The Dark Traveler

The Thompson family had planned this road trip for months. The idea of driving through scenic countryside, stopping at quaint little towns, and enjoying time together as a family was exactly what they needed.

“We’re making great time,” Jack, the father, said cheerfully, glancing at the map. “We should hit the lodge by midnight if we keep this pace.”

Laura, his wife, nodded from the passenger seat. “Sounds perfect. The kids are already asleep in the back.”

As the night deepened, the sky turned a deep indigo. The road stretched out ahead, a ribbon of asphalt lined by tall, shadowy trees. Jack adjusted the headlights, scanning the road for any signs of wildlife or obstructions.

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the side of the road. Jack’s heart skipped a beat. The figure was tall, draped in a dark, tattered coat, with a hood obscuring most of its face. The person stood perfectly still, almost as if waiting for them.

“What the heck is that?” Jack muttered, slowing the car.

Laura stirred awake. “What’s going on?”

“There’s someone on the side of the road,” Jack replied, his eyes fixed on the figure.

As they drew closer, the figure remained motionless. Jack instinctively slowed the car even more, trying to make out more details.

“Maybe we should just drive past,” Laura suggested, a note of unease in her voice.

“Yeah, probably,” Jack agreed, but the curiosity was tugging at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

He eased the car past the figure, the beam of the headlights illuminating the lantern’s light for a brief moment.

Jack’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Did you see that?”

Laura nodded, her face pale. “I saw it. It didn’t have any eyes.”

The tension in the car was palpable. They tried to brush it off, but the atmosphere grew heavier, and the road seemed darker and more oppressive. Laura noticed that the temperature inside the car had dropped noticeably, and a strange static filled the air.

“Maybe we should stop and check if everything’s okay,” Laura suggested, her voice wavering.

Jack hesitated but eventually agreed. He found a small, dimly lit rest area up ahead and pulled in. The car came to a stop, and Jack and Laura exchanged worried glances.

“I’ll go check it out,” Jack said, grabbing a flashlight from the trunk. “Stay here with the kids.”

Laura nodded, but her anxiety was evident. Jack walked back to where he had seen the figure, the beam of his flashlight cutting through the dark.

He looked around, his footsteps crunching on the gravel. There was no sign of the hooded figure, but something felt off—an oppressive silence, as if the night itself was holding its breath.

Just as he was about to head back, he heard a faint rustling behind him. Jack turned sharply, shining the flashlight in all directions.

He returned to the car, his face ashen. “I didn’t find anything. It’s like they vanished.”

Laura’s face was taut with fear. “We should go. Now.”

Jack quickly got back in the driver’s seat, and they hurriedly left the rest area. The rest of the journey was marked by a nervous silence. They drove through the night, every shadow and every rustling sound setting them on edge.

As they finally reached their lodge, they were relieved but unsettled. The encounter with the mysterious figure had left them shaken, a chilling reminder that not all encounters on the road are as benign as they might first seem.

As they settled into their rooms, Jack glanced out the window one last time, half-expecting to see the figure waiting in the darkness. But the night was still, and the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees. The family tried to put the unsettling experience behind them, but the image of that faceless figure would linger in their minds for a long time.