PART 2 – THE WARNING I REFUSED TO HEAR
The fuel pump clicked off.
I should have left right then.
Instead, I got angry.
Something about him—his tone, his certainty—made my frustration spike.
“Listen,” I said sharply, “people don’t just walk out of shadows and tell strangers not to visit their children. That’s not normal.”
His expression tightened.
“I know how it sounds.”
“No,” I cut in, “you don’t get to do this. Whatever game you think you’re playing—stop.”
I pulled the nozzle out and shoved it back into place with more force than necessary.
The man took a step forward.
Not aggressive.
Urgent.
“Ma’am, please—just listen for one minute.”
“I’m done listening.”
That made him pause.
Like something inside him broke a little.
But still, he tried.
“When you arrive,” he said quickly, “the lights in the house will flicker. Don’t ignore it. Don’t assume it’s nothing. And whatever you do—don’t go inside if the door isn’t fully open.”
I rolled my eyes.
“This is ridiculous.”
He shook his head harder now. “You’ll hear something upstairs. Don’t respond to it. Don’t—”
“I said I don’t care!”
My voice echoed across the empty station.
Even the wind seemed to stop for a moment.
The man went silent.
His shoulders dropped slightly, like he had just watched something inevitable unfold.
Then he said something I almost didn’t hear.
“It’s already too late to prevent it.”
I froze for half a second.
“What did you say?”
But he didn’t answer.
He just stepped back into the shadows near the garage.
Like he was disappearing into the same darkness he came from.
I got into my car fast, more annoyed than afraid.
As I drove out of the station, I looked in the rearview mirror.
He was still there.
Standing perfectly still.
Watching.
Not waving.
Not moving.
Just watching like someone waiting for impact.
I told myself he was insane.
Or dangerous.
Or both.
But not important.
I turned back onto the highway and pressed forward toward Austin’s house.
May you like
The sky had turned fully black now.
And somewhere deep inside me, something I didn’t want to admit started to feel wrong.
