Stephanie's hand shook as she touched her face, feeling the rough trails of dried tears against her skin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing herself to stay strong. With a determined gentleness, she wiped away the last remnants of sorrow from her cheeks, refusing to let it consume her.
"Hey," came a soft voice that filled the small gas station with compassion. A soft hand, slightly worn but full of tenderness, reached out toward Stephanie's shoulder. It was an unspoken gesture of support, an act of reassurance that she wasn't facing this moment alone. But as the hand approached, Stephanie couldn't help but flinch and inhale sharply.
The woman withdrew her hand, a flicker of understanding lighting up her eyes. "I'm Tanya," she announced, her voice carrying the weight of empathy that only years could bestow upon a soul. Her warm smile was like a comforting hug. Beside Tanya stood a man with broad shoulders and a sturdy stance. "And this is Derrick," Tanya continued, gesturing towards her companion who greeted Stephanie with a respectful nod and a gentle grin.
"Let's get you out of here," Tanya murmured, her tone more statement than suggestion. With a guiding presence, she ushered Stephanie through the exit, the bell above the door jingling a soft farewell as they entered the cool morning air.
They approached an old Honda Civic parked at the far end of the lot, its red paint dulled by time and sun exposure. As they neared the car, Stephanie hesitated, her eyes flickering between Tanya and Derrick. She wasn't used to strangers offering help, especially not in her darkest moments. But there was something in the way Tanya's gaze held unwavering kindness that made her want to trust them.
"Derrick, honey, can you grab us some supplies?" Tanya called over her shoulder, her gaze never leaving Stephanie. "Food, water—whatever you think we'll need for the road."
Derrick gave a sharp nod to show he understood, then swiftly turned on his heel and returned to the gas station. His movements were precise, reflecting the emotions of the new stray girl they had just taken in. He was no longer his usual carefree self, but rather focused and serious.
Tanya opened the back car door, gesturing for Stephanie to get in. Stephanie hesitated, her hand hovering over the seat of Tanya's old Civic. She could feel the fabric, worn and faded from age and countless trips taken in this car. But she lowered herself into the seat anyway as it cradled her weary body in a comforting embrace, hearing the soft thud as Tanya closed the door behind her. As Tanya settled into the passenger seat, glancing at Stephanie through the rearview mirror. There was tenderness in her gaze, but also a hint of determination as she tried to unravel the mystery hidden behind Stephanie's words. And sitting in the backseat, lost in thought while staring out the window, was the only one who could help her solve it.
"Stephanie," Tanya began, her voice deliberately gentle, "I can't pretend to know what you've been through, but I want to help. Can you tell me anything about...about what happened?" Her voice faltered, and she fell silent.
Stephanie's eyes darted between her hands, gripping each other tightly as if trying to hold onto something. She let out a shaky breath, her words barely audible as she tried to voice the turmoil inside her. "I don't how to..." she murmured, struggling with the conflicting thoughts and emotions swirling through her.
"Only when you're ready," Tanya reassured, giving Stephanie the space she needed. The offer hung in the air, no pressure, no expectations—just an opening for comfort or silence, whichever she chose.
The moment lingered until Derrick's return broke it, placing the bags of supplies gently in the lap of Tanya, as he climbed in, sliding behind the wheel. With a nod from Tanya, he turned the key in the ignition, and the Civic lurched forward, pulling away from the gas station.
As they merged onto the highway, Tanya reached into one of the bags Derrick had brought and pulled out a crinkled bag of jerky. She offered it to Stephanie with a motherly insistence. "Eat something, dear. You'll feel better with a little food in you."
Stephanie accepted the bag with a short, grateful smile, that seemed to be more muscle memory than anything else. It was easier, somehow, to focus on the simple act of eating than to dive into the murky depths of her recent horrors. The salty dried meat was familiar and oddly comforting as she watched the landscape whiz by.
The endless drone of the Civic's engine had become a hypnotic lullaby, the passing scenery a blur of yellow and brown as hours of scenery slipped through the rearview mirror. Derrick had kept them on a steady course, his hands confident on the wheel, while Tanya occasionally spoke, trying to lull everyone into a better mood. Stephanie had been silent for most of the journey, her eyes vacantly tracing the patterns of light and shadow that danced across the highway.
The shadows lengthened, stretching across the road as the sun rose higher in the sky. The hum of the engine and the occasional rustle from Derrick or Tanya had become the soundtrack to Stephanie's reflective silence. As they neared Kansas City, it appeared on the horizon like a man-made jungle, its skyscrapers towering the flat fields that stretched out around them.
"Always wanted to go here," Derrick murmured almost to himself, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and something else—something like regret or longing. His eyes flicked between the expanding view of Kansas City and the stretch of asphalt before them.
As the Civic skirted the edge of the city, Derrick's focus sharpened on navigating the ins and outs of highway signs. It was then that Tanya's gaze wandered up the exterior of a particularly tall building. Her breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat, as she saw something unfathomable—a grotesque silhouette against the grey concrete walls.
The monstrous abomination clung to the side of the skyscraper, its nightmarish form an unholy fusion of scorpion and ant. Its spindly legs, impossibly long and razor-sharp, tore through the solid concrete with ease as it scurried up the building like a contorted spider. As the creature's enormous pincers swung through the air, their jagged edges gleamed in the fading sunlight.
Tanya's voice barely escaped her lips, a whispered gasp. She couldn't help but ask, "What is that?" But the terror in Stephanie's eyes said enough; Tanya didn't need an answer. It was clear that whatever Stephanie was running from wasn't just behind them; it was also ahead of them.
Tanya's pulse hammered in her ears, a frenetic rhythm that matched the erratic twitching of the creature's pincers. The Civic's interior felt suddenly claustrophobic." Stephanie," she tried again, her throat tight, "how can this be—"
But it was Stephanie's earlier, hushed admission that cut through Tanya's fog, the words spoken in soft terror back at the gas station. 'They're coming.'
"Fuck," Tanya's voice erupted from somewhere deep and primal, shattering the silence. Derrick jolted in his seat, his hands jerking the wheel instinctively. The old Honda Civic swerved, tires screeching in protest against the empty highway's asphalt.
"Sorry, sorry!" Tanya stammered, her apology laced with fear. Derrick righted the car, shooting her a wide-eyed look that demanded an explanation.
"Did you see it?" she asked, trying to steady her breath, pointing a trembling finger towards the building they had just passed.
"See what?" Derrick's confusion only fueled her panic, his gaze now darting between Tanya and the road ahead, searching for whatever had caused her outburst.
"Never fucking mind, just drive quicker," Tanya hissed, sinking back into her seat, feeling the weight of dread settle over her like a blanket. They were in the heart of it now, whatever 'it' was. And Stephanie's warnings, once easy to understand, became the chilling suspense coating them like a thick fog of dread as they sped down the desolate highway of Kansas City.