped reply, or his angry expression. “What’s wrong? Why are youmad?”
“I’m notmad.”
“Tell that to yourface.”
Joey sighs. “Look,” he sounds normal again. “It’s nothing. Forget I said anything. I think I’m justtired.”
But you didn’t even say anything, I want to tell him. But in the interest of ending the weirdness, Irefrain.
A loud thump hits the hood of thecar.
I tilt my head back toward the sound. “What wasthat?”
“I don’t know.” I can hear Joey’s confusion. “Maybe it was arock.”
“Maybe.” I keep my eyes peeled for any more stones. Joey slows his speed, unwilling to risk damage to his brand-newcar.
I’m watching the road in front of us, identifying the mile marker saying we are less than five minutes from our turn off, when I see a tall, slender shadow bounding towards thecar.
“Joey?” I grip the armrests. “Do you seethat?”
“Seewhat?”
I look from Joey back to the shadow. “That!” I point towards the approaching shadow. “I think an animal is charging towardsus.”
Joey continues to slow down, but he sounds skeptical as he says, “I don’t seeanything.”
My initial assumption is quickly squashed when the shadow draws closer. I see that it isn’t an animal. At least, not one I’d ever seenbefore.
The Corolla’s headlights shine on the creature, showing its elongated limbs and naked body. It opens his mouth, and I hear a heart-stoppingroar.
I cover my ears and shout, “Drive, Joey! Don’t stop.” I don’t know what I’m looking at, but it’s definitely not a harmless animal. My adrenaline kicks into high gear as my instincts tell me to be terrified of thecreature.
Joey doesn’t heed my command. He’s too confused by my odd behavior. He looks at me and sees my frightened expression. “Ronnie? What’s wrong? What do yousee?”
It’s too late. I scream as the creature leaps into the air and disappears from sight. A loud bang sounds on the roof. Joey swerves, and the rumble strips cause the car to bounce until he swivels back onto theroad.
“What the hell was that?” Joey shouts, unnerved by the sound, as well as my scream. I’m relieved to know he, at least, heard the sound after not seeing the creature run towardsus.
“I don’t know,” I shout back. I look up and see a large indent. “But it’s on theroof.”
The passenger window breaks and glass shatters all over me. I don’t have time to scream before a sickly-black arm reaches in and grabs me by thearm.
Joey yells. At last, he sees the creature. He reaches over and tries to hit the hand off of me. The car is going all over the road. I use my fingernails to try and dislodge the creature’s grip, but it’s toostrong.
“Ronnie!” Joey cries out as I’m lifted out of my seat. The only thing holding me in is theseatbelt.
