Death by Drawbridge

The rain was hitting hard against the car windows, smearing the views of the other drivers lined car against car. I squinted to catch a glimpse of any signs.

I was in the back of the car. Kerry, my sister, was sitting in the front passenger seat and her fiancé Brian was driving.

The windscreen wipers weren't doing their job very well. The road was nothing more than a dark, grey blur. Occasionally the wipers would smear a thin fountain of water from the front window screen to reveal a dull, solid, grey road leading towards a main road and, swallowed by a muggy fog a short distance away, the new drawbridge.

The car came to a slow halt behind a large queue of other cars. Beside us, a large family carrier stopped. The back window was open, and a small arm was poking out, flicking a piece of sticky chewing gum, without success, onto the floor.

I could just about see a small television screen on the back of the passenger's seat. By the looks of it, the child was watching 'Thomas the tank engine."

"Amy – what are you doing, close the window," I heard the passenger say in a muffled tone from behind my, and her, windows. The little hand flicked the chewing gum, which flew into nowhere, and the window was drawn back up. All of the cars lurched forwards slowly.

I took a magazine from the fallen pile and flicked through it. My eyes glanced over the few headlines: 'Treacherous Train Crash Kills dozens – Survivors Interviewed…' 'Mayor Opens new city drawbridge …', 'My son was found dead in the shower. Here's my story …' I closed it.

"You okay back there?" Brian asked. "You're looking a little pale."

"'Starting to feel a bit carsick," I said. My stomach turned a fraction as the car slowly rumbled forwards.

"Brian, keep your eyes on the road," Kerry snapped. Brian's eyes flicked from the mirror to the window. "How far d'you think this traffic's going on for?"

"Probably the length of this bridge. One new monument and you've got the whole of America rushing to have the first ride on it." Brian grunted. Kerry rolled her eyes.

"It's not a monument," I started, "It's a stupid bridge."

"My point exactly-"

"-Eyes on the road!" Kerry's voice rose.

I closed my eyes for a second. I was tired and felt queasy. How long must I have to endure this ridiculous car ride, I didn't know. We were heading back from mine and Kerry's aunt's house. We'd stayed the weekend because I wanted to see the new puppies and Kerry and Brian wanted to tell her the good news. I could never see the good side of ceremoniously tying yourself to one person for the rest of you life. I hated weddings; the repetitive ceremonies were so tedious and fatiguing.

The car came to another, gradual stop.

We were on the bridge. A car nearby beeped its horn making me jump. I looked around but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. The rain had been reduced to nothing more than a light drizzle. Through the smeared back window I could only see the bored and anxious faces of the other drivers and front passengers.

"What is with this waiting?" I asked, turning back to face the front.

"It's all those damn construction lorries," Kerry said.

"Looks like there's a toll down there too – we've gotta' pay up." Brian said squinting through the smears left behind by the window wipers. "Can you see the price?"

"The sign says – for cars, three 'fifty." I read from a large, blue sign in the near distance. Kerry started rummaging in her bag to get her purse, while Brian fiddled with the window. He slowly brought his foot down on the accelerator as the car in front started to speed forwards. His eyes weren't on the road.

Suddenly a car in the lane next to jolted sideways to cut in front of us. Both cars gave sudden lunges as both breaks were stomped on. There was a loud, metallic crunch as they collided. Horns started beeping.

The driver of the other car was hardly visible behind a cloud of cigarette smoke. Through gritted teeth he swore at us. Brian slammed his fist against the horn and mouthed back at him. The driver swerved and cut in front, and drove forwards merrily.

"What an ass-hole," Brian cursed.

"Serves you right for not keeping your eyes on the road-"

"-Don't, Kerry."

My heart was thundering tenfold. I felt, somehow, invisible in the back.

The red and white barrier came up, giving access to the other driver, who sped off with a greedy haste. Then our car came forward as the barrier came down, slowly. The man in the box looked bored out of his mind. He tapped away at a keyboard with no haste whatsoever, then took his bored glance from his computer screen to us in the car.

"'Three fifty, please." The man said as Brian rolled his window down fully. Kerry handed him the cash, and Brian dropped it into the man's outstretched hand.

Why was I still nervous? My heart had slowed down, but was beating hard against my chest. I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly as the barrier crept upwards to award us access to a small stretch of road before we came to a sturdy halt.

"Another queue?" Kerry breathed, "What is with this, damn, queuing?"

"I told you, it's them construction lorries. They're using their own bridge to get down town, they're probably building another bridge somewhere or some pointless sky scraper." Brian said, keeping his eyes firmly on the road. Just as he'd spoken, two, large, lorries lugging piles of large metal poles, and sheets of iron coloured metals went fleeting by three isles away.

This queue of cars moved more often than the last queue. Soon we were wedged near the close centre of the queue between rows and isles of cars, vans, buses and lorries. I could almost see the city hiding behind a thinning blanket of passing fog.

"We should have gone the normal way home." Kerry breathed.

"Why, this way saves so much more time?" Brian asked.

"Time? We've been queuing for who-knows how long. In the time it's taken us to get over this bridge, we could have been over half-way home." Kerry finished. Her arms were crossed and she was looking the other way from Brian.

They weren't even married, and already they were arguing like an old married couple. By the look on Brian's face, he was thinking the same thing too.

There was a sudden rumble.

Kerry blinked and looked about quizzically. Brain frowned.

"What was that?" I asked slowly. There was no reply.

There was a second rumble, but more vigorous. The car seemed to vibrate for a moment.

"What was that-"

"I don't know, probably just a little earthquake." Kerry replied, unsure, "Keep going Brian." Brian put his foot down a little more and the car moved a fraction more faster. The other cars did the same thing.

Suddenly, there came an ear-splitting, metallic crunch and a sound like metal scratching hard against metal. Kerry swore but the word was swallowed by the terribly, loud noise. I slapped my hands over my ears – my eyes were flicking in all directions looking for the producer of this horrific sound.

Suddenly, the whole bridge seemed to rumble into action. There was a sickening, heavy pull as the part of the bridge we were queuing on started to rise. What was happening? Was it possible that a boat was coming? Was the drawbridge lifting with us on it?

I screamed. Fear had engulfed me along with panic. Kerry was screaming too and was shaking Brian's arm. His hands were white against the steering wheel. I could see Kerry's mouth repeating the same word "Drive" but it didn't help.

There was no explanation for it, but the drawbridge was rising, with queues of vehicles parked on it! Horns blasted deafly against the roaring bridge as it rose further and further. I watched as cars disappeared up front, over the edge and down the gap.

"Get out of the car-" Kerry screamed. I was trembling uncontrollably as I fumbled for the lock on the door. I heard Kerry's door clunk open as mine did. I pulled forwards to get out but the car next to us reversed and slammed against my door. I smacked my head against the window.

I swung my head back to see what was going on, feeling slightly dazed and very frightened. Brian was fumbling with his seat belt and was swearing uncontrollably. It was jammed. Kerry dived back into the car and started to help Brian. She looked up at me with watery eyes and spat, "Sam get out-go!"

"I can't!" I cried pushing against the door. The car next to me was screeching and letting off a lot of exhaust fumes. The bridge had risen further and gravity was starting to pull us back. The magazines had fallen against the back of the back, seat chair.

I crawled over to the other back, passenger door and pushed it open. It was difficult to keep it open as I swung my legs out and pulled myself up.

Kerry was kneeling with one knee against the passenger chair and was yanking the belt out of the lock. With a loud rip and thud, the belt came lose and Kerry hit her head on the roof.

There was an even louder, metallic, roar as the bridge vibrated and grumbled further backwards, forcing cars to start to, nearly, keel over. I slipped on the wet road and grasped the car door for support. Cars were skidding backwards onto our car.

I could see vast numbers of people fleeing towards me, all screaming with pale, terrified expressions.

Kerry came out of the car looking dizzy, followed by Brian who had climbed over the gear stick to get through the passenger door.

The bridge continued to rumble backwards. It was about time before it stopped, surely.

But it didn't.

I turned around to face the straight floor in front. There was a gruesome gap between the normal, safe, road and the elevating drawbridge. It looked so far away.

I started to run, holding on to as many cars as I could, not giving a single care when I broke the antennae or the side-view mirrors.

There was a loud screech as a bus nearby tried to reverse down. It slid sideways and collided with a car, which slid in our direction. Kerry yelled and pulled me sideways, away from the car, but Brian wasn't fast enough. The car crushed against his leg and he fell flat on his face.

Kerry screamed at the top of her lungs as he rolled downwards.

The bridge continued to rise.

I could hear Brian's terrifying screams of agony and fear as he slid over the bonnet and started to plummet down. Kerry's grip on me tightened to the extent that my arm was bleeding.

Brian's falling, screaming, body was gone as a lorry swerved in the way.

The lorry had long plastic ropes holding metal poles. A construction lorry. Kerry's screams of remorse couldn't be heard over the screams of the other drivers and the rubber tires screeching and the roaring, elevating bridge.

There was a sudden ping and a sound like a whip. Loud bangs and hollow, metallic-scraping noises told me that the plastic ropes holding the construction lorry's metal had been forced off. I looked round to see a man holding onto a large plastic rope, dangling slightly.

I slipped and fell into the back of a car bonnet. Kerry fell forwards too but nearly missed the car. She held onto the side with a desperate plea. I watched as a metal pole bounced from the floor and flew downwards towards a car windshield. With a hissing smash and a clatter of glass, the pole fled through the windscreen and came out the other end of the car covered in blood.

I felt sick.

"Sam hold on." Kerry gasped.

The bridge was almost vertical. Cars were starting to plummet down and add to the pile of bodies and other vehicles. The car behind me was keeling over, I could see its shadow.

Suddenly, the car I was holding started to wobble upwards, threatening to fall. I threw my hand out and grasped the nearest fence. I could see over the edge of the bridge, and all of the hard rocks and water below. My heart was hammering in my chest.

There was a loud scream as a familiar family-carrier came rolling past producing loud cries from inside.

I didn't realise that I was sobbing uncontrollably. I was so frightened.

A familiar face came into view. I looked down to see a man inside the car we were holding. He was lying on the front bonnet, with his hands gripped firmly to the steering wheel through the smashed windscreen. In his pocket I saw a packet of cigarettes poke out and tumble downwards.

He looked up at me desperately. Did he, really, think I could help him?

Suddenly, the whole car keeled over. I let go just in time and slid, viciously, down the road. I collided with a nearby, upturned, bus.

Kerry's hair was hardly visible as it flicked upwards. I could hear her screams. Her last screams. I closed my eyes tight and screamed as loud as I could for her.

She was dead.

There was a pretty looking girl nearby with long blonde hair who was grasping hold of a bag, which was hooked onto a car's side mirror. She gave a gasp of fear and started to let out a scream, which was short lived as she half-collided with a keeling car. She spun as she fell spraying little blood in every direction.

The bus I was holding on to slid sideways. It was going to fall. I was going to die.

I climbed its side, grabbing hold of the little door where the oil is put in, then dragged myself across. The bridge had to go down.

But it had malfunctioned. Something must have gone wrong for this to happen. Why should it rightfully return to its natural position? I screamed louder. There was a rushing noise. I turned around to look up. A lorry was falling in my direction – a construction lorry. Metal poles and sheets were falling with it. I could see the driver looking right at me, screaming. The front became closer. I closed my eyes. My lungs tightened. I could feel pain. I was going to die. I cried out for help.

I opened my eyes.

I was sitting in the car again, with Kerry and Brian up front and a magazine in my hands. It was shaking uncontrollably. Kerry looked back as she heard its pages quivering in my hands. She looked at my dangerously pale face, and watering eyes. I was panting like I'd just run a mile. We were driving very, very slowly towards, what looked like, a drawbridge.

I felt frozen in my seat. Was it a dream? But it had felt so real. My eyes looked about the car in nervous flicks. Everything was blurred behind tears of relief and utter terror.

"You okay back there?" Brian said, "You're looking a bit pale." Kerry was looking at me quizzically.

"He doesn't look too good, Brian, maybe we should find somewhere to stop?" Kerry said looking at me.

"No, he'll be alright: won't you Sammy?" Brian said, looking up at me through the mirror. I was unaware that I was nodding slowly, whilst starring, terrified, into the abyss. I was going to be sick. But I didn't.

The car kept moving, further and further. The nearer to the bridge we got, the more sick I felt.

"Looks like there's a toll down there too – we've gotta' pay up." Brian said squinting through the smears left behind by the window wipers. "Can you see the price?"

There was a short silence.

"Three fifty," I choked. Kerry was looking at me when I said it. She'd seen that I hadn't, even, looked for the price. She frowned and looked out at the large, blue sign. Brian looked nonplussed.

"He's right – how did you know that Sam? Are you sure you're ok?" Kerry said.

I shook my head.

"He's going to be sick, Brian, we should have stopped-"

"-not in my car, ok Sam? Hold it in buddy-"

"-at this rate we won't get off this bridge in time."

"Stop the car." I said louder than I'd intended. "I'm not going to be sick just stop the damn car, now." The panic I'd felt before came back stronger than ever. It was only confirmed when I saw a familiar car start to turn it's wheels towards our lane and cut in front of us.

"Watch that car!" I screamed out. Brian slammed his foot down on the breaks sooner than before and the other car happily swerved in front of us. "We've got to get out," I said as tears started to run down my face.

"Sam, what's wrong?" Kerry asked looking alarmed.

"The drawbridge – it's going to rise, people are going to die." I choked on the last word. Brian's eyebrows narrowed as he watched me in the mirror.

"What are you talking about?"

"We've got to stop them from putting the barriers up." I said without thinking. Before anyone could say anything more, I pushed the door open and jumped out of the car. Kerry took off her seatbelt and opened her door, ignoring Brian's objections. Brian tried to follow, but his belt was stuck.

I ran towards the barrier men sitting in their boxes. They hadn't yet noticed me. I caught sight of familiar faces looking at me confused. I saw the family carrier and the driver was arguing with the front passenger. When they caught sight of me they both fell silent.

Kerry was just behind me shouting out: "Sam get back here!"

I was ignoring her. It was her life I was about to save, as well as many others. I couldn't' think straight. All I knew was that something horrible was going to happen, and soon. I ran at the box and around towards the window.

The same, bored looking man faced me. His expression changed immediately. He looked alarmed.

"What are you-"

"Don't put up the barrier-stop all barriers from going up. The bridge, it's gonna-" I was interrupted by Kerry who approached us panting.

"-Sam back in the car. I'm sorry he's just not well,"

"I'm not mad! The bridge is going to go up! It's going to open!" I snapped. I didn't know how to word it correctly. How could I explain what I'd seen without looking mad? "Listen to me," I said urgently, "If you lift them barriers you'll be responsible for hundreds of deaths." Kerry grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me back. The girl in the car waiting to give her money over looked extremely annoyed. I noticed her blonde hair, and her pretty face. How could I have dreamt of her id I'd never seen her before? I shook off Kerry's words and hold, and ran back towards the barrier men. I could see barriers still going up, allowing construction lorry's to pass by.

I shuddered at the thought.

Then it started to happen.

There was that horribly familiar noise, the metallic scraping noise and the roar of noise as the bridge started to lift. Kerry looked from me to the bridge, shaking her head.

The blonde girl in the car hadn't driven forward for one minute, before she started to reverse. The man in the box stared up at the bridge. I could see clearly, now, as a scatter of cars and two lorries fell down the gap between both halves of the drawbridge. I could faintly hear Kerry's gasp behind the screaming. I walked backwards, watching it all happen again. I was sobbing harder than ever.

I tried to stop it all. I tried.

Someone grabbed me from behind – Brian. He pulled me backwards, fast, shouting something. There was a loud, metallic, bang as two reversing cars collided exactly where I'd just been. Kerry was running towards me and Brian. I could see the top of the bridge over the barriers, the barrier boxes and the signs.

Everything was a blur of fear and screaming.

I was dragged back to the car and thrown in the back. The car spun around and sped off away from everything, dodging other speeding cars. I turned around to catch a last glimpse of, what looked like, a large, mushroom cloud and bright, orange flames flapping everywhere.

I felt like I'd been deaf for the past five minutes when sound returned to me in that one moment. Brian was swearing without stopping, Kerry was crying down her cell phone to our mother and I was muttering without realising …

"It's all my fault … It's all my fault …"