#we hate greg

Greg rolled his eyes again, leaning back in his seat. He watched the road again, before the silence got the better of him and he asked. “So the spirit... How did it get there?” Marty tapped the wheel of the truck with his thumb. “Depends on who you ask, but the story goes something along the lines of this. There was a woman walking along the road and it was dark and rainy. A guy stopped his car to offer her a ride and, again, stories vary on what he did, but she ended up dead.”

Marty glanced at Greg, before looking back to road. “They say she’s still out there, protecting wandering travellers, always watching. If you respect her, she will just scare you off, but if you don't they say that she gives you what you deserve, whatever that means. Either way, I'm not willing to fuck around and find out.”

Greg scoffed again, and the two men sat in awkward silence for the rest of the trip.

~~

Finally getting to the cheap, shitty motel, they got comfortable, Marty laying on the bed and pulling out his phone. He went out to have a smoke and call his husband. A sweet, loving, low voice, gentle pet names and professions of love filtered through the walls.

'Ugh, it's gonna make me throw up if I have to listen to Marty say “I love you…” one more time.' Greg thought.

When he came back inside, Greg imitated Marty. “Oh, I love you James, oooooh, I loooooove you soooo much. If I had to say that to anyone I’d throw myself off the nearest cliff.” Marty’s cheeks went a light shade of pink before he smirked. “And that, Greg is why you’re divorced and I'm not.”

Greg scowled, before flopping onto his bed. He should buy a prostitute and have her right here, right in front of Marty, to get back at him. He could have any girl he wanted. After googling for a while he scowled. 'Damn whores 'round here used to be cheap, but the stupid boom made 'em all greedy.'

At least that’s what Greg's opinion of the matter was, and he wasn’t prepared blow an entire paycheque on dumb payback.

~~

The next morning, Greg awoke first, looking at the sleeping Marty. He went outside for a few cigarettes before re-entering the room and waking the snoring Marty with a pillow thrown at his head. “Wake up, you fat bastard. The day’s a-wasting.” Marty groaned, rolling out of bed and trudging into the bathroom to have a shower.

Soon they were on the road again. The town they were dropping the shipment off to was where Marty lived, so he had offered to do the drive over if Greg did the drive back up to where they had started.

Greg didn't mind Marty. Sure, he was a bit annoying, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut. (Unbeknownst to Greg, Marty was the only driver who had the patience to put up with him.)

~~

James was waiting at the depot for Marty to return. They held each other like they hadn’t seen the other in decades.

“Calm down, he was gone for 4 days.” Greg grumbled, getting back into the truck cabin. Marty bid him goodbye, wishing him a safe journey back and set off with his husband back to his perfect life.

“Stupid Marty with his stupid husband and stupid happy family and money and house and…” He scoffed, Marty could go suck his stupid husbands dick for all he cared, Greg was fine on his own.

But the comment Marty had made last night though, it had struck a cord deep within Greg. He didn’t know why, Marty always busted his balls about being divorced, but it just stung last night. Maybe it was cause he figured Marty might actually have been right?

Rachel had left him saying he was a grumpy, lazy oaf who was never home and when he was he was sleeping or drunk. Marty actually seemed to have his life together… Sure, maybe he needed a gym membership, but he seemed happy about… everything. How he looked, what he did, where he lived, who he was with… It made Greg jealous as he set off into the mountains, ready to get home to his messy, smelly bachelor's pad...

The day was beginning to fade as Greg passed into the forest again. He saw the statue Marty had waved at. Scoffing at it, Greg raised his hand, flipping the statue off and laughing loudly through his open window. “Dumb statute! Ohhhh the ghost’s angry noooooow! What ya gonna do, eat me?!” He cackled, patting his belly and burping loudly.

Maybe the trip back wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

Rain began to fall, spattering fat drops of water across the windshield. Greg groaned, slowing down and turning on the wipers.

~~

Maya shivered as she walked along the road. It had started raining a while ago, but now, with the dark it was getting really cold. She also couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched… stalked maybe? This forest gave her the creeps.

She had managed to hitchhike into the closest town, but decided to walk through the night in the hopes to get the worst part of the trip done now. Pulling her jacket closer around herself as she shivered again, her teeth began chattering loudly.

A light illuminated the road behind her, causing her to spin around and stick out a thumb. The large semi-trailer beeped at her, before pulling over some distance away. “Oh, thank God.” She mumbled as she scrambled towards the truck.

As she neared, she could see a short, fat, bearded man leaning against the truck's cabin, wrapped in a warm jacket and smoking a cigarette. He tipped his chin at her as she drew nearer and smiled. His teeth there stained and rotten, probably from the years of smoking and drinking pop, given the fact a few were missing and broken.

“What are you doing hiking out here in this weather?” He asked, flicking the stub of his cigarette to the ground and grinding it into the road with a big, bulky boot.

Maya hesitated, unsure of what she should say. “Uh, I’m travelling. I didn’t have a car so I’m thumbing rides where I can. Are you heading to Jones Creek by any chance?”

The name of the small town sparked some recognition in the man’s eyes. “Yeah, driving through. Why need a ride?” Maya nodded.

She had hitched with truckers before, they were always nice and their cabins were warm and dry… better than this weather.

~~

Greg stared at the soaked girl as he lit another cigarette. He turned the forming thoughts in his mind. It wouldn’t be the first time he had done it. The people were usually… compliant enough, if they were desperate. But tonight he was in a bad mood, he needed to let off some steam.

If this was his chance, he was going to take it, whether this girl liked it or not. She was young, quite easy on the eyes, he wouldn’t be long.

“I’ll drive ya.” He began, before a smirk curled on his lips. “For a price…” His drawling words seemed to create a tension in the air.

The young woman’s face changed slightly, looking slightly concerned.

“What?” She was curt now, less smiley and happy. She took a step back and Greg took a step forward. “Uh, you know, I think I’m okay, actually.” She took another nervous step back, but Greg wasn’t having it. “Come on, it won’t hurt. Besides, Jones Creek is a long way from here, and in this rain… I’d feel bad leaving you here. There aren’t many cars around these parts… It might be a while before someone comes by.” He grinned again, the cigarette dangling from his lips as his hands drifted to his belt buckle.

The girl knew it was a veiled threat.

“No.” She said, her voice firm. “Fuck off, creep. I’m not gonna…” She grimaced at the thoughts in her head.

Turning, she decided to walk back down the mountain. Greg knew couldn’t follow in his truck, the road was way too narrow for him to turn it around, the bitch was trying to escape him, but he could stop that. His heavy footsteps sounded behind her, as she whirled around, pulling out the pocket knife from her pocket. “I said leave me alone!” She jabbed it in Greg's direction. “Go away, you creep!”

Greg scowled as the woman turned as began to jog down the hill. He was going to have her. He wasn’t going to be told no.

Spitting out his cigarette, he began running after her again. His wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her waist as dragged her, kicking and screaming back towards the truck.

All this was making him more and more excited.

“Come on, be good for me now. Scream all you want, no one will hear you.” He cooed in her ear as the rain began to ease. He tried to force her into the cabin of the truck, but she wriggled out of his grip and kicked him between the legs, stabbing him in the arm with her knife.

Greg howled and let go of her. “Bitch! I’m gonna teach you a lesson for that!”

His hands flashed rapidly, grabbing her neck and holding her against the truck, the knife falling from her hands. He pushed her throat shut as she gasped and tried to fight off his hands, but she couldn’t.

~~

Maya could feel her face beginning to tingle as she gasped for oxygen. ‘No…’ she thought. ‘I can’t die, not like this… oh fuck, please no…’ She forced herself to look at him, hoping that a spark of humanity could be seen in his cold, dead eyes.

Nothing.

Maya’s arms grew heavy as the man grinned, her strength leaving her. As spots began appearing in her vision, she could have sworn to hear a woman’s gentle, echoing hum emanating from the woods. It was comforting, making her feel safe… she looked around for the source of the humming, but there was nothing except the dark silhouettes of trees standing guard over her, watching her die.

The humming grew louder, undulating between low notes and high… Somber and triumphant, yet somehow threatening…

The man’s rough fingers loosened slightly from around her neck. His eyes narrowed slightly, he could hear it too.

~~

Greg squinted as he listened through the slowing rain. The forest seemed to be singing, humming, something. It was like a woman was humming in the trees just off the road. He looked into the young woman’s scared, tearful eyes. She could hear it too… He watched as here eyes flickered through the trees behind him, desperately hoping that whoever was humming would find them.

Greg watched as her eyes seemed to lock onto a figure, except they grew wide with fear. He turned to see too, a chill running down his spine.

It was large and round shadow was padding through the trees… It looked like a massive bear…

The bear’s silhouette rose to it’s hind legs, taking a step forward out of the shadows. A pale woman was illuminated in the full moon’s light as the world suddenly went very still. There was a gentle breeze blowing through the air but the trees didn't move, remaining stoic and silent, not even rustling their leaves.

The woman's limp, black hair looked dull and dry, her cheeks and eyes were hollow and lips pale and thin as they parted slightly, humming the sinister song. She looked like a corpse had decided to go for a walk.

She continued to walk, holding a large, fur blanket around her body. It looked like a bear skin. Her eyes were dull and clouded as she looked at the scene unfolding in front of her. Her eyes flicked between the two people, Greg’s hands falling from around Maya’s throat as he took a step back.

The ghost woman’s face smirked slightly as her eyes narrowed, locking onto his own. She took another soundless step towards him, holding her blanket tight around her as she hummed. Greg began to stumble back as she grinned, opening her mouth to reveal large, bear like fangs. Her clouded black eyes glinted as Greg tripped, falling on his butt, before he began pushing himself back, trying to get to the door of the cabin.

Maya ran, her neck aching as she panted. She heard the humming continue behind her, but didn’t look back, tears streaming down her face as she sprinted down the road.

~~

Greg looked up at the woman as she continued to step towards him. Her humming was beautiful and haunting, his stomach turning as she leaned over him, her hand slamming into his chest. Her dirty nails were long, hard and sharp, like claws as she shoved him against the ground.

‘Run.’ She whispered in his mind, faint as the wind. It was hollow and rough, sending a chill down Greg's spine. Her hand left his chest and Greg shot up, running into the trees. The woman growled, leaping forward to give chase.

Greg stumbled through the trees as he ran, terrified. “No…” He begged as he sprinted, “I can’t die, not like this… oh fuck, please no… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Please…”

He froze, skidding to a halt as a large, black bear materialised from the shadows in front of him. He turned and ran, only to see the bear walk between two trees, disappearing behind the second as if it walked through a doorway. Whirling around, every direction he tried to run, the bear was there, circling... closing in on him.

A gentle grunt and cloud of warm breath tickled the back of his neck as he took a step back, his stomach churning. It smelt like death itself was behind him…

Greg’s eyes went wide, turning to face the bear, as it began to hum again.

‘Scream all you want… no one will hear you…’ the ghost's hollow, husky voice cooed in his mind.

~~

Maya ran until she couldn't any longer. She came to a stop in the middle of the road, collapsing to the ground and panting hard. Holding her bruised throat, she began coughing and spluttering, trying to catch her breath.

Heaving herself up, she forced herself to continue staggering through the night, the light of the moon now smothered by cloud and the wind and rain returning.

She continued to walk for a few more meters, before the world became still around her again. Looking up, she saw the pale woman, almost glowing white in the center of the road. Her humming beginning again as she slowly walked towards Maya, her face serene as she drew close.

Maya wanted to run, but she couldn’t, enthralled by the beautiful figure in front of her and her equally beautiful, solemn song. As the woman reached her, she tucked a strand of Maya’s hair behind her ear. Her eyes were kind as she smiled softly, which Maya would be fine with, if the woman’s face and fur blanket weren’t stained with large splatters of blood.

The woman nodded at Maya, placing a cold, dead hand on her shoulder, before walking off into the trees, humming her song. Maya stood in the center of the road, mouth hanging open and staring after the ghost as two lights appeared from the dark behind her.

At first she was scared, thinking the man had come back, but instead a couple got out, an old man and woman. The woman walked up to Maya, brushing her arm, causing Maya to jump, looking at her, dazed.

“My darling are you alright?”

Tears brimmed in Maya’s eyes as she shook her head, the old man wrapping his arms around her and guiding her to the car. Soon she was wrapped in a blanket, being driven far away from the forest and the woman, even though her song still echoed loud and clear in her head as she fell asleep in the back seat.

~~

Marty stared at the empty truck on the road he knew well.

The police had taken him out to identify it, and it had confirmed his worst fears. Greg had disappeared into thin air and the police were desperate to find him after a woman had reported him for attacking her.

In the dawn light, Marty could see the silhouette of a figure standing amongst the trees, barely visible in the shadows. When he blinked, it was gone, but he knew.

They weren’t going to find Greg, someone else had found him first, and he couldn’t help but be slightly glad. He had liked Greg in the beginning, but over the years he had become a bitter, disgusting monster… and it seems like he finally met his match.

Nodding at the woods, Marty turned away, exhaling a shaking breath.

He could have sworn he heard a faint hum in the trees, just for a second.