The Dead and the Dreamer

"Wow," John finally remarked. "Where'd he come from?"

Tammy ran her fingers through her hair and wiped the glistening perspiration from her face. "I don't know. Thing is, where is he now?"

John drew in a deep breath and started the Jeep. "You get a look at the driver?"

"All I saw was the windshield coming at us."

"You in one piece?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"I'm good," he lied. John's back hurt worse than the time he thought he could handle splitting his own wood two years ago to save a few bucks.

He drove out into the parking lot away from the torn hedges. John noticed that the Jeep was pulling to the right. The blow had apparently caused some major damage. "Keep an eye out. They might be back for another try."

"Way ahead of you."

"Hold on a second," John said as he stopped the Jeep there in the parking lot. He got out and walked around to the back to see how much damage was caused.

Tammy came around her side to see for herself.

"Well, that's nice," he said looking down at the black bumper that was shoved a quarter of the way under the back hatch. The license plate was dented inward and one of the taillights was obliterated. "Can you believe this?"

Outside of the Jeep's metal protection, John felt open to anything. He also had a strange feeling of being watched. It was as if the Chevy was parked, blended in with the other cars, waiting for another strike.

Tammy held her hand to her mouth as if holding back a breakdown.

"Get inside," John said quickly. "Now!"

An engine raced from somewhere close. Before closing his door, John looked behind them and out over the parking lot. Nothing moved. Tammy fell in and slammed the door behind her. "What is it?"

"Just had a weird feeling out there," John admitted.

"Don't say that. I'm the one with the weird feelings. You have to be the strong one."

"Let's keep moving," he said as he pressed the gas pedal. His uneasy feeling grew but he kept it to himself.

Tammy sat in silence, checking her rearview mirror every few seconds. John slowed to let a family walk across in front of them. "Still feel like a movie?" she asked.

John smiled. "How about you?"

"Not really."

"I'm with you," he said and turned the Jeep around and headed for one of the exits onto the perimeter road.