The aliens were tracking their heat signatures but here in the trees they could come across as two animals hiding from the unknown. Because there was no way for him to explain this without giving something away he dodged the correct answer. “There must just be a lot of them.” It felt like a pathetic response but he had nothing better. Whispering those words he felt like such a cheat. 

The light faded in the distance and he exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, sitting up straighter again. Though feeling relieved his grip was tense on the steering wheel as he took it once more. “Maybe we can gain some ground if we keep going… Soon we might reach snow. Hopefully that will slow them down.”

He started the engine again and turned on the headlights to pull away from the trees. The rain had let up some so he was more confident that they wouldn’t crash than before. Back on the interstate they picked up speed and kept going. Several hours more slipped by. The rain had stopped and a light snow powdered the earth and asphalt. Once they had skid over a mile on dark ice so now he was driving much slower- wary.

It went on for awhile like this until he began to shiver. Even with the heat on the cold was like a phantom touching at his skin. He stopped the car on the road side and resisted the urge to rub at his arms and shudder openly. “I don’t think I can drive anymore right now. Are you feeling better?” He looked to the exit ramp ahead of them then back to her. “Can you drive awhile?”