It was a crisp October night. The long road which wiggled through the woods was dark, lit only by the light from the full moon, which watched from a safe distance in the sky. Its starry companions were hiding in the deep depths of the black sky. Every now and then, one could hear the hoot of an owl, perhaps even the howl of a wolf, or some other creature, in the distance. The dead leaves on the foliage would give a shudder here and there, breaking the near-silence with a sudden rustle. The road itself was old and riddled with cracks, bumps, and holes, where it seemed as though a massive beast had taken a bite right out of the pavement. And it was down this road that two young walkers began their journey into the darkness…
~ ~ ~
            “Gee, Max, that movie didn’t scare me one bit!” said Franny, as she and Max began their walk home after seeing Demon Werewolves from Mars. Max, still trembling, shrugged. “I don’t know. It sure gave me quite a spook…” Franny rolled her eyes. She knew this, since Max had been hiding under her coat and crying throughout the film. But her cheery expression soon returned. “This was a really fun night! Though it sure is a shame we missed the last bus.” “It sure is,” Max agreed. “Especially since we have to walk down a long road… through the woods… in total darkness…” He whimpered. Franny rolled her eyes again. “Max, there is not a thing to be afraid of! I promise. Now come on!”
            As the two teenagers began walking down the road in the faint light of the moon, they remained silent. Max, after quite a struggle, began to speak. “So, um, Franny… I was, um, wondering if… I was wondering if—” He stopped speaking, and gave a violent shudder. “Do you... do you smell that?!” “Smell what?” Franny asked, who had been trying to pretend that Max wasn't there. “It smells like... gasoline! Gasoline! What if there’s a fire? The whole forest will burn down for sure! We’ll never make it out! We’ll—” “Max, stop being such a scaredy-cat! We’re probably just near a gas station… in the middle of the woods…”
            The couple carried on in silence, which was broken by Max speaking. “Oh my god! What's that sound? What's that sound?!” Franny sighed. “It’s a car, Max.” As an old, beat-up car approached, the two stood on the side of the rode and allowed the vehicle to pass. “He nearly hit us!” Max yelped. As soon as the car was out of view, he raised a fist about half-way and shook it. “Watch where you’re driving, jerk!” he whispered. He then turned to Franny. “I s-sure showed him, r-right?” But Franny wasn’t listening. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. Franny shook her head. “I don’t know… Something about that car just… just gave me the jitters, y’know?” “Well, I’m not scared,” Max replied, forcing a laugh which sounded more like a sob.
            For half an hour, Franny and Max continued to walk in the darkness. Neither had much to say to the other, though every now and then one of them would speak. “Max?” “Y-yeah?” “Are you crying?” “Me? Oh, uh... of course not,” Max replied, wiping his sleeve across his eyes
            After a little while longer, the sound of another car could be heard. “That’s odd,” Franny said, “I didn’t know so many cars drove down this road this time at night!” Once again, the teenagers braced themselves for a passing car, this one driving much slower. As it came closer, Franny gasped. “It’s the same car! How can that be? It just passed us and—” But she stopped speaking as the car passed. “M-Max?” she stammered. “There’s something weird about this car.” “What? What's weird about it?” Max asked, his arms over his head as he cowered in a tiny ball on the side of the road. Franny swallowed hard, almost too frightened to speak. “Nobody’s driving it.” Max shrieked, and that’s when the car began to back up.
It was coming straight towards them. Franny was breathing heavily, feeling dizzy as fear consumed her. “Max, what are we going to--?” “TAKE HER!” Max shouted, pushing Franny out into the road. On her hands and knees, she looked up to find the fiery red lights only a few feet away. She shut her eyes and...
Nothing happened. Franny  opened her eyes to find herself staring down a dark, empty road. “What? But, it was right here! How could this be?” She felt both relieved and terrified. She was glad to be alive, but now she was dealing with something supernatural. She looked around to find that she was alone. “He must have ran off into the woods. That coward!” Franny now had tears streaming from her eyes. “Hello?” she called out, with no reply except for the hooting of a nearby owl.
Franny began to walk down the road, trying not to remind herself that she was all alone. She hadn't been walking for very long when she tripped over something. “Ow! What the--?” Franny got up and looked behind her to see what had caused her to fall. In the light of the moon, she could see the corpse of Max, covered in tire marks.
There was an explosion of bright light behind Franny, and she turned around to find herself right in front of the car. “This is it!” she sobbed. “It's really the end! It's--” “Hey,” a voice said. Franny gasped-- it was the car! “Hey. I hate to interrupt your screaming, but... oh, jeez, this is embarrassing: do you know where the nearest gas station is? You see, I've been driving around and around and haven't been able to find one.” Franny was dumbfounded. “A gas station? That's all you want? But... but why did you kill Max?!” I don't need a reason. I'm the Phantom Car! I can do whatever I want!” Franny shrugged. “Eh, I never really liked him, anyway.” she sighed.  “Well, gee, it sure is a long walk home. You think you could give me a ride?” “Ride? What do I look like? The Phantom Taxi?” And with that, that Phantom Car drove off.
That was the last time the Phantom Car was ever seen. In fact, it was the only time it was ever seen. Not that it matters, anyway. I mean, seriously, he was a jerk. Some say that on that dark road, you can still smell the gasoline lingering in the air from the Phantom Car. Though it could just be from the gas station, which actually is in the middle of the woods. But that doesn't really add to the story now, does it?