_Livin' easy_

_Lovin' free_

_Season ticket on a one way ride_

_Askin' nothin'_

_Leave me be_

_Takin' everythin' in my stride_

Josh let the music fill his head. He nodded his head to the beat, humming the iconic guitar lines. His hand moved automatically, relying mostly on muscle memory.

_Don't need reason_

_Don't need rhyme_

_Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do_

_Goin' down_

_Party time_

_My friends are gonna be there too_

He let his foot tap the ground to the beat as the chorus approached. Shifting the paper he had just finished filling out, Josh stretched, popping his back as he did so. He glanced at the clock, which read 6:23. Seven more minutes until official closing. Seven more minutes until he could leave.

_I'm on the highway to hell_

_On the highway to hell_

_Highway to hell_

_I'm on the highway to hell_

The door opened, and Josh rushed to pause the music. If his boss caught him playing AC/DC in the funeral home, the teen would probably be fired.

__

_No stop signs_

_Speed limit_

_Nobody's gonna slow me down_

_Like a wheel_

_Gonna spin it_

_Nobody's gonna mess me around_

The melody continued playing despite Josh trembling attempts to stop it. When he saw who had walked through the door, he heaved a sigh of relief and sunk back into his chair.

_Hey satan_

_Payin' my dues_

_Playin' in a rockin' band_

_Hey mumma_

_Look at me_

_I'm on the way to the promised land_

“Having fun?” Sandy peeked over the counter.

Josh winked at the pretty girl before drawling, “Sooooo much fun.”

_I'm on the highway to hell_

_Highway to hell_

_I'm on the highway to hell_

_Highway to hell_

_Don't stop me_

“Didn’t Mr. Cypress say not to play loud music? Specifically this song?” Sandy frowned.

“It’ll be fine, there’s no customers this late.” Josh answered as he pulled another form under his pencil.

_I'm on the highway to hell_

_On the highway to hell_

_Highway to hell_

_I'm on the highway to hell_

__

__

Sandy turned and shrugged, barely missing the look of shock on Josh’s face.

The paper.

It’s-

Sandy turned at the crash, eyes widening. Josh scrambled from where he had been sitting and sprinted out of the building, face pale. __

__

_(highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell_

_(highway to hell) highway to hell_

_(highway to hell) highway to hell_

__

Sandy glanced at the form that had left Josh in a state of shock and took a short, sharp breath at what she saw.

“Josh Turner,” it read, “Age: 19, DOB: 11/17/05 (3:57 AM), DATE OF DEATH: 01/07/25 (6:38 PM)”

_(highway to hell)___

_And I'm goin' down_

_All the way_

__

Josh stood in the middle of the road, gasping, eyes wide, too exhausted to move as the semi truck bore down on him.

The last thing he saw was the driver’s eyes, shocked and terrified.

The last thing he heard was a screech from the brakes.

The last thing he remembered was the final line of the song:

_I'm on the highway to hell_