In the Backseat

Ingrid sat, as motionless as she could, in the passenger seat. Her dress and hair were still crinkled and wet. The rain hadn't stopped once that day. She tried to make herself small and not noticeable. She had never seen Mark that angry before.

He clenched his jaw, tightly shut. Ingrid could see, the barely perceivable in the low light of night, the muscles of his jaw clench and protrude in a pulsating way. His knuckles were near white, as he gripped the steering wheel.

Mark’s eyes flash up towards the rearview mirror, periodically. He’s not looking for cars behind them. There hasn’t been another car for at least the last hour. Mark is looking at the box, sat on the backseat of the car.

That box is what started this whole nightmare for Ingrid. Earlier that day, she had come home to see a drone dropping off the box at their door. It was addressed to her housemate, Mark, so Ingrid brought it inside.

Sarah, the other housemate, was in the kitchen, making tea. “Hi, Ingrid, want some tea?…A delivery, who’s it for?”

“It’s for Mark. And no thanks on the tea.” Ingrid placed it on the kitchen counter. "We still on for tonight?”

“Yup! Taxi is ordered for 8pm, and the dress you wanted to borrow is hanging on the back of your door.”

“Great, thanks so much! I’m going to have a nap before getting ready. Will you let Mark know about thjis when he gets home?”

"Of course, and enjoy your nap. See you later."

Ingrid climbed up the stairs and went into her room. The dress was indeed hanging on the back of her door. Ingrid had gotten stains on her other going-out dress and had thrown it away. Sarah’s offer to lend her a dress saved her wallet.

Ingrid set an alarm and crawled into her bed. She fell asleep within a few minutes of her head hitting the pillow. She woke up at one point. She had had a dream with screaming. Her room was dark. There was the loud thudding footsteps echoing around the house, through the walls.

It was the typical thudding footsteps of either Sarah or Mark. Ingrid checked her phone and hadn't been asleep for more than ten minutes. Her eyes closed and opened an hour later to the alarm.

Ingrid felt as if she could have easily slept until morning. But still, she flicked on her lamp and woke herself up. She quickly got changed into the dress, and decided to go get a pre-drink before doing her hair.

Ingrid came down the stairs and turned towards the kitchen at the back of the house. She saw Mark, vacantly looking into the box that was delivered.

“Hey Mark, I’m going to make a drink, want anything?”

Mark responded with a poison sound in voice. “Did you do this? Is this you?”

Ingrid, confused, cautiously approached. “Did what? Where’s Sarah?”

Mark clenched his fists, resting on either side of the box on the countertop. “Do you both take me for a fool? Was this you?!” Mark yelled, still not looking away from the box.

“I don't know what that is. What's inside of it?” Ingrid was now in the kitchen, and saw the teacup Sarah had been drinking from earlier. It was knocked over, with tea spilt on the counter. "Where is Sarah?” Ingrid was growing more and more concerned.

“Go outside. Wait for me by the car.” Mark barked his commands at Ingrid.

“It’s pouring with rain outside. And the taxi will be here in just over an hour!”

“Go outside, now!” Mark finally looked at Ingrid. The rage was screaming not only from his voice, but from his eyes.

Ingrid felt scared. She was confused. She didn’t know what was happening and found herself doing as Mark ordered. She went outside. The daylight was fading fast through the thick rain clouds. She stood, shoeless, by Mark’s car.

Ingrid grabbed her arms and held herself as she watched the front door of the house. She became soaking wet within minutes. Ingrid didn’t know how long she stood there before Mark came outside. He stormed out, while carrying the box with him.

"Get in.” He firmly commanded.

The car doors unlocked. Ingrid got in. Mark threw the box into the backseat before getting in the driver’s seat. Ingrid tried asking questions at first. But Mark would remain sternly silent, until her questions irritated him enough to yell at her to be quiet.

And so, they drove for over an hour. They ended up on a rural road, surrounded by trees. The rain was coming down heavier, and the roads for slick. Ingrid felt the car fishtail from time-to-time, as it hydroplaned.

“Please, slow down.” Ingrid barely made a mouse of a sound.

Mark gripped the steering wheel tighter and remained silent.

They drove past a sign. Ingrid barely had enough time to read it, but it was for the entrance to Reverence Lake. It meant Ingrid knew where they were, and more importantly, what was coming up.

She tried to muster the confidence, “Slow down, now!” But it was once more ignored.

Ingrid checked her seatbelt and strained her eyes looking out into the dark rainy night. She saw what she needed to see. Ingrid flung herself to the steering wheel, and pulled as hard as she could.

The car spun around and around. But the familiar crunching sound of wheels over gravel soon dominated. Ingrid had timed it, as best she could, to spin the car out into the parking lot for the lake.

The car spun only a moment longer before impact. The impact knocked them both out.

The rain spattered slowly on the roof of the car. The droplets were large, and sounded almost like bullets striking metal. Ingrid opened her eyes. Her neck and shoulder were raw with pain. She looked around. It was morning and there was plenty of daylight veiling through the clouds. The air bags had deployed and since deflated. The windshield was shattered into a circular impact pattern.

Ingrid looked towards Mark. His head was bleeding and he hadn’t yet come to. Ingrid checked, his pulse was still strong.

She struggled with buckle. But eventually, she freed herself. Shoeless, she knew she wouldn't make it far on foot. Ingrid contemplated her options. She checked to see if there was anything of use in the glove box, before turning to the back seat.

The box still sat there. Ingrid stared. She needed to know. She pulled the box forward, and rested it on her lap. She took in a deep breath. Upon exhaling, she opened up the box. Ingrid’s eyes widened.

“Oh."