What felt like days later, I had finally re-typed all the data that I had lost earlier. There was no way I was going to lose this case over a technicality. Laid out in front of me was a perfectly worded settlement agreement to get my client everything they needed in their case against Clayfield Estates. I never thought I’d be a cooperate lawyer but here I was. I guess you could say I just love to argue and I have never been one to back down from a fight. Also, I’m pretty damn good at it, if I do say so myself.
I cracked my knuckles and looked out at the office expecting to see a few stragglers still meandering around, but the lights were out.
How long had I been typing for?
I checked the time again only to be surprised when I saw that it was 9:06 p.m.
“And that’s a wrap.” I closed my laptop and stood from my chair. I grabbed my jacket and threw it over my shoulders while picking up my purse. The lobby was dimly lit and not a single person was in sight. “First one in, Last one out.” All part of my five-year plan.
I took the elevator down to the parking garage and made my way passed the same security guard who had been there for the past three years. My heels clicked against the hard tile with each step. I passed several empty parking spots before I arrived at my car. Consistency was easier for me, so I always liked to park in the same spot. G7. I pulled open the door and sat down in the driver's seat while flinging my purse to the opposite side. Backing out of the spot, I briefly nodded at the security guard and zoomed out of the parking garage. It only takes me exactly thirteen minutes to make it home but for some reason, it felt like the drive was longer tonight. The roads were littered with cars and cops were present on what felt like every corner. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t rush hour, the traffic was still horrendous. While nearing a traffic light the color shifted from green to yellow as I slowed to a stop. Up ahead it looked like the traffic was worse. A brightly illuminated sign showed a large arrow with the words merge under it.
“Great,” I huffed.
A minute later the light changed to green as I forcibly merged into the left lane. While creeping down the road at a snail's pace, I came across a sign that said detour with a large “X” overtop. I couldn’t tell if this sign was supposed to be out or not but I noticed several people opting to follow it so I did as well.
“Better than waiting in this long line of god knows how many cars,” I mumbled.
I reversed slightly and rotated my wheel as far left as possible before pulling out to follow the previous cars. I didn’t make it very far though before a man holding a light-up baton waved his arms frantically from side to side. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to tell me something or if he was talking to someone else but whichever it was, frankly, I just didn’t care. So without a second thought, I drove into the opposing lane and took an immediate left. I glanced out the review mirror and saw the man with the baton still waving his arms like mad. Shaking my head, I just kept going and followed the detour signs. There were a lot of back roads involved and most of them were streets that I had never even heard of. The sign eventually led me to a large tunnel with uncemented gravel leading up to it. By this point, there were no other cars on the road. I slowed down and turned on my high beams just in time to make out small words plastered on the top of the tunnel.
Quarry Station Underpass.
As I drove into the tunnel, I noticed a few other cars driving in the opposite direction so I immediately flicked off my high beams. Every few feet there was a large metal light post anchored to the walls. I don’t know if this was an electrical issue or if it was a coincidence but every light that I passed would begin to flicker. Then, all of a sudden, one after another, the lights became to shut off in the order that I passed them. The first bulb just became dim. The second flickered before dying out. The third immediately turned off. Every time the light faded, the darkness grew increasingly closer. I watched out the rearview mirror as each light died out. In no mood to be trapped while driving in a pitch-black tunnel, I pressed on the accelerator and floored it. I could see the end of the tunnel grow nearer but the lamp posts refused to stop dying out. They seemed to be getting faster and faster. I pressed even harder on the gas. Now I was going 80mph. Just when I thought the darkness would consume me, I burst out of the tunnel but not before seeing the last bulb shatter above me as sparks flew across my windshield and the glass dropped onto my car.
“Oh my god,” I breathed out. It was only then that I realized my heart was racing. Looking out at the road, I lifted my foot from the accelerator and slowed to 40mph. I had no idea where the other car that was right in front of me was but when I came out of that tunnel, they were gone. For the rest of the journey home, I sat wondering what the hell was wrong with that tunnel and how I could sue the contractors for property damage.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
