The sun had set just a few minutes ago and yet it seemed like it was midnight in the desert. It was hard to see even with the car lights on. It was even more difficult to find her way since there was no road. She had been lost for hours in the middle of nowhere, but there was no going back. It was known that in the desert there was no road and that to get to Pleasantview, she needed to go through it. Anyone else in her position would have been worried but not her. All she could think off was that she could design a road to go through the desert, since she had her civil engineering degree, so it wouldn't be such a task crossing it.

But her passion was buildings. That's why she was on her way to Pleasantview. They had been discussing plans for a new gym to be built over a year now and finally the decision had been made. She was one of the architects and had to be there in time to assist with the blueprints. A dream come true. At only 24 she was taking part in a big project like this one, a great way to get started. If she got through the desert that, would be. Till now things weren't looking good. Already having lost the map in all that junk in her car, all she had to follow was her instinct, and that wasn't very accurate. It was already dark and soon she would have to stop and spend the night somewhere. It's not good though when the car makes that decision for you.

Suddenly, a bang was heard and Mika Ishida, the aspiring architect lost control of her car. Speeding up to 80 miles an hour, it started going in all different directions as if it was a crazy roller coaster ride, hitting every cactus it found on its way. Having been thrown back from the impact, Mika tried to regain her composure. The steering wheel was spinning non-stop, making it impossible to catch. Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it and the circulation in her legs had been cut. Being more frightened than she had ever been in her 24-year long life that was about to end, she started screaming. The car was getting closer and closer to those huge beastlike rocks ready to crash. She shut her eyes and held onto her seat tight waiting for the impact that was soon to come. Inside her she was praying for the car to stop its crazy incontrollable route. She then felt the car going upwards and immediately opened her eyes. All she had time to see were a few small buildings with their lights on before she crashed into a railing overlooking a big piece of land. Her body was jerked forward into the steering wheel but was caught before her face connected the wheel by the airbag. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest as if trying to run away and she was shaking slightly. She pushed the airbag out of the way and sat back to take a few moments to catch her breath.

So many things were running through her mind. What happened, where is she, is she alive, is the car ok. At the last thought she jumped out of the car, adrenaline still pumping through her veins, to asses the damage.

The front of the car was completely destroyed and smoke was coming out of it. One of the back doors was missing and the whole car was full of scratches, most of the paint was gone and it appeared to be black rather than blue, its original colour. The tires where all flat and the front right wheel was gone. There was a bit of fire coming out of the back of the car and most of the windows where broken. It was a miracle she had survived. Feeling something trickle down her face, she raised her hand to wipe it off. She glanced at the liquid substance in her hand and immediately realized what it was.

- Blood!

Her eyes were fixed upon the crimson coloured liquid in her hand, allowing the old man with the water hose to go unnoticed until he started throwing water on the fire, which caused Mika to snap back into reality. She turned her head around quickly to face him.

He looked like he was about seventy years old with white hair and wrinkly skin. He was wearing a denim suit that you'd normally see on a farmer and a cap that hid his eyes.

-Your car seems to have a problem.

Mika was slightly puzzled by the comment and wondered if the man was joking.

-What was your first clue?

The man stepped in closer and examined the cars scratches.

-It's a wonder you came out of this with all your limbs. You must have a guardian angel.

-If I had one, why did this happen?

The old man looked at Mika questionably.

-Well, even so there's no way you're setting off today, if that's what you want. You'll need to spend your night here. We do have a hotel, nothing fancy, well to be honest it's a dump but they do have beds. I think.

Mika couldn't believe it. She was literally, in the middle of nowhere, her car damaged severally and had to spend her night in a completely remote town in some cheap hotel when she was suppose to be in Pleasantview where she had a booking for a hotel, paid and all. She couldn't afford to waste time like that.

-Aren't there any buses or anything passing by here going to Pleasantview?

-The only thing that passes by here once in a while, are tumbleweeds and we've had a long time to see those too. Sorry, am afraid you're stuck here until your car is repaired. If it can be repaired.

No way could this be happening! It must be a dream! Anything that could have gone wrong had gone wrong and even worse.

-I can't stay here! I need to be in Pleasantview before morning! cried Mika.

- Nothing I can do about it. I'll try to repair your car so can leave as soon as possible. Sorry, it can't be tomorrow morning. It's not even definite that the damages are repairable. The car was on fire just a minute ago for goodness sakes!

She looked down at the ground feeling defeated and helpless. She felt as if she was locked up in prison, not being able to go anywhere, trapped. There was no other choice left.

-What should I do? she asked, facing the man in front of her.

-I suggest you check into the hotel and stay there till you're ready to go. I'll see what I can do about your car, but I'm not promising anything. Oh, and by the way, tell them that Jebediah said hi. I like to get my name around.

Mika took whatever luggage was unharmed out of her now completely destroyed car and walked towards the hotel. It was exactly behind them and pretty easy to miss. It blended in perfectly with the rest of the buildings, save for a big, blue, lit up sign, like the traffic ones that depicted a person in a bed. The only indication that the building was a hotel.