The police car wound its way down the twisted narrow roads. The man inside sat donned in a crisp blue uniform and aviators, looking as cool as he possibly could, he put a lot of effort into it after all. He gazed out at his surroundings as his radio chattered incessantly in the background. Suddenly, something caught his eye.

A young woman, dirty and tattered from the thicket, ran into the road waving frantically for his attention. Slamming the brakes, the man barely brought the car to halt before hitting her. He left unhurriedly, attempting to maintain a calm demeanor.

“Whoa there, are you alright?” He asked as she moved frantically towards him.

“Are you here to help? The phones. They wouldn’t work before, but we managed to get a call through. There’s someone out there, he’s trying to kill us.” She said, talking very fast.

The man gestured for her to calm down. “Slow down. First of all, what’s your name?”

“Ashley.”

“Alright Ashley, who’s trying to kill you?”

“I don’t know. First there were three people, now there’s only one. He keeps following us.”

“Us? So there are more of you?”

“Yes.”

“Tell you what. How about you get in the car and I can take you somewhere safe. Then, you can tell me where the others are, so that I can help them too.”

She shook her head. “No. We were all scattered. I’ve got to go back.”

“But you said there’s someone out to kill you. I’m just trying to help you.”

She shook her head again. “No, I’ve got to go back and help anyone who’s left.”

“Listen, I’ll help them. Just let me help you first.” He said, frustrated.

“No.” She reiterated, once again shaking her head, this time also taking a step back. The man stepped forward in response, reaching out to grab hold of the woman’s shoulder. As he reached for her, she flickered like an old movie reel and then vanished.

The man removed his sunglasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. As he returned his glasses, he moved back toward the police car, grinning to himself. He pulled a blade from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers. His grin soon broke into hysterical laughter that echoed its way through the woods. Then suddenly there was silence, until an engine turned over and the car pulled away, heading back the way it came.