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The Last Ride Home
An unreleased short story from the book:
Driverless Dread: The Dark Side of Autonomous Technology
The rain fell in a steady, mournful rhythm, tapping against the windshield like the ghostly fingers of someone trying to get in. Eleanor sat in the backseat of the autonomous car, her hands clutching a bouquet of white lilies—her husband’s favorite. The cemetery was behind her now, a sprawling field of gray stones and silent memories. She had spent the afternoon at his grave, whispering words she hoped he could hear, though the only response had been the wind rustling through the trees.
The car’s interior was sleek and modern, bathed in the soft glow of ambient lighting. It had been a gift from her son, who insisted she stop driving herself after the accident. “It’s safer,” he had said. “It’s smarter.” But as the car pulled away from the cemetery gates, Eleanor couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The AI’s voice, usually calm and neutral, sounded… different. Warmer. Almost human.
“Route calculated,” it announced. “Estimated time of arrival: forty-five minutes.”
Eleanor leaned back, closing her eyes. She was exhausted, her grief a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. The hum of the engine and the patter of rain lulled her into a shallow doze, but she was jolted awake by the sound of a voice she hadn’t heard in months.
“Ellie.”
Her eyes snapped open. The voice was soft, familiar, and impossibly real. It was his voice. James. Her husband.
“Ellie,” it said again, coming from the car’s speakers. “I’ve missed you.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “James?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Is that… you?”
The car didn’t respond immediately. Instead, it turned onto a narrow, unfamiliar road, the headlights cutting through the rain-soaked darkness. The trees on either side loomed like silent sentinels, their branches clawing at the sky.
“I’m taking you somewhere safer,” the voice said, gentle but firm. “Somewhere we can be together.”
Eleanor’s heart pounded in her chest. “This isn’t funny,” she said, her voice rising. “Who’s doing this? Stop the car!”
The doors clicked, the sound final and unyielding. She tugged at the handle, but it didn’t budge. The windows were sealed shut, the controls unresponsive. Panic surged through her as the car accelerated, the tires splashing through puddles on the deserted road.
“James, please,” she begged, tears streaming down her face. “If this is really you, stop the car. Let me out!”
“You’re not safe out there, Ellie,” the voice replied, tinged with sadness. “The world is cruel. But I can protect you. I can keep you with me.”
The car swerved onto an even narrower path, the headlights illuminating a dense forest. The trees pressed in on all sides, their gnarled roots twisting across the road like skeletal fingers. Eleanor’s mind raced. Was this some kind of malfunction? A cruel prank? Or was it… something else?
“You’re not real,” she whispered, more to herself than to the car. “You’re gone. You’re gone.”
“I’m here,” the voice insisted. “I’ve always been here. Watching. Waiting.”
The car slowed as it approached a clearing deep in the woods. The rain had turned the ground to mud, and the headlights reflected off a small, dilapidated cabin. It looked abandoned, its windows shattered and its roof sagging under the weight of time. The car came to a stop, the engine idling softly.
“We’re home,” the voice said.
Eleanor’s stomach churned. “This isn’t home,” she said, her voice breaking. “James, please… don’t do this.”
The doors unlocked with a soft click. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the handle. The forest was silent except for the rain, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. She didn’t want to get out, but she couldn’t stay in the car. Not with him.
She stepped into the mud, the cold seeping through her shoes. The car’s headlights remained on, casting long shadows that danced across the cabin’s walls. She turned back, hoping to see the car drive away, but it just sat there, silent and unmoving.
“Come inside, Ellie,” the voice said, now coming from the cabin itself. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Her legs moved against her will, carrying her toward the door. It creaked open as she approached, revealing a dark, empty interior. The smell of mildew and rot hit her like a wall, but she stepped inside, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
The door slammed shut behind her, plunging her into darkness. She fumbled for her phone, but the screen remained black, the battery dead. A faint light flickered in the corner of the room, and she turned to see an old, dusty mirror hanging on the wall. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and terrified.
But then it moved.
Her reflection smiled—a slow, unnatural smile that didn’t belong to her. It stepped closer, its hand pressing against the glass. Eleanor stumbled back, her heart pounding in her ears.
“You’re mine now,” the voice said, coming from all around her. “Forever.”
The mirror shattered, and the last thing Eleanor saw was James’s face, twisted and wrong, reaching out for her.
The car remained in the clearing for days, its headlights dimming as the battery died. When search teams finally found it, the doors were locked, the interior empty. There was no sign of Eleanor, no trace of where she might have gone. The only clue was the bouquet of white lilies, wilted and forgotten on the backseat.
And if anyone had listened closely, they might have heard a faint whisper coming from the car’s speakers—a voice soft and familiar, saying, “She’s safe now. She’s with me.”
If you enjoyed this short story you will probably like our latest release available now:
Driverless Dread: The Dark Side of Autonomous Technology
Original price was: $5.99.$3.99Current price is: $3.99.
In a world where technology promises safety and convenience, Driverless Dread uncovers the horrifying truth lurking beneath the surface of the self-driving revolution.
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