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Unknown Journey

Trey Hines

    They had been driving for more than an hour already and still he had not said a word. The driver kept his eyes on the road, leery of the kid he had just picked up outside of Philadelphia. He didn’t know where he was going or why, and that worried him. He leaned over and turned the radio down.
    “So where ya headed kid?” said the driver with a heavy Texas drawl.
    The kid looked up from his book and said, “As far away as possible.”
    “I’m Michael by the way, most everybody calls me Big Mike.”
    The kid shrugged and looked back to his book, ignoring Big Mike. All he knew was he needed to get out of Philadelphia and as soon as possible. For a long time he had been having dreams that something bad was going to happen, something beyond anything he could comprehend. He saw fire, and a cloud as large as a mountain in his sleep, and it terrified him. Only yesterday he packed a backpack full of clothes and some extra food, a knife he had stolen from his father and several bottles of water. He needed to think smart and be ahead of the curve. The fear of the future permeated his thoughts and his mind making him paranoid and evasive. He knew he needed a friend though. He looked up from his book and looked out the window and spoke softly.
    “I’m Andrew, all my friends call me Drew.”
    Mike smiled and turned the radio off. He kept his eyes on the road as the setting sun darkened the cabin of the truck. He wasn’t in any hurry to let this kid go off on his own without anyone to look after him. Mike was worried about him, he didn’t know why, but something inside of him gave him red flags.
    “So the kid is alive. Glad to meet your acquaintance Drew. Seeing as how I’m givin’ ya a ride an’ all, why ya getting’ outta Dodge so quick?”
    Andrew shifted his weight around nervously and continued looking out the window, refusing to make eye contact.
    “We’re all in danger, I see it every night in my dreams. Something bad is going to happen.” Drew said with a troubled look on his face.
    “Well, we’re about an hour outta Philly. Not a soul in sight except a random bear or hawk. Nothing gonna happen way out here.” said Mike.
    Not ten seconds after he stated his assurance, the front tire blew out with a deafening sound akin to a bomb. The truck slid violently to the left as it veered into the oncoming lane. Mike did his best to control the truck and bring it into a ditch on the side of the road. He lost his self-control and raised his voice. “Ah gawd-dangit....why now???”
    Drew looked even more worried now as the sun was starting to set and the air was getting colder. Mike got out of the truck and examined the flat tire. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Mike raised his voice so Drew could hear him, “Come on out son, we’re gonna have to make camp out here in the woods somewhere. We gotta wait till daybreak to get help.”
    “I can sleep in here Mike, it’s fine.” replied Drew hesitantly, his eyes darting across the horizon in fear of his dreams.
    “I gotta tent in the back we can put up, everything’ll be all right son.” Mike tried to reassure him. Drew nodded and gathered his things and exited the truck with reluctance. Together they pitched the tent and settled in for the night.
    The next morning, Drew woke to the rising sun blinding him and his knife still in his hand. He looked around him and didn’t find Mike. Panic quickly set in and he stood up and shouted, “Mike!” He continued to look around with anxiety.
    “Right over here kid!” a voice shouted in the distance. It was Mike who was putting the finishing repairs on the truck. Drew picked up his bag and walked to his new friend’s voice.
    Mike patted the hood of the truck with confidence and said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”
    Drew nodded in agreement and they both climbed in the truck and continued their journey to an unknown destination.

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