Chapter 2: The Hitchhiker's Mark

The night was oppressively hot.

Alex lay in the back of the van, trying to ignore the sweat dripping down his neck, trying to push the gnawing dread that had settled in his chest. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be anywhere near here. But the System didn't care.

It forced him into this nightmare.

The movie was about to begin, and no amount of praying or bargaining with an unseen force could stop it.

He could already hear the distant hum of the van's engine as it rolled down the same stretch of road from the film. The town of Newt, Texas, was ahead. The Sawyer house was somewhere out there in the wilds, waiting like a beast ready to pounce.

The air inside the van felt thick, and he could hear Franklin complaining about the heat again. Of course, that meant the scene was getting closer—the one that would start it all.

"You know, we should stop for gas soon," Jerry said, looking at the rearview mirror. "I heard there's a station up ahead. I'll need a break, too."

Alex wasn't listening anymore. His mind was racing, trying to figure out how to survive this. He had to act fast.

Side Quest: Escape the Hitchhiker

Task: Prevent the Hitchhiker encounter.

Reward: Increase in Charisma.

Escape the Hitchhiker?

Alex's gut twisted. He remembered the scene well—the moment they picked up that crazy stranger on the side of the road. He wasn't just a random man, though. The Hitchhiker was part of the Sawyer family, and the moment he entered their lives, their fates were sealed.

So Alex couldn't just act like everything was fine. He had to change something.

His eyes quickly darted around the van, noting the faces of his companions. They all seemed so carefree, so unaware of the impending danger. Even Sally, who was usually cautious, had a smile on her face as she chatted with Pam.

He needed a way to stop them from stopping. He needed to act, now.

The Van's Stop

The engine sputtered and began to slow as they neared the gas station.

"We should stretch our legs," Franklin said, eyeing the dusty station. "We've been cooped up in this van too long."

Alex's stomach churned. He knew what was coming, and he had to stop it. He couldn't let them fall into the trap the Hitchhiker would set.

He sat up, wiping sweat from his forehead. He couldn't just plead with them to keep going. They wouldn't believe him. Instead, he needed a plan.

"Hey, I just remembered something," Alex said quickly, trying to sound casual. "There's this old place we can check out. It's on the way to my uncle's house. Why don't we skip the gas stop and go there for a bit?"

Pam shot him a look. "We don't have to go too far. Just need a quick rest. Besides, I'm kinda low on gas."

Alex leaned forward, putting on his most convincing grin. "But the place I'm talking about has this creepy history. You'd love it, Pam."

Franklin snorted from the back. "What's so creepy about an old barn? I think we should stop here, get some drinks. We've been stuck in this heat for hours."

Alex felt his chest tighten. This wasn't going well. He could feel the tension building, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. But the moment they stopped at that gas station, they were done for. The Hitchhiker would approach. The madness would start.

His thoughts raced. There had to be a way to get them to drive through without pulling over.

The Moment of Decision

The van came to a complete stop. Alex's heart skipped a beat. They'd already pulled in. The Hitchhiker was inevitable.

But then—an idea clicked.

Alex turned to Jerry and said, "Hey, I forgot to mention. There's a gas station just past the barn where we're headed. If we stop here, we're gonna be driving right past it for nothing. Why not keep going a bit further?"

Jerry blinked, clearly not thinking about the bigger picture. "You sure?"

"Yeah," Alex said quickly. "It'll save us time."

Jerry looked at the others, who shrugged or sighed in agreement.

"I guess that's fine," Sally said with a faint smile. "Let's just keep going, then."

They were leaving. They were skipping the gas station.

A Brief Respite

Alex let out a breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease as the van pulled away from the gas station. The Hitchhiker wouldn't catch them now. They had avoided the encounter—for now.

But Alex didn't feel the relief he expected. His palms were still clammy. His pulse hadn't slowed.

[Side Quest Completed: Prevent the Hitchhiker Encounter.]

Reward: +1 Charisma, +10% to Luck in Social Situations.

He'd changed something, but he knew the events would eventually find a way to catch up. Leatherface and his family were waiting. There were still plenty of horrors to face.

But… Why Was This Happening?

The system buzzed in his mind.

[Host Action Logged: Attempt to alter timeline.]

[Warning: Results may vary. No guarantee of survival.]

Alex's stomach tightened. This wasn't just a movie plot anymore. This wasn't just about changing the course of a film. Something was manipulating the world he was in, bending it to his will.

The first encounter had been avoided, yes—but for how long? The System's warnings kept echoing in his mind, growing louder with each passing second.

He glanced at the others, who were oblivious to the danger lurking just out of sight. No one could understand what was at stake here.

The van hummed along the deserted road, and Alex tried to push the gnawing sense of unease from his mind. He'd dodged one bullet, but he couldn't help but feel that the worst was yet to come.

They would make it to the house soon enough, and the true terror would begin.

To Be Continued…