MATTHEW TONKS Australian Horror Author

The wind gently blows through the car wreckage, whisking through the smoke that slowly drifts up from the engine, he slowly leans back in the seat and feels the warm flow of blood run down from his forehead, his arm feels hot, but for now, there is no pain. He looks across at the woman beside him and her lifeless, unorganisable eyes stare towards him, he studies her face for some times, trying to catch a glimpse of a memory of her, who was she, was she important to him, should he be upset she’s dead, but more importantly, as it keeps coming to him the whole time he stares at this stranger beside him, who is he? He forces his door open and crashes to the ground with a thud, for the next few minutes he wriggles and writhes on the ground as he feels nothing but pain from his arm, whatever he has done, falling out of the car door aggravated it to no end.

“You right there fella?” a voice yells out to him, he looks around and sees an old man with a long white bushy beard and a red and black patterned shirt on.

“Oh thank god, I thought I was going to die out here.”

“Take it easy, I’ll be down to you soon enough, how the hell did you manage to end up down here?”

“I have no idea,” he replies as he lets out a laugh of relief.

“Anyone else in the car?”

“A woman, but she’s gone.”

“Ah shit, you hold on, I’ll be down soon enough.”

He lies there waiting for the man to get down to him, “Thank god you came along, I don’t know how long I’ve been stuck down here and I don’t remember how it happened.”

“Don’t you worry boy, I’ll be down there soon enough and we’ll get you into town so the local doc can take a look at you,” the old man says, he hears the passenger door to the car open and he can just see the old man drag the woman’s body out of the car, the old man gives him a toothy smile. “I’ll be there in a minute boy.” Its then that he remembers the car swerving and the woman, Jane, her name was Jane. She was screaming at him as the truck smashed into their back again, he lost control, the car swerved and the steering wheel twisted out of his hands as the car smashed into the railing on the side of the road and leapt over the embankment. His eyes open wide with fear as he sees his face, the old mans, all twisted and deranged as he sits behind the steering wheel of the truck as it comes to a stop on the hill.

“You did this!” he screams as he old man comes from around the side of the car, an axe in one hand, and Jane’s body over his shoulder.

“Come on now son, don’t be like that,” he says as the rolls Janes body off his should and it crashes into the ground and with one powerful swing drives the axe deep into his head. “You’ll taste better if you ain’t so afraid.”

 

END

 

Comments

19 responses to “Day 112 – Open Eyes – Short Story”

  1. James Avatar

    Steven Spielberg’s made for TV movie “Duel” (1971) starring Dennis Weaver but with a twist.

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      Haha, awesome 👍

      1. James Avatar

        It really is a good made for TV movie. I know the two terms sound mutually exclusive, but this is early Spielberg we’re talking about. I don’t know if “Duel” is available to watch streamed or as a DVD, but if you can find it (assuming you’ve never seen it before, it’s quite old), I highly recommend it. **SPOILER ALERT** The protagonist isn’t eaten at the end.

      2. Matthew Tonks Avatar

        I couldn’t agree more, there are some classic made for TV movies that have managed to transcend the dog tag of being classed as made for TV, Duel is one of them. I had the pleasure of co-hosting a radio show for Edge Radio here in Tasmania on B Grade films for five years called How B Grade Movies Saved (Or Ruined) My Life, Duel featured on several of the shows if I remember correctly, along with many other cult classic movies.

  2. ladieswholunchreviews Avatar

    Ooh, gross *delighted shiver*

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      Haha, I think that means it worked right 😀

      1. ladieswholunchreviews Avatar

        Yes, exactly 🙂

  3. insidioustemptation Avatar

    Riveting!!!! 🙂

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      Thanks so much 👍

      1. insidioustemptation Avatar

        My pleasure. You are a very talented writer! I’m enjoying reading your posts…I’m going to have to go back through the older ones and read as well 🙂 Great work!! (omg…am I sounding like a cheerleader??! lol😉)

      2. Matthew Tonks Avatar

        Haha, oh no, that’s the joke?!

  4. Devil Doll Musings Avatar

    Echoes of Wolf Creek there, nicely done.

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      Haha, I was going for something like that I guess 👍

  5. teaismyjam Avatar

    That was an amazing story! I’d love to know how it came about and deranged things about the old man too!

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      I don’t know if he should ever turn up again as you know now what he’s about… But then again…

  6. Daisy in the Willows Avatar

    Wow! didn’t see that coming.

    1. Matthew Tonks Avatar

      Haha, beware of strangers when everyone is one 👍

  7. Matthew Tonks Avatar

    Thanks so much, I wanted to do a crazy outback car chase, and instead got the end, I liked how it worked out. Thanks for enjoying it 👍

  8. cj blogspot Avatar

    That was so engaging. I was glued to the screen till the end. Keep it up.

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