Untitled

[Iminicus]

The roar of the exhaust reminds me I am standing in the middle of the road. I come to my senses and take a look around. I see blood trickling out onto the road. I follow the trail and see smashed glass and some blond hair. I can't seem to find the person who owns the hair. I smell gasoline and feel faint. I continue to look around. I see another car, the engine is still going. The back wheels spin as if something is caught on the accelerator. Over the roar of the exhaust, I hear someone call out for help. Laying down the road from me, I see her. Well, I see some of her. I follow the blood trail from her arm, is it her left or right? I don't check. The cries of help get louder as I walk closer to a third car. Then I see her and what remains of her boyfriend. I wish I could say he survived, but I have never heard of anyone surviving decapitation and having their body torn in half. She is kneeling beside him, crying, screaming, her eyes are filled with tears. She holds the area where her arm should be. Blood drizzles out onto the ground.

 

The sounds of sirens slowly fade in over the noises of the crash. I am confused and dazed. I wonder what happened. I try to recall the moment before the crash. Was I involved? The ambulances, police, and firefighters secure the area. I watch as the firefighters pull pieces of people out of their cars. The police cordon of the area and the Emergency Medics help those that need it. I must be fine as everyone ignores me. Guess I wasn't involved then. Slowly more ambulances show up. I don't know it, but there are more than three cars involved.

 

Policemen and women rush around the scene. I try to stop someone and ask if I can help, but no one hears me over the noises. I decide to get away from the scene. The smell of gasoline follows me and I notice that I am actually walking towards its source. As I get closer, I see a pool of gasoline and the burning remains of two cars. The flames lick and play at the gasoline. As I am about to call for help, two firefighters show up. They quell the fire and walk away. I try saying thank you, but my thanks are fruitless and unheard with such chaos.

 

Slowly, the crash is sorted out. I couldn't bring myself to walk away and instead lingered around. Body bags line the road. I count thirteen, but am sure more are to come and some body bags will be placed for the people who left no recognizable remains. The police are taking statements from witnesses and survivors. I walk towards them out of curiosity and to give my statement.

 

"Yes, Officer. I saw three cars at first. The first slide into the second. I am not sure which one is which. But it set of a chain reaction. The first car hit the second with such force that it spun it around. As it spun it knocked car three into the power pole. Yeah, the one which still had its engine running."

 

"What else did you see, ma'am?"

 

"Well, I don't remember. Everything happened so fast."

 

"Thank you ma'am, And what about you sir?"

 

I wonder if he is talking to me. I start to talk when someone else speaks.

 

"I didn't see what that lady saw, but I did see a fourth car come around that corner there," The gentlemen points towards the corner of 12th and Dickson Street. Wait, wasn't I walking down that road before the accident? "As the car came around the corner, it struck down a guy as he crossed."

 

"Did you see where the body went? And how, did we go from a three car pile up to four?"

 

"Well, Officer...."

 

The conversation trails off as I lose myself in thought. I try to remember where I was. But nothing comes. I get bored waiting to add my statement and wander off looking for someone else to speak with. I dismiss the thoughts and images of myself being involved. How could I be involved? I walk past several more body bags. A wind picks up as I pass. A face catches my eye. I look again. No, it can't be. Those eyes seem so familiar. The face haunts me. I look away and try to shake the image, but I can't. I am drawn to this person in the bag. I move towards it. Compelled to find out who this person is.

 

I stand in front of the bag. I stare down at the face. The wind picks up even more and blows open the bag. Time slows down. I crouch and reach out. A medic runs towards the body and I. Another starts running up behind me. I reach out to touch the person. As I touch the cooling skin of the person, I feel a deep chill shake my body. I look and it isn't my hand I see touching the body. The medic grabs the body bag and closes it up. I jump up and start to shake. I feel dizzy. I start to faint.

 

A bright light starts shining. The sun has sent and they are using searchlights to illuminate the area. The light gets brighter in my eyes. I start to walk towards it but feel a tug on my shirt. I can't move by myself. I am being guided. The tug drags me down. I watch as the world collapses from my view. I feel at peace.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Iminicus

[Chickstick]

A well-written short story.

 

The first paragraph, especially, I liked- that part about not checking which arm it was my favourite part of the story as it seemed to set a tone of death, if you get what I mean.

[Iminicus]

I found it hard to not disclose the twist. But at the end, it suited letting it become obvious. I also feel that the dialog isn't required, but it does help with the beginning. I think without it the story would still follow.

 

Thanks.

[DemonKing]

Nice story Imi,

 

Kinda had a guess that what would of been the ending,

 

guess it's just an experience with reading books with endings like that

[Iminicus]

Mmm, I am thinking of doing another draft on this. Not sure if I will.