Dakota tensed and screamed. “Ahhhhh!”
“Fight him! Dakota! Fight him!”
Dakota’s eyes glowed green.
Her scream died, and she spoke with a guttural voice: “Claire…”
Claire returned to the right lane and tried to keep her eyes on the road. “Dakota, don’t give in to him.”
“Too late, Claire,” said Dakota.
Dakota removed her seat belt.
“Dakota, no—!”
The girl leaped forward and attacked Claire. Hitting her, choking her with immense, unnatural strength. Claire couldn’t breathe.
She’s going to kill me.
Claire elbowed Dakota in the face and pulled herself free from the girl’s death grip. Dakota grabbed the steering wheel and climbed on top of Claire. Claire opened the car door and tried to push the girl out.
Clinging to Claire, Dakota dangled half-way out of the car, her head nearly dragging on the asphalt. The yellow median line pulsed beneath her. She tried to pull Claire out the door, but Claire was strapped in.
“Fight him! Dakota! Please! Don’t make me do this.”
The green glow faded from Dakota’s eyes. The girl stopped struggling. For a moment Dakota seemed herself again.
“Help me,” Dakota whimpered.
Claire saw bright lights ahead, coming fast. An oncoming patrol car. Claire’s open door was partway in the opposing lane.
The patrol car struck the open door. The door slammed into Dakota’s head.
Claire heard the snap! of the girl’s spine.
The Highwayman was thrown from Dakota’s body. He landed on the road as the Hummer sped on.
Still driving, Claire pulled Dakota’s limp body from the doorway and moved her clumsily into the passenger seat.
“Leave me,” the dying girl said.
“We’re going to make it to the tunnel—”
“Let me go.”
“Hold on. There’s a hospital—”
Dakota’s eyes rolled up in her head.
“Dakota?”
The dying girl whispered, “No one gets out alive…”
And fell silent.
No!
Claire shook Dakota. “No!” Claire banged her fist on the steering wheel. She pounded on the car horn. She screamed her pain into the night. In a mad frenzy, Claire swerved from lane to lane. Finally, exhausted, she straightened out the car and wept.
“Don’t leave me here alone with him.”
45
The Highwayman rose to his feet. He saw that Officer Ramirez was back on the road, chasing Claire. The Highwayman stepped into the path of the patrol car, re-entered the body of Ramirez, and seized control.
Claire raced past a road sign: “DEVIL’S PASS—5 Miles.”
The lifeless body of Dakota lay in the passenger seat beside her.
No time for tears.
A patrol car pursued her. In the mirror, the driver appeared to be a policeman, but Claire sensed the presence of another.
Fowler.
The patrol car slammed into the back of the Hummer.
Claire gritted her teeth. “Oh yeah?”
Time to fight back.
She saw the patrol car coming up for another hit.
Claire swerved into the opposing lane.
And hit the brakes.
The Hummer dropped back. The patrol car surged, coming up beside Claire. As he pulled even with her, the possessed cop turned, smiled, and blew her a kiss.
“Kiss this,” she said, and spun the wheel in his direction.
The Hummer sideswiped the patrol car.
Knocked it off the road.
The black-and-white spun out on the dirt shoulder.
Tumbled over the desert.
Landing on its wheels.
Claire raced ahead, gaining distance, gaining time.
The road climbed and turned as it wended the last five miles toward the tunnel at Devil’s Pass. The Hummer slowed as it rose through the mountains. To the left was a guard rail. Beyond that, a sheer cliff.
A petroleum tanker truck idled on the shoulder ahead.
The trucker honked at Claire as she approached.
Dude, don’t mess with me.
The tanker truck pulled onto the highway, cutting Claire off.
“Oh, come on,” she muttered.
She sped into the opposing lane to pass the lumbering behemoth.
The truck driver stuck his arm out his window and waved for her to pass.
As she passed him, the driver honked again.
Asshole.
Then Claire saw the burn scars on the driver’s ruined face.
She recognized him.
Joshua!
It was the truck driver from Dinah’s Diner, the one who had tried to help them push their dead car into the garage, who tried to warn them about Blood Alley.
But he left hours ahead of us.
Claire powered down the passenger window.
Joshua shouted out to her, “Thought you might need some help!”
“He’s right behind me!”
Joshua nodded. “Tunnel’s up ahead. I got your back!”
“Oh, God. Thank you!”
Claire pulled in front of Joshua, her knight in shining armor.
Joshua crawled his big rig up the winding hill. With a full load of petroleum in the twin tanks, he wasn’t about to break any land speed records. He shifted from granny gear into second, then tested third. He saw a patrol car coming up fast behind him.
There you are, you dirty devil. I’m ready for you.
He saw the patrol car angling to pass.
“Not this time.”
Joshua steered left to block the opposing lane.
I’ll knock you right off that cliff.
Taking the hint, the patrol car fell back behind the tanker truck.
Oh, you know that trick, do you?
The patrol car swerved to the right.
The tanker truck cut him off.
Sidewinding from shoulder to shoulder, the patrol car searched for an opening, but Joshua was one step ahead of him, anticipating each move.
Together they swerved side to side, faster and faster until—
The tanker truck fishtailed.
Damnit.
Joshua lost control of the road.
The rear fuel tank scraped the guard rail, throwing hot sparks.
If the rail gave way, the tank would go over the cliff.
And so would Joshua.
The rail held.
The wheels found traction.
Joshua regained control.
He swung the tank off the rail and back onto the road, but gave the patrol car the opening it needed to pass on the left.
The patrol car surged forward.
It drove between the tanker truck and the guard rail.
Joshua saw the move.
“Big mistake.”
He turned hard left.
The tanker truck sideswiped the patrol car and drove the black-and-white against the rail. Metal screeched.
The rail bent and broke.
The tires of the patrol car flirted with the edge of the cliff.
In the mirror Joshua saw the Highwayman emerge from the policeman’s body and climb up through the roof of the patrol car.
The patrol car tipped and went over the edge as the Highwayman jumped off the falling vehicle and onto the tanker trunk.
All right, you bastard, come and get me.
46
In the mirror, Joshua saw the Highwayman coming for him, edging his way from the rear tank to the cab.
A thrill of anticipation ran through him. He’d waited ten years for this, a chance to confront the Highwayman again. On his own terms.
I’m ready.
For a decade he was haunted by a single question: “Why did I survive?” Year after year, the death toll rose on Blood Alley. Why did he live when so many others died?
Now he knew the answer. He knew his purpose. He knew his moment.
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The moment is now.
Words came to him from the well of memory, a poem he once learned in school. He recited the words aloud:
“The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees…”
The Highwayman crept along the side of the rear tank.
“The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas…”
The Highwayman reached the hitch between the two tanks, and climbed up.
“The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor…”
The Highwayman stepped onto the closed sunroof of the cab.
“And the highwayman came riding—riding—riding—the highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door.”
The Highwayman dropped down, passing straight through the metal and glass, into the cab.
And into the driver.
Joshua felt a chill run through his body.
Fight him!
A chill ran through his soul.
You gotta fight him—
His muscles tensed.
Gotta know who you are—
He stifled a scream.
Who you really are—
In the mirror, his brown eyes glowed green.
I am the Highwayman.
Still he struggled—know who you are—not giving up—know who—not giving in—
I am!
The green glow of his eyes faded to brown.
Claire rounded a bend and saw the Devil’s Tunnel up ahead.
Almost there…
Joshua’s petroleum tanker truck was right behind her as she entered the tunnel at 90 miles per hour.
It was a long tunnel lit by overhead fluorescents that flashed past her at a dizzying pace. The tunnel turned ahead. She couldn’t see the end, or how far the road stretched.
Almost there…
A tunnel light went out as the Hummer passed by.
And the next light.
And the next.
One by one they flickered and died.
Man and phantom struggled for possession of Joshua’s body.
I am the Highwayman! You are weak! You are nothing!
Joshua focused all of his attention on his right hand, which clenched the steering wheel.
My name is Joshua…
If he could reach the brake button—
You have no power!
Not the yellow one, but the red one—
This is my hand…
The red emergency breakaway brake—
Move it…
His right hand, under Joshua’s control, let go of the steering wheel. His human hand separated from the phantom hand, which still clenched the wheel.
Joshua reached for the red button, the emergency trailer breakaway brake. If he could pull the red button, the trailer brakes would activate.
But not the truck brakes.
At this speed, if the trailer brakes locked—with the truck accelerating and the trailer decelerating—the differential could rip the trailer from the truck.
Only one way to find out.
With every ounce of his will, Joshua pulled on the red button.
He felt the sharp jolt of the cab.
He heard the snap! of the trailer hitch.
He watched in the mirror as the rear tank uncoupled from the truck.
The truck surged forward, faster now, relieved of the weight of the trailer.
The trailer rolled free on the road behind, carried forward by inertia, but moving slower. Momentum overpowered the breakaway brakes and kept the trailer chasing the truck. The trailer drifted into the tunnel wall. The petroleum tank’s smooth metal shell scraped against the bricks.
Sparks flew.
The tank burst open.
Fuel ignited in the tunnel.
Whoooosh!
A wall of flame chased the truck through the narrow passage.
In the mirror Joshua saw the burning tank tumble after him.
One last thing—
He moved his hand to the yellow button.
The phantom hand left the steering wheel and repossessed Joshua’s human hand.
Nice try, old man!
Joshua strained to pull the yellow brake button.
The Highwayman resisted.
Remember who you are…
You are the Highwayman!
My name is…
Joshua!
His hand pulled hard on the yellow button.
The brakes engaged.
The truck skidded.
Scraped a wall.
Spun one hundred and eighty degrees.
And came to a full stop.
Through the windshield, Joshua saw the wall of flame rush straight toward him.
He saw the trailer tank burning and bouncing on the collision path.
Welcome to Hell…
The trailer crashed into the truck, and the second tank exploded.
47
Claire sped through the narrow tunnel, pursued by flames.
In the mirror she saw Joshua’s body thrown forward by the blast wave.
Flames reached the Hummer.
Engulfed it.
Claire heard and felt a thump! on the roof.
She looked up and saw Joshua’s burnt face peer down through the sunroof. His face was slack, without expression. Joshua was dead, but his open eyes glowed green.
The corpse slid off the Hummer.
Landed on the road behind.
The blast wave pushed the car forward even faster. The Hummer was surrounded by a roiling wall of fire.
Tongues of flame licked in through the broken back window and the open sunroof.
Travel bags in the back compartment caught fire.
All around her, the tunnel began to collapse. Chunks of falling debris dented the roof. A sharp shard fell through the sunroof and struck Claire in the arm, glancing off.
Dirt and cement fell into the path ahead. Claire jerked the steering wheel left and right and left again, dodging debris.
In the front passenger seat, Dakota’s corpse jostled with each bump and swerve.
The dead girl sat up slowly in her seat.
Claire’s heart stopped.
What—?
Dakota turned to face Claire.
“Dakota! You’re alive! Oh thank God you’re—”
The girl opened her eyes.
Dakota’s eyes glowed green.
No! It’s not possible.
The Highwayman had possessed Joshua, and Joshua had—
Oh, no.
Dakota lunged and grabbed Claire’s throat, choking her.
Claire tried to fight her off. With one hand she punched and jabbed Dakota, but she had to keep her other hand on the wheel and her foot on the gas.
With the Highwayman inside her, Dakota was too strong.
The phantom spoke in Dakota’s voice, “Claire…”
Far ahead, sirens wailed.
Police.
Someone must have radioed for help.
They can’t help me now.
Claire couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on the road ahead—
Oh, God, somebody help me!
Claire grabbed Dakota’s fingers, which were wrapped around at Claire’s throat, and pulled back on the digits as hard as she could.
Dakota’s fingers snapped.
The girl didn’t scream.
Claire gasped for breath
The air in the car was thin and hot and tasted like gasoline.
I’m burning.
She had to go forward, faster, to escape the conflagration.
Faster! Faster!
Claire noticed that her foot had slipped from gas pedal. She stomped on the pedal, and felt the engine catch its second wind.
Dakota punched and slapped her.
Claire grabbed Dakota’s hair and yanked her head down between the front seats.
A patrol car raced into the tunnel, unaware of the danger.
“Fowler! I know they lied about you. Let me go, and I’ll tell them th
e truth.”
“They know the truth!”
Dakota’s tried to free herself, but Claire clung tight to the girl’s hair.
“They think you killed your wife and daughters.”
“Yes!”
Dakota jerked her head back sharply. Her hair came out in a giant clump, leaving a bloody scalp. But Dakota was free again. She jumped on top of Claire. Straddled her in the driver’s seat.
Claire couldn’t see the road. She threw down the bloody clump of hair in her hand and tried to shove the other girl aside.
Dakota grabbed Claire’s face.
And kissed her.
Locking lips.
And souls.
Claire felt an icy chill inside her. Her muscles tensed. Her chest heaved.
Remember who you are…
Claire put a hand to Dakota’s throat, and pushed the girl’s head away.
But the phantom head of Eldritch Fowler remained, lingering, kissing Claire with an undying passion.
Finally, the Highwayman withdrew and re-entered Dakota’s head to speak with her voice. “I loved my children—very, very much.”
Claire understood the awful truth.
Oh God, no.
“It was you,” Claire said. “Nineteen years ago… you and my mother…”
“Yes!”
“But you were already…”
“Dead.”
Claire slapped Dakota’s face.
“Stay away from me!”
Dakota snarled a warning.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!”
48
“Get off me!”
Claire tried to push Dakota away.
“Blood Alley is yours, Claire.”
Ahead she saw the flashing lights of an oncoming patrol car driving straight toward the Hummer and the rushing wall of flame.
The patrol car braked and skidded.
Claire swerved to avoid a head-on collision. She sped past the patrol car. It exploded behind her, feeding the flames.
Dakota started to grind herself in Claire’s lap. “Can’t you feel it? Blood Alley. Rolling under you like a lover.”
“What do you want?”
“You and me, Claire. We could ride this road forever.”
Claire saw another patrol car speeding toward her, lights on, siren wailing.
“Nothing can stop us, if you open yourself to me.”
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