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The Shortest Tales: Horror
The Dangers Of Being Late

The Dangers Of Being Late

Keith cursed himself. It had been a mistake to sleep in as long as he did. As he sped down the road, his headlights flickered. “Not now you piece of shit!” he yelled, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. He still hadn’t adjusted to the odd sleeping schedule, working night shifts was a new experience. Fortunately, he was the only one on the road, no one was present to witness his erratic driving. He raced across the dark path, which had little streetlights due to its remoteness.

Keith pressed down on the pedal, causing the old vehicle to shift gears. “Go go go!” The lights flickered once more. Keith looked at the road worryingly, he couldn’t afford to be concerned about his safety, he COULD NOT be late. He had been fired one too many times for his tardiness. As he continued to break plenty of driving laws, he looked around in the vehicle for the food he had packed himself. He snatched a sandwich and slowly brought his eyes back to the road. “WAIT, NO-” he screamed as he saw the last thing he expected.

A little girl popped into existence and was now in the dead center of his car’s path. Keith yanked the steering wheel and slammed on his brakes, but it was a little too late. Time slowed and he felt the gravity around him alter, his sandwich flew out of his hand and his own body went tumbling. He had hit the girl, he had felt her form slam against the side of his vehicle. As time returned to its normal speed, his body went numb and all Keith could hear around him was destruction. Finally, after what must’ve been a millennia, he felt himself come to rest.

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Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the crumpled mess of the car. His vision turned red as he felt liquid cover his face. His insides felt torn, obliterated, he couldn’t even comprehend what he was sensing. Keith slightly raised his head and looked at his stomach, or where it perhaps once was. Now, his entire chest seemed to be ripped open from skidding across the concrete. Dark, warm fluid drenched his clothes.

A figure entered his view as he strained to focus on it. The little girl. No, impossible, she had been hit, she had to be dead, or just as injured as him. As he stared at her, Keith noticed some odd qualities. Her body was also covered in blood, her jaw seemed to be missing, and several sharp objects that were the color of his once-car stuck out of her.

“How…” he whispered. Keith saw her eyes squint, and her cheekbones rise, she was…smiling. As he came to a strange realization, the girl walked away, leaving him to his fate. Keith coughed and clenched his chest, “All of this…for…a s-stupid…job…I…didn’t even…want.”