Take my hand and come with me into the darkness.

We will have to travel to the back of my mind, back to the darkest, deepest crevice of my mind. We will have to travel to my hidden secret room. 'Turn the lights on' you say. Im sorry to say lights don`t work in here. Last week I bought the most powerful flashlight known to man and even used the best batteries available but that light would not cut into the darkness.

Have no fear, don`t be frightened, nothing can get you in here. I have all the nasty, scary stuff locked up. They can`t get through the door, it is made of solid steel. Why is this door open? Oh dear God the room is empty.

What is that noise that I hear, is it a snarl? What is that near the floor. The red glow, they look like eyes. Oh dear God it is the demon dog, it has escaped. Quick take my hand, lets go. Faster, faster the demon dog is nip, nip, nipping at your heals. Quick in here, hurry. Oh good the door is shut and we are safe in the secret room of my mind.

Have a seat get real comfy. This will only hurt for a moment and then you will feel no more.

What, no I didn`t say this will only hurt for a moment and then you will feel no more. You must have imagined it or been confused, I would never have said that, not out loud anyway.

Oh dear God, don`t move a muscle, I wouldn`t twitch if I were you because The Fiend stands right behind you and he would rip you limb from limb. Oh good The Fiend is gone. That was very close for you because he had a twinkle in his eye and if you had of moved or even twitched he would have pounced and shredded you limb from limb.

One thing, before I leave you with this story, if you should hear a rapping or a tapping coming from the door behind you, I would advise you to ignore it. The reason I tell you this, is because behind that door, is the nastiest, scariest of the bunch. One look into its eye and your sanity would be no more. Your sanity would pack and leave. You might ask if you looked into its eyes and your sanity did depart

when you could expect it to return. I would have to say 'Im sorry to say, if you ever did look into its eyes, your sanity would evermore be on permanent vacation, nevermore to return, and to this I can add no more because there is nothing more that can be said.

Can you tell I have been listening to The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe?

That was sort of Poe, Stephen King, and myself all wrapped up together.

I have to tell you Rage is a rough draft at this time so it may change. I have never posted a rough draft before, well I take that back, my original novel The Skeleton Man and The Lunatic was a rough draft and I see where that got me. What is that God awful stench in here, oh it is my copy of the original The Skeleton Man and The Lunatic. I really should get rid of it but The Invisible Man broke the long handled tongs last week using them to hit the baseball around and Im scared to touch it with my bare hands. That rubbish might rub off on me and then I would evermore be doomed to write rubbish. I would nevermore be able to write anything good again. Where`s my gas mask? Ah that is much better.

I wouldn`t post this but The Blind Man told me he was reading it and he was feeling it. When I ask him how the hell he could read it since it isn`t in braille, he told me 'trust me I wouldn`t lie to you.' Well I know for a fact he would lie to me because just yesterday when I ask him who drank all the good liquor he told me The Invisible Man did it. I happen to know for a fact that The Invisible Man is on vacation in the Bahamas right now so he didn`t do it. I have that on good authority, by the way, because there have been numerous sightings of him. The Blind Man`s breath almost knocked me on my ass and he was slurring his words very badly so I know he drank up all the good stuff.

You may be wondering who The Blind Man is, he is the muse in the basement. He is the one with the talent, he comes up with all the good ideas. Well except for that time last month when he thought it would be a good idea to go skinny dipping in the lake and ask those Nuns if they would care to join us, that was a really bad idea. He tried to tell the cops it was my idea. Most of the time The Blind Man sits down in the basement drinking the good liquor, smoking my good cigars, and hollering about me getting him a steak. I really don`t know why I put up with him, other than he does come up with some pretty good ideas some times.

The Blind Man is mostly okay but if he ever tells you he is a great driver don`t listen to him. He can`t drive a lick, he likes to try to drive off cliffs. Hey why is the car moving? Oh crap I have to go The Blind Man is in the drivers seat and we`re headed for the cliffs. I have to get him out of the drivers seat and take over the driving duties. Now on with the story.

Cover designed by monique from Tagger`s Tavern

You may post this story elsewhere if you would like to. All I ask is that you leave it as is and post a link back to this website http://etbrother.weebly.com

Rage

by E. T. Brother

2012 by E. T. Brother

A free short story by E. T. Brother. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author`s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained" Mark Twain

"I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times." Robert Bloch (Author of Psycho)

"Sometimes there is no darker place than our thoughts, the moonless midnight of the mind." Dean Kontz ****

Patrick walks out of the front door of the house, turns, pulls the door shut, and makes sure it is locked. He is a 50 year old balding white male with a beer gut. He picks up the suitcase, turns around, and walks out to the car. He looks up at the stars for a moment then opens the door and puts the suitcase in. He pushes the suitcase over to the passenger seat and gets in the car. He shuts the door, starts the car, backs out of the driveway, and gets on the highway.

Im on my way now. This is the first vacation I have been on in three years. Virginia Beach here I come ready or not. Patrick thinks.

Patrick drives up the highway, drives around a curve and passes a vehicle. He doesn`t see the vehicle though because it is sitting just a little ways off the highway.

Patrick drives up the highway singing along with the song on the radio, he is singing off tune but fortunately no one is around to hear him. He looks up the road ahead of him then looks at the rearview mirror and doesn`t see a car on the road in either direction. He smiles.

This was a really good idea to leave at night because there wont be much traffic out. I will stick to the back highways until I get there. It may take me a little longer but I wont have to deal with as much traffic that way. Patrick thinks.

Patrick doesn`t see the dark vehicle that is riding just behind him on the highway because it is running with the headlights off.

An hour later Patrick pulls into the parking lot of a convenience store and pulls into a parking spot. He turns the car off and gets out of the car.

I feel like Im going to bust a gut. I have only been on the road for an hour and I already have to piss like a race horse. I shouldn`t have had them three beers before I left. Patrick thinks.

Patrick walks toward the door for the store and hears a vehicle going by on the highway. He looks over and sees a black Dodge Ram pickup go by. He looks back toward the door and goes into the store.

After he finishes using the bathroom he walks out of the bathroom and walks over to the drink cooler. He stops at the beer cooler for a moment then walks over to the sodas. He opens the door and pulls a Dr. Pepper out.

I better leave the beers alone. I have a long drive ahead of me and I don`t need any beers right now anyway. I have 12 in the car in the cooler in case I get thirsty so that`ll do me. Patrick thinks.

Patrick walks to the counter and puts the drink down. The woman behind the counter rings it up on the register.

"That`ll be a dollar fifty-three." She says.

Patrick pulls two dollar out of his pocket and hands it to the woman. She puts the money in the register, punches two dollars on the register, and gets the change out of the drawer.

"Forty-seven cents is your change." She says.

She hands the change to Patrick and he puts it in his front pocket without even glancing at it. He picks up the soda and turns to go.

"Have a nice night." She says.

Patrick turns his head back toward the woman and smiles. She smiles back at him.

"I will have a nice night, you have one yourself." Patrick says.

"Thank you sir, I will try." She says.

Patrick turns his head back to the front and walks out of the store. He walks over to his car and gets in. He starts it up, backs out of the parking spot, and pulls out onto the highway. He drives through town then gets to the 55 mile an hour zone and bumps his speed up to 60.

Patrick drives for a few miles with no cars in front of him and none behind. He drives around a long blind curve and sees a slow moving vehicle directly ahead of him. He slams down on the brakes and slows down. He looks down at the speedometer and sees he is doing 25.

What the hell are you doing driving so slow man. The speed limit is 55 not 25, speed the hell up. This is that black pickup that past the store when I was walking in. Why is this guy driving so slow? Patrick thinks.

They drive around a curve. Patrick pulls out to pass and begins to speed up.

I can`t sit behind you all night man I got to go. Patrick thinks.

Headlights come zipping around the curve toward them. Patrick slams on the brakes and jerks in behind the pickup. The driver going the other way honks his horn as he passes and Patrick shoots him the bird. They drive out of the curve and Patrick pulls out to pass the pickup. He speed up and the truck moves over in front of him. Patrick slams the brakes and slams his hand down on the horn. Patrick pulls back to the right and the truck moves back into the lane in front of him.

Dude what the hell is your problem? Im not going to follow you all night. Get the hell out of my way before I decide to kick your ass. Patrick thinks.

Patrick pulls out to pass and the truck moves over in front of him. Patrick slams the brakes and slams his hand down on the horn again. Patrick pulls back to the right and the truck moves back into the lane in front of him.

Get out of my way dipshit. Im not going to follow you all night. You are really starting to piss me off man. Patrick thinks.

The brake lights flash on for a moment on the truck and then go out. They go into another blind curve. When they come out of the curve the driver of the truck sticks his arm out of the window and waves Patrick by.

It`s about damn time dipshit, now stay the hell out of my way. Patrick thinks.

Patrick pulls out and punches the gas pedal to the floorboard. The car hesitates for a moment then shoots forward. Headlight pop over a hill directly in front of him. Patrick slams the brakes, the tires shriek and lay down rubber, and Patrick jerks back in behind the truck just in time. The car flies by the other way with the horn blaring as it passes.

This freak just tried to kill me. He tried to get me into a head-on collision. Im going to kill this guy. Patrick thinks.

Patrick edges over to the center-line and sees the road is clear ahead. He pulls out and the truck pulls over to block him. Patrick jerks the wheel to the right and stomps the gas pedal to the floorboard. The car hesitates for a split second and then surges forward. The truck begins to move back into the lane to block, Patrick hits the shoulder and shoots by. He pulls back into the lane in front of the truck, rolls the window down, sticks his arm out, and sticks his middle finger up.

Sit on this and spin dipshit. Patrick thinks.

He pulls his arm in, rolls the window up, and gets his speed up to 60.

See you latter dipshit. I would kick you butt but you aren`t worth it dipshit. Have a nice life and stay the hell off the road from now on. Patrick thinks.

Patrick glances at the rearview mirror and sees the headlight of the truck falling back fast.

Yeah that`s right stay out of my way. Keep driving slow. Maybe you will pull that stupid shit in front of the wrong person and they will kill you loser. It would be no big loss. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks back out the windshield at the highway ahead and when he glances up at the rearview mirror a few moments latter the headlight are gone.

Good riddance to you dipshit. Patrick thinks.

Patrick drives along up the highway for a few minutes and begins to calm down then he shakes his head no.

The nerve of that punk. I feel like putting my foot up his ass. Some people deserve it and he is one of them. Patrick thinks.

Patrick begins to get worked up about it, he gets madder, his blood begins to boil the more he thinks about it.

That punk should have his ass kicked. There ought to be a law that if someone does what he did then they get the crap beat out of them. That would put a stop to that kind of crap real fast. It would only take once or twice to knock the crap out of them and they wouldn`t be a asshole again. Beat the crap out of them and we would end up with a kinder, gentler world. Patrick thinks.

Patrick laughs out loud at this thought.

Yeah beat the crap out of all the assholes on the road. That would create a kinder, gentler world. Use violence to create a better world for all. Patrick thinks.

Patrick throws his head back, laughs even harder, and begins to calm down.

That`s pretty good someone ought to put that law in place right now. That would get rid of the assholes real fast. Patrick thinks.

Patrick laughs then the car shakes and rocks forward. It stops after a moment.

What the hell? Patrick wonders.

The car rocks back then begins to drive normal again.

What the hell was that? Did I hit something? That was very odd. Patrick thinks.

The car shakes and rocks forward even harder. The steering wheel jerks and the back end begins to slide to the right. Patrick turns the steering wheel to the right. The car stops shaking, rocks back, and the front end snaps to the right. Patrick turns the steering wheel to the left, the car straightens out, and he turns the steering wheel to the middle.

What is going on, what is wrong with this car? Patrick wonders.

The car shakes and rocks forward hard. Bright blinding lights come on directly behind the car and flood the interior of the car. Patrick looks at the rearview mirror and is blinded by the lights for a moment. The pickup is right behind the car shoving it down the highway. Patrick looks back out the windshield at the highway and can see after a moment. The car stops shaking, rocks back, and begins to drive normal. Patrick looks at the rearview mirror and see the pickup has dropped back a little ways. Patrick`s heart skips a beat and then begins to beat rapidly.

Oh shit this dude isn`t just an asshole he is a psycho. I have to try to get away from him before he runs me off the road. Patrick thinks.

Patrick punches the gas pedal down and gets the car up to 80. The car begins to shake.

I can`t drive this fast for very long because the car wont take it. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks at the rearview mirror and sees the pickup is falling back. He looks back out the windshield and sees the highway is deserted ahead of him.

Where the hell is a cop when you need one? Patrick wonders.

Patrick looks back at the rearview mirror and sees the lights have vanished. He looks back out the windshield at the highway.

Where the hell did he go? Where is he, did he stop? We haven`t went around any curves of up any hills so he should still be back there. Patrick thinks.

Patrick continues to drive 80 for a little while then looks back at the rearview mirror and still doesn`t see the headlights behind him. He looks back out the windshield, lifts his foot off the gas pedal, taps the brake pedal, and slow back down to 60. The car stops shaking and the ride smooths out some.

The car can`t take much more of that. I wouldn`t want to have to drive the car that fast for long because it might would blow a tire or something might break and send me into the ditch or a tree. That wouldn`t be pretty. The car isn`t in very good shape. Patrick thinks.

Patrick continues to drive and begins to calm down. If he could see back just 100 feet behind him into the darkness, he wouldn`t be calming down, he would be terrified, because the pickup is riding back there with the lights off.

Patrick drives up the highway with the dark pickup following him. He reaches over and turns the radio up. The channel is mostly static. He turns the dial and finds a rock station playing a Motley Crue song. He begins to tap the steering wheel and sing along with the song, off key of course.

The car shakes and rocks forward violently. Patrick`s head whips back causing him a slight case of whiplash. Patrick looks at the rearview mirror, taps the brake pedal, and screams. The pickup is behind him shoving the car down the highway. Patrick looks out the windshield at the highway.

Oh shit Im going to die. What does this psycho want? He is going to kill me. Im sorry I flicked you off. Please, Im sorry, I take it back. I don`t want to die. I have to get away from him or he is going to kill me. Patrick thinks.

Patrick punches the gas pedal, the car shudders then rocks back as the car surges away from the pickup. He bumps his speed 80. The car begins to shake. Patrick looks in the rearview mirror and screams. The pickup is still right behind him.

Oh shit he is still there. This guy is a psycho. I don`t want to die. I don`t want to have to push the car any harder because the car wont take it for long but I have to or this psycho is going to run me off the road. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks out of the windshield at the highway ahead of him and bumps the speed up to 90. The car begins to shake even more and the steering wheel begins to feel odd as the front of the car lifts up slightly. Patrick looks at the rearview mirror and screams. The pickup is still right behind him then it surges closer. Patrick screams.

Oh shit he is going to kill me. Im sorry I flicked you off man. Please don`t kill me. I take it back, I`ve learned my lesson. Please stop this, Im sorry. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks out through the windshield at the highway ahead. The car rocks forward then back and the back end slews to the right. Patrick turns the steering wheel to the right and then back to the left as the car straightens out. He looks at the rearview mirror and screams. The pickup is moving in again. Patrick looks out the windshield.

Please man, Im begging you, please don`t kill me. I don`t want to die. Patrick thinks.

The car rocks forward and the back end slews to the right. Patrick jerks the steering wheel to the right and then to the left as the car straightens out. Patrick stomps the gas pedal to the floorboard and the speedometer climbs up to 100. The car begins to shake so violently it feels like it is going to shake itself apart. Patrick begins to cry.

Im going to die, I don`t want to die. Please stop. Please don`t kill me Im sorry. Don`t kill me man. I take it all back, every bad thought I had about you, I take it back. Please stop. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks in the rearview mirror and doesn`t see the pickup. He looks back out the windshield at the highway and continues to drive over 100 for a little while. The car continues to shake violently.

I can`t keep driving this fast because something is going to break and I will run off the road. If that happened I would die going this fast. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks at the rearview mirror and doesn`t see the pickup. He keeps the gas pedal on the floorboard and lightly taps the brake pedal. The brake lights come on and he doesn`t see anything behind him. He lifts his foot off the gas pedal and slows the car down to 60. The car stops shaking and the ride smooths out some. He looks at the rearview and doesn`t see anything behind him on the highway.

Patrick looks back out the windshield at the highway ahead of him. He sees a road on the right coming up. He lifts his foot off the gas pedal, slams the brake pedal, and jerks the steering wheel to the right. The tires squeal, the car turns to the right, and the back end begins to slide around to the left. Patrick jerks the steering wheel to the left, hits the gas pedal, and the back end slides back toward the right. He jerks the steering wheel to the right and gets the car straightened out. He bumps his speed up and begins to drive down the road. He looks at the rearview and doesn`t see anything behind him.

I lost him or he gave up. He isn`t back there anymore, he is gone. Thank you. I thought I was going to die. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks out the windshield at the road ahead of him and sees a mountain up ahead. He looks and sees the road goes up the mountain. He glances up the mountain and sees a set of headlights up near the top of the mountain then they disappear out of sight. He looks all along the road on the mountain and sees it twist and turns quite a bit and is very steep in places. He looks back at the road ahead of him.

Shit I don`t want to go up the mountain. I don`t even know if this car would make it up that steep thing or not. The car does okay on the main highway but that is a big mountain. I think I should find somewhere to pull off and wait for a little while then I

can go back out and get on the main highway when Im sure it`s safe. I can wait a while and make sure that psycho is gone. Patrick thinks.

Patrick drives up the road about a mile and sees a big pull off. He slows down, pulls into the pull off, pulls over to the trees, turns the car around facing the road, and stops. He turns the car off and turns the headlights off.

I will wait here. Im back next to the trees so Im hidden from the road. If that psycho realizes I came down this road he will drive right by without seeing me. He isn`t using his headlight so he probable wouldn`t evens see this pull off. Patrick thinks.

Patrick sits back in his seat and begins to watch the road.

About an hour later Patrick jerks awake and looks around. He sees where he is, his heart begins to beat faster, he breaks out in a sweet, as he remembers the psycho in the pickup. He looks all around the pull off and sees it is empty. He takes a couple of deep breaths and calms down.

The psycho is not around. I lost him. That nightmare is over. I can get going now. It will be great to get to the beach and put all this behind me. Patrick thinks.

Patrick reaches to start the car and his fingers grab thin air. The keys aren`t in the ignition. He frowns.

What is going on, where are the keys? I left them in the ignition, didn`t I? I don`t remember taking them out. Patrick thinks.

Patrick reaches down and pats his pockets. His pockets are empty. Patrick reaches over and turn on the inside light. He looks all around him and doesn`t see the keys. He sits up and feels underneath himself. The keys aren`t there.

What the hell did I do with the keys? Patrick wonders.

Patrick sits forward and looks at the floorboard. The keys aren`t there.

Man, what the hell did I do with the keys? I don`t remember even taking them out of the ignition but I must have because Im the only around. The keys have to be in the car. Patrick thinks.

Patrick sits up and turns the inside light off. He screams and jerk to his right.

**** Three Weeks Earlier

Patrick Thompson drives along up the highway on his way home from work. He looks in his rearview mirror and sees the road behind him is empty. He looks out through the windshield at the road ahead of him and sees it is also empty.

Patrick drives his red Chevy Caviler up the highway, it is pretty beat up to be only six years old, but Patrick is a very bad driver especially when he is drunk. Fortunately he has only had three beers so far tonight, not that it matters much since there isn`t another car on the road right now. The wildlife would do well to stay off the road though and for that matter they should stay away from the road entirely. Patrick doesn`t have a bumper sticker on the back bumper because he no longer has a back bumper but if he did the sticker would probable say, 'if you don`t like my driving then stay off the sidewalk.' That is just the kind of guy he is.

The car swerves to the left as Patrick reaches in the back floorboard for another beer from the cooler. He grabs the beer, glances up, and jerks the steering wheel to the right to get back in his lane.

Good thing no one was coming or that would have been nasty. Patrick thinks.

Patrick looks down and pulls the tab open on the beer. He looks up and jerks the steering wheel to the left to get back in his lane.

Damn I need to pay attention to the road, this road is bad enough if you are paying attention. I don`t want to run off the road through here because that would be nasty. Patrick thinks.

Patrick reaches over and turns the radio on. The radio begins to blare out a bunch of static. Patrick glances over at the radio and changes the channel. He finds a rock channel playing Guns and Roses and looks back at the road. He jerks the steering wheel to the right and gets back in his lane.

Damn I really have to watch the road. Patrick thinks.

Patrick raises the beer can to his lips and takes a big gulp of beer. He takes his eyes off of the road and looks up at the roof.

Ahhh that hit the spot, that`s what Im talking about. Patrick thinks.

The car bounces then shakes violently. Patrick looks out the windshield but doesn`t see anything. Something hits the roof of the car then the car bounces down in the back as the thing hits the trunk and rolls off. Patrick jerks the steering wheel to the right and goes around a curve. He looks up at the rearview mirror after he gets out of the curve but doesn`t see anything.

What did I hit? Did a deer run out in the road? Damn it this car is in bad enough shape as it is without hitting anything else. Should I go back and see what I hit? No. I better get the hell home now. If I get caught driving drunk again they are going to

take my license for good. I better get on home now. I`ll check the car out in the morning but it doesn`t seem much worse. Patrick thinks.

Patrick continues to drive toward his house that is three miles away.

****

John Richards drives up the highway. He is a 39 year old white male with a high and tight haircut. Old habits die hard and it drives John crazy if his hair gets to long. Retiring with 20 years service in the Marines last year, he could let it grow out, in fact he did let it grow longer but he hated the feel of it. He had it cut off and now keeps it high and tight.

If you were to ask his friends now to describe him they would say, "he is a great guy, he would give you the shirt off his back, he wouldn`t hurt a fly, and he`s a loving husband." They wouldn`t be lying but if you ask his friends from his days in the Marines to describe him you would get a much different answer. They would say, "he is the man you want with you in a firefight, you want him covering your six. The enemy better watch their six and their front too, he is a madman in a firefight." They of course wouldn`t be lying either but John`s days in the Marines are over and he has settled down since his retirement.

John glances over at his wife in the passenger seat and smiles. He lets his eyes wander over her body for a moment then looks back out the windshield at the highway.

Elizabeth you still got it babe. You look better now than the day I married you. You still turn me on at 38. You are one hot mama Liz. John thinks.

John glances back over at Liz. The steering wheel jerks to the left. Thump, thump, thump. John looks back out of the windshield and turns the steering wheel to the right. The car begins to shake and bounce around.

Great a flat tire just what I need. I must have run over something in the road because I was acting like a horny teenager. John thinks.

John smiles at this thought. He slows the car down, pulls onto the shoulder, and stops.

Well, so what if I was, Liz has still got it so I can act like a horny teenager from time to time, it will keep me young. Acting like a horny teenager has gotten me into trouble again just like back then. John thinks.

John smiles. Liz moves around in the passenger seat.

Liz is Elizabeth Parrish Richards, she is 38 years old, I would have to agree with John, she has still got it.

John looks over at Liz.

"What is going on, where are we?" Elizabeth ask.

Elizabeth sits up, stretches, and looks around.

"We have a flat tire. I must have run over something. I`ll get the spare out and change it. Go back to sleep Liz." John says.

"You ran over something in the road, where you a sleep?" Elizabeth ask.

Elizabeth glances down and sees the bulge in John`s pants. She looks up at his face and smiles. She smacks John`s arm playfully.

"Were you undressing me with your eyes again? You are such a dirty old man." Elizabeth says.

"No, no, of course not. We got the flat tire before I could get that far." John says.

Elizabeth laughs and John joins in. John leans over and kisses Elizabeth and she returns it. John caresses the side of her face for a moment then kisses her on the forehead.

"Go back to sleep Liz, I`ll take care of the tire." John say.

"I`ll help. It`s really dark out there so I`ll hold the flashlight." Elizabeth says.

"Okay, that would be a big help." John says. This is the comment that he comes back to over and over again well when his mind is actually working that is. He often thinks, I wish I had told here to stay in the car, she would still be alive.

John puts the car in park, turns the headlights off, and turns the four way flashers on. He takes the keys out of the ignition and looks in the mirrors. The road is clear behind him. He opens the door and gets out. The passenger door opens and John sees Elizabeth get out carrying the flashlight.

John shuts the door, looks at the left front tire and sees it is flat. He turns and walks to the back of the car. Elizabeth walks around and shines the flashlight at the lock. John puts the key in the lock and opens the trunk. He reaches in the trunk and gets the spare tire loose. He pulls it out puts it down on the ground, and leans it against the bumper. He grabs the jack and the tire iron and pulls the trunk closed. He pulls the key out of the lock and puts it in his pocket.

John carries the jack and tire iron around to the front left tire and puts them down. He kneels down, feels under the car, and finds the flat spot on the chassis of the car.

Elizabeth steps up behind him and shines the light down on the jack. John moves the jack into place and jacks it up until it touches the bottom of the car. He jacks it twice more and stops. He grabs the tire iron and moves over to the wheel. Elizabeth moves over behind him, shines the light on the wheel, and takes one step back.

That one step back means she is now standing on the white line of the highway. She isn`t aware of it but that one step back means she only has 20 seconds to live.

John breaks all the lug nuts loose and then moves over and jacks the car up the rest of the way. He spins the wheel and sees the car is high enough. He moves back to the wheel and begins to take the lug nuts off the wheel. He grunts with the effort, sweet runs down into his eyes, and he is absorbed in taking the wheel off.

As John begins to take the last lug nut off he hears a motor. He turns his head to the right and sees a red car coming right toward them.

How did I not hear the car sooner, it`s right on top of us. John thinks.

John begins to turn around already realizing it is too late, the car is too close and it is going fast.

"WATCH OUT LIZ." John shouts.

John feels like he is moving in slow motion as he turns. He sees every detail as the car flashes by. He sees it is a Chevy Caviler, he sees every dent and ding in it, he even sees the driver isn`t looking at the road because he has his head tilted back and he is chugging on a Bud Light. He reaches for Elizabeth as the car slams into

her and she screams out in surprise but not in pain. It`s too soon for the pain that will come in a moment. Thankfully the pain will be brief but it will be a real bitchkitty while it last though.

Elizabeth is flung up into the air and lands onto the roof of the car.

"NO, NO, NO LIZ. PLEASE GOD NO." John screams.

Elizabeth flips down onto the trunk and rolls off. She lands on the road, rolls over twice, and doesn`t move. John sees the back of the car and sees the back bumper is missing.

John jumps to his feet and runs over to Elizabeth. He kneels down and rolls her over. He feels for a pulse and doesn`t find one.

"NO, NO, NO, NO. PLEASE DON`T BE DEAD. NO." John screams.

John picks his wife up and begins to rock her like a child. He begins to cry, the tears cut lines through the dirt on his face. He sits in the middle of the road rocking his dead wife for over an hour. No one comes up the road during that time. The only sounds heard during that time is the breeze lightly moving the leaves and John`s sobs and screams of anguish.

After rocking his wife, crying, and screaming for over an hour John stops. He dries his eyes, gently lifts his wife, stands up, and carries her to the trunk. He puts her in the trunk gently. He looks down in the trunk, her eyes are open, he reaches down and closes them. He lovingly caresses her cheek for a moment then leans over and kisses her on the forehead.

"Don`t worry Liz, I`ll get him. I will hunt the bastard down and make him pay, don`t you worry, I`ll take care of it I promise you. The bastard will wish he had never even seen a beer or been born for that matter by the time Im through with him. I will get him Liz. He wont get away with this. He wont get away with running you down like a

animal. Kill em all and let God sort em out. Hurrah. I will get him babe, don`t you worry your pretty little head one bit. I will not rest until I hunt him down." John says.

John slowly looks up from the trunk. His face is twisted in rage.

"I`ll get him Liz, don`t you worry none." John says in a voice that is no longer his own but the voice of rage itself. Rage begins to pump through his vein and consumes him. Rage swallows him whole, John dies and Rage is born.

**** Back to the Present In The Pull off

Patrick screams and jerks to his right as a tire iron smashes into the side window. The window shatters, a hand reaches in and jerk Patrick out of the car. Patrick screams and tries to pull away. The man keeps hold of him and pulls him closer.

"Remember me? I remember that damn face of yours and I remember the Bud Light you were drinking when you killed my wife. I hope that beer was good because it just cost you your life. Im Rage and Im going to kill em all." Rage says.

"Please no, please Im sorry. Please forgive me." Patrick pleads.

"Please forgive me, Im sorry." Rage says mockingly.

Rage spins Patrick around and slams his head into the roof of the car. Patrick screams and begins to cry.

"You`re sorry. It`s way too damn late for sorry. Sorry went bye-bye when you ran my wife over like an animal and just kept going." Rage says.

Patrick begins to shake and almost collapses. Rage holds him up and slams his head into the roof. Patrick sees stars and feels something wet running down his face. His bladder lets go and he feels the warmth spread and begin to run down his legs.

"Please Im sorry. I didn`t know I hit anyone, I thought I hit a animal. I didn`t come back because I will lose my license if I get caught driving drunk again. I made a mistake. Please Im sorry." Patrick says.

Rage slams Patrick`s head into the roof and lets him go. Patrick`s knees buckle and he falls to the ground.

"Don`t worry, you wont get caught driving drunk again." Rage says.

Oh shit Im going to die. I don`t want to die. Patrick thinks.

Rage raises the tire iron, his face twist into rage, and he swings the tire iron downward. The tire iron connects with the back of Patrick`s head with a loud crunch. Rage raise the tire iron and swings it downward. The tire iron connects with the back of Patrick`s head with another crunch.

Im dying, I......" Patrick thinks then his thoughts cease as he slips off into the darkness.

"Kill em all and let God sort em out." Rage says.

The End or is it just the beginning