Read with BonusRead with Bonus

On St. George Road

What was meant to last just three or four minutes eventually lasted more than twenty-five minutes. By the time they were done, Frank and Jenna were spent.

"This is crazy," said Jenna, breathing hard, "no car has passed by here for almost 20 minutes now."

"Today's Saturday, remember?" said Frank, "St George always has few traffic on days like this." As soon as he said those words, a blue Honda Odyssey zoomed along the road. "Aha! You see that one," said Frank, "It's going to take several minutes before another car passes here. A lot of people prefer taking Stranberg Road into Silverston or out. That's why I chose St George. It's easily the quiestest and most peaceful road on Saturday nights."

Jenna took a bandana and cleaned the mess on her thighs. Then she discarded it out of the window. There was a worried look on her face.

"Anything the matter?" Frank asked as Jenna slid into her trousers.

"Nothing," she said. "Start the car."

"Of course I will," said Frank, turning on the ignition, "But why the change of mood, though? I mean, the sex was your idea, you know."

The car was accelerating now. "I'm thinking of my mum," said Jenna.

Frank reached forward and touched took her hand with his free hand. "I need you to stop worrying about these things. Just focus on the reason why we are running away. You'll get in touch with your mum as soon as we are out of harm's way."

Jenna squeezed Frank's hand gently and said, "I love you, sweetheart. I'd choose you a thousand times over."

Frank was saying some nice words now but Jenna wasn't hearing anything. She was looking at something on the road, up ahead.

"Slow down the car!" she yelled.

Frank hit the brakes instead and the car screeched to halt. It was just inches away from ramming into the back of a car in front of them.

"Who's this joker?" Frank said in disgust, "why did he decelerate at the middle of the road when there's nothing in front? Is he drunk?"

They were at a bend at this point and Frank had to negotiate this bend to get ahead of the other car which was now immobile. When moving away from the car, Frank yelled, "You shouldn't drink while driving, you dickhead. You almost caused an accident!"

"Isn't that the blue Honda that zoomed passed us some moments ago?" said Jenna, looking apprehensive.

"It is," said Frank. "Apparently its driver is drunk or crazy or both."

Frank had driven for about a minute before he saw on the rear-view mirror that he was being followed.

"Damn. I think he's following us."

"Oh my God," Jenna gasped in terror, knowing that her worst fear had finally come to pass.

Frank increased the speed out the car, with both hands tightened around the steering, but the Honda was faster: it matched the speed on Frank's Volvo and even came within inches of it on the adjacent side of the road such that both vehicles moved side to side.

"Put your head down! Put your head down!" Frank told Jenna, trying to move ahead but it was no good: his assailant's car was clearly faster. And then it happened. It was a slight bump, but it passed a strong message to Frank that something bad would happen if he didn't stop driving and surrender.

But he wasn't about to give up just yet. He kept speeding, trying desperately to move significantly ahead of the other car but found that it was well-nigh impossible. And then the Honda hit his van again from the side, this time with much greater force, causing Frank to lose control of the steering wheel momentarily.

"Stop the car!" cried Jenna, "He's going to kill us!"

Frank ignored her and kept speeding along the road in a last-ditch effort to win this road fight and be in the clear. And then the crash came against and this time the intent was unmistakable. Frank's car skidded out of control and hit a pole on the side of the road, destroying it. He managed to regain control of the van and was about to continue speeding again when Jenna shouted on top of her lungs:

"I said stop the car! I don't want to die!"

Defeated, Frank slammed on the brakes and the car came to a halt.

"So this is to be my end," he whispered to himself. He was sweating profusely now.

"Please don't say that." Jenna was weeping now.

"It's you Leonardo wants. I'm a dead man now."

"Please stop talking like that, Frank." Jenna cried even more.

Behind them, the Honda had stopped and someone had come out of it. Frank and Jenna held their breath as they heard footsteps approaching. The quietness of St George road made this moment even more ominous.

Bull stood behind the window of Frank's car and peered inside. The Baretta pistol was in his right hand. Frank shut his eyes. Jenna sqivered in terror.

"That was fun, wasn't it?" said Bull, aiming the gun at Frank's head. "You think you can outsmart Leonardo? No one can outsmart Leonardo!"

Frank had his face down with both hands above his head. Silently, he called on the spirit of his dead mother to save him.

"Out of the vehicle now, both of us!"

Frank and Jane opened the door and came out, shivering with fright.

"Please don't kill us. Please," Jenna wailed.

"One of you is going to die tonight and that ain't you," Bull said to her.

"Please don't kill him. I beg of you!"

Bull swung the black steel barrel of his pistol towards Frank's head, knocking him to the ground. Jenna shrieked in horror.

"You dare defy Leonardo?" said Bull, advancing towards Frank who was now bleeding from the head.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter