Read Nigh - Book 1 for Free Online Page B

should check on the
missus. She’s probably fine, old spitfire, that one. But
still…”
    Al nodded and spoke gently. “Of course. But we have
to get you to the hospital first, Gruff. It’s only two minutes
away.”
    “Al, hospital’s gonna be crazy. Let’s check on
Gretchen first, then we can go. You saw how many accidents there
were? And no one in the cars? They’ve probably all headed to the
hospital.”
    “I wouldn’t count on that,” Hector whispered from
the back.
    Al turned on the radio. No stations were coming
through, as though the mists were managing to stop even their
signals. A thousand questions jumbled in her mind, quarreling with
each other on their importance, but one stood out among all others.
“I have to find my sister Pete. Are things like this all over?”
    Hector looked puzzled. “Your sister’s name is
Pete?”
    “Nickname. Focus. Could she be in danger?”
    He looked outside the window. “I think so. I don’t
see why it wouldn’t be. But I might be able to slow it down. Just
for a little bit.”
    “That doesn’t even make sense,” Molly mumbled, still
clutching Big Bertha. “Am I the only one here who thinks this
doesn’t make sense?”
    Nobody answered. Gruff’s old house was ten minutes
away. It seemed so far and so long to Al. She wanted her little
sister by her side now. She wanted to hold her tight and never let
her go. She loosened her grip on the steering wheel. Her hands were
starting to cramp up.
    “If I give you the watch,” Al said, looking back at
Hector, who still hesitated to meet her gaze. “You have to promise
to give it back. It’s mine, and it’s all I have left from my
family, so you give it back. Understood?”
    Hector looked her in the eye this time, his brown
eyes sad in the rearview mirror. He nodded.
    Before she could reach for the watch, something
scratched the side of the car. It sounded like claws.
    “Faster, faster, faster…” Gruff started whispering.
Alva pressed on the gas just as lilac-blooming branches collapsed
on the windshield, cracking it. Screams echoed in the car and
outside of it. A man’s face followed the branches, twisted by pain
as small buds pushed through his skin, erupting in lilac petals.
Staring at him, Al’s foot loosened from the gas pedal and Percival
barely coasted forward.
    His mouth formed a perfect “o,” as wide as
his eyes were. Al couldn’t tear her eyes away. From deep within his
throat something was pushing its way up, fuzzy insect legs pushing
the lips apart as they worked their way out.
    “Al, go!” Gruff screamed. Al slammed on the gas and
the man went flying. Part of her wanted to stop and make sure he
was all right, but a much stronger part of her was terrified and
just wanted to keep driving, as quickly and as far as she
could.
    The front tires jumped up and then the back ones,
like they’d hit a speed bump. Hector went flying, hitting his head
on the roof of the car.
    “Put your seatbelt on, idiot,” Molly hissed,
reaching around him to fasten it when he just looked at her
confused.
    “Speed bump. Just a speed bump,” Al muttered, her
fingers cold on the steering wheel, knowing full well that were no
speed bumps here.
    “Speed bump,” Gruff confirmed, clutching the car
door with his good hand.
    If they could cross the bridge, they’d be in a more
populated area, nearing downtown. There would be help, and people
who might know what’s happening. They’d check in on Gruff’s wife,
find shelter, contact Pete and get her.
    Find safety.
    The mists shifted and cleared, the sun streaming
onto the car. Al jumped when it touched her skin, but it didn’t
burn. The metal structure of the small bridge jutted around them.
They could see clearly to the other side of the bridge, ten metres
in length at most.
    The front wheels were on the bridge before Hector
screamed from behind: “Don’t go on the bridge!”
    Al slammed on the brakes, but too late – the car was
on the bridge.
    “Back up