"The Toll" part II
Jerry walked into the small diner and looked around. There were only a few patrons in the place and they all looked bored and half asleep. It was an old 1950’s style diner with a bar you could sit at and watch the cook make your meal. But food wasn’t Jerry’s mission. He was in a hurry and needed directions. Behind the bar was an old man wearing a dirty apron and a cook’s hat. Jerry walked quickly over to the bar.
“Excuse me” he said trying to get the man’s attention. The man looked over at him and had on a creepy mask. Jerry stopped suddenly when he saw the mask. The old man began to laugh as he took the mask off.
“Happy Halloween, young fella’” the old man greeted heartily.
Jerry then remembered what night it was. All Hallows Eve.
“Didn’t mean to give you a fright” the old man said holding the mask up on his hand like a puppet, “not much else to do on a night like this.”
“It’s quite alright” Jerry replied trying to bring the conversation to an end.
“I used to love Halloween when I was a youngster, used to scare all the pretty girls in the neighborhood” he said with a wink.
“Sorry, I am in a bit of a hurry” Jerry quickly interrupted.
“What can I get ya?” he asked setting the mask down.
“I don’t need anything” Jerry replied, “I just need to make sure I am on the right road.”
“Well that depends on where you’re headin’” the old man said with a joking grin.
“I’m on my way to Coalsville” Jerry replied.
“Coalsville, well that road will get you there, still got a few hours’ drive though” the old cook explained.
“A few hours?” Jerry asked, “is there a quicker route?”
“There is another road, but it is a bit dangerous” the old man warned.
“I’m a courier for the hospital” Jerry explained quickly, “I have medicine I have to get to Coalsville as quickly as possible, or people are going to die.”
“You could take Old Bridge Road, but I warn you, you gotta pay the toll” the old cook proclaimed.
“Toll road?” Jerry inquired, “that’s fine.”
“But you also gotta be careful” the cook continued, “it’s a dangerous road, had a fella last week drive off and hit a tree, killed him dead.”
“I’ll be careful, could you show me where it is?” Jerry asked showing him his road map.
The old man marked on the map where Old Bridge Road was and Jerry was quickly on his way. In the back seat of his car was a sealed box of medicine. A lifeline for the sick people of Coalsville.
Jerry’s car turned down the dark street and sped up the winding road. He was hoping to save himself at least thirty minutes. He had been driving a few miles when he came across a large dark shadow standing in the middle of the road. He slammed on his breaks and hit the horn. The shadow didn’t move. He quickly got out of the car and yelled at the dark roadblock.
“Could you please move” he yelled, “I’m in a terrible hurry.”
His pleading was answered with silence. He studied the unmoving figure and guessed this must have been what the old man meant as a toll. Was this some kind of Halloween joke? He had not time for such games.
“Please, I do not want to harm you, but if you do not move I will be forced to push you out of the way with my car” Jerry threatened in a serious tone.
Of course, he wasn’t serious. He had no intension of running this person over, but he did hope that his threat would frighten them off the road. But again, the placid form just stood there in the road like a statue.
“Fine” Jerry said impatiently. He quickly got back into his car and stepped on the gas. His car moved quickly towards the figure but no fear was shown. Jerry quickly slammed on the breaks stopping just inches from the cloaked form. It didn’t even take a step backwards. Hell, it made no movement at all. Jerry was dumbfounded. He had no idea what to do next. All that the hospital worker knew was that time was of the essence. He had to get this medicine to Coalsville. He sighed and got out of the car, leaving the engine running.
“Look, I don’t know what you want, but I have to get to Coalsville” Jerry asserted angrily as he walked towards the front of the car, and the ominous figure.
The dark figure extended a white, boney hand from the shadows of his cloak. The toll, Jerry thought to himself, he had forgotten about the toll.
“You want money?” Jerry asked impatiently as he dug his wallet out of his back pocket, “how much do you want?”
He extends a handful of wadded bills in the direction of the toll taker. The waiting hand is
closed slowly into a fist and backed away back into the void of darkness. Jerry looked at the shadowy figure with confusion. Why wouldn’t it accept his money?
“What is wrong?” he asked with shock, “why don’t you want my money?”
The figure responded by throwing something at the feet of the hospital worker. Jerry looked down and saw a large knife lying next to his shoe. The blade was silver and about eight inches in length. The handle was made of bone. Jerry couldn’t help but admire its beauty. But why did he throw it at his feet. He looked up at the toll taker.
“What am I supposed to do with that?” Jerry asked.
The figure stepped aside revealing to Jerry the three captive figures kneeling on the dark pavement. It was a woman, a small boy, and a young girl. They were all bound by their ankles and hands. Gags were placed in their mouths to prevent their screams, although Jerry could still hear their sobs. He looked over at the figure with wide eyes.
“What the hell is this?” he shouted in shock.
The figure pointed to the knife and then slowly pointed to the three captives. Jerry knew
now what he wanted. He wanted blood. Jerry shook his head.
“No way, man” he said, “I’ll take the long way, the hell with your back road.”
He turned and rushed back to the car door and then looked back at the figure, “I’m also
going to the cops!”
Jerry quickly got into his car and threw the gears into reverse. He slammed his foot on the gas and the car moved backwards. The shadow watched as the car pulled away. A bony hand again moved out from the dark void of the cloaks. It waved from left to right in some sort of magical gesture. The speeding car swerved slightly from left to right but then straightened itself back on the road and the lights disappeared into the horizon.
Back in the diner, the cook is whistling a soft tune as he wipes down the counter with a rag. There are still a handful of bored patrons occupying a few seats. The door to the diner opens and Jerry walks in slowly. He looks around the diner and then walks over to one of the empty tables. He sits down and stares straight ahead. The cook looks at him curiously and then walks over to him.
“I thought you were in a big hurry fella” the cook said looking down at his returning customer.
Jerry looked up at him with confusion, “why would I be in a hurry?”
“I don’t buddy, you said you had to go to the hospital” the cook replied.
“Hospital” Jerry asked trying to remember, “am I sick?”
The cook chuckles and throws his towel up over his shoulder, “what can I getcha’?
Jerry shakes his head slowly, “I don’t know, I have no idea why I am here.”
In the back seat of Jerry’s car sat a box of medicine. The life line for the dying people in
the town of Coalsville. A life line that will never make it in time.
The toll had been paid…
Be sure to come back for the conclusion of The Toll….