Santobahn Foundation -
The Santobahn Foundation is the cornerstone of scientific developments within the environmental space. An internationally recognised foundation within the environmental conservation space.
Brian and Heather Jenkins work at Santobahn Foundation, it is about 10-15 minutes drive from Rita's school, depending on traffic. They have been Brian and Heather continued on their usual route, discussing plans for the camping trip.
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After waving goodbye to Rita and now driving toward Santobahn, Brian became distant in conversation. He appeared distracted by something in the rear mirrors. A white van with dark windows appeared to be following them. He saw it this morning, then again at the school, and now it was behind them again.
Could it be a coincidence? Brian thought.
While they were only a few minutes drive now from the safety of the Santobahn compound, Brian was concerned enough that he suddenly turned right into a side street, narrowly missing an oncoming car. Screeching tyres, car horns sounding, traffic halted just in time.
"Bloody Hell Brian! What the hell are you doing?"
Brian was checked his rear mirror with a concerned look. He observed the white van behind also turning right sharply in front of traffic and continuing to drive behind them. Heather saw the look on Brian's face and went to look behind and was directed to look ahead by Brian.
"No darling, don't look yet. There has been a white van following us since we left home. At first I thought it a coincidence, but with things the way they are, I had to check, and they are still with us. I'm going to try to lose them."
With that, a fast and late turn to the left into a small ally, then right into another ally, knocking bins as he drove on. A check of the mirror confirmed the van was still there, following.
"Ok darling, they are still there. I'm going to have to work harder here. Can you just keep an eye out like we practiced please, I think this is the real thing."
With that, Heather's expression changed from concerned, to almost tactical. A palpable shift occurred in the vehicle as they both transformed into She reached into a bag under the seat and pulled out a small box. Looking at Brian, they nodded. Brian took the next right turn into a larger street, the van followed. The traffic now was starting to increase, single lane each way and slowing ahead.
"Here, to the left!" Heather said.
Brian swung the car left into another lane way. As he did, Heather opened her window, and holding the little box out, emptied the contents across the road as they turned. 500 tiny chrome balls!
"Lets hope that works." she said.
Continuing down the lane way, the van was still behind and swerving in an attempt to miss the balls, though some of the balls made contact with the van and commenced the chain reaction of mini explosions. Not enough to damage a building, but certainly enough to damage the van to disable it.
As Brian accelerated toward the next right turn, the van appeared to be slowing, showing signs of damage.
He turned right into a main road and continued to accelerate.
The van now not visible behind them, Brian continued along the road, traffic becoming more dense and no sign of the van.
They looked around, beginning to calm, traffic returning to normal. They looked at each other and started to smile.
"That was close darling, do you think it will be safe to go to work?" Brian asked.
"This is all too much." Heather said looking at Brian with a sense of fear.
They continued for a short while, getting back on track heading to Santobahn, the detour had put them now about 5 minutes away in this traffic.
Their heart rate slowly returning to normal as they contemplate the next move to ensure their safety. Heather looking at Brian with a loving look, and an expression of 'Why can't we just disappear from here and this situation.'
"This is becoming more of an issue now darling, we are obviously targets."
"Yes, I feel it too. We are so close though, do you think we can push it through to completion? Then finally be free?"
"Well there are only a few that know of our real plans, I'll look to who we can trust and try to move forward quicker. I can't wait to take us and our baby girl away from all this."
"Brian, Lookout!"
With no time to react, a deafening explosion occurred at their drivers side door.
The shattering of glass, crunching of metal, screech of tyres, their car was propelled sideways with great force.
They both looked to see the front of the white van drive straight into Brian's door at speed, with a deafening smash.
As if in slow motion, the shattered glass flew around the cabin, white chalk powder from the airbags filled the air, mixing with the shattered glass, and now blood spatters from both Brian and Heather. They could only look at each other as they both were flung around the inside of the car like rag dolls, their bodies and faces changing with the destructive action of the crash, yet also showing an intense love for each other and a realisation of who was behind this.
Their car collided with the gutter then continued on to lodge in a brick wall. The white van still connected, and pushing them.
The car now a twisted crumpled mess, the lovers now trapped in the carnage.
Shattered glass, plastic, blood, and smoke filled the air, Brian and Heather now grasping for each others hands.
As the carnage noise and debris field in the air settled, weak and in immense pain, Brian and Heather could see shadows of figures moving toward the van. They both tried to fight to get themselves free and escape whatever or whoever was behind this, to no avail. they were unable to move, trapped in pain inside the unrecognisable wreck of their car.
Looking at each other, holding hands, tears in their eyes as their worlds went dark, and silence fell upon them.