TOUCH | Part 1

It was the last snowstorm of the season, and the fiercest. Gusts of freezing wind buffeted the black pickup that drove alone down State Road 13. Ice built up on the windshield faster than the defroster could melt it. Yellow headlights pierced the snow flurries that fell from thick cloud cover. The truck wove its way around snowdrifts and icy patches on chained tires. Inside, a sixteen-year-old boy wearing a short-sleeved tee and ripped blue jeans kept a careful foot on the gas.

Sean Taylor wasn’t supposed to be out here. Then again, neither was the snowstorm. Not this late in February. He gripped the wheel with one hand and held his phone up to his mouth with the other.

“Voice text, Bayfield Police. State Road 13, question mark. You sure, question mark. Send.”

Sean set the phone down on the console and peered through the snow, checking both sides of the road as he urged his truck forward. No sign of any other vehicles. No one would be stupid enough to drive through this. No one except him, at least.

His phone buzzed as a new text came in.

Positive, it said. Halfway to Red Cliff.

Sean was already over halfway to Red Cliff. Less than four miles separated the town from Bayfield, but it had taken him half an hour just to get this far. Maybe he would—

There. Up ahead and to his right, something large and red reflected the truck’s headlights. Sean steered around a slick patch on the road and pulled to a stop on the shoulder. He gathered the contents of the passenger’s seat: a thick woolen blanket, a heavy jacket, and a thermos. Bundle in hand, he turned off the headlights, got out of the truck with the engine still running, and walked out into the blizzard.

Peering through the snow, Sean made out the shape of the semi-truck that had run into a ditch off the side of the road. He walked cautiously yet quickly through the foot-deep snow that soaked into his jeans, sneakers, and socks within moments. Before reaching the truck, he held up his phone to send another voice text.

“Found him. Send.”

The semi-truck’s engine still hummed as Sean drew closer. There was no trailer attached, thankfully. Sean shuddered at the thought of eighteen wheels skidding out in a Wisconsin snowstorm.

Sean slipped his phone back into his pocket and approached the passenger’s side window. Through the frozen glass, a man wearing a plaid shirt and overalls huddled down in his seat, rubbing his arms. According to the police report, he’d been stranded for well over an hour.

Sean tapped on the window. The man nearly banged his head on the ceiling in surprise.

“Hey,” Sean said. He held up the thermos. “Want some soup?”

The lock clicked, and Sean opened the door. He slid quickly into the passenger’s seat and closed the door before the tepid air inside could escape. The driver stared at him in confusion, his mouth forming a perfect O within a thick brown beard.

“It’s good soup,” Sean said. “My mom makes it.”

Sean set the thermos in his lap and handed the jacket, then the blanket to the driver. The man took them gratefully, putting the jacket on and wrapping the blanket around his torso. Then he went back to staring at Sean.

“Something wrong?” Sean asked.

The man pointed feebly at Sean’s chest. “Um…aren’t you cold?” he asked. His voice cracked from breathing the dry reheated air.

“No,” Sean said. The man waited for an explanation. Sean didn’t offer one. “Take the soup,” he continued, proffering the thermos. “Please. You need it.”

The driver finally obliged, taking the thermos with shaking hands. He unscrewed the metal cap and drank deeply. Sean’s phone buzzed with another text.

Status?

“Are you okay?” Sean asked. “Besides freezing, obviously. Any injuries?”

The man shook his head as he pulled the thermos down from his lips. “Just waiting the storm out. The soup helps.”

Sean tapped a response on his phone. All good. ETA?

“My name’s Edwin,” the man said. He drank another gulp of soup. “What’s yours?”

“Drink the whole thing,” Sean replied. “I’m driving you back to town as soon as you’re done.”

Edwin shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ll wait here.”

Sean nodded slowly. “I get it. You don’t trust me. That’s okay. Our police department can come give you a ride soon, I hope.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Edwin licked his lips. “Tell your mom she makes good soup.”

“You can tell her yourself,” Sean said. “After we get you someplace warm.” He checked his phone. No response from Bayfield Police.

“I lost my trailer out here,” Edwin explained. “I need to make sure it’s secure. For my job. The storm’ll pass eventually.”

Sean met Edwin’s gaze. Something was off.

“Seriously,” Edwin said. He tried to smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got a jacket and a blanket. I’ll bring them back to town after the storm, I promise. You’ve been awful generous.”

Somewhere in the distance, a siren blurted to life.

“The police are here,” Sean said. “I’ll go talk to them. Sit tight, we’ll get you out soon.”

Before Edwin could protest, Sean opened the passenger door and stepped out into the snow. His shoes would probably be ruined after this. His mom would throw a fit.

Sean held the phone close to his face to see through the white flurries that danced around him. He could hear the siren drawing closer.

Thanks for the assist, he texted. He looked up to see familiar reds and blues spinning about fifty feet away, at the edge of his vision. Tires crunched on snow-coated ice as the police cruiser faded into view through the storm.

His phone buzzed.

What do you mean? the message read.

Sean wiped his phone screen clear of snowflakes and responded. The cruiser got here pretty quick.

The sirens shut off as they came to a stop twenty feet away. The police car’s headlights shone directly on Sean as he stood at the edge of the road.

The next few texts came within moments of each other.

I was going to text you.

The engine shut off, along with the lights.

We’re all booked up here.

The front doors of the cruiser opened.

I can’t get anyone out there for an hour. At least.

Sean squinted to make out the silhouettes emerging from the car. Whoever they were, they weren’t the Bayfield Police.

~

Read Part 2 HERE.

The YOUNG HEROES GUILD is an anthology of untold stories from children and teenagers with superhuman abilities. Subscribe for a new chapter every week.