In the Dark

By W. Cooper

Gia and her best friend Lissa begin their crazy journey to see a Farewell Concert, but when they are ambushed by Jasper Posey, life and the trip suddenly takes a nightmarish turn. Alone and in the dark they desperately seek help only to discover that their "Journey to Hell" has just begun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. Cooper
• Release date: Dec 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201022334

Book preview

Dedicated To

G

In this life there is that one person.

You are mine.

Chapter One

G

ia glanced at the road ahead of them and then to the dashboard GPS. Shifting her position behind the wheel she peered out into the blackness. You ever play who’s afraid of the dark? Jesus! Don’t you dare! You scare me sometimes girl, Lissa said laughing at her Ride or Die partner. The Thelma to her Louise. It’s creepy enough out here without you trying to scare the shit out of me. No doubt, her friend replied. How long has it really been since a car passed us? Lissa stared ahead. Way too long. An hour, maybe.

In an insane but totally off the hook and once in a lifetime adventure they had packed a bag, boarded a plane and rented a car. Farewell Tour or bust.

That was nearly eleven hours ago, give or take. Now, though, they were in the final leg of their journey with three plus hours to go.

Quaint cities gave way to rural communities and then to straight up open land with a two-lane highway cutting through it.

Good thing we filled up at the last exit.

Gia snorted loudly. Yep. You certainly wouldn’t catch my ass walking out here at night. It’s cool, though. According to the factual and never misleading GPS we only have a hundred and sixty-two miles to go before the Border and civilization.

Lissa smiled.  Hell Yeah!

The tickets had been purchased months ago. The date seemed as if it would never arrive but finally, they were within striking distance of their goal.

Front row seats to an epic performance. The kind of thing memories were made of not to mention the bragging rights of having been part of it.

Gia, of course, had wasted no time in securing their passage to the concert. No detail had gone unattended. She was a virtual perfectionist when it came to planning itineraries, meeting flight deadlines and even finding the hippest of local hot spots to stop at enroute.

This was not their first jaunt to an ultimate good time but she had outdone herself this time. When their friends and family had learned of the impending plans, they had called them crazy. Two women traipsing across the country uncaring to the possible dangers.

Lissa glanced over at G as she opened the tab on a can of Pepsi. As always, she was focused on the empty uninviting highway and jamming to the radio.

Handing it to her, she settled back into her seat, lending her voice also to the rock tune blasting from the radio.

Danger my ass, she told herself silently. We’re invincible!

A green road sign confirming their destination was on target came into view causing excited whoops from both girls. As fun as the travel had been, it was just as exhausting in their breakneck trek.

It would be aces to be waved over the Canadian Border at long last and leave North Dakota and its dark solitude behind.

Their hotel awaited and a hot shower to wash away their weariness was nothing short of awesome. Beyond that it meant they would be one step closer to the arena and a night they would never forget.

Gia consulted the digital read-out clock yawning.

I’m thinking Steak and eggs for breakfast, she announced.

Lissa giggled. The works. Then the fish and chips joint you picked out for lunch.

Giving her friend a quick grin, she readily seconded the motion.

We are going to need plenty of fortification, for sure, to keep our energy level running high. That and... she paused, continuing in a mischievous tone, We’re also going to need it to soak up all of the alcohol we will be consuming.

Lissa laughed again. True.

A deafening BOOM ended their gleeful reverie as the van reacted crippled by the sudden flat. Gia fought the seventy mile an hour swerve to keep from flipping guiding it to the shoulder.

What the fuck?

Grabbing her cell from the console she turned on the flashlight application and opened the driver’s door. The dude at the airport assured me the tires were brand new.

They grimaced at the wreckage of rubber.

I don’t know what we hit back there but...

Lissa followed her eyes to just past where the beam ended understanding the challenge thrown down to her. "I’m not itching to check it out either. I guess we call AA Roadside and sit tight.

Gia was already on it but growled when she looked closer at the screen.

Unfriggingreal! I have ZERO bars. Try yours.

Same. Now what?

I wish I knew, she admitted.

They were not exactly flush with options at present. If they waited it out, at some point closer to dawn, traffic would pick up and a passing motorist would  find them.

It would probably mean shelving all planned stops, including the hotel, and they would have to keep driving to make Winnipeg by late afternoon.

Still, that was a much better alternative to trucking down a deserted road in the middle of the night. Once their batteries dwindled down...

Prepare to get comfy, it’s going to be awhile.

Lissa groaned. It was what it was and let’s face it she thought, it could be a whole lot worse. Boredom, despite the joke, never claimed any victims.

So big deal, they would roll with it like they always did. The extended stay in North Dakota would merely be another segment of the story they would one day tell.

Yeah, Gia replied philosophically, taking the lead back to the safety of the van. Knowing us, it will be. I would not be sur...

She froze just as Lissa. What was that?

Neither could identify the noise. They remained in place for several seconds but no further sound drifted their way.

Nervously Gia declared it was probably a deer they disturbed from its sleep with the blowout. That thought, however, seemed highly unlikely as they were in open fields but decided to go with it until proven otherwise.

C’mon, she urged. Let’s just get back in the van. Everything is fine.

An hour passed with still no rescue in sight but they were determined not to let the tire incident mar their trip. Daylight would come and though it would be tight they were certain they would still make Winnipeg with time to spare.

Marcus asked me to move in with him.

Lissa nearly spit out her soda in shock. The two had been together for nearly a year now but much of their relationship had been on and off due to conflict. When exactly were you going to tell me this? Please tell me you did NOT say yes!

That scenario, as far as she was concerned, was sure to be a disaster in the making. Marcus was nice enough but he put more value on his friends than he did in a committed relationship and because of that the couple were often at odds.

Gia shook her head. I haven’t said anything to anyone. I’m not even sure how I feel about it. He said it will be different once we are together on a full-time basis but who knows.

Would that be the same difference that he also claimed would happen when you took him back the last time?

Gia was silent for a few minutes.

I know. He’s good at making promises. Keeping them however... Her voice trailed off.

Lissa didn’t press the issue. It was clear Gia was struggling. She would not voice additional opinionated statements to make her decision any