The Sunday Scaries
Volume 1, Number 22
Microfiction by Pat Harrigan
Content Warning: Language and Horror

After the Vacation

The Orange Ramp was very convenient. They had discussed the merits of taking an Uber to and from the airport, but they’d only be gone a few days. The way it worked out was, somewhere around four or five days and the cost of the parking was about equal to two rides plus tip. Plus it relieved them of a little anxiety knowing they could get themselves there and back on their own. And even more, it was an electric car, and charging stations were available on the ramp’s top floor, so they’d even have a fully charged car for the trip home.
          Portland was a good time, they saw a lot of friends, but the budget flights had been a little tiring and they both thought they were coming down with colds. Not covid, hopefully, they’d both dodged that so far, but it wasn’t to be supposed that their luck would continue indefinitely.
          Someone had unplugged the car from the charge port, but that was to be expected. She had told him that the airport attendants made periodic rounds to see which cars could be unplugged. But when they had dropped the luggage in the trunk and settled in the front, the battery showed just a quarter-charge.
          They must have unplugged it right after we got here! Carrie was indignant.
          They could plug the car in here and sit for a while, but these weren’t fast-charging stations and that would take a while. It was already 11:30 and she did have to work in the morning. Eventually it was decided that there was probably enough charge to get home and then to her office in the morning, where she could charge throughout the day.
          We shouldn’t leave if you feel we might run out, said Patrick. They had this sort of conversation a lot.
          It’s fine, she said, and started the car. They had driven down through the ramp and out onto the deserted highway before the man in the back seat woke up.
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