Too Late To Love Her

It was late as I checked out of my office.

The office building loomed behind me in darkness, only a few workers still stayed back. I was exhausted, drained from the forced smiles and congratulations thrown my way for signing a huge deal.

The parking lot was empty, my heels echoing eerily.

I slid into my car, tossed my bag into the passenger seat, and cranked the ignition. The engine purred to life. I reversed smoothly and turned onto the main road.

Blues played softly to soothe my nerves, a melancholic soundtrack to my solitude.

But something was off.

I looked in my rearview mirror. A car trailed me, its headlights too close, too persistent. I took a detour, but it followed.

I changed lanes, but it mirrored my movements.

I pressed the accelerator, trying to lose them, but the steering wheel jerked violently. My foot pumped the brake pedal to stop the car, but to my horror… it sank to the floor, unresponsive.

“No, no, no,” I pressed again, harder. Still nothing.

Panic seized me, and my eyes widened. “What the hell?” I gasped, my heart thundering loudly in my chest.

I saw the car gaining on me.

In fear, my foot slammed the pedal, speeding away from them. But then, a deer jumped into the road.

“Oh God!” I screamed and swerved.

I yanked the wheel, veering off the road, crashing into a thick patch of bush. Branches slapped against the sides of my car violently. A rough jolt had my car colliding with a tree.

“No…!"

My head whipped forward and struck the steering wheel, pain exploding behind my eyes.

Glass shattered. The air reeked of smoke and blood. The radio crackled with an unclear whoosh of signal.

Dazed, I pushed the door open and stumbled out into the night, falling to the ground as I tried to catch my breath. I dug my phone out of my pocket—it was dead.

The road was pitch black. Not a single soul in sight.

My hand came up to my head. Warm liquid.

Blood.

The horror made me bend over and puke, I was shaking and disoriented.

I crawled and struggled to stand, staggering onto the roadside, my legs wobbly. “Help!” I called out, voice raw. “Is anybody out there?” I cried in pain.

But then, I saw movement from behind me.

The car from earlier stopped, and two men emerged from the darkness. A knife glinted in the hand of one.

“Hey! Over here, please, I need help…” My voice faltered as they started rushing toward me.

But I froze when I saw the object in hand… a knife.

They weren’t rushing to assist. The intention in their eyes was clear.

One pulled out something shiny—a metal object glinting under the moonlight.

This wasn’t help. This was danger.

My stomach dropped.

“Stay away from me!” I shouted, picking myself up feebly. I began running.

They ran after me.

“No… please… HELP!” I screamed, my voice piercing the silence.

My heart thundered in my ears, blood dripping down my face, and tears streaming.

My legs were giving out as I used my last strength to run, my breaths came out in broken sobs.

Today was the day I was going to die.

“Somebody help me!” I cried again, desperately, the world spinning around me.

And then… headlights.

A sleek, black car screeched to a stop in front of me, kicking up dirt and gravel.

The door flung open. A tall male silhouette sat in the driver’s seat.

“Get in,” the stranger commanded.

I froze as the two men behind me shouted something I couldn’t hear.

They were running too fast now.

I hesitated. But the footsteps behind me were closing in.

Without another thought, I dove into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut behind me.

The car peeled off, the tires squealing as it launched back onto the road.

I gripped the door with white knuckles, panting, blood still seeping from my temple.

My eyes darted to the driver. He looked too calm. Composed. And… familiar?.

His knuckles were tight on the wheel, intensely focused as he sped away.

Not until we were miles away, the shadows of the forest long behind us, did the driver slowly glance at me, his face partially obscured by the darkness.

His voice was low.

“Finally, I found you.”