I’ve had 16 lessons so far and I started off very new and unknown to driving and anything to do with vehicles. My test is the end of June and I feel like my instructor is wasting my time by just going through left and right turns. The first 10 lesson I can understand, but every time I meet with him for 2 hour lessons he keeps taking me to the same residential area and we just go in circles. He doesn’t think my turns are “good enough”, just good. And he constantly take me to these very sharp turns in middle of nowhere near my test routes just so he can find flaws in my turns.
I’m doing great left and right turns, and I have a good progression, I’ve seen drivers and family members do OK, but he keeps putting me down on turns and give me comments about “not doing my homework” or “taking notes for how to take turns”… I have, and I feel undefeated. I have thousands of notes (and mental notes) of correct way (MSPSL), I watched videos. I’m my last lesson he told me to go sit on a double decker and pretend I’m driving so I can learn how to do left and right turn…. Is this normal?
I haven’t learned anything about parking, bay parking, reversing, dual carriage way driving and a lot more. I have a very bad feeling that since he knows my test is so far away, he wants to exploit me for my money and just drag out lessons.. it’s very sad that he doesn’t see my progress after 16 hours, and thinks that I’m not worthy of going down a main road.
What is correct? Is it normal to still be doing left and right turns at this stage, or should I start searching for a new instructor? Please help me find out…

The automotive industry is experiencing a transformative shift, driven by advancements in technology and the integration of sophisticated software solutions. This revolution is reshaping how vehicles are designed, manufactured, and operated, heralding a new era of smart, connected, and efficient transportation. At the heart of this transformation are innovative automotive software companies, playing a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge applications that enhance vehicle performance, safety, and user experience.
One of the primary areas where software innovation is making a significant impact is in the realm of autonomous driving. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving technologies are no longer the stuff of science fiction; they are becoming a reality on our roads. These technologies rely heavily on complex algorithms, machine learning, and real-time data processing, all of which are powered by sophisticated automotive software. By enabling vehicles to perceive their environment, make decisions, and navigate autonomously, these software solutions are paving the way for a future where accidents and traffic congestion are drastically reduced.
Another critical area is the enhancement of in-car connectivity and infotainment systems. Modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with features that allow seamless integration with smartphones, cloud services, and other digital platforms. This connectivity not only provides entertainment and convenience but also supports functionalities like real-time traffic updates, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air software updates. These capabilities ensure that vehicles remain up-to-date with the latest features and improvements, enhancing their longevity and performance.
Moreover, the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating, with software playing a crucial role in optimizing battery management, energy efficiency, and charging infrastructure. Software solutions are essential for monitoring and managing the complex systems within EVs, ensuring they operate at peak efficiency. From predicting battery life to optimizing charging cycles, these innovations are key to making electric mobility more accessible and practical for consumers worldwide.
In this dynamic landscape, automotive software companies are at the forefront, driving the development and deployment of these transformative technologies. They are collaborating with automakers, tech firms, and other stakeholders to create integrated solutions that meet the evolving demands of the market. By leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence, big data, and IoT, these companies are enabling vehicles to become more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly.
As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the importance of software will only grow. The innovations being developed today will shape the future of mobility, creating a world where vehicles are not just modes of transportation but smart companions that enhance our daily lives. Through continuous research and development, automotive software companies are ensuring that the journey towards a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future remains on track.

Hello guys,
I am tempted to buy meta quest 3, from what I have been researching, its best value for the money.
Currently I have PC with 7800x3D and 7900 XTX, so I would mainly use that VR headset for playing on PC.
The confusion for me started when trying to read about Airlink wireless setup and achieving best bitrate.
My desktop PC is connected to internet via onboard WiFi (X670E-E, integrated 6E wifi), the main router is in another room, and I would have to drill trought concrete wall to get it cabled.
I was looking for some guides about setting up dedicated router just for meta quest, but I am quite lost in it and not sure how to wire it all together.
Would it work to buy just WiFI6 and connect it to my desktop, and keep my internet connection via onboard Wifi? Or do I need to connect that dedicated wifi to main internet router and then wire it to PC? Is there any simple guide, that would be for my situation?
I would really like to increase the bit rate, so the image would be clear, I dont want to use cable, cause I dont have enough space and Ive got feeling, that cats would trip over the cable or chew it.
Thanks everyone for any reply!
Also, what is must have addon for meta quest 3? I have seen some offbrand elite straps with batteries and contact lenses to use without glasses, anything else?
Last thing, I have seen on this subreddit something about May30, is some discount coming to quest 3? Thanks again.

Introduction
Purchasing a used car can be a daunting experience, especially when it comes to ensuring the vehicle's longevity and reliability. One way to ease this concern is by investing in a good car warranty. In this post, we will explore the importance of car warranties, the different types available, and how to choose the best one for your needs. Specifically, we will focus on what should be covered under UK car warranties and highlight why Warranty Direct is considered the UK's best car warranty provider.
What is a Car Warranty?
A car warranty is a service contract that covers the cost of certain repairs and replacements of parts over a specific period. Essentially, it's a form of insurance for your vehicle that protects you from unforeseen mechanical failures. Warranties can vary significantly in terms of coverage, duration, and cost, making it essential to understand what you are getting when you purchase one.
Car Warranty Types
Car warranties come in several forms, each designed to cater to different needs:

1. Manufacturer's Warranty: Offered by the car manufacturer, usually covering new cars for a specified period or mileage.
2. Extended Warranty: Purchased separately, extending the coverage beyond the manufacturer's warranty.
3. Used Car Warranty: Specifically for pre-owned vehicles, providing coverage similar to an extended warranty.
4. Powertrain Warranty: Covers the engine, transmission, and other essential components.
5. Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: Comprehensive coverage that includes most vehicle parts except wear-and-tear items.

Why is a Car Warranty Important for Your Car?
A car warranty is crucial for several reasons:

• Financial Protection: It shields you from expensive repair costs that can arise from unexpected mechanical failures.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that major components are covered allows you to drive with confidence.
• Increased Resale Value: A car with an active warranty is often more attractive to potential buyers.
• Budgeting: It helps you plan your finances better by minimizing unpredictable repair expenses.

What Should be Covered Under UK Car Warranties?
When looking for a car warranty in the UK, ensure the following components are covered:

• Engine: Coverage for internal parts such as pistons, crankshaft, and valves.
• Transmission: Includes gearbox, clutches, and torque converter.
• Drivetrain: Axles, driveshafts, and differential.
• Electrical Systems: Alternator, starter motor, and wiring.
• Cooling System: Radiator, water pump, and thermostat.
• Fuel System: Fuel injectors, fuel pump, and fuel lines.
• Steering and Suspension: Steering gear, power steering, and suspension components.

Car Warranty Comparison - How Should it be Done?
When comparing car warranties, consider the following factors:

• Coverage: Ensure the warranty covers essential components and systems.
• Cost: Compare the price of the warranty against the coverage it provides.
• Exclusions: Understand what is not covered to avoid surprises later.
• Claim Process: Look for warranties with straightforward and hassle-free claim processes.
• Provider Reputation: Research the warranty provider’s reputation and customer reviews.
• Additional Benefits: Some warranties offer perks like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement.

UK's Best Car Warranty: Warranty Direct
Warranty Direct stands out as the UK's best car warranty provider for several reasons:

• Comprehensive Coverage: They offer extensive coverage options tailored to different needs.
• Transparent Pricing: Competitive pricing with clear terms and no hidden fees.
• Ease of Claims: Streamlined and efficient claims process praised by customers.
• Strong Reputation: Trusted by thousands of customers with positive reviews and ratings.
• Additional Benefits: Includes perks like roadside assistance and no claims discount.

Conclusion
A good car warranty is a smart investment for any vehicle owner, providing financial protection and peace of mind. When selecting a car warranty in the UK, consider the coverage, cost, and reputation of the provider. Warranty Direct emerges as a top choice due to its comprehensive coverage and customer-friendly policies. Drive confidently knowing that you have the best protection for your used car.

TLDR at bottom.
I recently had two encounters with different electricians which has put me off and I was wondering if I could please get some advice on what to do or where to look or even the right questions to ask.
I recently got a video doorbell (Aqara G4) and wanted to wire it in as opposed to run it off batteries (which is what I’m currently doing) - I’m in a rental, but I have permission to wire it in if I can. Now whilst I’ve got a basic understanding of electrics (I did a course), I initially thought it best to get an electrician in to have a look as it seemed the fuse box with the label for the bell, didn’t actually link up (the old bell still rang when flicking the switch off).
The issue I had with the two electricians:

1. The first guy was recommended by the landlord. He spent a lot of time sitting on my sofa just telling me how great my place was and how well I must be doing, then told me he didn’t really know much about video doorbells as they’re quite new, then proceeded to tell me it would cost me upwards of £350 to wire in (“to make it worth my [his] time”) and charged me for several hours of parking despite this supposed to be a short half hour check to see if he could do the job (I only agreed for him to come check because he told me on the phone he charged £60 for the first hour), he also quoted me £150 for a transformer - I feel this is him just trying to squeeze what he can out of me as looking at the price of these at screwfix, it doesn’t line up. I paid him for the parking even though I knew he was being cheeky with this only to cover his time, even though he spent less than an hour at my place and 30 mins of that was him just talking about my place as opposed to actually investigating anything (I also know he was trying it on here because my landlord accidentally posted a screenshot of a bill for another call out he did at the place and his cost for the hour were a lot less, even for parking).
   
2. The second guy that came out was recommended by a friend, he said he could do the doorbell for half the price but said he’d do it as a favour if I go for a drink with him. I don’t want to go for a drink with anyone, I don’t want to be mucked about. I just want to wire my doorbell in so I can run it without batteries.
   

I hope you guys can understand my worry here, I don’t want to call out another electrician and encounter any of these situations again.
Other info that might be helpful and questions:
I think the original bell was connected to some large batteries in an old chime box (the place is quite old, was a former office, there is a closed shop downstairs) anyway, the landlords son tried to be helpful but ended up cutting the wire to the original bell down but before testingif the connection to the video doorbell worked and so now I can’t really rewire back to the old doorbell. Either way, wrapping the doorbell wires around the loops didn’t seem to work (tested without batteries) and therefore I think a transformer is most likely required.
I have bought a voltage detector so I guess I could use that to check if the wiring is live currently but haven’t yet tested it, is there any other way I can check where the wiring is connected to?
All in all, I do think this is something I should be able to do myself, however, if I can’t get advice on how to wire this in with a transformer, could I get some advice on the right questions to ask electricians and what a realistic price for something like this would be, or anything else that might be helpful please?
I feel really anxious having to deal with more electricians now as I’m worried the same thing will happen but if I’m at least equipped with what to expect, I can at least be more confident with this. Any help is appreciated - Thank you.
TL;DR: Dealt with two electricians, one seemed to overcharge, the other wanted a date in exchange, I just want to wire in my Aqara G4, advice appreciated!
ETA: For everyone asking about why I don’t just stick with the batteries, my place is on a main road, whilst they advertise a few months running on batteries, this isn’t the case, I’m usually having to recharge every 2/3 days (I bought rechargeable batteries and switch them out so I always have a charged set ready to go in) but even weather has an impact so the battery can die very quickly - also, I can’t use all the functions I want to on battery such as continuous recording etc.

I know this is a really dumb questions to ask, but when I rewrite my experiences, I cannot remember the results in details, other than "oh, it works! hurray!" and "Oh, I used MATLAB (or any software or technical skill) to solve this.". Based on the wiki, is that really necessary to use numbers and quantity to demonstrate my engineering or perhaps problem solving skills? Also one more thing, if I did not remember much as earlier on, is it okay to lie a little (not by extremes of course)? I'll put some examples from my resume to see whether these are impactful to you guys.

• Managed and recorded the voltages of 12S LiPo batteries to ensure it was within usable range between 4.2V and 3.5V per cell using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
• Researched UAV vibration issues on large-sized drones by experimenting and analyzing signal filters on amplitude
• Enhanced UAV vibrations through examining signal filters and modifications on hardware surrounding the flight controller onto the prototype drone
• Modelled a wheel hub on SolidWorks based on the suspension geometry points from the simulation results in the vehicle dynamics team
• Modified the dynamometer coupler using the milling machine and interpreted engineering drawings to align the shaft connection between the motor and dynamometer for smoother motor dynamics test
• Redesigned the HV wiring system to minimize the HV wires’ length and saved 5% space onto the rear of the chassis on SolidWorks

I hope these helps! Thanks in advance!

Hi-
Recently picked up a Scrambler 400X, and have a novel incoming.
I'll be posting in this sub as I toss on a few mods and document any issues with this new platform. I try to avoid Facebook Groups since search engines don't pick up the posts and the info ends up in a black hole surrounded by spam; if you find this sub I suggest you do the same. Here's a quick overview of my first week of ownership and a few opinions about the bike in the short time I've owned it for those looking to pick one up.
After got trailered the bike home, I turned the key to the on position and tried cranking it about halfway through the needle sweep in my excitement to get my first ride in. I got nothing. Turned the key off then back on, waited for the sweep to complete, and it finally started but with a check engine light to accompany it. I was bummed obviously.
Turns out that there is an issue with the programming on the ECU. On some of these bikes, if you try starting it prior to the system scan completing it will toss a check engine light for code U0167. There is a software update available or soon to be available that resolves this according to the dealer I bought the bike from. They said it would be ready by the time I bring it in for first service. In the interim, as long as you wait for the needle sweep, you won't throw a code.
I cleared the code with a scanner after leaving the battery disconnected overnight to no avail as a few groups suggested. I highly recommend this $20 OBDII scanner. It's actually decently made and functional; I've used it on cars for a while and it works to read/clear codes. It auto detected the protocol on the 400X first try. You'll need a 6 pin adapter to interface with the 400X (and probably Speed as well) - I picked this one up. You can't reset the service icon with this, only check and clear engine codes.
After that bummer was rectified, I've spent the past week putting ~400 miles on the bike around NYC and here are some observations:

• It's the perfect weight for me. Not too light as to get blown around on the highway, and not too heavy that it's a chore to move around the garage. I've had a few ~300lb dual sports and ~550lb cruisers. It hits a nice balance between them.
• Height is excellent for my build. I'm 6'2" with a 34" inseam. I have a slight bend in my knee and can flat foot it.
• The seat is OK to Good. I've sat on way worse bikes, but this one doesn't stand out for comfort either. I don't like the angle they molded when moving towards the back of the seat; it's a little too extreme and limits shifting around on longer rides. I can live with it for now but I'll probably grab an aftermarket seat, preferably a 'bench' style seat close to the Street Scrambler - I think the frame can work with something like that if combining the pillion with the driver seat.
• Low vibes for a single until around 5k. They start to become noticeable in the foot pegs and get mildly annoying there at 6k. I haven't gone higher due to break in. They're not the worst and don't really affect the seat or handlebars so I just ignore them.
• The headlight is pretty weak and the high beam is just bad. I will supplement them with some fog or aux lights at some point.
• It tips in well. It took me by surprise the first time I took a moderate turn.
• The rear brake is borderline mushy. The front brake is very linear. I'm used to grabbier pads so it took a few stops to get used to, but the stopping power is there as you apply more squeeze.
• Bike is well put together - the weld look nice, the paint was excellent, wire management is neat, etc.
• I don't like the position of either lever. I have big hands and still find the clutch and brake a bit of a reach for the way I rest my fingers. Supposedly, the Duke 390 OEM adjustable clutch lever is a direct swap so I ordered one ($20 on eBay). I'll update this if it fits and makes a difference.

That's all for now. Overall, it's a great bike and I'm pumped to be riding it for the next few years.

Looking into possibly purchasing an electric car, aiming for maybe Tesla as my first option. If you have a Tesla or an electric vehicle, how is the battery during the winter? Due to the cold I am assuming the I would have to charge my car often during the winter. Also how does it hold up long term and what's the benefits of having an electric car? Any advice helps!

I am a lawyer (so, at the computer all day) and my existing laptop is going on 6 years old. It's time for a new one (and work is paying). Completed questionnaire below. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

• Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US: $1800 USD
• Are you open to refurbs/used? No.
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life? Need good build quality, performance and battery life. Do not need 2-in-1.
• How important is weight and thinness to you? Not particularly important...just has to fit into my backpack for travel.
• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A. 15.6" to 17"
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run. None.
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want? No gaming.
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)? Would like a built-in webcam and quality microphone and speakers. Will use wired keyboard and mouse so those features are not critical. Do not need touch screen. Do need reliable build quality.
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion. I don't do much on my computer other than work (primarily in Word) and browse the internet. Would like something that is good quality across the board, but does not need to be a standout in anything. More of a workhorse.

im trying to increase the battery capacity on a usb light and i know i need to wire the battery's in parallel but i don't knowhow to keep the output watts the same.
it originally ran on 1 3.6v battery i just want to add more capacity so it lasts longer.

Leaving aside the contentious issue of weapon balancing, what additions would you like to see in HD2? Are there any QoL changes that you think would improve the game?
Just in case you've not played HD1, here's my wishlist of things that don't really have equivalents in HD2 (yet).

Missions

Mission Types

The regular mission objectives from HD1 have mostly returned in one form or another. Mission types we haven't seen yet:

• Escort Convoy. Defend a train as it travels between two buildings. Honestly, this one seems unlikely to be added, since HD2 has scaled down the power a fair bit, and this mission type tended to require more cc/zone control than we currently have.
• Defuse Unexploded Ordnance, enables a minesweeper stratagem. Unexploded ordnance must be detected and defused, either by directional inputs or by 'safely' detonating them. Expect accidentals.
• Enemy Masters (Bosses). Pray.

Terrain Types

The only glaring omission currently is the urban environments seen in the HD1 defensive operations. These are relatively simple city grids with plenty of buildings and the occasional civic space (which may or may not contain artillery or anti-air emplacements).

Weapons (Primary/Secondary)

Every weapon in HD1 has a couple of upgrades that are purchased with samples. While HD2 doesn't follow up in the same way, there's definitely space to add in weapons that bring back those properties. Here's a few of the weapons and/or upgrades that we're currently missing out on (or at least, it feels like it)

Primary:

• AR-20L 'Justice' features rounds that pass through light/medium enemies. The 'unstoppable' feature probably would not be as effective in a 3D environment, but would still be welcome on higher enemy count missions.
• DBS-2 'Double Freedom', a one handed double barrel incendiary shotgun with a fast reload. This bad boy had a massive spread (90°+) that meant you could reliably take out scouting parties before they called in a breach.
• RX-1 Railgun. My beloved. What have they done to you? Unstoppable rounds pass through everything but the heaviest armor, and each round also stuns for about a second, stopping chargers in their tracks. No charge time. Multiple rounds in each mag. Dealt less damage overall (2-shots for medium bugs), but the control is incredibly valuable for keeping big targets locked down.
• M2016 'Constitution', a rounds-reload bayonet stick with decent damage. Mostly just fun memes.
• LAS-13 Trident. Laser shotgun. A reliable staple of HD1 that can consistently deal with medium armoured enemies. You will see at least one in the majority of squads.
• SMG-34 Ninja. Less common outside pre-made full stealth meme squads. One handed, silenced. Higher damage but lower mag than other SMGs. Does not have the ministun/stagger of other SMGs.

Secondary:

• FLAM-24 'Pyro'. Not amazing, but workable in a pinch.
• PLAS-3 'Singe'. Perhaps underwhelming, but I found it pretty fun to use every now and then.

Stratagems

Support Weapons and Backpacks

Most of the support weapons have resurfaced in the new galactic war, but there are a couple that are still collecting dust in the Super earth arsenal.

• MGX-42 Machine Gun, the EAT-17 of machine guns. No reloads, but it has 400 bullets and has paid for express delivery. Very high rate of fire with good damage.
• M-25 'Rumbler'. Do you enjoy mortar turrets? Do you want to be a mortar turret? Arguably the most deadly strategem in HD1. A bit of a pain to aim and fire, but the upgraded toxic shells obliterate pretty much everything.
• TOX-13 'Avenger'. Toxic flamethrower. Not necessarily a huge standout, but the slow it applies is definitely a nice positive.
• MLS-4X 'Commando'. Up to 8 homing Armor piercing missiles. Less punch than an RL-112, but made up for by good range and the higher total area each reload can cover. Does not require lock on, just fire in the general direction of the enemy.
• REP-80. Healing beam/repair tool. Is extremely valuable in high level exterminates for keeping mechs and turrets alive. The bleedout mechanic in HD1 is definitely a big contributor to this support equipment's effectiveness.
• REC-6 'Demolisher'. Remotely detonated anti-everything high explosive satchel charge. Very effective. Definitely a good option for high difficulty missions.
• AD-289 'Angel'. It's a guard dog, but it shoots you. With healing bullets. Well, a healing laser. Not necessarily a widely used stratagem, but I could see it being useful in HD2.

Vehicles

We're likely going to see some form of a few of these showing up in the future.

• EXO-48 'Obsidian'. Mech with 2 dual autocannons. Some of you are already salivating at the thought of having 4 times the autocannon.
• EXO-51 'Lumberer'. Mech with a flamethrower and a massive anti-tank cannon. Autocannons are 20mm. This monster is 90mm. If this mech shows up and doesn't blast charger heads off bodies, I'm rioting.
• TD-110 'Bastion'. Main cannon size isn't listed, but it's in the range of "there is no charger, and no trace of the charger or any of its relatives ever existing". SEAF artillery on wheels.
• MC-109 'Hammer' motorcycle. Cute thing with a sidecar. Kinda more memey than good, but fun to play with.

Defensive Stratagems

• Distractor beacon. Enemy patrols prioritise this 'turret' over you, making stealth notably easier for a little while.
• A/RX-34 Railcannon Turret. Honestly, this is quite similar to the current autocannon turret. Has unstoppable rounds, but does not share the stun of its primary counterpart.
• 'Humblebee' UAV drone. Basically just a radar station in stratagem form. I expect this one is unlikely to appear.
• AT-47 Anti-Tank emplacement. Manned turret with a massive gun. Is either the 90mm cannon featured in other stratagems, or larger.
• Anti-Personnnel Barrier. Low CD fast deploying barbed wire. Applies a massive slow to anything smaller than tanks/chargers.

Offensive

We've got almost all of the HD1 offensive stratagems in some form.

• 'Hellfire' Incendiary Bomb. The key difference from the existing Napalm Airstrike is the effectiveness of the lingering fire - Hellfire strikes last quite a while and would consistently be able to kill even large enemies with a bit of CC.
• 'Shredder' missile strike. 500kg eagle strikes are nice, but their use-case is as a dedicated anti-tank/anti-objective stratagem. When you really just need everything in a 100m radius to not be there anymore, this is the strategem for you. Features optional warning sirens.

Perks

Instead of boosters and armor traits, you selected perks in each mission. These perks applied only to yourself.

• MD-99 Autoinjector. Boosts effectiveness of healing, makes recovering from being downed faster. A HD2 equivalent would probably be an armor that can automatically apply a stim when you would take lethal damage.
• Stratagem Priority. All your stratagems cool down 40% faster. I could see this perk on technical special operations armor.
• Displacement Field. Automatically teleports you out of danger upon taking lethal damage. No guarantees against the teleport destination involving more danger. Would also be a strong contender as an armor perk.
• Precision Call-In. Reduce all call-ins by 1 second.
• All-terrain boots. Negates all terrain movement penalties. Does not negate lava spurts, static fields, surface fires, or lethal drops.

I often have dreams where I am driving something absurdly tall. A bicycle or unicycle as tall as a telephone pole, a smart car 3x as tall as a normal one, for example. Sometimes I'm escaping, sometimes just for normal transport.
In a unicycle dream i was leaving work and managed to get up on my bike no problem, but i could not stop and needed to control fall down using a large stick.
Another time I was in a car that got trapped because I couldn't make my way under the road wires and poles, and eventually was very late to something.
Lastnight I was in a strange city with my daughter. We got into a car and it started growing taller as we were driving. Eventually we were both about 10ft up in the air, I'm not sure how I was touching the pedals. It was rainy and there were tons of traffic lights and we were avoiding traffic. There was a new route I wanted to show her, which included an extremely steep bridge. We started going up the bridge, but it was so steep, our vehicle began tipping backwards as we drove uphill until we were eventually upside down. I began to panic and we awoke.
Any ideas?

I want to thank Meatcanyon and Wendigoon for starting Creepcast. I've played around with writing horror, and here is my first short story. I will post it for free in a few other places to see what people think. Please enjoy!
A Hike to Remember
By R.L. Oclen
Chapter 1
A woman sits with hastily pulled-up fire-red hair in the waiting room of the state patrol station. The procedurally sterile off-white walls and decade-old magazines do little for comfort. With her head hanging low, her shoulders pushing forward, and her boots rapidly tapping on the floor, something has to give.
"Please just let her be okay." The woman growls as a pair of officers come in from the field. The officers' demeanors quickly change when they see the familiar face.
"Tabitha, did Officer Nichols call you?" one of the state patrol officers asked sympathetically.
"Yes, he asked me to come in and pick up a few things," Tabitha said, shooting back a muted look.
" I'll let them know you're here." The officer said, nodding to Tabitha as they passed the security door. Tabitha leaned back against the hard plastic chair, staring blankly into the fluorescent light. She had done this dance in the macabre repeatedly over the past month. The last image of her younger sister, Lisa, still burned in her mind. Tabitha had always been protective over her younger sister after their parents died. A pang of guilt shoots through her chest as she thinks about her and Lisa's argument.
"Tabitha Hymm, Officer Nichols is ready for you."
"Okay," she stood up, shaking off her guilt, and followed the officer back. The familiar surroundings of the state patrol station blurred as Tabitha stared forward. She followed the officer as they came to a rustic wooden office door, which was embossed with "Officer Nichols."
The escorting officer turns the old brass door knob. "Sir, I have Tabitha Hymm here." A grizzled West Virginia Highway State Patrol veteran sits behind the desk and nods. The escorting officer steps aside, pushing the door open as Tabitha pushes past him and slumps in the awaiting chair like so many times before. An uncomfortable relationship had formed between the two, born out of necessity and duty.
"Cup of coffee?"
"No thanks. Let's just cut to the chase. You don't have anything new?"
The worn laugh lines and Officer Nichols's face flattens. His eyebrows contour sympathetically as he shakes his head.
"Tabitha, I don't have anything else new for you. I wanted to give you the clothes returned from the lab." Her face darkened at the same response she had heard many times.
"As we discussed two weeks ago, there is nothing new and no signs of struggle or foul play," Officer Nichols said while placing a box marked evidence on the table and sliding it forward. Tabitha began to weep at the realization of Lisa's clothes in front of her. In a coordinated queue, Officer Nichols brought out a box of tissues. Reluctantly, Tabitha took a few moments to unblur her vision.
"How does someone stop their car in the middle of the Remington West Virginia State Park, lock it, and then walk into the woods?" Officer Nichols clasped his hands together and sighed at her worn question.
"Tabitha, I wish I had an answer for why your sister stopped her car in the woods and simply walked off. We're still going through her cell phone, but no signs exist that anyone forced her. On that Tuesday morning, she pulled over to the side of the road, secured her car, and walked away." Officer Nichols said empathetically.
Tabitha became stoic at the same explanation she had heard many times before. " So what next?"
"You should go back to Ohio, and I'll contact you as soon as I have more information." She winced at Officer Nichols's words. Reality began to pull at her that bills and work wouldn't wait much longer.
"If I leave, she's gone for good."
" You staying won't bring her back." Officer Nichols said sympathetically.
" So is that it? She's just gone?"
" Tabitha, I'll be honest with you. In cases like this… when people do things like this. Recovery is harder in the spring due to the weather and the animals. You know her mental condition better than I do. I can't explain why she did what she did. But until I find a solution, a suicide note, some intention, or body. She's not here. Tabitha, I'm-"
" Don't you fucking say sorry!" Tabitha stood up, screaming at Officer Nichols, throwing the plastic chair backward against the wall. " I should just look for myself."
"No!" Officer Nichols said momentarily, gripping the desk as his face hardened, then relaxed. Tabitha was caught off guard by Officer Nichols, who was normally composed. "Tabitha, I know this is unbearable. I've sat on this side of the desk and had these conversations. Trust me; I need you to be safe if I need your help later."
Tabitha nods, knowing Officer Nichols is right. She reaches down, picks up the evidence box of her sister's belongings, and leaves.
" Tabitha, if you're heading home, don't stop your car; just keep driving." Tabitha stops to look at Officer Nichols, feeling an eeriness to his words.
" Goodbye, Officer Nichols," Tabitha said as she closed the rustic wooden door behind her. She counted the tiles as she exited the West Virginia State Patrol Station. Placing her sister's belongings carefully in the back seat of her Jeep, Tabitha then sat momentarily behind the steering wheel, staring at the emblem. The familiar numbness washed over Tabitha as she pushed the start button. She pulled onto the highway, driving to the motel that had been home for the last month or so. Muted pop music accented the drive back as her mind raced with questions. Once inside the two-and-a-half-star motel room, Tabitha sat her sister's belongings on the corner table, crumbled onto the bed, and cried.
***
Tabitha wiped the steam from the slightly spotted mirror above the bathroom sink. The hot water from the shower felt good and loosened some of the stress from her body. Looking back at her, Tabitha's face was framed by damp curls around her shoulders. Her face marked the stress of the past month. Frowning, she examined the bags under her eyes; sleep had to come tonight. Walking into the living area, She changed into her favorite gym shorts and oversized sleep shirt. The alarm on her phone flashed "7:00 am," so she could drive home five hours after breakfast.
Tabitha hated feeling comfortable in this once strange room, but falling asleep was getting easier now. Her eyes closed slowly as the ceiling fan droned evenly. At first, nothing came in her dreams, but she let her guard down and slipped further into sleep.
As she dreamed of floating overhead like a bird of prey, Tabitha soared over the vast Remington National Park. The high noon sun bore down on the crisp woods, perfectly contrasting sky and forest. The heat of the sun felt good on her feathers. Distant cries rang out through the dream-like forest, catching her attention. Tabitha tilted her wings toward the screams, feeling a sense of familiar curiosity.
She now recognized the sobs and cries for help as she flew closer, her sharp eyes locked on her sister leaning against a large oak tree. She glided overhead without care, examining the situation below. Lisa clung to the tree, her eyes darting back and forth, scanning upwards. Lisa's face reflected desperation, looking for help in any direction. Tabitha lazily circles Lisa several times before perching on a sturdy branch higher in one of the oak trees. She watched Lisa intently with hunger. She bellowed deeply, hearing the unnatural sound she made, catching Lisa's eyes. Lisa's expression changed; she became calm, almost uncaring, as she stared back at Tabitha's form. Hunger grew exponentially in Tabitha as she spread her large wings. Her large eyes gaze down at Lisa before diving straight for her sister.
Tabitha jolts awake to the alarm on her phone flashing "7:23 AM." She breathes in sharply, shaking off the last horrible thoughts from the reoccurring nightmare. The strange details become more vivid each time. The lingering memories of folk stories her mother told sat in the back of her mind. In those stories, the dead would reach out in dreams as a matter of warning. Leaning back on the headboard, she searched for the advice her psychologist gave her. During their last session, Dr. Ryland explained dreams are a form of self-actualization of guilt. He told Tabitha that it was natural to feel responsible when losing a loved one in this manner.
Tabitha grumbled, lightly running her hands through her red hair; she pushed everything to the back of her mind. "Get it together!" She grumbled to herself. She pushed herself off the bed and got ready to leave. It was going to be a long trip home, and the only thing she could do now was leave things in the authorities' hands. Packing up was pretty easy since she only cycled through the outfits she brought. The local laundromat must have made a small fortune off her. Tabitha took one last look at the box of Lisa's belongings before throwing them in her duffle bag. She was thankful she didn't have to spend another night in this room.
***
Tabitha sat behind the wheel, waiting for the 90's model minivan to finish their order so she could grab a breakfast burrito on the way out. Considering the situation, the Deer Stop Family Restaurant did have a good breakfast. Finally, pulling up to the 70-style drive-in board, Tabitha rolled off the order she had been accustomed to. " I'll take a large iced tea with the double breakfast burrito meal and hash browns, please."
" Would you like some happy hot sauce with that?"
" That's fine, and a few ketchup packets as well."
" Your total is $8.79. Please pull around."
She pulled around to her window, flashed her debit card, got the receipt, and waited for her food. Luckily, the young woman serving her wasn't very talkative in the morning. The last thing she wanted was a conversation about the weather or meaningless small talk.
" Here's your large iced tea and breakfast meal. Ketchup and happy hot sauce are inside."
" Thanks," Tabitha said while mustering her best fake smile. The woman only smiled and nodded as the service window automatically closed. She pulled into the parking lot and dug into breakfast. Turning the radio to the weather, Tabitha sat back and enjoyed her meal. The local DJ read through the headlines, making nonpartisan comments about politics and grumbling about improving the economy. Tabitha powered through the updates of the "out-of-state woman" who'd gone missing. It was nice that the local radio station gave Lisa's name, description, and a missing person's number for sightings or leads. Tabitha even interviewed with the local news and radio stations, hoping it would bring Lisa home. But she soon found all it brought was a sorrowful look from the locals as she interacted with them in her day-to-day life.
Finishing the last of her hash browns, Lisa wadded up everything in the paper bag and threw it in the back seat. The 9 AM weather report said it was nothing but clear skies and sun the rest of the week. Tabitha flipped the radio over to the greatest hit station, pulled out of the parking lot, and began her trip home. She memorized the roads, every bend and turn in the early weeks as she frantically looked for Lisa. There's something hypnotic about the trees: the way they flow together. The trees' green tops and the oak trees' wide trunks were a relaxing view. Tabitha enjoyed the lazy s-curves of the road, bending and winding around the hills and the trees. The occasional farmhouse or field dotted the sides of the road as she made her way to the main highway.
The blur of a semi-truck snapped Tabitha's attention as she pulled up to the mouth of the highway. She had four and a half hours ahead of her, which would be a long ride. Tabitha pulled onto the highway and picked up speed, noting sparse traffic. She relaxed into her seat, letting her gaze gloss over the blur of green foliage. Without warning, Tabitha caught a large shadow from the corner of her left eye. When she registered the black feathery form, Tabitha tensed up and slammed on the brakes as it swooped across the vehicle's hood. Quickly, she pulled the car safely off the road. She couldn't determine exactly what it was, but it was bigger than any bird she'd seen. It was a bird, right? Tabitha turned off her Jeep and grabbed the keys and cell phone. Standing before the Jeep, she looked over the grill to see if she made contact with the entity.
Bewildered, she scanned the tree line, spotting something in the distance. Sitting in the clearing of the large oak forest was an enormous black owl. It stared intently at Tabitha with bright, shiny yellow eyes. She pushed the lock button on her keys, causing the jeep to beep securely. She turned, looking across the open field, an enormous black owl perched in the upper branches of an old oak tree. Each step she took away from the road piqued her curiosity. Soon, Tabitha stood in the middle of the open field, staring intently into the eyes of the enormous owl.
The horn of a passing semi-truck blared, pulling Tabitha's attention away from the mysterious large creature. She looked back and saw that she had walked farther away from the Jeep than she had thought. She glanced back to the forest line only to see the enormous owl was deeper into the woods than before. She narrowed her vision to find the two large, bright yellow eyes staring back. Had it moved? The day's stress, care, and worry suddenly poured out of Tabitha. It was replaced by only curiosity and overbearing tranquility. She warmly smiled for the first time in months as her feet pulled her further into the woods.
Chapter 2
The tug of gravity pulls Tabitha to her senses as her body reacts, falling forward. Her arms thrust forward, bracing for impact. Water rushes around her face as she struggles to get her bearings. Quickly, Tabitha pushed herself up in the ankle-high stream she fell in. The haze slowly clears from her mind as she stares at the muddy water. The dull ache throbs up her legs. Tabitha can smell the sweat from her clothes. Her face contorted in panic as she quickly stood up in the water, looking for her cell. Thankfully, the device was still in her pocket, dry and unscathed.
"One o'clock. How can that be?" Tabitha says, slowly looking up from the screen to see the vast, dense West Virginia forest encompassing her view. She shakes her head back and forth with disbelief. A smile gently spreads across her face, with the last bit of tranquility leaving her body. How did I get out here? Her breathing becomes faster as her pulse begins to quicken. I'm in the forest. I'm all alone—just like Lisa!
"NO, NO, NO, NO! THIS FUCKING CAN'T BE HAPPENING TO ME!" Tabitha screams into the void of trees. Her eyes well up with tears as she crumbles to her knees, gripping her phone tightly to her chest. Her sobs ring out through the thick oak trees. Her breath slows a little as she regains her composure. She begins to search her mind for anything. What is the last thing I can remember? The image of the black shadow crossing her vision while driving flashes into her mind.
"Okay, I got out of the Jeep, the…then what?" Tabitha says, trying to refresh her memories. She thinks her memory is not just gone; it's a black void in her mind. Complete blackness fills her mind right after remembering locking the Jeep and then turning to see the…
"Fuck I saw something. What was it!" Tabitha says, frustrated with her mind. She knew there must be a logical reason she was out here. Officer Nichols warned her not to go looking for her sister. She wasn't stupid; she just said that as a last-ditch effort to get him to do anything. Now I'm here.
"Run!" Tabitha heard Lisa's voice in her ear. Before she could turn around, she heard a loud bellowing coming from overhead. Fear shot down her back, reminding her of the nightmares she had over the past month. She shot forward full bore as something crashed to the ground behind her. Glancing back as she ran, a black mass of feathers convulsed between the broken branches of the trees. Its slick black feathers rippled across its surface as its bones crackled and flesh tore. Its body contorted and twisted from the shape of an owl to something bigger.
"Run, Tabby! Don't let it catch you!" Tabitha pushed forward, hearing Lisa's scream beside her face. Her breath burned in her chest, and she moved past the old oak trees bent over the creek bed. Her feet slammed rapidly, splashing along the side of the creek. Another loud bellow comes from behind as the trees bend and break to the force behind her. A small opening in the rocky creek bed catches her sight from the left. She dives into the crevasses, not caring where the fathoms lead. Tabitha tumbles in the pitch black, taking scrapes and sharp jabs from the rocks as she tumbles further into the void.
She finally tumbles to a stop on the sandy, wet floor of the cave. Her body aches from the sudden burst of exhaustion. The cool water running around her body from the creek is soothing despite her bumps and bruises. Pushing herself up, she scoots out of the water. Feeling her way forward, she finds a dry spot to collect herself. Quickly pushing her hand into her pocket, she finds her phone undamaged.
The sound of footsteps pushing against the creek fills the void around Tabitha as the light steps move closer to each other up the underground creekbed. She slowly removes her cell from her pocket and then shines the camera light toward the sound. A pair of scratched and bruised pale bare legs hold up a frail form in front of her in the creek. She wears the darkness as a shroud with nothing else to clothe her. Tabitha froze, not wanting to shine the light further in the pale form before her.
"Tabby, turn your light off. You need to save your battery." Tabitha turned off the light and then rushed forward, embracing Lisa—the how or why didn't matter, only the now. The pale form hugged her tightly. Tabitha felt her cold, bare skin. The darkness couldn't hide the feeling of the marks across her back and torso.
"Lisa, I'm-"
"Hush! I don't have much time. This wasn't your fault! I'm with Mom and Dad now. You have to survive, Tabby! Listen. Wait until the sun shines through the cracks, making a trail out. Follow it down the creek until you come to the opening. You'll see a large hill you hike up for a cell signal. And remember…If you can't see it… It can't hurt you. I love you-"
Tabitha stumbled forward before catching herself. The void in front of her arms was only filled by cool air. She looked up and noticed a faint glimmer of light pushing through the ceiling. She sat down, relaxing against the limestone wall of the cave, waiting for the trail of light to form.
***
After a few hours, the light shining through the cracks of the cave ceiling was bright enough to lead Tabitha to the other side. She stepped onto the creek bed, thankful for the sun hanging lower in the sky. Scanning the sky, Tabitha saw only a few clouds. The foothills of Appalachia backdropped the forest as she scanned for the hill. Her eyes found the trail leading up the steady slope of an impressive hill. The top of the hill was bare. Part of the hill must have sheared off in a landslide, leaving the top void of trees and a jagged cliff face. Tabitha started her hike up the back of the hill. She was careful to stay under the heavy canopy of the old trees, hopefully avoiding the creature's eyes.
She did her best to quiet her mind while hiking up the trail. Come on, almost to the top, then I can call 911, she replayed repeatedly in her mind. Her adrenaline made up for the lack of food since morning. She drank some water from a clean spot in the creek. She was placing her bet on rescue rather than worrying about the water.
Leaning against one of the trees, Tabitha took out her cell and measured the signal.
"Damn it, nothing!" She swore under her breath. She listened nervously and cautiously peered her head out from the tree line. Standing at the tree line, the cell phone still had a low signal. She pushed her anxiety down with a swallow and slowly stepped forward onto the bare rock. Tabitha was now out in the open. She walked with the cell phone pointed upwards, measuring the signal. Within three feet of the cliff face, her signal bar punched up to full. Tabitha began to punch in the numbers just as a pair of large yellow eyes appeared. She felt her legs become weak, and her vision blurred as the creature snared her in its gaze.
Tabitha ducked, missing the giant owl's claws as it swooped for her. She squinted her eyes shut, momentarily breaking the hold of the infernal beast as it crashed to the ground, tumbling down the path of old trees. On her hands and knees, she tucked the dialed phone back into her pocket. She heard the creature's loud bellowing, followed by the snapping of bone and flesh ripping. It was changing its shape to finish her off.
Tabitha tried to get up, but the flash of its eyes did something to her. Her legs were numb, her stomach was in knots, and she could barely put a few thoughts together.
"If you can't see it, it can't hurt you." Tabitha heard clearly in her left ear. She quickly pushed herself into a sitting position and fumbled for the key chain in her right pocket. Pulling the long chain of keys, luck charms, and keepsakes, her father's Swiss army knife dangled at the end. She slowly opened the half-inch blade. Her body wholeheartedly rejected her plan and tried to fight her. Every internal warning system sounded as her body fought against her as she brought the blade against the corner of her left eye.
She didn't know if she could do it until the creature bellowed in her direction. With one quick motion, the half-inch blade sliced across her left eye. The world dimmed and then went black on her left side. Behind her, the beast's thundering gallop was getting closer. Tabitha plunged herself into total darkness with the last bit of her strength. Her hand gripped tightly around the bloody knife as she folded forward onto the ground. She could feel herself weeping blood. She squinted, doing her best to stem the tide of blood loss.
A large feathered paw drove into Tabitha's right side, flipping her onto her back. She lay still as the hulking creature stood over her. It remained motionless, and Tabitha was confused about why it didn't move or bite her. Then she started to giggle, just a little at first. Then, laughing madly into the creature's face as it growled back at her. She could not see it; she couldn't see anything. Her mind couldn't be eaten!
The creature roared into Tabitha's face while plunging one of its sharp claws into her shoulder. Tabitha screamed in pain, slashing the knife downward. The blade hit something soft, and she ripped the blade down, rending whatever she had hit on the abomination. A bright yellow, foul-smelling liquid gushed in a torrent over Tabitha's face. She turned to cough, having swallowed a portion of it. The creature reared back, squealing in pain. Its hind leg came down hard on Tabitha's leg, snapping her tibia. She jerked her leg up, causing the creature to tumble forward and fall over the edge of the cliff side.
Tabitha heard the creature crash below at the base of the hill. A large dead tree speared the creature through its chest. Tabitha could hear the labored whines of the creature as its cries became weak and slowed. A wave of sickness hit her as she rolled over and vomited. The foul smell drenched her. She did her best to focus, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the phone. By memory, she typed in the unlock pin. She held her breath and placed her thumb where the call button should be.
She could hear the call being made then, "911. What is your emergency?"
"Please help me! A bear has attacked me, and I can't see. I think I am on a hill."
"Ok, ma'am, stay with me! Do you know where you are located?"
"No, I'm lost. Please send help."
"It's okay. Stay with me on the phone, and I'll use the cell signal to try to find you."
"I'm on top of one of the hills. I think I am lying on a bare roc-" Tabitha slipped unconscious with the cell still tightly in her hand. Her body began to tremble and convulse.
"Ma'am! Ma'am! Stay with me. I have help on the way."
Chapter 3
A young man in military fatigues frantically compiles images and reconnaissance data from his drone feed. Confirming his hunch, he commands the winged surveillance drone to make a hard left and send a live video feed. His eyes widened as he saw a large owl-shaped shadow crash onto the top of a hill. He watches in awe as the sleek black owl twists and shifts into something much larger, like a grizzly. As the drone turns, he sees a woman at the cliff's edge trying to steady yourself on her hands and knees.
He bolts up from the command module, jotting down the drone's coordinates on one of the printouts. The drab government-issued office motif for the watch station blurs in the corner of his eye as he rushes down the hallway to the watch commander's office.
"Sir, recon has eyes on AMOS! And it's feeding!" the man said, swinging the heavy wooden door open. He took the hastily compiled file and pushed it forward to the commanding officer.
An older, tanned man quickly stands, reaching for the files. His brow furls, seeing his charge is awake. "Keep eyes on it! Go Adams!" The young man nods, turning on his heel and bolting for the drone command module. As his office door slams shut from the subordinate officer, he grabs his headset and frantically dials the closest military outpost to the coordinates.
"Hello, Sergeant Klein; this is Agent Smith of Black Watch outpost 7948! Shadow is active, code Alpha, Mike, Oscar, Sierra. The coordinates and data package have been sent. A civilian is on the ground; deploy strike-and-rescue ASAP.
"We'll be up in five, Agent Smith! The line cuts as Agent Smith closes out the call on his headset and rushes to the door. The normally quiet watch station buzzes alive, with personnel flooding the central command station. The background echoes resource allocation calls, frantic typing, and the hum of cold computers warming up.
"Adams, get our eyes back on Amos!"
"Coming back around in 30 seconds." Thirty sets of eyes stare at the three giant screens, anxiously waiting for the drone feed to clear the bank of trees. The camera clears the tre top to see the giant feathered grizzly rear back slinging its massive head away from its prey. Its large yellow right eye spews bright yellow liquid all over the red-haired woman and the cliff face. The giant feathered grizzly missteps, crushing the woman's leg and causing the creature to tumble over the cliff face.
"Fuck!" Agent Smith yells in horror as he watches AMOS fall four stories, impaling a sharp, 3-meter-tall log lodged in the boulders. The command center freezes wide-eyed at the flailing dying creature on screen. Agent Smith pulls his cell out quickly and dials.
"Klein, Scrub the current request! AMOS is down! Switch to rescue and harvest now!
"What, someone took out AMOS?"
"YES! It's at the bottom of the cliff, bleeding out essence! The woman is covered in it as well. Clean as much of it off her as possible before you take her to the ER.
"Understood!"
Agent Smith, in a rage, slings his phone straight forward, connecting with Private Adams's skull. Adams flinches at the sudden impact of the hard plastic and covers his head. Agent Smith grabs the table in front of him and flips it over, sending the computer equipment crashing to the government-issued tiled floor.
"A two-year cycle gone! All that essence is gone! Now I have to wait another 24 months for AMOS to resurrect!" Agent Smith screams, causing the rest of the staff to recoil away in fear.
"Jones!" Agent Smith says sternly, turning to a petite woman on his left. She stares at him, pleading.
"Yes Sir?'
"Get Officer Nichols on my office line. That fuck up has some explaining. He should have told us AMOS was awake."
"Right away!" Jones quickly sits back down and begins dialing Nichols, thankful she doesn't have to deal with Agent Smith further. The command center quickly shifts gears as Agent Smith returns to his office.
***
Two Weeks later…
"Tabitha… Tabitha… This is Doctor Wilhelm. Wake up." The kind older gentleman said as they gently nudged Tabitha in her hospital bed.
"Where am I?" Tabitha asked, waking from what felt like years of sleep. She sat up, the world still pitch black, but an odd sense of the world around her seemed to hum just behind her eyes.
"You're in the hospital, dear; you scared us. Do you remember anything?" He said as he sat down on the side of her bed.
Tabitha thought for a moment the last parts after she slashed her eyes were a blur. She remembers people yelling and the sound of two or three helicopters over her. " No, it's really all just a blur."
"Well, it's probably for the best. You had some very serious injuries. The first night, we honestly didn't think you would make it. Then…" The doctor trailed off with a concerned expression, not knowing how to explain things further.
Tabitha felt his pulse quicken somehow. She didn't understand it but fully felt or sensed the doctor beside her. She sensed the two other nurses standing at the end of the bed. Her body didn't hurt. She felt great. She felt hungry.
"Doctor, you said had. What happened to my injuries?" She said calmly, trying not to startle the old doctor further.
"Well, Tabitha, it's the closest thing to a miracle I've ever seen. You had violent seizures from the minute you hit the entrance of the ER. We couldn't even set your leg. The medications we gave you had a minimal effect, and you thrashed so much that we had to restrain you. Then, the early morning check-in found you in a deep sleep. All but your eyes were completely healed. So we switched gears to support care and treated your eyes the best we could." He said, watching her reaction.
Tabitha leaned back in her bed, taking in the wild account. "Do you know how I healed so quickly?"
"What happened to you is beyond all scientific reason. A miracle is the only way the staff and I can explain it. I know you have been through a lot, but I want to check your eyes."
"Thank you for all your help, Doctor Wilhelm." She said, sitting up in bed.
"You are most welcome, dear. Now I am going to unwrap your eye-dressing. Hold still, please." he said as he reached up and pulled on the bandage tape. Tabitha felt a quick tug and felt the bandages loosen from around her head. The doctor slowly unwrapped the bandages. The doctor's brow wrinkled as he examined the two large black scabs covering Tabitha's eyes.
"Tell me if this hurts at all, ok?"
"Yes, doctor." She relaxes as the doctor's gloved fingers pass over the scab. He pushes and gently tugs at the side of one, and it starts to lift. He pulls on the scab more, and Tabitha begins to sense the light as it hits her eyelid.
"Oh, I can sense the light, Doctor Wilhelm!" She said, smiling.
"Wonderful! Nurse Allen, please hand me some saline solution. I think a little water will loosen these right up. Hold still; this may feel cold," he said as he reached for the solution. She felt the cool liquid flush over the left eye, then the right. The scabs fell away with a gentle tug from the doctor. She could see the light shine through her eyelids. She grinned widely, happy to have some form of sight left.
"Please open your eyes for me," he said as he sat back on the bed. Tabitha slowly opened her eyes. The flood of light was almost too much, causing her to squint. After a few moments, she adjusted to the fluorescent lights. Three figures began to take shape in front of her. First, the distinguished older features of Doctor Wilhelm came into view quickly, followed by the brunette and blonde younger nurses standing at the end of the bed. Suddenly, her vision snapped into place, crisp and clear.
"I can see perfectly! This is amazing! Thank you, Doctor Wilhem!" she said, turning to look directly into his eyes, but he stared back at her unmovingly.
"Doctor Wilhelm?" she said as her expression became more worried. Doctor Wilhelm just sat staring, intensely focused on her eyes. His expression was overbearingly calm. She glanced at the nurses, rigidly staring back at her with trapped, calm expressions. Doctor Wilhelm began to twitch slightly. It traveled from the base of his spine out to his limbs, finally convulsing.
"Doctor Wilhelm, are you okay?" Tabitha yelled as the doctor began to have a seizure and fell on top of her bed.
"Help Him!" She screamed at the two nurses only to see both of them crumble to the tiled floor. One of them bashed her head off the bed frame. Tabitha recoils back from Doctor Wilhelm in terror as he starts foaming at the mouth. She climbs over the bed rail and hits the tiled concrete floor with a thud. Her adrenaline surges as she bolts for the door, looking for help.
At the entrance of her hospital room, she sees another nurse leaving the adjacent room. "Please, my doctor and staff need help!" As the male nurse turns to see Tabitha, he suddenly goes stiff before collapsing into a violent seizure, spilling his cart over with him.
"What's happening!" Tabitha screams, thinking something is in the air, or everyone has come down with something. A pair of security guards round the corner, hearing the screams and commotion.
"Ma'am, are yo-" The guard freezes mid-stride as he makes eye contact with Tabitha. Both men start to convulse and topple over, thrashing violently on the hard tile.
"No, no, no, no!" Tabitha yells as she darts into the women's bathroom, a few doors up the hall. She runs in, terrified of the situation. She approaches one of the sinks, bracing herself against the cool porcelain. Her stomach turns, and she dry heaves in the sink. She steadies herself while turning on the cold water. Leaning in, she takes a drink. As she looks up, a glint of two yellow eyes catches her. Tabitha stumbles backward on reflex. Then, she sees her reflection in the mirror. Two completely bright yellow eyes stare back at Tabitha. She screams at herself in the mirror, not feeling hungry anymore.
The end.
I will