Luca sat up. The red taillights cast crimson highlights across three black bodies a few yards behind them and closing in.
“Go faster.”
The front of the truck dipped, tossing Luca into the air as it popped the gully and landed on the road. A streak of lightning gave seconds of artificial daylight. The truck gained speed, and the animals fell behind.
Wind rocked the vehicle and sheets of rain smothered the windshield. A near solid darkness concealed the road ahead.
“Turn on the headlights before you run off the road.” There were curves in the area dangerous to drive in the daylight.
“I’m not going to run off the road.”
“You can’t see a thing.”
“I can see fine.”
Luca stared at the man beside him. Dash lights threw patches of pale white over his knuckles and arms.
The hum of the road warred with the hush of rain. Wayward drops blew into the cab.
“Are you okay?” The rough edge to the man’s voice prickled Luca’s senses.
Why did he care? “Yeah.” Luca’s teeth chattered.
“Turn on the heat, you’re shivering.”
Luca did. The still-cool air did nothing to push back the chill spreading through his bones.
He stared out the glassless back window frame at the empty road behind them. “What the hell just happened?”
“Which way to the highway?”
Luca blinked several times. His heartbeat moved to his skull.
“The highway, Luca. Which way to the highway?”
“Up ahead, take a left.”
The stranger jerked the truck left at the four-way. Luca slammed his hand against the dash, stopping himself from sliding into the door. “That was a stop sign back there.”
“I know.”
“That means you’re supposed to stop.”
“We don’t have time to stop. They know where you are, and they won’t stop coming for you.”
“Who? Goddamn it! Who’s coming after me?”
The man flexed his grip on the wheel.
“Well?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
“Then those things? Those wolves.”