–Travis–

“Just when I think I’m gonna get away.”The pop-rock music cut through the revving of the engine and tires on pavement. As the three people sat in a tense silence.“Abra abracadabra, I wanna reach out and grab ya.”Travis stared out the window when the bright neon of the diner sign caught in the mirror.

Miss Della’s Diner

It shrank in the reflection until out of view.

They had gotten away.

But only the three of them.

He looked at Tiffy as she drove. “Do you think Ken-” Her eyes snapped to his, the disdain silenced him.

“Kendra’s fine!” She said, her white-knuckled grip on the wheel eased. “She has to be.”

“Tiffany,” said to Della from the backseat. “I want answers.”

Tiffany’s eyes went to the rearview mirror. She and the owner of the diner stared off.

“Miss D, you really think I’m allowed to give you the answers you want?” Silence lingered until a chuckle rose from the driver. “Hell, I know you’re gonna ask anyway, so let’s hear it.”

An aggravated breath came from Della. “Who are you, really?”

Tiffy shook her head at the question. “I’m Tiffany but I prefer Tiffy. You might have heard me on the radio–” Della was having none of it as she leaned forward.

“Dear, you know what I mean.” Her tone was bereft of any humor.

“I defer to my earlier statement.” Tiffy matched her tone.

The tension left Travis caught in the crossfire. It was only a matter of time before one of them would pull him into this standoff.

“Travis,” Della made the first move. “You and Tiffany were getting awfully chummy in the booth. She must have said something worthwhile to get your attention.”

“Travis... You don’t have to say anything!” Tiffy said before the car plunged into a fresh wave of silent tension.

He wanted answers too. “You said you watch for things like the monsters we saw and you seem to know what this thing is.” They shared a glance. “Just tell us what you’re allowed to say.” Her lips pursed. “You know we’re not dropping this.”

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A sigh escaped her. She knew there was no getting out of this.

“Fine, my job is to watch for the things you’re not supposed to know exist.” Her focus returned to the rearview mirror. “Miss D, you’ve lived here a long time. I know you’ve heard the stories over the years.” Travis shifted in his seat as he waited for the older woman to answer.

“Tiffany. I’ve heard all the tales of monsters in the woods, but I’ve never heard of anything like this.” More silence as the car made its way down the town road.

Tiffy seemed to be lost in thought before she nodded. “Yeah, the source of the needles was in containment until recently. All the towns around the facility were on high alert to watch for it...” Her eyes went to the steering wheel. “Figures. It had to wander into my region.”

How many people were involved in this? “Your region?” Travis asked when Tiffy flashed a begrudging smile. “Yeah, you’re not from around here, but I think someone in this car can guess where this thing came from.”

“You don’t mean...” Della paused.

“Here’s a hint, Travis. There was a popular highway covered in graffiti leading to it, but that’s gone now.” She smiled. “I can’t say the name but I’m sure you’ll piece it together. See if he can figure it out, Miss D.” She smirked at him for a moment.

Her eyes went back to the road when her smile shifted to panic. “Oh shit, get down!” Their driver ducked when Travis saw a pair of figures on the road. Threads rose from their bodies. He ducked when the glass shattered. “Hold on!” The car slammed into the people and swerved as it drove over their bodies. A pop came from the front of the car when it careened to the right. “Shit!”

The screech of the tires reminded Travis of what had happened earlier this morning.

It seemed he was about to be in his second crash of the day.

Despite Tiffy’s efforts to stop the car, they ran into a fire hydrant and came to a sharp stop. The pain in Travis’s chest returned as he again felt his chest catch in the seatbelt as it locked up.

He dreaded seeing the next set of seatbelt bruises this second crash would leave.

“Are you two okay?” Della asked as she unclipped her seatbelt.

Tiffy did the same. “Yeah, I’m fine.” The two women looked at Travis.

He groaned as he unclipped his seatbelt. “At least the airbags—” Roars sounded in the distance.

They had heard the crash and were coming.

“Okay, you both need to get out and hide until whatever’s coming passes by. After that, make your way to the shopping center in town.” She looked at Della. “You know Dane’s auto shop?” She nodded. “He’s with me. The emergency shelter is in his repair shop. Get there and tell him I sent you. If he’s dead, you’ll have to find the entrance to the shelter.”

“You don’t know where it is?” Travis asked.

She shook her head. “My job is to work from the radio station and assist with the containment and cleanup teams once they arrive, but I know the code to the shelter.”

“And that is?” Della asked.

“Five-Eight-Six-Two-Four.” She gave them a moment. “You got that?”

“Yes,” the older woman said as she opened her door. Travis did the same.

Once they were on the street, Tiffy put her window down. “Ok, you two need to hide and let me handle this. Remember to stay as quiet as possible and that the fresh bodies can see!” Metal screeched and crunched as the car backed up. Once she was free of the spraying fire hydrant. The car crept along the road as if it were limping.

“We have to go now!” Della said when she made her way towards the front yard of the house closest to them. “We can hide in the backyard.”

“Okay,” Travis said while gripping his chest.

The pain was back and worse than before.

The two moved for cover when they heard a car horn blare down the road, followed by the roars of the encroaching monsters.

Travis had been through hell this morning, but his day was far from over.

End Of Part 1