Driving in the rain had never been my favorite. I was always afraid I was going to go off the road. And when we were driving right next to the ocean, I was even more scared. We were far away from town and close to running out of gas.

“I knew I should have filled up when we stopped.” I said to myself. I looked over at my wife in the passengers seat. She had fallen asleep and was resting her head against the window. We hit a bump in the road and she jolted awake.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” She said. “I know how nervous you get in the rain.”

“Nervous?” I chuckled. “I don’t get nervous.” My wife pursed her lips.

“Sure you don’t.” We stayed silent for a minute.

“Did you know this place is home to the most shipwrecks?”

“Really?” Said my wife.

“Yeah. They say this was the hot spot where pirates and vendors and all those guys would hang out. Or you know, have battles on the ocean.”

“That’s awesome.” She said. I smiled and felt a little less frightened of the storm. We would make it to town in time to get gas and stay at a hotel and everything would be great. All these thoughts buzzed around in my head and I started to relax a little until my wife screamed,

“ARCHIE WATCH OUT!” I looked ahead out the windshield and saw a small, almost glowing white figure sticking out their left arm, standing right in the middle of the road. I slammed on the breaks. The car slipped and skidded this way and that on the road. My wife screamed and gripped the handle on the roof for dear life until finally, we slid to an uncertain stop. I looked out the windshield and the figure was only a few inches from our car, staring into my eyes, still holding out its arm, sticking up its thumb. Upon further inspection, I noticed it was a pale little boy with clothes that looked strange and ragged, like he was a cabin boy from the 1800s. He was drenched and had the most deadpan expression on his face. My wife opened the car door.

“Jess! Get back in, he’s a hitchhiker!”

“He’s a kid, Archie! We have to help him.” I got out of the car and walked up to the little boy. “Hi, honey. Are you lost?” Asked Jess. The little boy turned his head to her.

“Yes.” He said. His voice was hoarse and almost a whisper.

“Could we give you a ride?” I asked.

“Please.” He answered. Jess opened the back car door for him and he hopped in, buckling his seatbelt. Once we started driving again, I looked at the boy in the rear view mirror and said,

“Where to?”

“The next town.” He answered.

“Great, that’s where we’re going. Once we get there, we’ll contact the police and help you find your parents, okay?” No answer.

“Do you live around here?” Asked Jess. Again no answer. I looked in the rear view mirror and the boy was just staring at me. I got nervous again and kept my eyes on the road. Jess twiddled her thumbs, her eyes darting to look in the rear view mirror. “What are your parents names?” Asked Jess.

“I… can’t remember. It was all so long ago.” He said wistfully.

“Look, kid, we understand you’re lost or whatever, but could you please give us a straight answer? We’re just trying to help you.” I said irritated.

“Archie, leave him alone. He’s just confused.” Said Jess.

“Are you sure you can’t remember?” She asked the boy. No answer. “Hon? I asked if you were sure you couldn’t re-“ she cut herself off, letting out a shriek as she looked in the back of the car. I pulled over.

“Jesus, Jess!” I said angrily and I looked in the back seat and felt the blood leave my face. “Where- where did he go?”

“I don’t know!” She said. Where the boy had been sitting, there was now only a buckled seatbelt and a puddle of water.

“Did he-?”

“He couldn’t have jumped out! I didn’t hear the door. And look, the seatbelt is still buckled.”

“Let’s just go get some gas and forget this ever happened.”

“But-“

“Jess, I don’t know what just happened but it wasn’t normal and that kid is nowhere to be seen. I’m leaving and that’s that.”