The Midnight Runner

[JON]

A youth runs through a forest in the dead of night. Something [or someone] is pursuing him, and he’s petrified. Heart races, head pounds, whole body aches. His skin and clothes are slashed by branches, the cuts sting. He keeps looking over his shoulder. He literally stumbles onto a path. But, despite being near collapse, he daren’t stop.

The path twist to the left. But he loses his footing, and tumbles down a steep bank. Into the path of an oncoming car. He staggers to his feet, and turns. Headlights blind him, and.... The last thing the driver sees is a face frozen in terror. A loud bang. But the youth doesn’t feel the impact, or any pain. Just a sense of peace.

The car screeches to a halt, and the driver leaps out. Finding the youth's dead, they panic. The body is wrapped up, and bundled into the boot. The car speeds away.

Over the next few months the police receive identical ‘accident’ reports involving a youth being hit. Though no body is ever found on the road. Sergeant Jake Cutter has gone through them many times, like the two other files on his desk:

1) A Missing Person File on a Reuben Masters [15], who disappeared from his home one night, several months ago. And never returned.
2) A weird file. Motorists’ roadside ‘sightings’, over several months, of a ‘wrapped’ or ‘shrouded figure’.
Jake also has a map, and has circled and numbered three sites. Reuben’s home. The ‘accident’ location. And that of ‘the shroud man’. There’s got to be a connection. He stubs out another cigarette. The tray is full. He rubs his weary eyes. Jake needs concrete proof before he can take his 'theory' to his boss…. So he decides on an 'experiment'. He goes equipped to both sites: sound equipment, camera, lamps, sandwiches etc. What he ‘discovers’ really freaks him out.

Site 2: At about 10 PM he ‘witnesses’ the fatal collision. But while the youth is clearly visible, the vehicle and its driver are not! Yet the recording equipment picks up its noises - the impact, footsteps, doors and boot opening and closing, etc. Car speeding off. Jake marks the collision spot with an X.

Site 3: Here again the vehicle is unseen, just noises. Sounds of digging, and something being used to line the hole. A bundle in a blanket [or carpet] floats to it, and is dumped into it. Sounds of infilling, and leaves and twigs being used to hide the pit. The spade is returned to the car, and it speeds way. Once all is silent, Jake goes to investigate. He uncovers a patch of dark earth, and marks it with a makeshift cross.

He goes back to his car and radios in. Disbelief at the station. But his voice indicates it’s no joke. A while later two police cars pull up. With them are Crime Scene Investigators. In a shallow grave they find the body of a youth matching the ‘accident’ reports, and the missing boy. It is Reuben Masters! The body is wrapped in a blanket, and because of this, and the plastic sheeting, is not badly decomposed. His clothes are ripped, and there are wounds, bruises, and lacerations on his body. His hair is matted with dried blood.

Reuben’s parents are informed. It is Jake that is given the thankless task. Mr Masters makes the official identification. But Reuben’s hysterical mother stays at home being comforted by family, friends and a female officer. The autopsy found Reuben was killed instantly by internal injuries resulting from a violent impact. 'Accidental Death By Causes Unknown' is recorded.

Reuben is given a proper ‘Christian’ burial in the Cemetery near his home. The Church is packed. Not only family, friends and relatives. The police are also there. And the media, in droves. This sensational case has aroused great interest. And sites 2 and 3 become ‘pilgrimage destinations’ for all sorts of nuts and loops….

[Jennings]

Sounds like fiction, Jon. Looks as if you have a fertile imagination (if it is your creation) and a desire to express yourself in writing but then what's the difference between dreaming and fiction? Looks as if its author might have had a fairly strict upbringing or was its author the driver involved? Is this you coming out of your 'hidden bunker' somewhere in England while on Her Majesty's Secret Service?

[JON]

It is semi-autobigraphical. I was actually involved in a car accident about 5 years ago. I was on foot, and got knocked down by a car going too fast. The lead up and circumstances were not as dramatic as this, however. It happened during the day. And, of course, the outcome was very different. Well, obviously. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing this now!

But the characters are fictional. And wholly my creation. I think the dream was set somewhere in the USA. Though I have worked with the Police and Courts [for a while] here in Britain. [I've signed the Official Secrets Act three times.] But I'm not going to give an exact location, naturally....

Cheers, Jon.

[Jennings]

Thanks Jon for the feedback; I like your style!

[JON]

[i]Thanks Jon for the feedback; I like your style!

Thank you Jennings. Your comment is much appreciated. Judging by the viewing figures some of my postings have got, so do many others too!!

Cheers, Jon.

[Clarity]

Hi Jon

Having read your story I have to agree with Jennings! I love your style in writing. You have a very lucid imagination

[JON]

Hi Jon, Having read your story I have to agree with Jennings! I love your style in writing. You have a very lucid imagination

Thanks, Clarity.

Cheers, Jon

[vee]

Hi Jon,
Gosh! I thought it was a movie I hadn't seen. I was gonna ask you the name of it was. Good Job on the creation.
Vee

[JON]

Hi Jon, Gosh! I thought it was a movie I hadn't seen. I was gonna ask you the name of it was. Good Job on the creation. Vee

Thanks, Vee. My dreams usually have 'titles' like books and movies. This one had the same title as the posting. BTW, I wrote an anthology of stories [unpublished] based upon my dreams. The pen-name I used was 'The Midnight Runner'.

Talking of dreams with runners, I'm preparing to post a particularly nightmarish one, so watch this forum! I think my 'creative imagination' was really 'working apace' on it, and I'd like to know what you think....

Cheers, Jon