Highway I80

 It was 7 o'clock when the covered van stopped in front of the gas station. There was the light of day around. Yet there were no people anywhere in this city, even during this day. Houses, roads, gas stations, departmental stores everything was there, but where were the people? After looking very carefully, the existence of people was understood. The name of the city is written in capital letters on the signboard, Lovelock city. A small city in the state of Nevada, USA. Beautiful as the picture, but completely secluded. A touch of life in the middle of the desert. The gas station was on the other side of the highway and on the other side was the main locality of the town. And on the opposite side of the road, the horizon of the desert stretches out to the sand dunes, distant hills, and cactus groves along the highway. I parked the van and walked toward the girl sitting at the station. I asked the girl, ‘Excuse me. I have a favor to ask you. ’ The girl answered, ‘Sure. What is it? ’ ‘I am wondering if there is any good restaurant around.’ ‘Oh yes. There is a McDonald’s shop. ’ ‘Could you show me the way to it?’ ‘Go down to the corner and turn right.’ ‘go straight ahead until you come to a traffic light. Turn left there. It’s the second or third house on your right. ’ ‘Thank you for your help.’ ‘Tell me if there is anything I can do for you.’ ‘Fill it up with regular please.’ ‘All right. Any other problems? ’ ‘I don’t know much about it. What’s your idea? ’ ‘Should I take a look at your battery?’ ‘No, thanks. How much do I owe you? ’ “That’s $10. ’ ‘You’re from New York, aren’t you?’ ‘Yes, that’s right.’ ‘You are not looking happy. What’s the matter? ’ ‘Oh, nothing special. I have no friends here. As beautiful as this city was, I felt so tired at times. There are no people with whom I can speak two words. There are few neighbors, but they are not friendly. Although I have only been here for a few days, I have not spoken to them except "good morning" or "good evening". I doubt not more than 500 people live here. Who would know that Las Vegas, one of the most spectacular places in the world, is only a few hours away from here? ’ ‘Then why have you come here?’ ‘I didn't want to leave New York. The previous station in charge has suddenly disappeared, that's why the boss has sent me here. ' 'A good suggestion for you. You need a holiday. ' 'Well, it's not possible. I can't go anywhere if I want. I have to work here all day. ' 'Ok, I have to go, bye! ' 'Nice to meet you.'

There were sitting arrangements outside of the Starbucks coffee shop in Lovelock. It was great to sit there and see the city shining with lights in the evening. It has not been a week since I joined this new job. Covered van driver job in a courier company. I used to work as a delivery man in the same company, But the salary was not enough for me. That's why when the driver post became empty I immediately joined it. I used to have a helper with me till now. But he suddenly fell sick and I have to deliver the goods. I left Oregon city at 10 am loaded with goods. After driving continuously for 8 hours and 30 minutes, I was very hungry. So I took a break here. The goods have to be delivered to Las Vegas after another 7-hour journey. There is no rest in between. The goods should be delivered tomorrow morning. If I am late, my salary will be deducted.

Thinking about this, I was watching one by one the lights turning off. At 8 o'clock at night, looking outside the circle of city lights, the desert hides its mystery in a cloak of darkness. Sometimes cars were passing out at high speed on the highway. Neon signboard lights across the street, casino on the opposite side, McDonald's on the other side. The clown statue of McDonald's on the roadside was clearly visible. Looking at it, I remembered the conversation with that girl. The girl asked me, 'Where did you come from? ' 'Oregon city', I replied to her. 'Where will you stay at night? ' 'I will not stay here at night. The goods should be delivered to Las Vegas tomorrow morning. After a 1-hour rest, I will start again. ' 'Then be careful. It is not safe here to drive at night. ' 'Why, what happened? There are too many thieves here? ' 'That means you don't know anything. It was in the news a few days ago. 'What should I know? And what's in the news? ' 'Ok, Then I am describing the whole thing to you. ' Saying this she began to describe me.

'The official name of this highway is Interstate 80. Which is commonly known as I80. From Newjersy to San Fransisco this highway is 2902 miles long and is one of America's proudest highway projects. The part that stretches through the northern part of the state of Nevada is almost entirely uninhabited desert except for a couple of small towns like this city. That's why this part of the highway is called The Big Lonely. There is no count how many lone tourists who may have attempted to cross the region by car have mysteriously disappeared over the past forty years. Local people have various theories about this mysterious disappearance. Some say it is miraculous and others say that the loneliness of the desert in the dark of the night created pressure on the minds of these people for which they willingly entered the desert and lost their way there forever. The police do not believe in the supernatural theory and there are some obstacles in the way of believing the second theory.'

'Thanks for your concern. But I don't believe this stuff. ' 'For the past few weeks, on the way to Las Vegas from Lovelock bodies have been found lying on the highway in the morning. It is as if someone killed him at night. The whole body is intact, with only a hole near the chest, the heart was missing. It looks like someone has eaten it. ' 'Any animal will do. What does the PM report say? Did the police say anything? ' 'The police say that if it was done by animals, there would be marks on the body. The whole dead body is intact. But the report found that people's hearts were removed alive.'

The imaginary picture of those unfortunate people who were swallowed alive by this highway flashed before my eyes. My body goosebumps as I gazed at the darkened stretch of highway ahead. Will this highway swallow me alive or will someone find my lifeless body on this highway tomorrow morning?

When I start the van it was 8:30. I turned on the van radio to forget the worries. After driving for 15 minutes, a Hitchhiker signaled to stop the van. I stopped the van, and the man asked for a lift to the next locality. I agreed, better to have someone with me when driving alone on this lonely highway. Moreover, I was very scared to hear all these ghost stories. The man's clothes were plain but dirty and his hair was disheveled. The weariness caused by the long journey was evident on the face. I asked him, 'Where are you going? ' He replied, 'I'm not sure. However, I went on a seven-day trip. I will go where the path leads. After seven days, I will return home. ' ' Why are you out on the street at night? You can stay anywhere. I heard the place is not safe. ' 'I have also heard, but I am not afraid of these. Not everyone knows how adventurous, it is to travel at night in such secluded places. I just want to enjoy life.'

Just then my van collided with something on the road. Listening to him, I took my eyes off the road. I thought it was an accident. I quickly opened the door and got out of the van. This man also got down from the van with me. But where? There is nothing. Immediately someone hit the back of my head very hard. I groaned in pain. Looking back, I saw the man who took the lift in the van was holding a thick stick in his hand. I lost consciousness before I could understand anything.

When I regained consciousness, my hands and feet were tied and I was laying on the highway. And the two men were robbing my van. Gradually everything became clear to me. In fact, they were robbers, robbing at night on deserted highways. One wants a lift, and another arranges the car to stop. At that time something jumped on one of them. Seeing this scene, the other screamed and ran away in fear. I could not see properly in the dark. I only saw that something like an animal was leaning on the man. And heard some strange eating sound. I became thunder in fear. I remembered what the girl said to me. I desperately tried to untie myself. But I could not do anything.

The animal stopped eating and looked back at me. Now I could see him clearly in the light of the car's headlight. It is neither animal nor human. But most likely look like a human being, its body was brown in color or maybe sand was stuck all over its body. It had a head like a human, but without any hair. The eyes were egg-shaped and large as eggs but yellow. The teeth were like those of a wolf, protruding and blood pouring out of them. Its four arms and legs were very thin and long. Leaning on them, he was coming towards me like a lizard. As he moved away, I saw a hole in the man's chest and fresh blood was pouring out of it. The man's eyes were open and wide-eyed.

I couldn't sense anything. I just saw how slowly he was coming towards me and waiting for my death.