loomed up, dark and dreary from the road. It was as if a pallor were on the area, no life around except for the busy traffic on the main road.
They pulled up into the driveway and parked behind Joe's truck. When they exited the car, Johanna wrapped her arms about her. The air was thick, damp and cool. And still, unnaturally still. They heard absolutely nothing except for their own breathing. The windows were dark. Mack checked the time, it was just after nine, but not so late that the entire neighborhood should be asleep.
They walked up the steps and Mack fished around under the tossed aside welcome mat for the extra key. Johanna bent over to help him find the key in the semi-darkness. Suddenly the door burst open and Joe appeared, grim faced and marched right down the steps and to his truck.
"Joe?" Mack called, but the sound of his voice seemed to stick into emptiness. The truck door slammed and Johanna and Mack looked at each other not believing that Joe didn't see or hear them or even see the turquoise Chevy parked behind his truck. Before they could turn around the truck had backed right out of the driveway and was driving off down the road.
Mack hopped down the steps followed by Johanna, who looked on after the truck in total shock. Mouths agape they looked at one another for an explanation. Not only did Joe not see them, he had backed out of the driveway without hitting the Chevy, yet clearly there was no way around the Chevy. Mack had parked so close to the truck's back bumper no one could have walked around it let alone has enough room to back out. The front of the truck sat the utility room so he could not have gone forward either.
"How?" Johanna breathed, her heart quickening within her chest. A fear gripped at her as the bizarre night kept turning more bizarre.
Mack busted back up the steps and flung the front door open and the two entered the home. The lamps were lit, but the same strange dim light emanated from them casting just barely enough light to keep from running into furniture. They marched back to the bedroom where they were to stay until they could move on to Mississippi, the same bedroom where their stuff was stored while they were on their honeymoon. Mack flipped the light switch shedding the dim light causing him to squint to see anything concrete.
Johanna went about rifling through the boxes and drawers looking for the inhaler she knew she may need. Mack found a photo frame with a photo of their wedding dance. The silver frame engraved with their wedding date and the word forever above it. A strange sensation fell over him as he looked at the photo knowing they hadn't approved anyone to see them. The photographer was supposed to wait until they arrived back from their honeymoon before showing them. Mack handed the photo to Johanna as he picked up a newspaper clipping.
Johanna gasped as she saw it and realized the implications of the trust the photographer had betrayed. Mack swayed back and landed sitting on the edge of the bed, the color drained from his face as he read the newspaper. "What?" Johanna demanded seeing his shocked look.
He slowly looked up at his wife, unable to find words and handed the clipping to her. She took it and squinted to read it in the dim light.
Newlywed Couple Killed in Three Vehicle Accident on Way to Honeymoon
Mack and Johanna Vines, newly married just hours before the accident were on their way to Harper's Island, their chosen honeymoon spot when they were hit broadside by a 1998 Dodge truck driven by 16-year-old Alec Taylor. A third vehicle hit from behind, a 2008 Buick driven by Sam Baldwin. Alec was taken to Corpus Cristi where he remains in critical condition, but is expected to make it. Sam was flown to Houston where he is receiving care for a broken back. His wife Helen, and daughters Julie and Cindy suffered minor cuts and bruises. The newlyweds were killed instantly, the fully restored 1957 Chevy totaled beyond repair.
Johanna stifled a scream. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. "Oh my God, Mack. Do you know what this means?"
Mack nodded his head slowly as he stood up. A granite look settled on his face. "I know exactly what this means, we have to go," he said as he got up to exit the room.
"Wait! Mack, they think we died in that horrible accident. When I looked back I did see a turquoise car on it's side. They must have burnt up beyond recognition and everyone just assumes it was us," Johanna said, her voice on the verge of shrieking. "We need to tell everyone we are okay."
Mack just shook his head. "Come on," he said and headed for the front door.
Johanna followed assuming he meant to go find their family and friends and let them know they were fine. They slid in the seat and Mack started the car. He stared at the gas gage and shook his head. "See?" he said nodding to the gas gage.
Johanna's eyes followed to see the gas needle still hovering near the F mark. "What?" She shook her head. Why was he concerned with the gas when they needed to go find their family.
"We didn't stop once on the way home. We didn't stop to use the restroom or eat. We didn't stop for gas, not since we were driving to Harper's Island the day we married, before we passed that intersection," Mack said.
"I don't understand," Johanna said shaking her head.
"We just need to go," Mack said as he backed out of the driveway and they drove back into town.
The traffic was still heavy. Mack still couldn't see past the windows of the cars, even when under the street lights. He didn't like it. He turned into the cemetery.
"What are you doing?" Johanna demanded. "We need to find our family." She was on the verge of screaming.
"Just hush, I need to see this for myself," Mack said. They crept up through the cemetery road slowly. Johanna looked at the people standing around the graves. Some were wearing clothing from a long time ago. They rounded a corner and she saw old Mrs. Perkins standing at a table. She smiled sweetly at the couple and waved. Johanna had trouble taking a breath for Mrs. Perkins had died some years back. She remembered going to the old woman's funeral as a teen. What was going on?
Mack pulled the car so the light illuminated a fresh new grave and a brand new white granite headstone. A double headstone carved in the shape of two hearts. Both of their names were engraved across the front with their dates of birth and the date of death being their wedding date. The inscription read Together in Heaven.
Johanna's hands came to her face; she felt tingles racing down her sides. "No, this can't be true," she whispered.
Mack exited the car so Johanna followed. They stood there staring down at the fresh grave and head stone. Flowers were still mounted around the area in pinks and yellows, their wedding colors. Gretchen Stiles walked up keeping her eyes on the couple. Johanna grabbed for Mack's hand and he pulled her close. Gretchen was a family friend who had died of cancer a few months prior to their wedding. Johanna swallowed hard.
"You understand now?" Gretchen asked. Her white gown fluttered in the breeze. She had filled back out, the cancer had taken everything she had physically for she had died a small shell of her former self.
"Yeah," Mack said nodding. He looked from Gretchen to the gravestone.
"I don't," Johanna said. "It's a mistake." She started to cry softly.
"What don't you understand, sweetie?" Gretchen asked.
"This," Johanna said. She didn't want to believe it true. "It's a mistake. It was another couple. Burned beyond recognition. Clearly we are here in the car."
"No dear," Gretchen said. "Do you think it a bit coincidence that another car just like that crashed right as you went through the intersection? You were not burned. Both of you are there, well your physical bodies are. Have you seen anyone alive?"
"Indeed we did," Johanna said nodding her head frantically. "We saw Joe."
"And did Joe see you?"
Mack took a deep breath. "No, he didn't." He turned to his wife. "Honey, don't you get what happened? We didn't make it. We died in that crash. It was us."
Johanna stifled a cry and shook her head. Gretchen smiled and started to back up. "What do we need to do? I don't want to stay here," Johanna said. Gretchen shrugged.
"You need to go back," Gretchen said as she faded from their
view.
Mack pulled Johanna back to the car. "Come on, we need to go," he said as he opened her door.
Johanna slid into the car feeling the cool leather seats. It seemed real to her however realization sunk in slowly. The sensations she experienced just prior to the wreck, as if time were slowing down and standing still. The raindrop that had hit the window followed by the sensations of hearing metal grate against metal and crumble, glass breaking, screaming, gurgling, and then brief blackness and yet they had sailed right through the scene.
She shook her head as Mack maneuvered the car out of the cemetery and back on the main road to out of town. Now he understood the odd opaque windows of the vehicles on the road. They weren't the only ones dead. They drove on out of town when the other strange vehicles became sparse. Mack rather liked not seeing the others in this way.
Johanna instinctively knew where Mack steered the car. They drove along the same highway as before, speeding along with the road to themselves finally. Mack gazed at the gas gage and chuckled.
Johanna followed his stare and sure enough the needle pointed to F. Of course, now it made sense. The need for gas stopped after they had experienced the wreck on the way. They never crossed another car. The only person they encountered was the old captain. The old captain, gruff with years of weathering, yet he had perfect white teeth and bright blue eyes. It seemed