My car engine was running sluggish; not the way I wanted to finish my first day of my road trip.  I was about ten miles away from the campground.   My engine gauge told me to pull over to give the engine a drink of water.  It was pitch black on this winding road; the last thing I wanted to do was pull over but I had no choice.

            My mind started playing games with my fears as I waited for the engine to cool.  I left the headlights on for comfort, for as little comfort I could muster up.  Flashes of scenes from horror movies made my heart race.  Feeling around on the backseat I found the flashlight.  I psyched myself up to grab the water, open the hood, remove the cap and dump the water in, and then do everything in reverse in record time.  I grabbed the flashlight, the water and I opened the car door.  I lifted the hood and looked for the cap on the radiator.  Pouring the water in as fast as I could, I continued to look around in the darkness that surrounded me.  I’m crazy to be out here in the middle of nowhere by myself, I thought.  With the water gone, I twisted the cap back on and dropped the hood.  I jumped into the driver’s seat while closing the door.  Breath exhaled from my tense lungs.  “I did it.”

            I started the engine, eager to continue onto the campground.  My body froze when I saw a figure walking into the car headlights.   I locked my doors.  Fear paralyzed me; all I could do was to keep my gaze on the figure.  It was definitely a human—no alien strange stature.  The human was a man; I couldn’t scream because my lungs were hardened.  He didn’t appear frightening, but oddly tranquil.  I was still scared out of my wits.  I realized was the engine stalled.  My palms started to sweat, not to mention every part of my body.  On total adrenaline, I turned the key but nothing happened.