Chapter Text
Ophelia will never stop at gas stations in the middle of nowhere again.
On her way home from the city, she’d left the convention later than she’d originally wanted. Spending the day walking around a bustling artist alley, her trunk was loaded with half of a bi-weekly paycheck. Her car dings for what seemed like the thousandth time, begging for gas. Her hand clenched the wheel tight, watching the building grow further apart from each other. Ophelia remembered all the nice apartments downtown she could’ve picked, but of course she wasn’t made of money. If she had been able to afford the studio apartments, then maybe she wouldn't be speeding down backroads looking for the closest gas pump.
“Fuck is with all the woods?” She curses to herself under the radio playing classic rock. “They couldn’t just place a 7-11 somewhere?”
She was only 20 minutes from home, but her car just couldn't take it anymore. A sputter coming from somewhere she didn't want to think about, the dinging getting louder to remind her just how desperate the situation was. She groans loudly, her car threatening to sputter on the 5 miles sitting in it. Just as the dial began to teeter onto the lit ‘E’, good luck illuminated the road ahead. The dim light of a sketchy gas station highlighted itself through the upcoming trees. A large, faded sign advertising ‘Terry’s Stop’ The age worn logo was nailed to another signboard.
24/7, 7 days a weke.
Snorting at the misspelling on the yellowed board, she turns into the gravel lot. 2 dingy pumps, one diesel and the other regular. Ophelia takes a moment just to look around the almost visible dark. It wasn't like she had a choice if she wanted to go home, but she could still scour the scene for a possible axe murderer waiting in the woods.
The gas station was a little more sketchy than she thought, plywood was nailed to random parts of the dilapidated exterior. Illegible spray paint on top of the rain damaged wood, she tried to make some of it out. It looked like just stupid graffiti tags, circles and x’s. Nothing said ‘KEEP OUT’, so she made the choice to leave the safety of her car. Even if this was the premise of every horror movie she’d ever seen, there wasn't really any other option. Outside was quiet apart from the crickets that sang in the early summer air, a soft breeze messing with her pitch black hair, tossing her bangs around before it died down. She sighed, readjusting them on her walk inside. A large window showed her a perfect view inside to see a man sitting at the counter watching her.
Lights flickered the moment the doorbell chimed, which was almost enough to make her turn around. The glass door shut behind her with a soft thud, the stale smell in the air hitting her after a second.
“A bit late for you to be out, little lady.” The attendant spoke up from behind the register, leaning against the raised counter. A baseball cap pulled to shade his eyes, but it wasn’t hard to tell where he was looking when Ophelia approached him. “Well, when you run out of gas…” She offered back nervously. “Can- Can I just get 20?” Pulling her wallet from her back pocket, she uncovered the bills and held them out. Catching his grin down at her, if the smell of cigarettes wasn’t radiating from him then his yellowed teeth would’ve given him away.
“You from out of town?” He asks as he totals the cash, taking his time to check the bills. Ophelia looks back out to her car under the fluttering spotlight at the pump, then back to the creep waiting for a response. “Yeah, my mom- she’s actually waiting for me at home.” She lies, her fake smile hiding her nerves as he hands over the receipt. He nods, a smile still lingering on his crooked face. “Well, you stay safe out there. Can’t have your mama waitin’ for too long.”
Turning on her heel, she tries not to burst into a full spring outside and luckily keeps it to a speed walk back to the gas pump. Her heart was pounding out of her chest, even being outside felt worse after that interaction. Popping open the fuel door and slotting the pump in, she waited to hear the gas flow. Apparently moving too fast for the guy watching her the whole time. Ophelia almost felt less panicked after hearing the gas flow, until she noticed her one-person audience still giving his full attention.
She really tried not to give him the attention he wanted, creeps thrived off stuff like that. Even she knew that.
The paranoid freak inside her felt obligated to check over her shoulder. The guy inside kept his eyes on her from the window. His casual lean against the counter, just watching. She wasn’t sure what would make the situation better, maybe she was just overreacting? The guy just looked creepy, maybe he was really nice outside of the murder shack he worked at? Maybe he had a really thriving fantasy football team!
A quick look back to the window, was he closer? Now stood off the raised cash-wrap, he was basically right in front of the glass.
Ophelia looked back to the numbers rising slowly on the gas pump. Was this the slowest pump in the world? Would she die pumping her gas because of some perverted employee who liked the low cut graphic tee she wore?
Another look.
He was gone.
Cool.
“You’re fucking kidding me…” She bounced in her spot. Anxiety washed over her as she looked around. It wasn’t like she heard the door open, no sound of crunching gravel. Maybe he’d just walked off into the store, she tried to convince herself. Maybe he was actually doing his job? Or maybe he was grabbing the blunt object to bash her head in?
Ophelia felt her fear spiral, consume, all in a matter of seconds.
"Y-you alone?" A voice breaks her train of thought.
Clutching the gas pump tighter, she slowly turned her head to the stuttering voice behind her.
Her eyes wide as she stared at the stranger.
Average height, but still taller than her. Messy brown hair pinned down by a pair of orange goggles, which was a choice. Not that she was one to judge someone's choice in fashion. He stood just outside the warm light above her. It was harder to make him out, but she could still see the mask that covered his lower face. If the goggles weren’t already weird enough, the mask hugging his jaw was the cherry on top.
“I’m..alone.” Not like she could lie when no one sat in her passenger seat.
Halfway to go on the pump, she turns back to face the new creep that’s chosen to harass her. “Mm..Most people drive right by this place.” His head jerks unnaturally, he holds his hands firm in his jacket pockets. “Whole lotta creeps out here at night, so you gotta watch out.” He nods to himself, adjusting on his feet like it’s normal to be having a conversation in the dark. She wasn’t even sure how to respond, this was the last place she wanted to be.
“Y-You look nervous..” He pulled out his hands and raised them in defense of himself, “These woods are really weird to hang around a..after dark, a-and I just, well, I-I thought I’d check on you-” The dark haired stranger takes another step closer, Ophelia tenses. Stepping back one small step. “You- You said there’s a ‘whole lotta creeps’ around here, so..” She manages to get out, taking a closer look at him. Something hung off his belt loops, the top parts covered by his striped hoodie. A hammer? Mallet? He chokes out an obnoxiously loud laugh, the volume still muffled by its black mesh covering, bringing her back to reality.
How did he even get here? She thought, checking the empty pump next to her.
The only car in the lot was hers and the challenger tucked in by the treeline.
“Y-You’re right, I-I’m probably the last guy you want t-to talk with right nn-now.” Stammering is followed by a neck crack, a loud pop sounding like a gunshot. She flinches in response to the sudden noise. “Sorry-” He’s cut off by the god-sent click from the pump handle. Ophelia had never moved so fast. Slotting the spigot back into its holster, she screwed in the cap and closed the door. A quick look between the still-absent window and the lanky brunette masked freak, she offered a fake-polite smile. “Well, um…I should probably be going now. It was nice to meet you-”
“It was?” He almost sounded surprised, seeing the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah! It was!” Her adrenaline was at its peak. Heart thrumming against her ribs, sweat even prickled at the back of her neck.
Ophelia held onto her door handle, yanking it open and basically throwing herself in. “I-I, uh!” He stammers, now moving into the light. Standing right by the pump just before she could close the door safely. Highli
Ophelia will never stop at gas stations in the middle of nowhere again.
On her way home from the city, she’d left the convention later than she’d originally wanted. Spending the day walking around a bustling artist alley, her trunk was loaded with half of a bi-weekly paycheck. Her car dings for what seemed like the thousandth time, begging for gas. Her hand clenched the wheel tight, watching the building grow further apart from each other. Ophelia remembered all the nice apartments downtown she could’ve picked, but of course she wasn’t made of money. If she had been able to afford the studio apartments, then maybe she wouldn't be speeding down backroads looking for the closest gas pump.
“Fuck is with all the woods?” She curses to herself under the radio playing classic rock. “They couldn’t just place a 7-11 somewhere?”
She was only 20 minutes from home, but her car just couldn't take it anymore. A sputter coming from somewhere she didn't want to think about, the dinging getting louder to remind her just how desperate the situation was. She groans loudly, her car threatening to sputter on the 5 miles sitting in it. Just as the dial began to teeter onto the lit ‘E’, good luck illuminated the road ahead. The dim light of a sketchy gas station highlighted itself through the upcoming trees. A large, faded sign advertising ‘Terry’s Stop’ The age worn logo was nailed to another signboard.
24/7, 7 days a weke.
Snorting at the misspelling on the yellowed board, she turns into the gravel lot. 2 dingy pumps, one diesel and the other regular. Ophelia takes a moment just to look around the almost visible dark. It wasn't like she had a choice if she wanted to go home, but she could still scour the scene for a possible axe murderer waiting in the woods.
The gas station was a little more sketchy than she thought, plywood was nailed to random parts of the dilapidated exterior. Illegible spray paint on top of the rain damaged wood, she tried to make some of it out. It looked like just stupid graffiti tags, circles and x’s. Nothing said ‘KEEP OUT’, so she made the choice to leave the safety of her car. Even if this was the premise of every horror movie she’d ever seen, there wasn't really any other option. Outside was quiet apart from the crickets that sang in the early summer air, a soft breeze messing with her pitch black hair, tossing her bangs around before it died down. She sighed, readjusting them on her walk inside. A large window showed her a perfect view inside to see a man sitting at the counter watching her.
Lights flickered the moment the doorbell chimed, which was almost enough to make her turn around. The glass door shut behind her with a soft thud, the stale smell in the air hitting her after a second.
“A bit late for you to be out, little lady.” The attendant spoke up from behind the register, leaning against the raised counter. A baseball cap pulled to shade his eyes, but it wasn’t hard to tell where he was looking when Ophelia approached him. “Well, when you run out of gas…” She offered back nervously. “Can- Can I just get 20?” Pulling her wallet from her back pocket, she uncovered the bills and held them out. Catching his grin down at her, if the smell of cigarettes wasn’t radiating from him then his yellowed teeth would’ve given him away.
“You from out of town?” He asks as he totals the cash, taking his time to check the bills. Ophelia looks back out to her car under the fluttering spotlight at the pump, then back to the creep waiting for a response. “Yeah, my mom- she’s actually waiting for me at home.” She lies, her fake smile hiding her nerves as he hands over the receipt. He nods, a smile still lingering on his crooked face. “Well, you stay safe out there. Can’t have your mama waitin’ for too long.”
Turning on her heel, she tries not to burst into a full spring outside and luckily keeps it to a speed walk back to the gas pump. Her heart was pounding out of her chest, even being outside felt worse after that interaction. Popping open the fuel door and slotting the pump in, she waited to hear the gas flow. Apparently moving too fast for the guy watching her the whole time. Ophelia almost felt less panicked after hearing the gas flow, until she noticed her one-person audience still giving his full attention.
She really tried not to give him the attention he wanted, creeps thrived off stuff like that. Even she knew that.
The paranoid freak inside her felt obligated to check over her shoulder. The guy inside kept his eyes on her from the window. His casual lean against the counter, just watching. She wasn’t sure what would make the situation better, maybe she was just overreacting? The guy just looked creepy, maybe he was really nice outside of the murder shack he worked at? Maybe he had a really thriving fantasy football team!
A quick look back to the window, was he closer? Now stood off the raised cash-wrap, he was basically right in front of the glass.
Ophelia looked back to the numbers rising slowly on the gas pump. Was this the slowest pump in the world? Would she die pumping her gas because of some perverted employee who liked the low cut graphic tee she wore?
Another look.
He was gone.
Cool.
“You’re fucking kidding me…” She bounced in her spot. Anxiety washed over her as she looked around. It wasn’t like she heard the door open, no sound of crunching gravel. Maybe he’d just walked off into the store, she tried to convince herself. Maybe he was actually doing his job? Or maybe he was grabbing the blunt object to bash her head in?
Ophelia felt her fear spiral, consume, all in a matter of seconds.
"Y-you alone?" A voice breaks her train of thought.
Clutching the gas pump tighter, she slowly turned her head to the stuttering voice behind her.
Her eyes wide as she stared at the stranger.
Average height, but still taller than her. Messy brown hair pinned down by a pair of orange goggles, which was a choice. Not that she was one to judge someone's choice in fashion. He stood just outside the warm light above her. It was harder to make him out, but she could still see the mask that covered his lower face. If the goggles weren’t already weird enough, the mask hugging his jaw was the cherry on top.
“I’m..alone.” Not like she could lie when no one sat in her passenger seat.
Halfway to go on the pump, she turns back to face the new creep that’s chosen to harass her. “Mm..Most people drive right by this place.” His head jerks unnaturally, he holds his hands firm in his jacket pockets. “Whole lotta creeps out here at night, so you gotta watch out.” He nods to himself, adjusting on his feet like it’s normal to be having a conversation in the dark. She wasn’t even sure how to respond, this was the last place she wanted to be.
“Y-You look nervous..” He pulled out his hands and raised them in defense of himself, “These woods are really weird to hang around a..after dark, a-and I just, well, I-I thought I’d check on you-” The dark haired stranger takes another step closer, Ophelia tenses. Stepping back one small step. “You- You said there’s a ‘whole lotta creeps’ around here, so..” She manages to get out, taking a closer look at him. Something hung off his belt loops, the top parts covered by his striped hoodie. A hammer? Mallet? He chokes out an obnoxiously loud laugh, the volume still muffled by its black mesh covering, bringing her back to reality.
How did he even get here? She thought, checking the empty pump next to her.
The only car in the lot was hers and the challenger tucked in by the treeline.
“Y-You’re right, I-I’m probably the last guy you want t-to talk with right nn-now.” Stammering is followed by a neck crack, a loud pop sounding like a gunshot. She flinches in response to the sudden noise. “Sorry-” He’s cut off by the god-sent click from the pump handle. Ophelia had never moved so fast. Slotting the spigot back into its holster, she screwed in the cap and closed the door. A quick look between the still-absent window and the lanky brunette masked freak, she offered a fake-polite smile. “Well, um…I should probably be going now. It was nice to meet you-”
“It was?” He almost sounded surprised, seeing the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah! It was!” Her adrenaline was at its peak. Heart thrumming against her ribs, sweat even prickled at the back of her neck.
Ophelia held onto her door handle, yanking it open and basically throwing herself in. “I-I, uh!” He stammers, now moving into the light. Standing right by the pump just before she could close the door safely. Highlighting the dark stains on his clothes under the harsh overhead.The keys in her hand itched to start the car and drive off, but she felt weird. Almost compelled to hear him out, and entertain the creep. “You..?” Ophelia offered in her impatience, after watching him fidget with his gloves for a minute. As if he was the nervous one? “I’m T-Toby. I jus-” He meets her eyes, she had no clue what emotion he was even showing. “Well, I mean..T-Thanks for talking with me. Stay s-safe out there.”
Ophelia nodded just to get out of the interaction, shutting the door and taking back off down the dark backroad. Toby in her rearview, just standing.
Waving.
Pulling into her apartment building, she took an extra minute to look around the parking lot before running inside. Locking her car before she hit the stairs, the expected horn only made her move faster. Once inside she panted from the fear, leaning against the oak front door. At times like this she was thankful for the five separate indoor locks installed to her front door.
Paranoia took hold, she couldn’t even feel comfortable till every window had been checked and covered. Every lock triple checked, all her closets and shadowed corners cautiously looked at. After taking a moment to calm down, she swore to never go back there. Never to drive down that dark road again. Never to pump gas at night. If she was lucky, to never think of Toby again.
She curls into bed, pulling the blanket over her head.
ghting the dark stains on his clothes under the harsh overhead.The keys in her hand itched to start the car and drive off, but she felt weird. Almost compelled to hear him out, and entertain the creep. “You..?” Ophelia offered in her impatience, after watching him fidget with his gloves for a minute. As if he was the nervous one? “I’m T-Toby. I jus-” He meets her eyes, she had no clue what emotion he was even showing. “Well, I mean..T-Thanks for talking with me. Stay s-safe out there.”
Ophelia nodded just to get out of the interaction, shutting the door and taking back off down the dark backroad. Toby in her rearview, just standing.
Waving.
Pulling into her apartment building, she took an extra minute to look around the parking lot before running inside. Locking her car before she hit the stairs, the expected horn only made her move faster. Once inside she panted from the fear, leaning against the oak front door. At times like this she was thankful for the five separate indoor locks installed to her front door.
Paranoia took hold, she couldn’t even feel comfortable till every window had been checked and covered. Every lock triple checked, all her closets and shadowed corners cautiously looked at. After taking a moment to calm down, she swore to never go back there. Never to drive down that dark road again. Never to pump gas at night. If she was lucky, to never think of Toby again.
She curls into bed, pulling the blanket over her head.