Chapter 1
It was a blistering hot day in the desert. I cannot believe my mother thought it was a good idea to let me drive from Texas to California for a wedding. This wedding was a big deal for my mother. The wedding was between her sister and a close family friend.

Her sister always had bad luck with men. Her first marriage was a disaster and her husband became abusive. We all helped her out of the relationship and got her away from him. Now after a few years she had finally realized her true love was with her longtime friend Paul.

I was glad to hear the engagement. She was finally finding happiness, it is just a shame it took her so long to find peace, and she is 45 and had to deal with 16 years with her ** husband. It took her 16 years to pluck up the courage to get away from him. But I am glad she is getting her happily ever after, even if it is a bit delayed.

I hope I can have a happily ever after too, hopefully without going through hell to get it.

Now I had originally started out in New York, my home town. From there I was able to fly to Texas, but as fate would have it my flight from Texas to California was cancelled. Well after telling my mom this, she recommended I drive the rest of the way. I debated with her for hours for having to drive such long distances alone. But my mother did not want me waiting for a flight at the chance of missing the wedding. Well my mom decided that driving to California would be good for me, and I could learn to be a better driver.

In my opinion, being dead in a car crash does not make me a better driver.

Why does this always happen to me and not my other siblings?

My eldest sister Amanda did not have to worry about any flight delays and neither did my other older sister Stephanie. I guess it serves me right for waiting until the last minute. So here I am driving through the desert. The man at the gas station was nice enough to tell me about this route that would save me a bunch of time. That was good luck because the cutting time meant less driving.

(flashback mode: On)

I pulled up to an old gas station after an hour or two of driving on the desert rode. It was odd seeing just one gas station in the middle of nowhere.

How does this place stay up in running with the obvious lack of customers?

I walked in to the gas station to pay for the gas. I walked to the register and there was no one there. I looked around and rang the bell a few times, still no one.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" I looked around and judging by the well-stocked inventory and the large amount of un-expired food there had to be someone working here.

I shouted again. "Hel-" I was cut off by another voice.

"No need to shout missy I am right here" The man looked like he had just woken up. I regretted shouting

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you were sleeping."

"It's fine little lady, it's my job to help travelers. I am sorry for sleeping."

"Oh it's ok, I just need some gas for my car and I will be on my way so you can go back to sleep"

"Well thank you little lady, I appreciate it"

I gave him thirty dollars' worth of gas. I wanted a full tank because I did not know when I would find another station. We went out to my car, and while he pumped some gas in to my car, we started some pleasant conversation.

"So what brings you this way"

"Family"

"That's nice, family is very important. They are all you really have"

"Don't I know it. I don't know where I would be without my family." In a desert apparently I thought absentmindedly.

"It's good to see that in this generation."

I beamed at the compliment. All of a sudden my dog Chance started barking at the stranger pumping the gas.

"Chance!" I shouted, "Calm down boy, he's a good guy." Chance calmed down a little, but his teeth remained exposed and a low growl escaped his mouth.

"Sorry about that, Chance is very protective." I smiled at Chance.

"No problem, it's always a good thing. You may need protection on the road ahead."

I frowned a little worried now. I usually take omens seriously, especially when I am alone. I replied a little frazzled," Are there any dangers on the road?"

He looked down and paused before answering me," Well I won't confirm any dangers, but a pretty young thing like yourself should be careful down this path."

I was worried now; here I am all alone in the middle of nowhere for the next few miles. I mean I really stand no chance against some big burly guy that I may cross. I am a thin scrawny girl at an unimpressive 5'2'' with no self-defense training. I am more vulnerable than I hoped to be.

"Is there a safe route I can take?"

The man looked down and paused for a long time again," Well there is a side route you can take. It's about a few miles out, you can't miss it. I find it safer and it's much shorter than going down that route."

"Thanks, you're a real life-saver!" I walked over and hugged him with joy. I released my arms from around his torso and smiled at him.

"I'm sorry, but thank you very much."

"It's no trouble little lady. Don't mention it."

He looked down and shuffled his feet a bit. He avoided eye contact with me as he finished pumping the gas. When he was done I got in my car and gave him one last 'Thank you'. But he did not turn around. He said 'no problem' in a hushed tone and walked away. It was odd but I simply shrugged it off as he must be busy and drove off.

(Flashback mode: Off)

At least the whole situation is not the worst thing ever, I still have my dog Chance, and he is a mutt so I do not exactly know what breeds he has in him, but he is as big as a husky and as sweet as a kitten. I would have brought my cats too, but cats hate to travel. So here I am on the big desert rode, just me and my dog Chance.

It is actually kind of relaxing driving with no one else on the road. That way if I end up swerving, I do not have to crash into anyone else. This ride can only be better with my favorite music pulsing through my car.

All of these elements together made the drive a bit more bearable. After ten minutes of peaceful driving, all of it was cut short when my car started veering out of control.

How can I ** up at driving this bad in the middle of nowhere?

There are no cars I can crash in to, no street signs I can smash in to, and no animals I can hit. What did I hit?

"Ok Chance, you stay, yes stay here while I go check what happened." I got out and look at the tires. Wow they were slashed. It was like someone put knives on the ground and I drove over them. I checked the damage further then went back to get Chance. "I can't let you overheat in here boy, come out here at least there is a breeze."

I let Chance out and tied him up near the car so that he would not go chasing some hare around. I went back and looked at the tires with dismay. I cannot believe this happened. Now what do I do? Should I walk back to the gas station? Or maybe I should walk ahead to see what is out there. But possibly staying here might help if someone were to drive by.

I mean surely other people go by the gas station, and possibly take this side road. Oh screw it, it is pointless. I mean why does this stuff always happen to me? I angrily kicked a rock nearby, followed by another rock, tumbleweed, and a twig. I do not care anymore, I am going to have my little temper tantrum all I want in the middle of this desert. I mean how much worse could it get, right?

Yes it's a very short chapter, but i don't intend for the rest to be this short. I would like to Thank Eternal Ecstasies for editing my story and giving me awesome ideas for all my stories. Check out her stuff it is awesome :D. Please keep reading future chapters if you would like, but i would be happier if you left reviews(no flames please and thank you).