Mist grew in a lace across the front windshield. A cracking sound, like ice giving way beneath too heavy a burden, grew to a whining squeal. The glass shattered into myriad of pieces. The driver couldn’t see where he was going. The bus swerved from one side of the road to the other.
“Come on.” Marie jumped up. There was no way she was going to sit still and let the creeping fog finish what she’d escaped from. Maybe she would have accepted it earlier, but not now.
Meooww. Crack. The first window on the right side of the bus shattered, sending splinters over that row of seats and their occupants. A flying shard caught the driver in the side of the neck. Blood splattered on the front window.
Marie ran forward, bouncing from one side of the isle to the other. “Sam. Help me.” She tugged at the driver. The bus started to slow. Another tire ruptured. Sparks from the metal rims lit the night. Screams joined with a cascade of fiery particles of light to spread through the night outside the bus.
“Get in there. Press on the gas.” Sam helped pulled the driver’s portly body onto the floor. “Don’t let us slow down.”
Marie’s leg started to shake uncontrollably. The bus jerked and bucked. It threatened to careen off the road.
“I can’t take over for you like I did before. Just press down and keep us at a steady pace,” Sam said without looking up. She grabbed a blanket and pressed it gently against the driver’s wound, careful not to disturb the glass fragment.
Marie gripped the wheel, trying to wedge her way into the seat. The only way to stop the shaking that threatened to overpower her was to press her back against something. Finally she wiggled her way into the seat. Her body stiffened as she pressed hard as she could on the gas pedal.
Several of the other passengers helped Sam pull the driver down the isle. Dark descended with a blinding force. The headlights broke through giving the only illumination for the road ahead. Metal wheels trailed sparks behind them.
“You can do it,” a rich male voice whispered. Strong fingers pressed into her shoulder.
Marie’s leg jerked away from the gas pedal. The bus started to slow. An perverted call of victory grew louder.
The hand pressed harder. “Don’t stop now. Or we’re lost.”
The bus careened up the road, swerving from one side to the other. Sparks grew brighter and brighter as dark wrapped around them.
Pressure from the fingers eased.
“Don’t leave me.” Marie didn’t dare take her eyes from the road. She tipped her head to press against the hand. Somehow she hoped this would reinforce her request.
“You don’t have to do that,” the voice rasped, hot in her ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Sparks continued to cascade, even after Marie reinstated the pressure she’d withdrawn from the gas pedal. The screeching eased as they picked up speed.
Through the trees ahead, a flicker of light gave direction.
Cheers rang out. “We’re almost there.” Male and female voices joined together. Their encouragement gave Marie added strength.
“Help.” A woman screamed from the back of the bus. “They’ve got me.”