It was Nancy’s classmate Sam’s birthday party. There was lots of food, music and dancing. Nancy was so engrossed in playing and dancing that she forgot it was almost dinner time and she should have been home by then. It was only when her mother showed up at Sam’s door to pick her up that she realised she had to go. Nancy thanked Sam’s mother for the wonderful party with all the food and games. She hugged her friend Sam and wished him. Then loaded with all the prizes she had won in the games, Nancy hopped onto to her car and left with her mother. On the way back home, Nancy chatted about how much she had enjoyed the party. It was a long journey home, so her mother switched on some music to liven up the atmosphere. Just then, their car entered a lonely road.
On the Lonely Road
Nancy and her mother were enjoying the music when they saw another car behind them. For some time they just drove on. Nancy’s mother was, in fact, glad that there was another vehicle on the lonely road. However, after a while, she realised that the car was actually following them. In the dark, she could not see the driver of the car. Panicking, she increased the speed of the car. The road was still deserted and she wanted to get away from it as soon as possible. However, the car tailing them just would not give up and started speeding up, too. It even started honking loudly and its headlights glared on their car continuously. Trembling with fear, Nancy held on to her mother tightly and started crying. “Why is that car following us, mother?” she asked with fear. “Do not cry, Nancy; I will try and get help,” said her mother, mustering as much courage as she could.
Police to the Rescue
Nancy’s mother yelled out on top of her voice calling for help. However, at that time of night, there was not a waking soul on the road. She then asked Nancy to take out her mobile from her purse and dial the number of the police. Thankfully, the call connected and Nancy’s mother quickly told the police about the car that was following her. She also gave them her whereabouts and continued to drive along the road. Soon enough, from afar they could make out the gleaming headlights of a police car. Relieved and grateful, she quickly stopped next to the police car. Both the mother and the daughter then dashed towards the policeman. The car that was following them also stopped next to the police vehicle and a woman alighted from it. “This lady says you were following her. Is that true?” asked the policeman harshly. “Yes, I was following them,” said the woman, and she broke into tears.
The Man with the Knife
The policeman pacified her and asked her what had happened. “There was a man in that little girl’s car,” said the woman sobbing, “He was holding a knife. I did not see the man, but I could clearly make out his shadow and a knife he was holding.” The woman continued with her story as the policeman, Nancy and her mother listened in rapt attention: “I only wanted to warn them about him. So I kept following them, but they became scared and started speeding. Whenever I felt the shadow was getting closer to them, I would switch my headlights on. Every time I did that, the shadow would disappear. But when I switched them off, it would be back again.” The policeman was stunned to hear the story and searched the car thoroughly but could not find anybody. Nancy and her mother were so frightened that they abandoned the car forever.
