Luke turned onto Kelley Iris Drive and switched off his high beams. Flicking the left blinker, he started to turn his father’s pickup into Krisa’s driveway when he felt her fingertips brush his arm. Looking at his girlfriend, Luke Massik’s stomach tightened seeing her clouded eyes open wide in unease.

“Luke, could you . . . please park around the corner?” she whispered.

He turned off the blinker, “Don’t you want to go home?” he asked. Straightening the steering wheel, Luke continued slowly down the road. “What’s up?” Her small face turned instinctively back toward the house and she circled her arms around her waist. Luke’s eyes followed her imperceptible stare, as his foot came down carefully on the brake. The light over the front door, a dull glow, had illuminated the driveway, allowing him to see a small green Toyota Corolla, haphazardly parked in the middle of the driveway.

“Krisa? What’s wrong?” Luke said gently.

“I don’t know. Something just doesn’t feel right. What can you see?”

Pulling the truck to a complete stop, Luke turned off the ignition. Unbuckling and turning to face Krisa, he reached out to her. He held his hands underneath hers this time, to make it easier, but it still took a minute for Krisa’s hands to find Luke’s.

“Everything looks normal except for a car in your driveway. Has anyone ever mentioned owning a Toyota Corolla to you before?”

Krisa tilted her head slightly.

“I really can’t know for sure,” she replied, defeated. Luke squeezed her hands reassuringly.

“It’s okay. I’m sure it’s just one of your friends who got a new car and came over to show it off.”

Krisa shrugged. They both knew most people didn’t just drop by for a visit at this time of night. Luke glanced past her head out the passenger’s window. A couple of stars blinked above the field and a sliver of the waxing moon shone dimly through the clouds. Luke felt Krisa’s hands clench his as she pulled him toward her. Shifting his attention back to his girlfriend, he watched her.

“What’s behind me?” she hissed. As Luke looked through the side window at the empty field, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. The silence buzzed.

“I’m gonna get us out of here,” Luke said, peering tentatively out through the windshield. “Put your seatbelt on.” Realizing what he had asked, he apologized and helped Krisa buckle. Reaching back for his own, Luke felt a gut-wrenching need to hurry. He let go of the belt, and grabbed at the keys. The engine made a grinding noise as it turned over. The pickup started, and the yellow headlights spilled out onto the road.