Iris’s nerves were completely shot. She had led Glen on a twisting route through neighborhoods and back alleys, hoping to lose him for just a few minutes and find a place to hide. But no matter what she had done he had stayed right behind her, glued to her bumper. She had somehow managed to keep them just ahead of the big truck, but no matter what she did she couldn’t lose him completely.

 

And now their luck had run out. They were way outside town and it was dark and deserted. She hadn’t planned out a route, and with each turn the houses had gotten further and further apart, until somehow they were all alone, driving on narrow country roads shrouded in darkness. It was snowing now, and visibility was quickly getting worse, falling snow obscuring the beams of her headlights. The thick woods closing in around the roads weren’t helping either. At least the roads were still clear, but she could see a layer of slush and ice forming and she didn’t know how much longer that would last.

 

She prayed they could somehow keep ahead of Glen until they could find somewhere safe, a gas station or a house with lights, or anything with people, but this far out in the country she didn’t think they were going to find help. She just had to keep going, to somehow keep moving, just stay a tiny bit ahead. 

 

Ivy twisted around in the passenger seat, staring back through the rear window. She clutched Iris’s phone tightly in her hand, the knuckles white as she pressed the phone to her ear. Iris could hear it ringing. Still no answer. Ivy muttered under her breath. “Come on, come on. Where are they? Where are all the cops?” Iris couldn’t believe it. Ivy had been calling over and over trying to reach the cops but for some reason they couldn’t get through. Still, with the way they were driving she would have thought the cops would have found them by now. Where were the cops when you actually needed them? This was insane. Not to mention reckless and dangerous.

 

Sophia started crying again. Iris squeezed the wheel grimly. She felt herself tiring, her reactions slowing. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. They had to get away from Glen soon or she was going to lose it. “It’s ok Sophie, its ok.” Ivy tried to calm the baby, twisting around to lean farther into the backseat as she tried to comfort Sophia. But Sophia only cried harder, piercing high-pitched screams cutting through the car. Ivy popped off her seatbelt and stretched for the pacifier that had fallen onto the back seat. It was the only thing that would help. She pleaded with the baby as she stretched. “Come on Sophie, it’s ok.”

 

Iris kept the gas pedal pinned to the floor and the little civic pressed forward. In the glare of the headlights she could see a layer of snow building on the road. She knew she was going way too fast, but the big truck was still right behind them, its high beams blinding her as they reflected out of the rearview mirror. The truck filled up her entire field of vision as it accelerated, its powerful engine closing the distance between them to almost nothing. She stared, panicking as the truck moved right up to their bumper. The headlights held her in place, unable to look away. Panic filled Ivy’s voice as the truck closed in. “Go Iris. Go! Faster!”

 

The little civic burst out of the woods as the road straightened in front of them, the trees giving way to an open field at the bottom of a set of rolling hills. She looked around wildly. There were no lights anywhere. No houses, no gas stations. Nothing. Nowhere to hide and nowhere left to run. This was really bad. Iris snapped her attention back to the rear view mirror as Glen made his move. The big truck swung wide, then leaped forward. She jammed down the accelerator, but it wasn’t enough. She watched in horror as the truck moved up beside them, its huge front tires spinning right next to her window.

 

She screamed as the truck cut sharply towards them. The impact blasted through the little car as the truck smashed into the side of the civic, driving the smaller car across the road. She felt the tires lose their grip on the road as the car started to slide.

 

Ivy screamed. “Iris! Look out!” Eyes wide, Iris stared down the road in front of them. Shit! They were in so much trouble. She could see why Glen had chosen to hit them now. The road ahead narrowed sharply into a single lane where an old bridge ran over an icy river. Unless she could get control they were going to go right in. Fear froze her insides. Even through the entire chase she hadn’t completely believed it, but there was no doubt now. Glen was trying to kill them.

 

Time seemed to slow as the civic skidded forward, heading directly for the bridge. She stomped the brake, but even as she did she knew it was too late. The car would never stop in time. She jerked the wheel to the side, desperately fighting to regain control. Maybe she could slide into the snow bank. At least they wouldn’t go into the river. But as she spun the wheel she felt the civic skid underneath her, sliding sideways on the fresh snow and ice instead of turning.  

 

A roaring sound filled her head and she knew it was too late. There was nothing left to do but hold on. She heard Ivy scream again as the car hurtled towards bridge, completely out of control. She closed her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

 

Then the civic slammed to a stop and everything went black.