The Road That Never Let Go (Part 2)

 Emma Carter never talked about Route 66.

She did not tell the police.
She did not tell her friends.
She did not even tell herself.

After two months, she moved to a small town called Flagstaff. She found there a bookstore job and wanted to live a peace time.

No long drives.
No empty roads.
No unknown phone numbers.

But some nights, Emma woke up holding her phone. The screen was on, but there were no messages.

She told herself it was just fear.

One evening, while closing the bookstore, her phone vibrated.

Unknown Number: You stayed away from the road. That was smart move.

Emma felt cold.

Her hands started shaking.

She sat down slowly.

Emma: Who are you?

Three dots appeared on the screen.
Then they disappeared.

Finally, a message came.

Unknown Number: Someone who didn’t escape.

The lights in the bookstore flickered.

Emma looked around. The store was empty. The door was locked.

Emma: Are you the same person from Route 66?

There was a long pause.

Unknown Number: I used to be.

Emma’s heart beat faster.

She walked to the window and looked outside. Everything looked normal. Cars passed by. People talked and laughed.

Her phone vibrated again.

Unknown Number: He is still out there.

Emma swallowed hard.

Emma: The man in the truck?

Unknown Number: Yes. But he drives a different truck now.

Emma felt sick.

Emma: Why are you telling me this?

The reply came slowly.

Unknown Number: Because you listened.

Emma remembered the dark gas station. The open door. The strange smile.

Emma: What happens if someone stops?

The typing dots stayed on the screen for a long time.

Unknown Number: They don’t leave.

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: They stay forever.

Suddenly, the bookstore door handle moved.

Emma froze.

Someone was outside.

“Hello?” a man said softly. “Is the store open?”

Emma did not answer.

Her phone vibrated again.

Unknown Number: Don’t open the door.

Unknown Number: Don’t speak.

The handle moved again.

“I just need help,” the man said calmly.

Emma looked through the glass door.

Across the street, a pickup truck was parked.

Old.
Dusty.
Familiar.

Her phone vibrated one last time.

Unknown Number: Some roads never end. They wait.

The man outside stopped.

Slowly, he looked up.

He looked straight at Emma.

And he smiled.

To be continued…