though I’m wearing this heavy-duty sheriff’s jacket. I reach out to turn the key in the ignition with the hope that the car will start and I can get some heat going. The engine tries to turn over, but then all the lights flash and it dies again.
“This is just perfect. The moment I actually need to get somewhere, Lexi lets me down in the worst way.”
Movement in the rearview mirror has me spinning around to look out the back window. I don’t see anything. Instead, I hear an odd noise. It sounds familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Panic builds within me as I watch the trunk slowly rise into the air. The sound I heard was its lock disengaging. A gasp escapes my lips as I clutch the headrest and freeze in place. I feel like I can’t even move an inch still staring at the trunk blocking my view out the back window. There’s no way in hell I could have done that from in here.
I keep my gaze fixed on the back window while searching for the phone with my hand, slapping randomly at parts of the passenger seat where I tossed it earlier. When I can’t find it, I whimper and switch my attention to the seat and find the phone in seconds. I frantically press buttons until the phone redials Kevin’s number. When it reaches his voicemail, I throw the phone down in frustration and begin searching outside for any sign of a person.
A strange scratching sound comes from the back seat area. It makes me think of someone shredding fabric with scissors. Accompanying the sound, I see the center armrest in the back seat start to move, like something is trying to push it from behind. I lunge forward and press firmly on the armrest in hopes it will be enough to stop whatever’s on the other side from getting through.
The scratching noise ceases and the armrest stops moving. An eerie silence fills the car, making me nervous about what may happen next. My eyes grow wide when I notice the door to my left isn’t locked. I click down the lock and my eyes dart to each of the other doors to see if they’re unlocked, as well.
They are.
Springing to each door, I hit every switch as fast as I can before backing myself into the driver’s seat. I scream when I accidentally hit the horn on the steering wheel with my ass.
Now that my nerves are completely shot, I just wait for something else to happen. It’s all I can really do at this point. I figure I’m the safest inside of a locked car. All that’s left is to wait for Kevin to show up.
“Where the hell are you, Kevin?” I ask, my voice cracking from shivering in the cold.
The trunk door slams closed, surprising me, and all I see is the shape of someone standing there, framed in bright light. It takes me a few seconds to realize that someone is parked behind me and that person’s headlights are shining into the car.
“Dani?” I hear Kevin’s voice come from outside. I’ve never been this relieved to hear a familiar voice.
“Yeah, I’m here, Kevin,” I reply breathlessly.
“Why was your trunk open?” he asks, coming up to my driver’s side window.
I roll it down and peer out. “It opened by itself and scared the crap out of me.”
“Poor Lexi’s falling apart,” he jokes.
“You could say that. I was actually beginning to think someone was out here messing with me.”
He laughs. “Well, they’re gone now. I didn’t see anybody when I pulled up.”
“That’s good to hear, I guess.”
“So, let’s pop the hood and see what Lexi’s got for me this time,” he says, gesturing to the front of the car.
I pull the lever just below the steering wheel and hear the hood open. The sound the hood makes as Kevin wrenches it upward causes me to cringe. It’s such a harsh sound. The fact that I can’t see Kevin anymore makes me anxious. I hear him tinkering around in front of me, but I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Opening the door, I step out of the car for the first time since pulling over. I hesitate to leave the safety of a locked car, but I can’t let Kevin be out here by himself, especially since I know there has to be someone out here with us. That freaking trunk didn’t open by itself.
“Were