//------------------------------// // Fear Factor Rising (Miles 7-9) // Story: 11 // by Thunder--Dash //------------------------------// The air grew colder and colder. I quickly reached in the back seat and got the blankets. Scootaloo put the car on cruise control so she could get herself wrapped in the blanket. "Maybe I should've brought the bath robes instead...but it's okay. This should do for now." I said. Suddenly, screams could be heard as more shadow figures appeared. The screams sounded like torment and torture. Scootaloo quivered and started to pant. This was Mile 7. "Those s-screams..." Scootaloo said with a clear tremble in her voice. "Tune them..." I started to say...before a loud piercing scream was heard. A shadow figure managed to sneak its way into the car. Scootaloo let out a frightened scream, jumping in terror, swerving the car hard. "Whoa whoa. Easy, easy...remember...keep your eyes straight on the road, and don't...look...back..." I said as the screams continued to sound from the shadow figures. Scootaloo was able to straighten out the car...but she now had tears in her eyes. I looked closely and sighed. "Please don't cry Scootaloo. You're doing amazing. You're more than halfway there." I said with a smile, fixing my gaze at Scootaloo. "I-It's s-so hard...I'm so scared right now..." Scootaloo said on the brink of crying. The shadow figure left, but the screams could still be heard. "I know Scootaloo, but listen, life isn't easy. You gotta work for for things, even if you gotta go through things you are afraid of. That's what this journey is all about, and I'm so glad that we could do this together." I said. Scootaloo was still sobbing. "I-I...I...I just get frightened easily. Even though I know some things aren't real...my mind gets stuck into the thought that it is all real...like some of those scary legends..." Scootaloo stated. The screams of the shadow figures quieted down, but the figures themselves were still present. "Here's the thing Scootaloo, some stuff is real, others are not. When something sounds so far out there, you know that it's not real. Your mind is a powerful tool. You can tune out the negativity or let it consume you. You must tune it out. Focus on your wish. Hold it tightly." I said. Mile 7 was complete. Mile 8 had started. "Okay Scootaloo, here's where you gotta slow down a little, the road is gonna get very curvy." I stated. "Right." Scootaloo said as she lifted her foot off the gas. She lightly pressed the brake. The shadow figures were following us. "Uhm...I get the feeling that th-those figures are following us..." Scootaloo said. "Remember..." I said. Scootaloo maneuvered through the turns...but the headlights went off. "Ahh! The headlights went off!" Scootaloo exclaimed with panic in her voice. "Just tap the brake, and they'll come back." I said. Scootaloo tapped the brake and surely enough, the headlights flickered and re-illuminated. Scootaloo had to repeat this process a couple more times. "Aww, I can't think of any song to sing..." Scootaloo said sadly. "Just hum a melody of your own..." I suggested. Suddenly, the car sputtered. Scootaloo gasped. Mile 9 was here. The car sputtered again...and stalled. "No...no...n-no!" Scootaloo said panting and panicking. The shadow figures started to surround the car. I closed my eyes. Scootaloo remembered and closed her eyes. "Brake...park...start...drive..." I said. "Brake...park...start...drive..." Scootaloo repeated to herself multiple times with her eyes closed. She came to a stop, shifted to park, pushed the start button and waited. The engine roared loudly to life. The shadow creatures were stunned by the noise. Scootaloo revved the engine hard. "Go go go!" I exclaimed. Scootaloo slammed the gas, taking the Focus RS up to 60mph. Fortunately, the road was straight. Scootaloo lifted the gas and started to slow the car down again. "Phew...that was a rush..." She said panting. "Nine miles down...two to go!" I said happily. "Yay." Scootaloo said with a happy smile.