Title: Highway 101
Author: Dark Brew
Rating: K
Category: Movie- Twilight
Disclaimer: Just messin'
Warnings: Language, eery things
Summary: Encounter with a vampire.
Part One
This time of year you got used to not looking at the sky in Seattle, for the most part it was grey with rain clouds so there was rarely a point. The sun on the northwest coast did put in an appearance on occasion, illuminating the sweeping bays and the crisp cold Pacific water, but as far as Edie was concerned there were more interesting things to look at if you kept your eyes earthbound- buildings, books, coffee cups, men, sometimes. The trunk of her car slammed shut and she took a last glance up at the house where she rented a room to say a somewhat wistful goodbye. Alright so projecting attachment onto wood and brick perhaps didn't display the keenest sense of mental health, but she would truly miss this place for the few days she would be Home. Her parent's home that was, due west of the city- 'out in the sticks'- whatever that meant. She wondered idly if they meant across the Styx. Sometimes it felt like that.
Her father had been a fish farmer all his life, he knew practically all any one would ever want to know about halibut or crabs. Which sadly wasn't much in her case. Instead of donning waterproofs and studying marine biology she had picked up an umbrella and headed east to the college where libraries and the smell of old books rather than fish guts had caught her attention.
The car door closed with a very definite clunk and she turned the ignition, simultaneously thinking lovely encouraging sparky kinds of thoughts towards her battery. Couldn't hurt. A slight cough and the engine obliged, a clear example that the affections of inanimate objects were not to be trifled with. The radio filling the interior with tinkling cheery voices and the heater blasting out full volume had her relax back into her seat, depressing the pedal to pull out into the traffic in hopes of smooth motoring.
In fact the route from her tenement cloister covered in books and papers, coffee cups and clothes, was predictably choca block with cars heading home for the weekend. People escaping Seattle, city jobs and stress for a few days downtime and no doubt murderous intent towards the turkey population to boot. Edie winced to herself; her new found vegetarianism was likely to go down about as well a plague of frogs. Sometimes you had to be determined to say what it was you needed to be thankful for.
She had to drive south in order to double back on herself and cross the water, and I-5 was always a nightmare whatever time of day or night, never mind a holiday weekend. There was really nothing to do but drive slow and wait for the turn off that said Bremerton. From there it was miles more on slow old roads skirting the Olympic National Forest, least she didn't have to go as far as La Push, that would add another hour or more. Still it was pretty out there- maybe she would take her folks for a day trip out to see the open ocean.
As it was her Dad always said that standing on his side of Puget Sound he could throw a stone that would bounce off her roof in Seattle but that it would take him half a day drive to go fetch it again. It wasn't far from the truth. She could have taken the ferry, but well, if she was honest she liked to meander, and at least cars kept their wheels firmly on the ground.
Slowly she snaked her way from the city to the next urban landscape and the next, the orange grey illumination blurring into one. Burien, Des Moins, Redondo and at last the turn onto the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on 16 - the way back over the water. Miles sped past faster now as the people thinned out, it felt good to be back on the islands.
She eventually pulled over just north of Silverdale for a pit stop with coffee and sugar and as she turned off the engine she squinted out through the windscreen at the sky. Holy Shit! Someone turn the lights out up there? Like being under one of those magicians black velvet cloths she mused as she grabbed her bag.
Inside the road side diner she slid herself behind a plastic cheery table that invited one to sit, but not for too long. Evidently this was not a three calendar place. She was used to being on her own, but here in the brightly lit diner she felt the sophistication of urbanity slip into the conspicuousness of a woman at night in the country without a husband, or at least a man who passed for one.
'How ya doing there? Travelling alone?"
"Fine. Thank you." No harm in being almost friendly right? She had studied avoidance and returned from acknowledgement of the attentive man at the next table to the menu as soon as she could. Usual fare. Nevertheless she couldn't help but be conscious of his intent glances, and her wish that she had said 'To Go'. The posters on the wall really weren't that fascinating.
"Been driving all night"
Edie wasn't quite sure what to say to that, difficult to tell whether to offer slight condolence or admiration by way of fobbing off further conversation. She settled for a half grimace and a vacant expression.
"Where you from?"
'Frankly anywhere far from here' seemed like being rude so she just waved her hand vaguely in any direction and took another mouthful of hot coffee.
"Name's Ed. On my way back to Port Angeles. Truck's outside"
She almost replied 'Really? Isn't that a co incidence?' but just stopped herself in time, it seeming to be invite a familiarity she would rather not foster. Oh he was alright she was sure, just lonely on the road no doubt, but all the same she wasn't looking for a pen friend, never mind any company. "I am heading home too, Sequim Bay. My father is the Sullivan of Sullivan's fishery there." There let that be an end to it. She didn't add 'so someone will be expecting me' but perhaps that was some of the message. She looked somewhat hopefully up at the waitress but there was no sisterly salvation to be had, so with a slightly scalded mouth and a sugar rush, on account of the double dipped donut, Edie left quietly and as quickly as she could.
Outside it was darker than black, no moon at all, just a blank sky and she felt her self shiver as she crossed the parking lot. Beyond the lights of the truck stop there was pure nothing, like being in a spotlight on stage she supposed. Nothing that was visible at least. The briefest thought of a silent audience watching had her legs stretch as she walked fast to her car and slammed the door behind her. It was cold right? Fumbling for the switch she flicked on the head lights and jumped at the large figure illuminated in their beam. Her eyes wide she reached to press the door lock down.
Slightly dazzled the man held his arm over his eyes but continued to walk towards her car purposefully. She couldn't just drive forwards, she would hit him! Nonetheless he was intent on her that was for sure. Her teeth gritted, Edie reached in her purse for something that might help. Biro. Tissue. Christ surely she had something better than that? Her cell phone. Yes! See? Look I am dialling 911...Right now…see my fingers? She half saw him shake his head and grin, waving something in the air. It took a minute before she recognised her jacket. Fuck.
Winding down the window she did her best to wipe the panic off her face "Thanks, Ed. Damn I must have plain forgot it!"
"You'll need it tonight. Mists, they said. On the radio"
Edie rolled her eyes; didn't the forecasters ever get tired of saying that? It wasn't much further home and she was brought up navigating her way on 101 when you couldn't see the verge, well you just had to get used to it round here. That said it had been a while and it was just so incredibly dark. Edie peered up at the sky, like a sailor looking for a hint of blue to make a pair of trousers from, but really there was nothing to inspire expectation.
"Thanks" she looked back at his sincere face for a second "Thanks I appreciate it"
"Drive careful now!"
"Will do"
Edie wouldn't have admitted it but she was very slightly sorry to see him disappear into the dimness, but she turned the wheel to face outward into the road in any case.