Chapter 12: The Strange Encounter

The drive back to my place was quiet, with Johnny and I both lost in our own thoughts. The stars were shining brightly in the sky, and the only sound was the gentle hum of the car's engine. I was feeling relaxed and at peace, enjoying the calmness of the night. As we approached the outskirts of town, Johnny suddenly slammed on the brakes, causing the car to skid to a stop. I jerked forward, my heart racing with surprise. "What's wrong?" I asked, looking around to see if anything was blocking the road. Johnny's eyes were fixed on the rearview mirror, his face pale. "Look," he whispered, his voice trembling. I turned to see what he was looking at, and that's when I saw it. A car was following us, its headlights off, but its taillights glowing with an eerie red light. The car was old and rusted, with a distinctive shape that seemed to be from another era. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I turned back to Johnny. "What is that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Johnny shook his head. "I don't know, but I don't like it," he replied, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. The car behind us didn't move, it just kept following us at a distance. I started to feel a sense of unease, as if we were being stalked. Suddenly, the car behind us turned off its taillights and sped up, quickly closing the distance between us. Johnny accelerated, but the other car kept pace with us, its engine roaring as it stayed right behind us. I was getting scared, my heart racing with fear. "What do we do?" I asked Johnny, trying to keep my voice calm. Johnny's face was set in a determined expression. "I'm going to try to lose it," he replied, taking a sharp turn onto a side road. But the car behind us followed, its tires screeching as it took the turn. I was starting to feel a sense of panic, as if we were trapped in a nightmare. Johnny took another turn, and another, but the car kept following. I was starting to lose hope, wondering if we would ever be able to shake the mysterious car. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the car vanished. Johnny and I looked at each other, both of us breathing heavily with fear. "What just happened?" I asked, my voice shaking. Johnny shook his head. "I don't know," he replied, his eyes scanning the road behind us. "But I think we just had a close encounter with something very strange." I nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. As we drove on in silence, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that something was out there waiting for us.