Ellen turned on the radio on the car ride from Better Buy Computers. She needed to get her mind off recent events. As if what happened to Nigel wasn’t traumatic enough, members of a large corporation were at her doorstep asking Nigel for help. It was all too much—like something out of a movie. She let the classical music from her favorite AM radio station calm her. About halfway home, her feeling of calm evaporated.
“Hello, this is a special alert. Eastward International Airport has suffered a catastrophic systems failure. Power has been intermittent, and backup generators have failed. Planes are being diverted to nearby airports. We will keep you apprised of any updates, but stay tuned for more information. This is Monte Phillips reporting for WKBN AM Radio.”
Apparently, the storm had arrived, and it was fierce. Driving conditions were bound to worsen.
The classical music resumed playing.
Is that Chopin?
Ellen remained in deep thought as fresh snow started falling.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
A loud clacking noise sounded from her phone, which was sitting on the passenger’s side seat, and Ellen’s car started to slide as she jumped. Her instincts took over: she turned into the slide and regained control of the vehicle. Better be careful, she told herself. As she looked over at her phone’s lock screen, an emergency message appeared that read: Side roads impassable, use the interstate whenever possible.
Ellen pulled onto the interstate. Seconds later, her cell phone rang. It was John Appleton, but she picked up anyway.
“Hello, John. I’m almost home.”
“You need to get here as soon as you can.”
“I’m about ten minutes out.”
“It’s bad. You need to avoid the interstate.”
“Too late for that, John. I’m two exits from home. Plus, I just got an alert to avoid the side roads. What’s so important?”
The snow was getting heavier.
“You got wha—?”
Ellen looked up and instinctively slammed her brakes to avoid the sudden wall of cars that seemed to have stopped at once. She lost control of the car, and, still going at least twenty miles per hour, slid into the back of another car. She was thrown toward the steering wheel, the collision having caused the airbag to deploy. Her head felt like a punching bag as it bounced between the airbag and the back of her seat. Is the roof leaking? she thought deliriously. She touched the top of her head, and then looked at her hand. Is that blood? Then she passed out.