Note: Gettin' darker. Will get much, MUCH darker. Just to warn ya. ^_^
The Damocles Solution 13.
Tennent hurried his way out the front door into the night. "That is preposterous! I know what you are asking me! I'd never consider it!"
He went down the step or two to the long, curving driveway, briefly looking back to see the figure standing in the doorway.
"That is my offer Dr. Tennent! It is a good one! Please…please reconsider!"
"No! N—never!" said the horrified Tennent as he threw open the door of his car, stepped in, and turned the ignition.
I must tell someone else knowledgeable about the conversation I had tonight…or I must tell anyone—anyone at all!
He floored the accelerator, and with a loud squeal of the tires, headed back toward the hotel.
Sweat dripped off his forehead, and threatened to blur his vision. He pulled out his handkerchief, and patted it on his entire face. If only I could wipe away what I heard tonight! If only…!
Finding himself on the highway again, he tried every method he could to not think about the proposition. Failing miserably, he clutched the wheel in terror, and brought out his handkerchief again. If only I could simply wipe away everything about all I know! I knew, I just knew something would mean this trip was a mistake. I must get back to that hotel!
Driving along, the same empty stretch of highway that he drove past before, now re-opened itself, the only barrier between the highway and the land surrounding was a flimsy line of trees.
Quite a lot of trailer traffic for this time of night; I feel like my destination is as far away as theirs…I will never get there fast enough! He thought desperately.
Incredible, it was. Completely unexpected. And steeped in complete innocence. That's what made it so much the more twisted…
He started to talk out loud, oblivious to even doing so in his rush to return to the hotel. "Oh, if I only knew what I know now before I crossed the Atlantic!"
"I will give you another opportunity," said a voice directly behind his ear.
Tennent's heart jumped into his cerebellum; on instinct, he floored the accelerator again, his hands still white-knuckled in the car. Where he left was well-lighted enough for him to know that he entered the car alone.
"Will you accept?" The voice now came from the passenger seat aside of him.
Tennent looked over, trying to keep the direction of the car in check as it sped along. "N—no! You-!"
"…am a messenger delivering a message," said the passenger. "Do you accept?"
"This…this is some sort of twisted nightmare! I am…only seeing illusions and shadows!" gasped Tennet. He swerved out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, after getting an angry blast from the horn.
"Your answer is ssssssstill no?" said the passenger.
"I—I—" he dared to look over at the passenger, but only saw an empty car seat. "N…No!" You can't-!"
"Whyever would you refuse?"
"L—Leave me! Get out of my car! I am wearing a blessed scapular!"
The passenger laughed deeply.
"Get out! Now! Leave me be!"
The silence that ensued gave him the slight hope that his pursuer had tired of him. He looked again at the passenger seat…it was now empty.
"Shame," said the voice in mock sorrow, now whispering into his ear.
He drove along madly for a few more seconds, then heard a loud thud on the ceiling of his vehicle, as if a rock or part of a tree had fallen on it. He helplessly looked up at the roof of the car, knowing it was useless do to so.
Returning his eyes to the road, he counted the seconds he thought it would take to get off this damned empty highway. The area where hotel was wasn't far away…
Suddenly, a man-like figure jumped on the hood of the car with a double SLAM! of his feet, and for all of Tennent's frenzied turning of the wheel to dislodge it, it remained perfectly balanced.
"No…no!" cried Tennent, as he spun the wheel around again, this time with more force, in a vain effort to be rid of the horrible spectre. The tires squealed in protest of Tennent's driving.
He cursed loudly as he tried to dislodge the figure on his car, but only saw faint outlines caused by the headlights trying to pierce through the murky darkness. "Damn you…!"
He managed to straighten out the car…and, never hearing the loud warning horn blast in his terror, found the inside of his vehicle shining, lit by the headlights of a heavy-laden trailer.