Highway started beautifully,

sic, pointing out landmarks. The expensive

n to fade. He seemed so happy, so attentive. I f

dicted, the

s a torrential downpour, visibility d

, became a treacherous ribbon o

s started to wa

my voice tight with anxiety. "Maybe we shou

s unsettling. There was a small, almo

got this. It' s ju

ter? This w

. A tiny alarm bell went off in my head, but I di

rs it seemed, the st

remote stretch of coastline, notorious for road closures and mudslid

tation. Only one dim light flickered over a single pump.

said, shivering, desperate to

ere," he said, his

grimy building. The rest

ree minutes later, the red con

in the pouring

ust leave me

I was alone, in the middle of nowhere,

t up, desperate. One bar. A weak,

phone rang.

hat happened?" I cried,

cold, devoid of any warm

isn't funny! Come back!

tone. "It's getting worse. They'll be closing the roads soon

n his voice hit me l

accident. This

I whispered, my teeth chat

ess-like tone. "Transfer the seventy-five thousand dollars t

The SUV. The "bon

commitment to me, to us. If you do this, I'll turn around and

l into place with

e, his "locked" investment, the expensive rental car

n elaborate, cruel s

pologies, the roman

fool. A comple