A Friend

There was an unusual and eerie mist covering the road, it made it hard to see where the winding road was heading. I took it slow and made my way around a large bend when she popped into view. A hitchhiker? All the way out here? We were so far from anything, it was quite strange for someone to be out here alone. No campsites or towns nearby, just the large swath of forest part of the national park.

Normally I wouldn't stop to pick up a hitchhiker, but they were all the way out here alone and she gave off something of a comforting vibe. I felt like it was the right thing to do giving her a ride and felt no sense of danger.

I pulled up slowly beside her and rolled down the window. "It's strange to run into someone all the way out here, are you okay?"

She bent down to peer in the window and answered, "I'm fine, just tired of walking. I hope it's not too much of an imposition to ask for a ride?"

"Sure, no problem, hop on in!" I answered in an uncharacteristically enthusiastic manner.

"Thank you, much appreciated. The last car I saw was over an hour ago and they sped up and passed by when they saw me. I never thought I gave off such a dangerous vibe." She mentioned as she opened the passanger-side door and situated herself in shotgun.

"I really don't think you give off a dangerous vibe at all. In fact, I normally don't pick up hitchhikers, but there is something comfy and safe about your aura." I didn't really believe in auras or vibes or any of that new age fruufruu shit, but there was just something about her that felt safe, like I was sitting on my Mom's couch wrapped in a blanket reading a good book; she felt like home, which was a strange thought and sensation when I stopped to analyze it a bit. Just as those thoughts were starting to make me think there was something very strange about all this, she asked me a question.

"What are you most passionate about?" She started with, which seemed like we had skipped a few rounds of dialog all-together.

I was a little shocked at the question, but then started to really give it some thought, "I'm not entirely sure... I don't think I've ever given it a proper amount of time to figure out."

"Then let's start with what you like to do, and it can be anything from a hobby, to a taste, or just a simple thing that you like." She prompted.

"Hmmm... I guess I would say that I enjoy reading comics. I also dabble a bit in music and, quite poorly, play the piano. I've also spent some time with creative writing and want to try writing a comic book, maybe an ongoing series or something shorter to start." As those words were leaving my mouth I got flashes in my mind from back in high school where I was essentially an outsider because I like comics and anime and manga and media like that. The jocks and cheerleaders and those wishing to be in those groups were the majority and then the rest of us in fringe groups were outsiders.

I gave a quick glance over at her and noticed that she was incredibly beautiful, she had very striking features and I couldn't pinpoint where her ancestory might lie. She seemed to have all of the beautiful aspects from every place on earth all mixed into one. She absolutely would have been at home in the cheerleader group and could have even been the defacto leader. I imagined every girl wanting to be like her and every guy wanting to be with her. I suddenly felt pangs of embarrasment and even rejection, like I was once dared in high school to ask one of the cheerleaders to prom and quite publicly being harshly shot down. _'She must think I'm a total dork.'_ I thought to myself. I seemed to be stuck in my high school mentality and thought _'would she even want to continue riding with someone like me? Is she going to want to get out of the car?'_

All of these negative and self-defeating thoughts were swirling around in my head when I felt a gentle touch. She had reached over and placed her hand on my shoulder and suddenly the negative train of thoughts looping in my head evaporated. I felt calm, and more than that, I felt acknowledged.

With her hand still on my shoulder she spoke, "I could tell there was something in your mind that you were struggling with and want you to know that it is okay. And I really like comics, I'm a big fan of the Gwens, Harley Quinn sans Joker and Deadpool."

Hearing that brought a smile to my face, not only was she a comic fan, but those were also my favorite characters, especially Gwenpool! My heart started to race a little thinking about such a beautiful woman into the same things I was when all of a sudden her hand lept from my shoulder onto the steering wheel giving it a big jerk.

We as we were suddenly skidding off the road a figure swished past the side of the car, she had noticed something I did not see and maneuvered us to avoid hitting it. We came to a stop down a slight decline in the grass on the side of the road and I swivelled around to look at what we almost hit. The fog was even more intense than before and all I could make out was a slight dark blob maybe about the size and shape of a human.

"Oh my god! I almost hit someone!" I exclaimed breathing heavily with my heart beating throuugh my chest. "Need to make sure they are okay." The adrenaline was coursing through my system and I was shaking but went to go open my door to check on the person we narrowly missed when I felt a stong tug urging me back from the door. She had reached over and stopped me from exiting the car. "Ah, I'm sorry, I'm so flustered right now, thank you for noticing there was someone there, I surly would have run them over without your quick action." I was still breathing heavily and my pulse was elevated, but I was starting to calm down a little. "We need to go check on them, though." I said as I started to shift over to my left and open the car door.

She stopped my again, this time reaching all the way across my body and grabbing my left forearm. When I turned to look at her and inquire why she was stopping me, she was right there just inches away. I could smell the products she had been using in her shorter but full and flowing white hair, it was a mix of lavender and citrus, two of my favorite scents. I unconsciously took a deeper sniff to get more. She still held my forearm and looked me square in the eyes with such a serious glare that I completely froze. I don't know if I would have been able to move, but I didn't dare try.

"I need you to listen carefully," she started in a low and firm tone, "do not set foot out of this car, stay put." She was gentle but also forceful with her command, whatever it was, I dared not disobey her instructions of me. "You will hear something very strange, feel free to close your ears. I don't have any time to explain now, but wait for me to return and I will give you a proper explaination. Right now, stay put." She reiterated as I shook my head to acknowledge I would do as she said.

She let go of my arm and shifted back to the passenger-side door and switfly opened the door and exited the car. She was standing outside of the car and bent down too look at me before she closed the door. Her expression to me spoke of concern, but also something like an apology, like I was never supposed to experience this moment, but also a determination, like a knight would have as they were protecting their princess. I didn't know what to think, my mind sort of froze and I just started back at her with likely an expression of confusion and fear.

She closed the door and started walking back towards the human-like shape behind us. Just as she passed the trunk of the vehicle she melted into the mist and became another human-shaped shadow receding into the background.

Without warning the two shapes in the mist quickly jutted back and forth at such a speed that I could not keep up with their trajectories. The were zipping back and forth and would briefly collide and I could hear loud clangs, like metal hitting metal but there was something unearthly about it, something I had never heard before. After a short period of this fast movement and clanging sounds, the two shadows met at a point and stopped. I then heard a a shrill like nothing I had ever heard before, it was not human, but not like any animal I had ever heard. As the shrill crescendoed the voice of what I can only describe as an angel began singing the most beautiful melody my ears had ever experienced. It quickly swallowed the sound of the shrill and its absolute majesty brought tears to my eyes. There was a sudden flash of radiant light that was far too much for me and I quickly closed my eyes and sheilded my face from the luminous blast. Then, silence.

After what felt like ages I peeked to see what was there and I could see a human-shaped blob slowly making it's way to the car. As soon as the blob reached the rear of the car, she came back into view. It appeared like she was floating and I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. By the time I was looking again, she was already at the passenger-side door and let herself in and plopped down exhausted like she had just finished running a marathon. She was breathing heavily and I noticed that her clothes were tattered in places, was it like that before?

Through heavy breathing, "thank you for staying in the car." She took a few deep breaths and her respiration rate started to level off back to baseline. "I owe you an explaination, but let me catch my breath." She continued to breathe in and out and as her breathing slowed, she slowly closed her eyes leaning over and falling against me. She fell asleep.

TBC