Get Out of the Car

A hand slowly moved to pat Rhodes's shoulder. The doctor turned to find Deresita looking at him. She said, "Are you okay? You passed out. Did you remember your colleagues' faces?"

"Should I?" Rhodes whispered, squirming in his seat to stretch discreetly. He brought his phone to his face again and saw an interview happening. The media spoke to one of the doctors Rhodes and Vanya saved. Seeing them well made Rhodes feel a little satisfied.

"The doctors stuck in the sixth-floor conference room were from the trauma team. They were having a meeting when the fire started." Deresita glanced at her phone. "I thought thinking about their situation knocked you out."

Rhodes lifted his brows. He glanced at the on-screen interview again before laughing to himself. No wonder he itched to save them. Those were the doctors that he closely worked with. He figured they were discussing how to fill his role in the team. Rhodes Huxley was the head of the trauma team, but he lost his memories. He even left the hospital with an unsigned resignation letter.

The doctor rubbed his face. "…I guess. I'm glad they're safe. It must have been a miracle. They still have more lives to save in the future."

Deresita hummed and checked her phone again. She received a message from Frieda. However, she spoke about something else. "Rhodes, they said strange things happened before they met the firemen. Something held back the fire and got rid of the patches of fallen ceiling blocking them. It was like an angel descended and made sure they escaped the building alive."

"An angel?" Rhodes hummed and leaned on the window again. He answered with a vague smile, "Yeah… I guess I'd think Vanya is an angel, too."

…

The test center still housed many students hoping for a higher score. Frieda walked out alone, not interested in walking with other people. She looked up and saw Deresita and Rhodes waiting for her. Next to them were other parents and guardians fetching the students.

"Michelle canceled on me. She said something came up." The daughter sighed and stretched, faking her limping leg in a cast. She sat in the backseat after putting her backpack between her and Rhodes.

"Can I assume you've done well?" Deresita chuckled, pulling her seatbelt. Rhodes and Frieda mirrored her action. "How was it, dear? Do you think you got a higher score this time?"

Frieda stared at her mother with a strange face. She looked down at her knees. "I mean… I felt like I knew everything in that test. However, I need a high score to get into my friends' school. I'd rather wait for the results first. I don't want to feel happy and then fail. Can we go home now? I want to sleep. I've been staying up late for a week."

Deresita only nodded and drove away from the test center. She discussed lunch with them, but Frieda was visibly exhausted. They thought of getting another drive-through instead. Frieda should sleep longer if her body needed it.

The silence continued until Deresita had to order. Rhodes merely watched the mother and daughter. His thoughts hardly formed as if he was as exhausted as the daughter. However, he didn't do anything physical. It would look weird to the driving mother. The doctor only closed his eyes and joined Frieda sleeping in the backseat.

"…"

"Rhodes…?"

Upon hearing his name, Rhodes's eyes tore open. His soul jumped at how Deresita called him with so much restrained horror. When his vision cleared, he saw Deresita queueing in a long traffic line. An accident caused a jam on the highway overpass leading to the coastal counties. They trod the lower overpass, giving them a view of its aftermath.

Three cars had fallen from the higher path. They stood on their crushed front sides, blood and fuel mixing on the pools on the ground. Deresita slowly passed the scene along with other cars. The police kept waving to make everyone move. Forensics snapped photos with a mask of professionalism.

Rhodes stared at the scene. His eyes were stuck to the three extra people around the cars. Their wavering images told Rhodes of their nature. He even reached for his ear when one screamed. 

Her hands shot in the air as if catching something falling. When Rhodes thought it was just the ghost, more screams followed. The officers and forensics looked up and scampered within the next second. A big shadow was cast on the ground, and another car fell from the upper overpass. The car crashed itself against the ground, crumpling past the steering wheel. The driver never had a chance.

"Holy shit…" Rhodes readily disengaged his seatbelt. He wanted to step out and deal with the problem. 

Yes, it was a problem. He saw a big spirit hugging the car when it fell. It also smashed the car to the ground with its strength. The entity even laughed and stepped back as if making sure the car would stand on its own. With those arms thicker than an electric pole, it was definitely not human.

However, Rhodes suddenly stopped before he could open the door. If he attracted its attention, it might smash Deresita's car. He shouldn't foolishly make himself a target in this slow-moving traffic.

Sniff. Sniff. The strangely-shaped vile entity sniffed around as if smelling a delicious meal. It looked around him, only to lock gazes with Rhodes. A wide smile tore its lips open, and a set of golden teeth flashed menacingly at him. The entity trudged toward Deresita's car, which was slowly moving along with other vehicles.

"Deresita…" Rhodes reached out to shake Frieda awake. The driver turned to her as soon as Frieda lifted her groggy head. Without looking, Rhodes spoke in a serious tone. "Get out of the car."

"Huh? Why? What's happening?" Frieda rubbed her eyes and yawned. She looked past Rhodes's window and saw the standing cars. "Uh, are those cars?"

"Deresita, get out! Now!" Rhodes pushed Frieda again. Before they could react, a strong smash came to the car. It rocked the passengers, causing Frieda to scream. The car shook as if something heavy fell on it. However, Rhodes was so sure nothing else fell on their vehicle but the entity's fists.

Without another word, Deresita grabbed her bag and exited the car. She didn't forget to grab Frieda out before weaving across the slow-moving vehicles.

Bang! Rhodes endured another smash from the entity. When it first reached the car, Rhodes couldn't help but glare at the entity as if warning it. It smashed both hands against the roof, but Rhodes felt its force hit him, too. His body didn't contort, but pressure slapped him from all directions. The second smash came, and Rhodes felt like someone punched him in the guts.

The entity wasn't happy. The car was supposed to be defenseless against it. However, why did it feel like something reinforced the vehicle from inside? The entity stared straight into Rhodes's glaring eyes again. It could even map how its huge horns and disproportionate body reflected on them.

"Not… dreamwalker… but tasty…!" The entity growled. It continued to batter the car, making it shake and dent at some parts. "Let me… eat!"

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