The Trash Bag
She hit the brakes as soon as she saw it. The truck’s massive door had swung open, and from it, a muscular arm chucked out a large, black trash bag.
The bag moved on the road. Something was inside, something alive.
Stop!
Her van veered off the road as she avoided the bag. Her fingers constricted around her steering wheel, her teeth gritting.
The van came to a troubled stop, throwing rainwater, mud, and blades of grass into the air. She hurried out, sprinting to the bag on the road. Her breath caught when she saw what was inside.
Grace Cunningham
For Grace Cunningham, that rainy Monday afternoon was supposed to be spent in bed nursing a head-splitting migraine and flu.
After a long weekend visiting some college friends in upstate Wyoming, she returned to her home in Cheyenne, ready to start a new week. She had no idea that her life was about to take a drastic turn.
A Storm
Getting the flu was the last thing on Grace’s mind on her trip home. But a storm had devoured her city, keen on ruining her week.
Before she knew it, she had a runny nose and fever and could barely keep any food down. She should have known that all this was leading her somewhere.
A Simple Life
Grace had always led a simple life. At the age of thirty, she was yet to start her own family and was still wading through the dating pool, eager to find the love of her life.
Working as an accountant, she lived by herself in a modest apartment just outside town. But by the end of that week, everything she thought she knew would be turned upside down.
An Ideal Day
For Grace, a perfect day at work usually involved her helping her bosses make sound financial decisions by keeping track of and correcting the company’s finances.
Her position usually demanded a lot of direct contact with her bosses. So when she got the flu, she knew she wouldn’t be staying at the office for long.
Going To Work
Grace showed up early in the morning as usual despite being delirious and under heavy medication. The doctor had assured her she’d return to normal by morning, but that wasn’t the case.
With her handbag and documents in tow, she walked into the office. But her boss had already noticed she was under the weather by noon. So it didn’t come as a surprise when he asked her to take the rest of the day and week off.
I’m Okay
Grace tried to plead her case, saying she was strong enough to work. But her boss insisted that she take time to recover.
She gathered her items and hopped into her van, eager to get home. She could watch a movie or read a novel, anything to pass the time. For now, she only needed to get to her house.
Getting Ready For A Long Drive
The rain was pounding when Grace jumped into her van. Her house was an hour from her workplace, so she’d spend even more time on the road because of her condition and the heavy downpour.
She turned on her seat warmer and radio, eager to make the drive as cozy as possible. There was no need to rush home. She had no clue what was waiting for her on the road.
No Fuel
Grace was on the road for thirty minutes when her fuel light blinked on. Like clockwork, she pulled into the closest gas station.
The rain was still pattering the stretch of empty tarmac before her. The gas station was also deserted, save for one freight truck. Although Grace initially didn’t think much of the massive vehicle, something kept telling her to keep an eye on it.
The Trucker
Grace stepped out of her van and hurried to the gas pump, eager to escape the rain. She was still filling her tank when a burly, bearded man stepped out of the truck.
He looked at her briefly before walking into the convenience store attached to the gas station. Still, Grace didn’t notice that something was off. It would be soon that she phoned the authorities.
Inside The Shop
She filled her tank and hurried inside to clear the bill. And that’s when she saw it. The man was purchasing garbage bags, which he held in one hand.
The other hand carried snacks, most of which were meant for kids. This detail struck Grace as odd. But she’d never been one to meddle in other people’s businesses. Perhaps the man had kids at home and needed to buy a few supplies for the house. If only Grace knew what was happening.
Back On The Road
Grace paid for her gas and hurried out of the store. She jumped into her van and got back on the road. She still drove slowly, listening to the radio as the rain poured outside her vehicle.
About ten minutes into the drive and the large truck honked behind her. The sound was loud, causing her to jump in her seat. The truck honked again, and Grace knew she was in trouble.
Get Out Of My Way
She switched lanes, thinking she was blocking the driver. But he came up behind her again, honking and stepping on the gas.
The truck roared and surged forward, the sound tearing through Grace. “What is wrong with you?” she shouted even though the driver couldn’t hear her. She pressed her horn, wondering what was happening.
Road Rage
Grace had never been one to engage in road rage. But sometimes, circumstances have a way of getting to a person. She couldn’t understand why the man couldn’t just drive around her.
Both lanes were clear, with nothing but endless tarmac and trees caught in the rain staring at them. Was the man trying to instill fear in her? She’d seen that in a horror movie as a child. But his goal would be much worse.
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