Gravedigger

Dark storm clouds shrouded the setting sun as a car puttered down the forest road.

The old radio crooned softly as wiper blades slashed water from a foggy windshield. Outside the little yellow vehicle, the rain showed no signs of slowing.

"Gravedigger... when you dig my grave..."

Rubbing sleep from her eyes, the driver stifled a yawn as she squinted through the cloudy glass. Frowning, she cranked up the heat.

"Could you make it shallow... so that I can feel the rain?"

A spidery bolt of lightning tore across the sky in silence, followed by a deafening thunderclap. The woman sighed, regretting the promise to visit her estranged sister.

Shivering, Annalise recalled the massive guilt trip Clara pulled, complaining she'd missed seeing family.

"How come you never offer to come out my way?" She grumbled as the warm air kicked in.

Toasting chilly hands over the welcome warmth, Annalise gripped the steering wheel tightly. She hated driving on this twisting mountain road. The thought of returning to a hot shower and soft bed raised her dampened spirits, if only slightly.

"...you should never have to watch your only children lowered in the ground...."

Shaking her brunette head, the driver changed the station. This song was a little too grim, bringing up memories she'd rather not dwell on right now.

But only other choices available were fuzzy classical music, a Christian talk show and grating static. Groaning, she flipped between the options before resigning herself to the Willie Nelson song.

"Gravedigger..."

Naked branches swayed as the wind wailed mournfully. Gnarled trees clawed at the bright yellow Volkswagen , twigs squeaking against the windows.

Annalise winced, praying that her Beetle would survive the return trip unscathed. "If not... Clara better be ready to pay for a paint job."

"... could you make it shallow..."

The headlights shone on something in the road ahead. Narrowing hazel eyes, she pressed on the brakes until the car slowed to a crawl.

"... so I can feel the rain..."

A figure was walking away from her, hugging itself.

When the person stepped into the light, she saw it was a man.

He must have been in his early twenties, wearing a sheepish expression and a drenched blue hoodie. Rolling down the window, Annalise called out to him.

"Are you alright?"

The man laughed and shrugged.

"A little damp but other than that I'm okay." He grinned and waved her along as water ran into his bright green eyes.

Annalise felt sympathy for the bedraggled traveler; his smile seemed warm and honest. Still, she secretly retrieved the pepper spray from her purse.

Just in case.

"Do you live far? I could give you a lift." She offered as he splashed alongside the vehicle.

Shaking his head, he gave Annalise a wink.

"I appreciate the kindness, ma'am but I would hate to get your seats wet."

She smiled and brought the Beetle to a stop. "I insist! Please, nobody should be walking in a storm like this."

"Well... I suppose. I'm only a few miles up the road anyway." Clambering into the passenger seat, he sighed gratefully as the warm air blasted his face.

"I really appreciate this. Not many people stop nowadays." The hitchhiker pulled back the hood with a squelch, revealing soaked blond hair.

"Gravedigger..."

He sang along with the radio, his voice surprisingly clear.

Annalise nodded approvingly. "Are you a singer? Or just a Willie Nelson fan?"

Chuckling, he denied being either one.

"Just a Dave Matthews fan. Not that I'm bashing Willie, he's a great artist in his own right."

Pointing to a fork in the road, he told her to stay left.

"It's not much further. Thanks again, it's nice to get out of the cold." He said with a shiver.

Reaching in the back seat, Annalise pulled a pink blanket into the front.

"Here, it's not very manly but it will keep you warm."

Delighted, the frigid man eagerly accepted her offering. After drying his golden hair, he bundled himself in the fabric and sighed happily.

"Ashes to ashes...."

She turned to him and cocked an eyebrow. "Hey, I never got your name. I'm Annalise."

"Xavier. Nice to meet ya."

Rain pattered on the windows as they listened to the guitar solo in silence.

"Can I ask you a weird question?" Xavier asked tentatively.

Annalise furtively gripped her pepper spray. "Sure." She said nonchalantly, wondering where this was going.

"We all fall down..."

He said nothing for a few moments, then blurted out his inquiry.

"Do you believe in the afterlife? Like, do you think there's anything for us when we die?"

She tensed. Was this something a serial killer would say? He didn't seem like the type but you never knew...

Choosing her words carefully, she answered. "I'm not sure... I don't think anyone really knows."

Xavier seemed satisfied with this answer.

Relaxing, Annalise loosened her hold on the pink canister.

"Hey, you can drop me here. I'll go the rest of the way." He smiled and pointed in front of the car.

Frowning in confusion, she looked at the dark patch of forest.

"But there's nothing here.... Are you sure y-"

Turning to her passenger, Annalise realized that she was alone.

The seat beside her was dry and empty.

"...when you dig my grave..."

Dazed, she followed the dirt road as it curved, twisting through the trees. A clearing opened up, revealing an iron gate.

SPRING BROOK CEMETERY, a worn sign proclaimed. Behind it stretched rows of glistening headstones.

"... could you make it shallow..."

On one of the grave markers, something caught her eye; a bright fluorescent color, standing out from the brown and grey surroundings.

"... so I can feel the rain ..."

It was her pink blanket, waving in the breeze.