For Christmas this year, my mom, older sister, and I have decided to go on a Caribbean

Cruise. The cruise is scheduled to leave Port Canaveral, Florida at 3 p.m. on December 23, so at
8 a.m. on December 22 all three of us climb into my moms 2001 Ford Expedition and start
driving to Florida from La Crosse, Wisconsin. We drive for a little over four hours before we all
start feeling hungry. Even then we have to drive for another hour before finding a little diner just
off the highway in middle-of-no-where, Illinois. The lights on the sign flickered telling us the
diners called Mas. As we pull into one of the parking spots a radio announcer comes on,
interrupting Hotel California.
Breaking news about the Interstate My mom turns off the car before the announcer
could finish.
Hey! What if I wanted to listen to that? I say before climbing out of the car.
Sorry, but I need food now. My mom answers as she walks around the car to Lisa and
me. I roll my eyes, and we head for the entrance. My stomach growls loudly when we walk
through the door and the smell of grilled meat and greasy food hits me.
Just take a seat anywhere. And grab your own menus off the counter. The cook yells
from the back. We grab three menus off the top of the pile and sit in the booth closest to the door.
Lisa takes out her antibacterial soap and puts a huge glob in her left hand and starts rubbing it
into her hands all the way up to her elbows.
You two want something to drink? My mom asks as she starts getting out of the booth.
I just want a water with lemon, my sister, Lisa, says.
Me too. My mom nods and head to the counter. I see her say something, then the cook
curses and yells that he will get it. My mom comes back, and we start looking at the menus. After
a few seconds, I settle on ordering a mushroom swiss burger, so I set my menu down and start
taking in the diner around me. It is a normal looking diner, with white linoleum floors and red
booths and tabletops. A few truckers are plopped down at the counter, and an old couple sits at a
table on the other side. I hear a loud crash in the back and the cook yelling and cursing some
more, pulling my attention from my surroundings. He comes barging out of the back, three
glasses of water in one and a cleaver in the other. Oddly enough it doesnt seem to bother the
other customers.
Sorry about this. He says as he puts the glasses down on the table for us. Ethel called
in sick, so it is just me today. What you want?

Karra? My mom asks me, her eyes never leaving the cleaver in the cooks hands. I nod
and we all order. As the cook is heading back there is another loud crash in the back and the cook
yells and I see him throw the clever into the kitchen. A dark shadow quickly passes the doorway.
I thought he said it was just him. Lisa remarks, I just shrug in response. An hour later
we are backing out of the parking lot with my sister in the driver seat. I look over and notice a
1963 Volkswagen Bug with blue paint that has faded over the years into more of a bluish grey
color. It is so beat-up, it looks like the driver has been in more fender benders than a teenage girl.
It sits in the shade under a large tree in the corner of the lot, next to the back entrance to the
diner. Yet the shade that surrounds it seems too dark, I get an uneasy feeling just looking at it.
We get back onto the highway with my mom in the passenger seat and me sitting in the
back reading a book. At around 7, darkness has consumed everything in sight, our headlights
seeming to only break it a little. It is a new moon and clouds have blocked out all the stars. Lisa
pulls into a gas station, it is now my moms turn to drive again, and Lisa is supposed to sit in
back and sleep so she can drive later. I run in and grab some chips and a couple of pieces of
pizza, while my mom fills the tank.
When I walk back out to the car I look over the parking lot. From what I remember from
our navigation system, we are just a few miles from the Indiana/Kentucky state line, and I see a
few cars from each state in the parking lot, and another at the pumps. There is also a car with a
Texas license plate parked in the handicap spot, and in the shadows of the parking lot I could just
make out a 1963 bug with faded blue paint. It seems like wherever the car is, so is darkness. I
feel a shiver run up my back.
I saw that car back at the diner in Illinois. I say to my mom when I climb into the
passenger seat. I can already hear my sisters soft snoring coming from the back.
Which car? My mom asks while she starts the car. I point to the 1963 bug with the
faded blue paint that is sitting just out of reach from the lights of the gas station. Hmm, maybe.
My mom says as she slowly pulls out of the gas station and back onto the highway. I look out the
window at the passing scenery, and soon fall asleep where I dream about a 1963 bug with faded
blue paint chasing me.
I wake up to my mom slamming the door shut. I look at the clock on the dashboard,
12:49am. I rub my eyes and look out the windows, we are at a rest stop and I see my mom
running into the ladies bathroom, the light above her flickers slightly. I turn around to find my

sister still fast asleep with her feet resting on the back of my seat. I quickly push her feet down
startling her awake.
What happened? She asked with wide eyes and looking around.
It is your turn to drive. I stretch in my seat.
I wish you were a year older so you could drive. She says as she gets out of the car. I
see her rubbing her eyes and mumbling to herself as she walks around the front of the car to the
driver side door. She climbs in, and I reach around to grab the piece of pizza I had bought for her
back at the gas station. She grabs it and starts eating. She is halfway through eating when I see
our mom jogging back to the car.
That car you saw is sitting over there. My mom says as she climbs into the back seat. I
look over to where she is pointing and see the 1963 bug with faded blue painting sitting just
outside the reach of the lights from the parking lot.
What car? My sister asks looking over to where my mom is pointing. Oh. So? She
looks at us confused.
I saw that car back at the diner, then again at the gas station back in Indiana. I explain.
Her eyebrows draw together in confusion.
Maybe they are just taking the same route as us, and just happen to stop at the same
places. My sister says trying to rationalize the situation.
Maybe. I say in response. Lets just get going. My sister nods and puts the car in
reverse. She backs out of the space and then starts driving toward the rest stop exit. I turn around
to find my mom already leaning against the door with her eyes closed. She must be exhausted
from driving for almost 5 hours, 4 of which are past her normal bed time.
I look just past her at the 1963 bug with faded blue paint, and notice that there is
movement in the cab of the car. I try look closer to see what the driver looks like, but my sister
has sped up and the car is quickly growing smaller and smaller along with its driver. Soon I cant
even see the 1963 bug anymore and we are on the highway once more. We pass a sign indicating
we are 112 miles away from Atlanta.
I look down and start reading my book with a flash light, until a bright light catches my
attention in the rearview mirror. I look up and see two bright headlights catching up to us fast. In
a matter of seconds the car is right on our tail. I turn around and see that it is the 1963 bug with
faded blue paint that is behind us. I notice that there are no lights in the cab, not even the

illuminating blue of the dashboard. It is pitch black and behind the wheel is an even darker
splotch of black where the driver is.
Why arent they passing? Lisa asks. I feel the car accelerate as she presses her foot on
the gas pedal. I look over and see the speedometer passing 90 mph. I turn back around and see
that the 1963 bug with faded blue paint has sped up with us and is still on our tail. All of a
sudden I feel my sister veer into the left lane and slow way down. The 1963 bug with faded blue
paint does the exact same thing, staying right behind us.
What the fuck! Lisa says slamming her hands on the steering wheel. She then moves
back into the right lane and speeds back up to our original speed of 72 mph.
Just ignore him. I say turning back to look at the 1963 bug with faded blue paint. I
dont think the fact that this guy is tailgating us is as scary as the fact that there are no lights in
the cab. I do not think that is even possible. You would think that the headlights would at least be
reflecting off our car to give a little bit of light in there.
I cant. He could run into us. She looks in the rearview mirror, and just stares at the car
behind us for a little too long for my comfort.
Lisa, please keep your eyes on the road. I say. She blinks and looks down at the road.
Sorry. She mumbles.
So what classes do you want to take on the cruise? I ask trying to get her mind off the
creeper driving behind us. She smiles and I could see her body relax. We talk about all the fun
stuff we want to do while on the cruise for a couple of hours before my mom wakes up.
Morning sleepy head. I say turning around in my seat to talk to her. She smiles before
yawning. She stretches, and opens her mouth to say something but the car jolts hard.
He hit us! Lisa yells, turning back in her seat to look at the 1963 bug with faded blue
paint.
Who? My mom turns in her seat as well, and I see her face suddenly go white when she
sees the car. Karra switch places with me. My mom orders me. I quickly scramble out of the
seatbelt and crawl over the center council and into the back. Once I was in sitting in the seat my
mom scrambles to sit in the passenger seat. My mom starts instructing Lisa to pull over, and Lisa
tells her about us speeding up and slowing down. While they are bickering about what to do I
turn back around to look at the 1963 bug. I am staring at the darker black spot in the cab when
the overhead light suddenly lights up the interior. The seats are cloth and falling apart, there is a

large stuffed black garbage bag, and the driver is staring right at me. A loud scream escapes my
lips. The moment the scream comes out the driver reaches up and turns the overhead light off.
Whats wrong? My mom asks turning in her seat quickly. I am still staring at where I
saw the driver. His skin was pasty white, and his eyes and lips were painted black. He had this
menacing smile, each tooth filed into sharp points. He looks like a dark and dangerous clown.
Get away from that car. I tell them, each word said slowly and clearly never taking my
eyes off where I saw the driver.
Why? Karra what is wrong? I hear Lisa ask. Just as she finishes talking the overhead
light in the 1963 bug comes back on.
Oh my God! My mom yells when the driver of the 1963 bug with faded blue paint
turns the overhead light on again and off within a few seconds.
What? Lisa asks. She seems really freaked out now, she should be.
Hehis teeth are pointed and his eyes are black. My mom says. Karra is right. You
need to get out of here.
How?! Lisa asks hysterically as she speeds up and the driver speeds up with us. I never
once take my eyes off the 1963 bug. My mind races as I try to figure out what to do. We had
passed Atlanta three and a half hours ago and are about an hour and a half away from
Jacksonville. I look at the clock. That means it will be around 7:48am, it should be light out close
to 45 minutes before then.
Find a cop. I hear my mom tell Lisa.
I havent seen one since before Nashville mom. As she finishes saying it the light
comes back on in the 1963 bug, and Lisa lets out a blood-curdling scream, I had to cover my
ears. She slams on the brakes and the 1963 bug driver does the same. I see his smile grow wider,
and a flicker of excitement glows in his eyes.
Speed back up! I yell at Lisa. She gives me a confused look as the car comes to a
complete stop and I see the creepy clown dude reaching to get out of the 1963 bug. GO! I say
more urgently. She blinks then quickly presses her foot on the gas and we start speeding back up.
I look back at the 1963 bug. He hasnt turned off the overhead light, and he is glaring at me with
daggers. I flinch under is gaze. I turn around to see how fast we are going, 94 mph. How is that
little old bug keeping up with us?

Jacksonville 106 miles! Lisa yells when we come up to a mile marker sign. I hear my
mom trying to calm her down.
Karra check your phone. My mom says to me. I grab my phone from my purse in the
back.
No service. I tell her.
Damn! Same with ours. She says staring at the screens of both hers and Lisas cell
phones.
What are we going to do? Lisa asks hysterically, and I am really getting sick of her
freaked out attitude. I feel the car jolt again, and quickly look back at the 1963 bug. He does it
again, and again. Lisa is screaming, my mom is trying to dial 911 on all of our phones, and I just
keep staring at the scary clown driver.
How do we not have service? My mom says with a huge huff, moving on from her
phone to mine. Just then the scary clown in the 1963 bug with faded blue paint pulls back behind
us slightly then moves over to the other lane and speeds up passing us in a matter of seconds. He
pulls right in front of us, almost clipping the front of our car making Lisa have to swerve to not
be pushed off the road. He slams on his brakes, making Lisa ram into him before slowing down
herself. A scream escapes all three of our throats, and I see a smile cross the clowns face in his
rearview mirror at us.
Go around him! My mom yells at Lisa. Lisa starts swerving around the road trying to
get around the 1963 bug, but every time she turns swerves to the left so does the bug, and every
time she swerves to the right the bug is right there. It is like he is in our heads and can see what
we are going to do before we even know.
Hit him. I tell Lisa, leaning forward to be closer to them.
What? Both my mom and Lisa ask at the same time. I repeat it and they both look at
me like I am crazy. I look down at the speedometer, we are only going 40mph and are slowly
slowing down because of the bug in front of us.
We can get the car fixed, but I dont think this guy is just trying to scare us. I say it
more calmly than I feel. Lisa and my mom exchange looks before Lisa nods her head and presses
her foot hard on the gas pedal. The car jolts as we hit the 1963 bug, and smoke starts clouding
the front of our car as the cars fight, one trying to push to speed up, the other trying to stop. I can

hear the wheels squeaking in response to the fight. I look into the 1963 bugs rearview mirror to
see the scary clowns reaction. His black eyes are narrowed and staring right at me.
We are going at it, us pressing on the gas and him pressing on the brake, when a light
pink stripe shows up on the eastern horizon. I see the scary clowns eyes widen then narrow even
more as he looks off into the beginnings of sunrise. He then quickly speeds up, moves into the
other lane, and slows ways down. We race past him and I see that he is just staring at me. In a
matter of seconds the 1963 bug with faded blue paint has disappeared into the background.
Half an hour later we are sitting at the desk of Officer Mazer, of the Jacksonville Police
Department.
So he had clown makeup on? He asks doubtfully. My mom sighs heavily, and starts
explaining it all over again, for the third time. Ok, well we will put out an APB for everyone to
be on the lookout for the bug and the, dark clown. He says the last part mockingly. I roll my
eyes, and before we know it we are being escorted out to the rental car that we called for. Our car
is going to be fixed while we are on the cruise.
We all climb into the little Prius, with my mom behind the wheel. Lisa turns on the radio,
and a pop radio station comes on playing the latest Brittney Spears song. We drive for almost an
hour before an announcer comes on the radio.
Tennessee and Kentucky state police continue their search for the murderer known as
the Interstate Killer. Our source tells us that his signature is cutting out the victims heart, and
completely draining them of blood. Two more bodies were found early this morning 30 miles
outside Jacksonville in a black garbage bag, making the body count 23. The biggest mystery is
that all of the victims were found with cell phones. The police believe that the killer carries a
device that blocks out service within a thirty foot radius. One eye witness says that she saw a
1963 bug with faded blue paint leaving the scene. All three of us exchange looks.