FrightBaby

The sun was high, casting its warm glow over the blacktop of US Route 9 as Simon Whitaker drove leisurely along the highway. It was the kind of perfect day he hadn't experienced in months—a cloudless blue sky, a subtle breeze rustling the trees lining the road, and the gentle hum of his car as it cruised smoothly.

Simon felt at peace for the first time in what felt like forever. Life hadn't been kind to him lately, and this drive, with its uninterrupted stretch of open road, was a rare solace. With one hand resting on the steering wheel and the other tapping rhythmically on the armrest, he allowed himself to revel in the simplicity of the moment.

The soft country playlist on his radio began to lull him into a near-trance, his eyes lazily scanning the expanse of the road ahead. Until... something odd caught his eye in the distance.

At first, he thought it was a trick of the light. A shadow, maybe? Or a group of trees casting an odd silhouette? But as he drew closer, Simon's stomach twisted. Whatever it was, it wasn't stationary. It was moving.

A Presence on the Horizon

The figure on the horizon was unlike anything Simon had ever seen. It towered impossibly high, its sheer size dominating the landscape. The sky itself began to change, the bright azure morphing into a sickening, bloody orange as if the sun had ruptured and bled across the heavens.

Simon's knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. He slowed his car instinctively, his breathing shallow as he squinted at the monstrous figure.

The thing—whatever it was—wore a tattered black cloak that billowed and rippled in an unfelt wind. Its edges were jagged and shredded, as though it had been dragged through endless centuries of decay. The cloak hung off a form that was somehow both solid and formless, a paradox that defied comprehension.

Simon's breath caught in his throat as he realized the figure had no face. Where a head should have been, there was only an expanse of swirling, void-like darkness. And yet, he felt its gaze on him—piercing, burning, and impossibly ancient.

Simon slammed on the brakes, his tires screeching as the car came to a halt in the middle of the road. He leaned forward, his heart pounding as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

Then, the impossible happened.

The road beneath his car began to move.

At first, it was subtle—a slight ripple, like a breeze blowing over a ribbon. But as Simon stared in mounting horror, the blacktop began to warp and stretch.

The enormous figure bent down—its long, skeletal hands emerging from the shredded cloak. The hands were grotesquely large, their bony fingers tipped with jagged, cracked nails. One hand reached for the road, and Simon's mind recoiled as the thing picked up the highway.

The road, once solid and firm, now twisted and flopped in the creature's grip like a strip of ribbon. The monstrous figure began to pull the road toward itself, its movements slow but deliberate, as though reeling in a fishing line.

Simon's car jerked forward, dragged slightly as the road shifted beneath him. He was paralyzed with fear, his thoughts a chaotic mess.

"This isn't real. It can't be real," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling.

But the growing nausea in his gut told him otherwise.

Panic Sets In.

Simon snapped back to his senses when the car jolted forward again. The creature's pulling grew more impatient, the road coiling unnaturally like a torn strip of fabric. The car was being dragged closer.

"No," Simon muttered, slamming the gear into reverse. "No, no, no!"

He stomped on the gas, the engine roaring as the car lurched backward. Simon twisted in his seat, looking over his shoulder to navigate as he sped down the road in reverse.

The landscape behind him was warped and alien now. The trees lining the highway seemed to stretch unnaturally tall, their branches curling like claws. The once-clear sky was now a chaotic swirl of orange and crimson, and the air felt heavier, thicker—almost unbreathable.

He stole a glance forward, and his blood ran cold.

The creature's impatience was palpable. Its bony hands yanked the road with more force now, the blacktop folding and curling like a crumpled piece of paper. The car shuddered violently as it was dragged another few feet toward the thing.

Simon pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the tires screeching as the car sped backward. He kept his eyes on the rearview mirror, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

But there was no escape.

The towering figure seemed to grow larger with each passing moment, its shredded cloak swallowing the horizon. The road twisted unnaturally beneath Simon's car, bending and folding as if rejecting the laws of physics.

Simon's thoughts raced. What is this thing? Why is this happening?

As he glanced forward again, his heart nearly stopped.

The creature had stopped pulling the road. Instead, it was crouched low, its faceless void tilted in his direction. It was as if it were... watching him, studying his desperate attempts to flee.

And then it moved.

The figure's body shifted, its form bending and contorting in ways that made Simon's stomach churn. It reached out again, its massive hand hovering above the car. For a moment, Simon thought it might crush him, but instead, it snapped its fingers.

The sound was deafening, a crack that echoed through the distorted landscape. The road beneath the car rippled violently, sending the vehicle skidding uncontrollably.

Simon gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he tried to steady the car. But the road was no longer solid. It buckled and twisted beneath him, causing the car to swerve dangerously.

The creature stood tall again, its faceless void turning toward the horizon. With one swift motion, it lifted the entire road—a long, winding strip of blacktop rising into the air like a grotesque banner.

Simon's car tilted, the front end pointing downward as the road was lifted higher and higher. Gravity pulled at him, and he felt his stomach lurch as the car began to slide.

"No! No!" he screamed, slamming on the brakes. But it was useless. The tires screeched against the warped surface, unable to find any traction.

The car slid faster, hurtling toward the figure at an alarming speed.

Simon's screams filled the car as the vehicle raced toward the towering monstrosity. The creature's hands reached out, and for the first time, Simon noticed what lay beneath its cloak—a swirling mass of stars, galaxies, and voids.

The sight was mesmerizing and horrifying all at once, a cosmic expanse that seemed to stretch infinitely.

The car teetered on the edge of the road as it reached the figure, and for a brief moment, Simon locked eyes with the void where its face should have been.

And then, everything went dark.

When Simon opened his eyes, he was no longer in his car. He was lying on a solid black surface, surrounded by an endless expanse of darkness.

The creature loomed above him, its faceless void glowing faintly with the light of distant stars. Its cloak billowed around it, and Simon felt as though he were staring into the heart of the universe itself.

The figure reached down, its massive hand hovering above him. This time, it didn't grab or crush him. Instead, it gently pressed a single bony finger to his forehead.

Simon's mind exploded with visions—of galaxies being born and dying, of civilizations rising and falling, of horrors beyond comprehension. The weight of infinity pressed down on him, and he screamed as his sanity began to fracture.

When Simon woke again, he was back on US Route 9.

The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the road stretched peacefully before him. His car was parked on the shoulder, untouched.

But Simon knew it hadn't been a dream. The memory of the creature and its cosmic abyss was burned into his mind, and he could still feel the weight of its gaze.

As he drove away, he couldn't shake the feeling that the creature was still watching, its faceless void lurking just beyond the edge of reality.