Disclaimer: Yes! We got one! The Cars characters belong to Pixar and Disney. Stone Knight is mine. No touchy! I also created Seth, Josephine McQueen, Henry McQueen, Jeff McQueen, Jordan McQueen, Dakoda Knight, Ripper Knight, Ebony Talon, Julia Carson and Sumara Knight. The NASCAR people are copyright of themselves, including references of Junior, Gordon, Jarrett, Burton, Martin, Wallace and a few others to name a few. I don't own them (Kinda wish I did) their real and very talented racers that I just love. Don't sue me! I have no money anyway!

Also if by some chance you like the character Stone, he has his very own story out there. Read more about our favorite grumpy old truck in "Let Freedom Ring" and the sequel "Already There". A work in progress that will eventually span a complete set of seven stories. Happy reading!

Notes: I would like to warn people now... There is a little bad humor in this one... However have a good sense of humor and you'll be fine! To answer a question, you'll find out soon enough! All questions should be answered in this chapter. Also this was another hard one to get out. Amazingly quick though. I got bored at work after all... Thanks for the reviews y'all! So happy you're liking the story! Rock on!

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It was a haze again... He was losing time... Badly to...

He wasn't to entirely sure what day it even was...

"You're running out of time."

That voice flickered in and out of his reality like a fog. He attempted to focus, but it wasn't happening...

"Yeah... I noticed. So what do I do?"

"Live." The voice stated as If that was the most obvious thing in the world.

"How?" Lightning pushed on, drawing a chuckle from the disembodied voice.

"By living." It stated, speaking in riddles and bad puns as if the voice thought them to be amuseing.

"You're no help." Lightning accused, eyes narrowing through the haze.

"I can't tell you what to do with your life. I can only offer guidance. I cannot become involved."

"Well then guide me already. The bad puns and riddles aren't helping."

A soft, airy chuckle faded through the empty space, startling Lightning.

"Trust your friends. Sheriff will help you." The voice offered, the haze that he had been in, fading back once more to the much to bright light of the ICU ward. He hadn't been there a moment ago had he? No... He was sure of that. He was losing time badly now.

"Was starting to get worried." Henry's voice startled Lightning a bit, the young stock car turning to face his grandfather.

"Still losing time?" At Lightning's nod, Henry heaved a soft sigh and nudged his grandson into motion. "Let's get out of here. No sense in standing around a reminder." He muttered, silently guiding Lightning around the dozens of beeping machines that where working to keep Lightning's body alive.

The two made their way down to the chapel in silence, ICU starting to become a little to depressing for either of them to deal with. Not that the chapel was much better... Not far from where they where parked, a small pick up truck was preying for the safety of a loved one somewhere in the hospital.

"I keep hearing a voice..." Lightning finally muttered, catching Henry's attention.

"You recognize it?"

Lightning shook his head, soft sigh given. "No... There anyone else around I should know about?"

Henry gave a quick shake of his grill to that. "No... Technically I'm going to be in a bit of trouble when the people upstairs figure out what I'm doing. The after life isn't suppose to get involved. This however is a special situation. I don't know any other family that's down here and if you don't recognize the voice it's a bit odd that they would take the risk... Normally no one does if they don't personally know the person and very closely."

"Alright... So who is this? An angel or something?"

Henry frowned and gave another quick shake of his grill. "Hell no. Angels never get involved. Well... No I take that back. By all technicalities Seth is an angel. Just is a very special one who remains indifferent and works for both sides of the fence, gathering the dead. Guardian angels also get involved... Though very rarely and it's more whispered suggestions. Which I suppose could possibly fit here..."

"She said she couldn't get involved..."

"Sounds like an angel alright... They have a bad habit of telling you, that yes you're doing something stupid but refuse to tell you how to fix it. It's that damn free will rule of theirs."

Lightning only sighed, a brief nod given. Great...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dallas Texas 1956

Mark gave a soft groan as he silently drove on through the pounding rain. The storm had blown in fast and hard the way that Texas storms so often did. He didn't believe this state had ever heard of a light summer rain... It went from dessert heat to bounding rain then back again. Those storms where few and far between making July in Dallas almost unbearable.

Unfortunately the very much needed summer rain also meant something else entirely. The rain hitting the asphalt made an almost slick as ice combination that people didn't seem to know how to deal with. Already he had seen the aftermath of six wrecks. None of them good...

It was days like these he almost wished he had chosen another profession. For what he was... It didn't seem worth it.

He had just left a wreck that had left one critically injured and two dead in a sever pile up. He had also seen an out of control eighteen wheeler that morning that completely took out six cars waiting at a stop light...

Such a same... It wasn't really the truck's fault. He had hit his breaks at the right time, only to find that the slick road wouldn't allow for something his size to stop. Though for all the truck was concerned his life might as well be over. The gentle giants that where rigs where so sensitive when something like this happened... Deputy Carson felt for them in cases like those.

"12 come back"

Mark sighed heavily as he clicked his radio over, listening out for the dispatcher. "12, go ahead"

"We've got an accident out near Buckhead, church. Already have a unit in on it but it doesn't look good. Can you meet up with 14 out there?"

"Yeah, I'm on it. Though if you don't mind, contact home 10-20 and report me being late. 12 out."

"10-4"

He immediately changed direction, heading out to Buckhead. This had been one of many tonight. He was beginning to think he was never going to make it home tonight. He had started for home five times and each time an emergency call had popped up.

Buckhead was a small church just outside of the city, but still close enough where it saw a good bit of traffic. Tonight was no different. Deputy Taylor Lawson was just pulling up on the scene as Mark pulled up, the other police car, quickly working to divert traffic. Paramedics milled around, checking on things... One unharmed and the other... Dead at the scene. This was indeed a bad one... The first deputy on the scene was already there. A massive rig sat parked in the ditch, shaking quietly... Mark instantly felt for the poor truck... On a night like this... An accident was all it was, but possibly no one could tell him that.

In the opposite ditch a tarp had been thrown over the true victim. The motionless form suggested that nothing could help this vehicle. He sighed heavily, heading for the grieving truck and offered a comforting smile. "Hey there" He offered softly, though all that was given from the truck was a soft whine. "Can you tell me what happened son?"

"I slid... Was my fault..." The truck muttered softly. Mark offered a reassuring pat with one tire. "It's going to be alright son... My partner here will help you. Let me go see what's up alright?"

The truck forced a smile and nodded a bit. That he could do...

Mark wandered back towards the other car, where Taylor was checking for vitals, though it was much to late. The paramedics had already been there and declared the poor car dead. Mark had come almost to the edge of the road when Taylor's eyes widened and he pulled back from the dead car, quickly spinning to cut his long time friend off.

"Mark... Come with me." He stated simply attempting to push him back and away from the scene.

"Taylor, knock it off. We've got a job to do." Mark scolded pushing past the police car and froze, noting what Taylor had.

Taylor had left the tarp up, just enough so that he could see the edge of a mangled fender... A deep blue Mercury... The unique design of angel's wings curving delicately across her fender and door panels...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"What do you want?" Sheriff demanded, finally turning to face the Mustang. Seth smiled a bit, light shrug given.

"A car can't visit an old friend without it becoming a national case?"

"I wouldn't call us friends." Sheriff snapped, turning to leave the court yard. However Seth was a step ahead of him. As he turned again he found himself once more facing the black Mustang.

"Now Sheriff... That's no way to behave." He scolded, as if talking to a child.

"Boy, I would highly suggest-"

He was abruptly cut off by Seth's laugh. The Mustang grinned and pulled back a step. "Suggest what Deputy? Oh! I'm so sorry, my humble apologies... It's Sheriff now isn't it? Sheriff Carson?"

"Just Sheriff." Sheriff hissed at him, attempting to move around him.

"Ah, yes. Going by a title. You know I use to do that. Very impersonal. Made people nervous. Of course, my title is Death, so you know where that one leads... I was saying to Julia just the other day that-"

Seth was cut off as he was forced to jump back. Sheriff abruptly struck out at him, charging briefly and sending Seth ducking for cover.

"Oh, ho ho! My we have a temper..." Seth offered, slight smile crossing his grill. "So it seems it's all about who gets the girl is it?"

"Go to hell." Sheriff snapped, low growl shot in Seth's direction.

"Already been there actually. Not exactly my top vacation spot." Seth mused, a light shrug given.

Sheriff, let out a rumbling growl and pushed past Seth, once more attempting to leave. Unfortunately he found the double doors sealed shut. "Alright... There's got to be a point to this..."

"There is." Seth offered, drawing serious once more. "You are driving on very thin ice Sheriff. Let me make one thing perfectly clear that if you get in my way again... The after life will be the least of your worries." He stated simply, voice lowering to a near whisper, his eyes going narrow. "I'm not playing games with you anymore. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt I really did. Figured, oh just another Deputy give him some lee way. Not this time Sheriff. Get in my way and see what happens..." He warned, his patients wearing down to about nothing.

"Don't you threaten me boy..." Sheriff growled out, gaze narrowing at Seth. Their little stare off was abruptly cut off when one of the double doors snatched open. They both jumped, turning to face the doors, at least one of the two not having to worry about being seen.

It was Jeff, that stood in the doorway. He jumped a bit, surprised to see anyone at all out in the court yard, but he seemed honestly afraid to spot Seth.

Seth only grinned at him, light chuckle offered to the two. "Life for a life McQueen." He offered, slight smirk given. As quickly as he had come, he was gone again, leaving way only the icy cold feeling of death...

Sheriff turned a curious gaze to Jeff, the stock car staring flatly at the ground.

"Medium?" He questioned, gaining a quick shake of Jeff's grill.

"No... Just lucky." He muttered, still staring after the path that Seth had taken. "Let's just say that I know more about death than, mortals are suppose to..."

Sheriff nodded, slowly a puzzled gaze given to that but he didn't press it. When it came down to it, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to know.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We had a deal Talon."

"I never agreed to it." Ebony snapped, backing up a bit as Seth cornered her up on the roof. The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon, the last few stars fading back to nothing.

"Well that doesn't really matter now does it? The deal was that if you brought me Lightning you could go free. I don't see any Lightning... Therefore..."

"Wait!" Ebony pleaded, backing away from Seth.

Seth raised an eye ridge, for whatever reasons rather interested in what she had to say at this point. Ebony for once in her life, wasn't sure what to say... In life she had been for the most part a con artist... She had been able to finesse her way out of every problem she had ever been in... That didn't seem to help now though...

"Didn't think so." Seth commented, hitting the concrete beneath them hard with one tire.

"What would it take Seth?" Ebony, questioned as the shadows began pulling themselves upward. The sun was coming up... But the dim light was just dim enough that the shadows seemed to go on forever...

"I offered the only arrangement I intend to give Ebony. You blew it."

Ebony cringed, absolutely no where for her to escape to this time... He had her cornered...

"Now... We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. You know it doesn't make much different to me, but it just might to you." He reasoned, lifting a tire, the shadows seeming to contort inward.

"Hey McQueen!" Ebony suddenly yelled out, causing Seth to pause. He offered a puzzled look, briefly glancing behind him.

Ebony took that moment to bolt past him, tearing her way off the roof, leaving a somewhat stunned Seth behind.

"Boss?" One of the shadows hissed, drawing a glare from Seth. "Don't even say it." The Mustang snapped, unable to believe that Death had actually fallen for that... He stormed down the ramp leading up to the roof, silently peering through the darkness.

"Hell I've had enough of this. Shadows, go" He called, sending the shadow demons after Ebony.

Ebony raised once again through the winding hallways, dodging the living as if they where cursed. She hated going through them but at times she just didn't have a choice...

Her mad dash, led her to the waiting room once again, the doors flying open as they had before. With intense emotion disturbances tended to be caused... Things flying off shelves... Doors opening and closing... This was no different. She was afraid... Therefore the doors where thrown open before her.

The entire group looked up startled by the sudden bang of doors hitting the walls, hard enough to put a notch in the plaster where the handles hit.

"What the hell?" Sheriff questioned, his gaze locking on Ebony. It took Ebony a full minute to realize that Sheriff was looking directly at her, and not just the door.

Doc frowned a bit and shrugged, giving his friend a nudge. "Probably just the wind."

"Ghosts, spooks, and death oh my!" Dakoda set off in a sing song tone, pulling their attention to the insane little truck for the time.

Sheriff frowned, still watching Ebony, who was choosing instead to slowly back up towards the doors. She hadn't expected anyone to see her... She had thought the medium could only hear the dead... Not see them...

She gave a sharp yelp as an icy, finger like grip abruptly grabbed her. The doors swung open again as she was abruptly pulled through, the chill in the air dropping to freezing as she was pulled. She whimpered softly, Seth's form at the end of the hall simply grinning at her. "Well well well... How the mighty have fallen. My dear I must admit, I have waited for this day..."

"Go to hell Seth!" She yelled at him, still struggling against the icy grip of the shadows themselves.

Seth only laughed, though was abruptly cut off as something touched Ebony. She was startled, though quickly realized Sheriff had come out to investigate. It was his side pressed against her. More importantly it was life... The shadows let out a screech of pain, all of them falling back into the walls themselves. Seth's minions couldn't stand the feel of life... Seth himself could barely handle it... Just enough to be able to take a soul...

Seth growled and stormed forward, his shadows flying out of the way as they scattered across the ground, hissing and sliding like frightened rats...

"Mark, if I where you I would walk back in that waiting room right now..."

Sheriff only smiled at him, a tire firmly pressed against Ebony's side. "Make me." He challenged, slight smirk crossing his grill.

Seth raised an eye ridge, low growl given. "You... are pushing your luck Mark..." He warned softly, pulling a bit closer.

Sheriff only shrugged, seeming not entirely to concerned about that.

Seth let out a snarl of rage, backing up down the hall. "This isn't over Ebony." He called, silently pulling a 180 and tearing off down the hall, tires spinning for purchase.

"Temper Seth!" Sheriff called, slight shake of his grill given as he glanced down at the Viper still on the floor, all four tires tucked neatly beneath her where she had attempted to put her full weight back into her struggles.

"Thank you..." She offered slowly, gaining a slight shrug from Sheriff. "Don't mention it."

"He's gonna be pissed you know..." Ebony offered slowly, though that only gained her another shrug.

"He's already pissed off at me." He explained, slight stretch given as he moved away from her, the cold feeling of death starting to get to him a bit.

"Why... did you do that?" Ebony questioned, a puzzled look given.

Again, all she got was a shrug. "Because I could." Sheriff offered, setting off down the hall. Ebony frowned and quickly got to her tires, hurrying after him.

"So you're this Ebony everyone keeps warning every one else about?" He questioned, not bothering to look back at her.

"Well... Actually by all technicalities you got one of those warnings from me..." She offered, slight sigh given. "Seth offered me a deal to avoid the shadows and I kinda couldn't go through with it and well... You saw the results."

"Eh, making a deal with Death isn't exactly a smart move." Sheriff reasoned, silently heading out in the direction of the court yard. "Now there's something I want to know from you. Why can I see you now, when I couldn't before?"

"You could once." She pointed out, slight shrug given.

"Long time ago. I'm talking about now."

"I'm guessing Seth has something to do with it." She offered, slight shrug given.

Sheriff nodded a bit, heavy sigh given as he stepped out into the morning air. "Right... Makes perfect sense..."

"Well it does to me." Ebony offered, catching his sarcasm. "I mean, look at it this way. It's a skill... Well if you try to play the piano and learn first some symphony that only the most expert musician would even attempt, learning twinkle twinkle little star isn't going to be that big of a deal. Seth is the extreme, so seeing me is like nothing..."

Sheriff paused, seeming to think on that one for a moment. "You know... in some bazar way that actually makes sense..."

"Of course it does." Ebony offered, light shrug given. "Why wouldn't it?"

Sheriff chuckled a bit, dragging a brief smile from Ebony. "Thanks dude... Anyway Lightning is in the chapel with his grandfather I think. Can sense his life from a mile away... He's also losing time... So if you can't find him... Wait it out." She suggested, disappearing as suddenly as she had earlier burst into the waiting room. Sheriff frowned a bit and shrugged, silently heading for the chapel. Well that didn't sound good...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Asleep... He looked asleep...

That was possibly the first thing that came to mind. Sally sighed softly, her time not exactly long... It was early morning and the doctors had allowed them to come in one at a time and sit with Lightning for a bit. The machines disturbed Mater to much. He had gone in and come back out in a rush. It had taken both Doc and Flo to get him calmed down again. Joe had been much the same... Stone was as usual... seeming emotionless.

Doc had actually surprised her. She had expected him to show no emotion, as usual... But when he came out he had quickly excused himself and for a while disappeared. That to Sally was almost frightening... If Doc was afraid of losing Lightning... What did that mean for Lightning's chances at all?

When her turn came around she wasn't entirely sure she could face seeing him... She swallowed hard, attempting to convince herself he was just asleep and settled down beside him. "Hey stickers..." She offered quietly trailing across her hood... "Got yourself into trouble again didn't you?"

Of course her question went unanswered, the beeping of the machines the only sound...

"I just wanted you to know something..." She offered, tears welling in her eyes. "I'd miss you if you where gone..." She muttered, watching one of the many machines for a moment, wondering idly what the numbers meant...

"I miss you when you go off to races... Always have... I guess I stay behind because I didn't want to see you like this... Doc's brought you home banged up before..." She mused, a soft sigh given.

"You know I think this may be the only time I actually get you to really listen." She offered with a smile, a quick shake of her grill given. She was babbling now... She didn't know what to say...

"Miss?" She sighed softly as the nurse called to her, a slow nod given. The nurse smiled in sympathy and left her again, content that Sally knew her time was running out.

"I love you stickers." She whispered softly, nuzzling at his still side. "Wake up..." She muttered, and quietly backed off, leaving ICU as silently as she had come.

She couldn't bring herself to go back to the waiting room. It was to much. Doc would nod at her, and offer her a sympathetic look that she couldn't take... No one knew where Sheriff had disappeared to again... Mater would ask how Lightning was, then have to leave just as quickly as he didn't want to know the answer... And Joe... Would simply cry all that much harder.

She needed air... Badly to... She gave a good shake of her head and rushed for the front doors, pushing past a hospital security guard on her way out. She stopped by the curb, choking in gasps of fresh air, through choked sobs. She couldn't take this... She wasn't sure how long she spent on that curb... She was startled from her thoughts when an older truck tapped her side, offering a soft word of concern and asking if she was alright.

Sally could only offer a nod and got back to her tires, a deep breath taken in. She silently collected herself, gathering a face she used so often in trials and drove back into the hospital. When she walked back into the waiting room she was collected once more, a soft smile offered as she took a space beside Doc. She remained silent a few moments, quietly staring off into space and listening to Kody raddle on about something or other. It was Doc that startled her out of her thoughts. He offered a comforting nudge.

She swallowed hard, eyes closing for a moment. She had always liked Doc... He reminded her so much of her grandfather... She whimpered softly, tilting to the side so that her hood rest against his side, tears quietly trailing across her hood, hidden from view by Doc's bumper. This was a rarity... But she had to admit... She was scared...

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Dallas Texas 1956

The storm rolled on... It was nearly one in the morning and still it rolled on... For hours it had been a fury of questions... Could have, should have would haves... They hadn't even taken her to the hospital. Simply called a coroner to come out...

Being an officer Mark knew damn well what that meant, but he couldn't quite bring himself to accept it. He simply didn't want to accept it... That was the problem. Didn't want to and couldn't bring himself to. He hadn't been separated from Julia for more than a day since the day they had married... Now he would never see her again... That thought was almost to much...

Though no... Mark swallowed hard, getting up from where he had collapsed on the floor of the kitchen. After an hour of being at the accident scene, one of his coworkers had more or less guided him home. Taylor had hung around for a while, though eventually he had been forced to go home... He hadn't been much help anyway. No one ever knew what to say in a case like this... And Mark was beyond able to be comforted...

That... didn't seem to matter now though. He was a medium... He could contact Julia... He could do something... Talk to her... He swallowed hard, quickly moving around the kitchen. He had never had to contact someone close to him before... He was use to not knowing anything about the victim... Only a name and basic police information... He knew everything about Julia... From her favorite fuel to her favorite song... He knew that she was afraid of spiders... And that she loved birds... So how was he suppose to contact her? Further more why hadn't she come to him yet?

He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift out... Reach out to whoever might be listening. Nothing... Not a soul... That alone was strange...

Though after a few minutes he did latch onto something... Something ice cold... He let out a sharp gasp and opened his eyes, gaze falling on the last person he wanted to see... Death...

"You have interfered for the last time..." Death hissed, an angry growl shot in his direction.

"Bring her back..." Mark growled out, getting to his tires and halfway circling the strange car in his kitchen.

"She's not yours anymore Mark. Let her go. You'll be better off for it." Death suggested, not in the least bit intimidated by Mark's advances.

"You let her go..." Mark hissed, drawing a sigh from Seth.

"Look... I know you'll hurting but you'll come to realize soon enough that death isn't a punishment... It's not a prison... She led a good life. She's been released from it." Seth reasoned, though that brought no comfort to a hurting police car.

"I can't bring her back." Seth went on, a slight growl given as he attempted to avoid Mark.

"Then let me talk to her!"

Seth growled and gave a quick shake of his grill. "Grief shock Mark. It's your own problem. You'll have to deal with that. I can't deal with it for you." He reasoned, and smirked.

"Though on the upside, you're out of my treads." Mark snarled and charged at Seth, hitting the wall hard as Seth abruptly disappeared. His own somewhat cowardly escape.

Mark gave a soft whimper, remaining where he had fallen, silently tucking his tires beneath him so that his frame rest on the kitchen floor. He let out a miserable sigh, eyes closing. The cold from the floor didn't bring any comfort but at least he felt it... It was something besides that horrible numb feeling.

Anything to make the pain go away... It was a good hour before he pulled himself back to his tires and shook himself off. The room seemed colder now... Without Julia wandering around, it was a dark and dank place he wanted nothing to do with. He swallowed hard, and silently got up heading for the cabinets. He poured himself a quart of oil, then added a strong shot of Vodka to it. Can in tow, he silently made his way to the living room, the bedroom not something he could handle at the moment.

He fell to silence, staring at the wall, oil laced with vodka at least for the moment driving back that pain to a more comfortable numb... Everyone in life has their low points... But at that moment, Mark's only wish was that, the truck would have hit him instead...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Seth gave an aggravated growl as he silently paced back and forth through his office. This wasn't working out as well as he had hoped.

"Sir, word from on high. The powers want to know what's taking so long." The somewhat nasal feminine voice rang out over the intercom system, causing Seth to roll his eyes. Figured...

"Tell them to hold their horses. It's not like it's another apocalypse." Seth commented, heavy sigh muttered. He hadn't expected the patrol car to grow a pair...

"Alright sir. It's your engine. Just remember your retirement is coming up soon." Sandra replied, her voice abruptly cutting off. Seth rolled his eyes and picked up his pacing again. He supposed it could be worse. So far he had two very powerful mediums... One car that had escaped from the after life... One car that was still out smarting him... One car in the living world that should be dead... And a car in a coma that could go either way... And one car that he believed was dropping tips...

He sighed heavily and silently slid to the floor. Alright... So they should have had his engine on a stake long before this...

Of course on a regular basis he would have lived for the challenge but at the moment-

He cut himself off mid thought and stopped in the middle of the office. That was it... A challenge... It was so divinely simple...

He let a smile cross his grill, a chipper little whistle picking up. Things just might work out alright for him after all... He could kill two bird with one stone...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He found them just where Ebony said they would be. Lightning was parked beside another stock car, both keeping that soft haze that let him know that they where not a physical body. Ahead of them a small truck was praying...

He sighed softly, silently parking next to Lightning. "Hi Sheriff." Lightning offered, slight tilt of his frame given.

"I see you." Sheriff commented, drawing a slight blink from Lightning.

"Really? Well then what am I doing?" He questioned, sticking his tongue out at him.

"Very childish boy." He muttered, one eye ridge raising. Lightning instantly pulled his tongue back in his mouth, somewhat sheepish smile given. Henry only gave a shake of his grill, soft chuckle muttered.

They sat in silence for a time, the truck eventually getting up and heading to Labor and Delivery, apparently the source of his prayers and thoughts...

"So... This is what the male gender does with their time..."

Lightning rolled his eyes, Ebony's voice pulling a chuckle from him. "You know, I've noticed you perching yourself in some fairly odd places yourself." He mused, pulling a shrug from the black Viper.

"Eh, when you've been dead as long as I have, any place that isn't six feet under is a good perch." She mused, light smirk given.

Henry smirked a bit, opening his mouth to speak but he was abruptly cut off as the air seemed to solidify. A harsh chill touched the air, the tell tale signs that Death himself was about. Ebony gave a slight roll of her eyes, the Viper hopping up and pressing herself to Sheriff's side. She was a quick learner and she knew damn well Seth wouldn't try anything so long as someone alive was near them...

"Here comes trouble." Lightning muttered, drawing a nod from Sheriff and Henry. At this point... They where ready for this to be over. One way or another.

"I heard that." Seth frowned at the group, slight chuckle given. "And here I thought I would have to look for a few of you..."

His gaze leveled on Ebony, a smile crossing his grill. "Hello there my dear." He offered, Ebony's response a very rude gesture with one tire.

"And the one I especially wanted to speak to."

Ebony glared at him, bringing a shrug from Seth. "I have a proposition for you my dear."

"Right... Anything like the last one?" She shot back, drawing a smirk from Seth.

"Of course not... And if it makes you feel better, you can bring your hero there." He commented, gesturing to Sheriff.

"Bring me where?" Sheriff questioned, drawing a slight smirk from Seth.

Seth shrugged idly and came up close to Ebony. "I'm going to give you a chance Ebony. A chance to fight for your life I suppose... So how about it? A challenge of sorts. How about a race?"

Ebony offered a puzzled look, her gaze shooting over to the others. They could only shrug, not entirely sure what Seth was getting to.

"Street race..." Ebony muttered, quietly setting up what would be involved.

"Wouldn't think of anything else for a street racer my dear."

"I win you let me and Lightning go..."

"The stock car is free to live if you win... I'll also see what I can do for you..." He promised, that charming smile crossing his grill again.

Henry cleared his throat, slight shake of his grill given. "He's out to screw you over..." He warned, drawing a nod from Ebony. She already knew that...

"Alright... What's the catch?"

Seth grinned and shrugged on his shocks. "No catch my dear."

Ebony nodded slowly, silently glancing to the others. They could only shrug as she turned her attention back to Seth. "Alright... I accept that."

Seth grinned and set back a bit. "I did forget to mention though... I'll be setting the track." He commented, the room suddenly hazing out to a thick fog... To the living world, things would stay the same. Sheriff suddenly slumped forward, going into a deep sleep a sort of out of body experience.

They came to rest on a quiet country road. Night had just fallen, a heavy mist hanging in the humid summer air. A storm was rolling in, rain already starting to hit the pavement with a soft patter. Ebony let out an audible whimper, quietly pressing against Sheriff, who for the most part was simply in a mild state of shock...

"Wow..." Lightning muttered, slight blink given. "Now I remember why I never got into street racing..."

"I can't do this..." Ebony whimpered, a quick shake of her grill given.

"Sure you can girl... Looks a bit of a hazard but Seth said you where a street racer this shouldn't be-"

"No, you don't understand." Ebony whimpered, abruptly cutting Henry's pep talk off. "I know this place..."

Lightning gave a slight blink, turning on her. "You do?"

"I've raced here before..." Ebony offered, soft whine given. "Everything I've done in my life... I was a mercenary... A con artist... A street racer... Never did a good thing in my life. All the dangerous things... I'm sorry for all if it... But this was probebly the stupidest..." She muttered, staring at where the road disappeared around a curve...

"Anything but this..." She was shaking now... An absolute wreck at her place beside Sheriff.

"It can't be that bad. If you've been on it before then you know the track right?" Lightning reasoned, gaining a shake of Ebony's grill.

"You don't understand... This is dead man's curve... A mile up the road is where I died..."

To Be Continued...