Coffee and Apple Pie

Marcie runs from the 24/7 diner screaming out loud for help, but no one is in sight. The low-key diner sits off the road nestled in a tiny clearing with a dim flicking sign erected near the street. As she finds her way to the car, she quickly jumps in dropping her purse. Frantically feeling for the ignition, the key slips in starting the engine. She hears rapid thumping coming from within when she realizes it’s her heartbeat. Glancing up, she sees the hooded man continually stabbing the woman behind the counter. Relentlessly he continues his killing spree until everyone has come to their demise when he recognizes that someone has gotten away. Marcie does not notice that the car has shifted into reverse. Stepping on the gas the car does a 360 squealing and forcing dust into the air. Marcie peeks into the review mirror and sees the hooded man with his bloodied hands up on the glass looking out into the darkness as she peels onto the quiet road.

Her mind is racing with thoughts of how this happened, what triggered the event, had she seen the man earlier in the diner, where did he come from and how come she did not see it coming. Marcie always prided herself in the knowing of things, being aware of her surroundings. Violently crying, Marcie wipes her face with one hand to see the road ahead while tightly gripping the steering wheel with the other.

Continuously looking back into the review mirror, Marcie reaches for her phone when she realizes that she dropped her purse in the parking lot. Now screaming out curse words and hitting the steering wheel with her fist knowing that the killer has access to all her information. Panicked, Marcie looks for the next place to stop. The road ahead is isolated, and the next gas station is 150 miles ahead. She looks down to see that she has a little less than a half tank of gas. She calms herself down; clear thinking is needed now. Planning a strategy in her mind, she needs to find a phone, desperately looking for any home or stop along the way.

A spark of light appears in the review mirror, pulling Marcie back into fear. Terrified, she quickly shuts off the car lights and turns onto a small dirt road. The car passes and she waits to move forward. “What do I do, what do I do” swirls around in her mind. Then slowly she moves back onto the road. Marcie not a very spiritual woman, finds herself praying to the heavens for help.

Almost on empty a gas station appears as if out if out of nowhere. Marcie slowly approaches, looking around to see if the man is nearby. She moves towards the entrance of the building and looks through the windows before entering. Only seeing the person behind the counter, she enters. The person behind the counter turns around to welcome her. Stress and desperation overcome Marcie, as she frantically explains her situation and asks to use the phone or if the attend could call 911. The attendant picks up the phone and begins to dial 911, she shares Marcie story as Marcie paces back and forth continuously looking out the store window.

The attendant hangs up the phone and asks Marcie to wait for the police informing her that they will be there shortly. Marcie agrees, and asks if she can borrow a few dollars to fill her car and that she will send the money once she returns home. The attendant gives her a few dollars and Marcie fuel’s her car while keeping her eye on the road in front of her. She walks back in and the attendant offers her a drink. Forty-five minutes pass before an officer arrives.

The officer walks in alone and sits down to question Marcie about her story. He gently puts her at ease and then walks out to his patrol car. Marcie watches him from the window as he radios in the information. The store attendant gives Marcie a weird look and Marcie becomes suspicious. With her keys in hand Marcie walks out towards the officer and asks if it is okay for her to leave. The officer asks her to get into her car roll up the windows and wait for his instruction. Marcie does what he asks and watches the officer go back into the store. She then sees the officer pull out a knife and stab the store attendant. Marcie’s reaction is slow but manages to start her car and again finds herself speeding out of another parking lot. She sees the officer slowly walk towards his car and get it in. He turns on his siren and pulls out of the lot speeding up behind her. Marcie does not stop and continues to speed up. The officer bumps the back end of her car spinning it out of control. Marcie slams on her brakes, squeezes her eyes together and yell’s out God save me. When Marcie opens her eyes, she realizes she still sitting in the diner booth with a hot cup of coffee and apple pie. And the officer is sitting directly across from her with his partner enjoying his burger and fries.