Disclaimer: I’m ad-libbing from memory on one-shot stories that happened almost two years ago. If there’s errors, let me know and I’ll ammend them.

Disclaimer 2: This chronicle is for mature audiences only.

Valentina’s hands gripped tighter on the steering wheel as her nephew searched through the radio stations. She had been listening to Cash’s “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” a rarity even on satellite radio and far different the rap he had settled on. Really, how hard was it to think up lyrics, ‘party like a rock star?’

Honestly, didn’t he know tense the situation already was? Patty had called her up out of the blue, asking to pick up her son at the airport. There was some misunderstanding with her license being suspended and she couldn’t find anyone else to get him for their mandatory visitation. It was the first time they’d spoken since the child abuse hearing. On top of that, she had to worry about how many territories she was passing through to get from the airport to her sister’s house. Her gaze glanced at the beaded bracelet on her wrist. It was meant to be a sign for peaceful passage that the packs of Miami had developed, but nothing among werewolves was garunteed. Aaron had bitched about how much trouble she was causing her pack. Valentina once again considered the invitation she had received in the mail.

elsewhere on the highway

“So, Shawn, do you think we should move here?” Robert asked as he turned their rented Corvette onto the highway. They had been looking at homes his father had heard about in the course of his realty business. Robert’s dad, on the surface, at least, had suggested moving to Miami in order to establish a business expansion. Robert guessed, however, that his dad wanted him and Shawn, and their relationship as far away from him as possible.

“Bobby my Love, I think this is the place to be. The sun is beautiful and the ocean is so blue. Plus, there’s so many different types of people here. I think it would be exciting to live here.” Shawn had added the last bit as a hint, a gentle nudge. He knew that Robert was as fed up with all the side glances and occasional name calling as he was. He also knew, though, that Robert was still deeply attached to his family and their hometown.

A heavy engine rev turned his attention to the rear of the car. Looking back, he saw a big black Camaro, a ‘67 or ‘68 model. The sunlight kept him from seeing the driver, despite how close he was to them. “This guy’s an asshole, Bobby, why not change lanes and let him pass?”

“Yeah, guess there’s jerk drivers no matter where you live,” answered Robert as he shifted lanes. The black car roared hungrily again, but didn’t pass the Corvette, instead pulling up along side of them.

It was then that Shawn saw the hood ornament in the shape of a gleaming silver pig. “Oh, oh God Bobby! Look, look!” Memories of that time in the woods with that pig-faced killer came barrelling over all the therapy. He reflexively leaned towards Robert for protection.

Robert got a good look at the hood ornament when the dark car swerved into the Corvette. His own fears from that time returned. Was it him? Had the Pig-Man found them? The driver was hidden behind the deep tinted windows. Robert pressed down on the accelerator. He realized that he didn’t want to find out.

back in Valentina’s truck

“Yeah, I know we’re running a bit behind. It’s not like planes run on exact schedules. No, I’m not trying to do that. We’re not even talking about you.” Valentina glanced over at her nephew, he was looking out the window, arms folded as Miami passed them by. “In fact, not much talking going on here. I’m on the highway now, bye” She hung up her cellphone, at least her sister’s call gave her a reason to turn of the rap.

“I’ve been writing to Grandpop,” he said while still looking out the window. Valentina shifted in her seat working out a phantom itch from the cigarette burn scars on her back. “He says that he’s lonely, with no family to talk to. I think he’d be a really cool guy.”

Wonder if he’d feel the same way if I told him what that bastard had done to me and sis, not to mention mom, Valentina thought bitterly. She managed a stiff nod in response. Her nephew turned in his seat, “When do you think he’ll get out of prison? Do you think you can take me that day?”

Valentina was about to say, ‘No fucking way in Hell,’ but was distracted when a yellow Corvette and a black classic Camaro raced passed them, continuing to weave dangerously through traffic. “Watch what the fuck you assholes are doing,” she screamed, partly at the drivers, partly to relieve some of the stress that was building in her. “Jackasses think all of Miami is a movie set. Their going to get people hurt.” Almost in response to her comments, all of the brake lights in front of her slammed red. A dark plume in the distance proved that an accident had occured. “Just great,” she mumbled.

“No, it wasn’t us in the accident.” Valentina told her sister over the phone. “No,” she said more heatedly, “I didn’t want this to happen! Look, we’re just stuck in traffic, we’ll get there when we get there!” She flipped the phone closed, abruptly ending the call, briefly considering throwing the phone out the window.

“What do you think’s going on up there?” Her nephew asked, head leaning out the window trying to get a better look. Valentina was starting to wonder the same thing. A motorcycle cop had passed by a bit ago. He should have gotten things moving, even if it was slowly. Most of the other drivers were dealing with the stress in their own ways, either laying on their horns sporadically, or talking on their own cell phones. A few, however, had gotten out of their cars and heading towards the accident. In the rear view mirror, at the edge of her vision, she could see an ambulance snarled amongst the dead locked cars.

“Stay in the truck,” Valentina ordered. Enough was enough, she thought as she got out of her truck. “I’m going to see if they need any help up there.” She started moving through the parked cars.

“I’m telling you he’s in there!” Valentina heard a panicked voice say as she moved through the crowd.

“Listen buddy, why don’t you just calm down.” Another voice said, not terrible calm itself. ‘The cop?’ Valentina thought.

Another mumbled voice suggested, “Maybe we should rush the guy.”

“He’s got to be crazy,” said another.

“Or on something,” sombody added.

Valentina pushed through the crowd and looked on the situation. The two cars were a wreck, both having flipped over and damaging some of the surrounding cars. The black Camaro was on its side, smoke as dark as it’s paint job billowing out. The cycle cop was holding one hand up, stepping forward slowly, towards the man who had taken his gun. His other hand held back to the crowd, telling them to hold their place. The guy with the gun was shakily pointing it at the black car, so he was probably from the Corvette. The other guy, still in the yellow car, was bleeding from head trauma. She needed to check on him and the person driving the other car.

“Medical attention coming through here.” Valentina spoke up, drawing the attention of the guy with the gun as well as the cop. She started heading towards the Camaro.

“Don’t go there, he’s there!” The guy said, swining the gun in her direction.

“I’m just going to check on him. After a crash like that, whoever he is, he won’t be in the mood to hurt anyone.” He pointed the gun more forcefully at her as she took a step forward. That’s it, Valentina thought in anger. She moved closer to the man with the gun and called upon her spiritual power. “Listen, little man, you give the cop back his gun and I’ll help your friend first. Understand?” She practically growled the last bit, throwing primal dominance into her voice.

The effect was instant, the guy tossed the gun down like it was a venomous serpent. It was quickly recovered by the cop. True to her word, she checked on the guy in the Corvette first. When she went to the Camaro, Valentina found it empty.

The situation quickly dissolved after that. The cop put the one guy into cuffs, sitting him off to the side of the highway. Paramedics, having given up on driving through the gridlock, arrived with a gurney and took care of the injured guy. More cycle cops arrived and began to direct traffic around the crash. Sensing that the drama was over, the crowd began to disperse back to their cars.

Valentina stalked back to her truck amidst the honking of frustrated drivers, now moving but not satisfied that they weren’t moving fast enough. Her nephew was waiting for her when she arrived he was holding her cellphone up. “My mom wants to talk to you.” She snatched the phone from him and threw it behind her seat. That was it, she decided to take that offer to go to Pennsylvania.