Ghost Shadows by Thomas M. Malafarina Read Free Book Online

had the majority of his trip ahead of him. But he knew the idea of turning around was impractical. What would he say to his wife? The terror he felt deep in the pit of his stomach was irrational, he was certain. He knew he felt fine physically, but it was his brain that for some reason seemed to be giving him all the trouble; that and those strange glowing double yellow lines.
    As he cleared the top of a hill Wyatt could see the interstate out in the distance, not more than three or four miles away. He realized if he could make it to that major four-lane roadway with its guardrails and large grass-planted median strips separating the oncoming lanes he would be fine.
    It can’t be more than five minutes away. Wyatt thought. If I can just avoid other cars for the next few miles, I will be home safe. That was when he saw a new set of headlights in the distance coming toward him.
    â€œOh my God, no!” Wyatt said. “Not another one.” Once again he immediately broke out in an icy sweat. First his upper lip and forehead began to lightly bead with moisture. The other car was getting closer now, its headlights growing in size. Wyatt was certain that the car was slightly veering over toward his side of the road.  
    The beads of sweat had now formed rivulets running down his face as well as the center of his back. Wyatt could feel his heart start to beat faster in his chest. He involuntarily gripped the steering wheel tighter although his palms were so wet he could barely maintain his hold.
    Then he saw the car was definitely crossing over into his lane; Wyatt was certain of it. He could hear the steady thumping in his brain as his blood pulsed rapidly though his body. It grew louder by the second, sounding like the foot pedal of a heavy-metal drummer, high on some illegal substance, manically slamming against a bass drum.
    Wyatt felt a sudden pressure in the middle of his chest as if someone twice his size had just sat on top of him, trying to crush the very life out of him. He felt a sharp pain coursing down his left arm. The world around him started to fade and grow darker. He could scarcely hear the thudding of the rumble strips over the pounding of his heart. The last thing Wyatt saw were the headlights of the suicidal maniac’s oncoming car heading straight for him.
    ***
    Â 
    â€œDamn shame,” the township patrolman said to the state trooper in frustration.
    â€œWhat do you suppose happened?” The trooper inquired.
    The patrolman explained, pointing to the woman standing outside of a minivan, which was halfway off the opposite side of the highway and wedged down in the culvert.
    â€œThat woman over there said she was on her way to town to get a coffee before taking her two kids to daycare. The two kids are OK as well, thanks to their car seats.
    Anyway, she said she was driving along when suddenly that car crossed the double yellow lines into her lane, heading right for her. Luckily, at the last minute she managed to turn sharply to her left and just miss getting hit. The driver of that sedan went off the road, down into the culvert, rolled over once, and slammed into a tree. It appears the driver was killed instantly.”  
    The trooper asked, “So what are you thinking? Heart attack?”
    â€œMost likely,” the patrolman replied. “He is the right age, overweight, and his skin appears to be dusky in color, likely from lack of oxygen.”
    â€œWell,” the trooper replied. “I suppose that lady and her two kids are lucky she was able to get out of the way at the last minute. Otherwise we would have a real mess to clean up. This is bad enough.”
    The patrolman said, “Yeah. Every time something like this happens I realize just how vulnerable we are, when the only thing separating us from disaster is a painted double-yellow line.”
    â€œI agree.” The trooper replied. “Kind of makes you not want leave home in the morning.”

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