"THE ROAD TRIP"

Sarah felt a chill go down her spine as the sun sank below the horizon, creating long shadows across the lonely highway. Her phone's map caught her attention, but the GPS service was spotty in this far-off place. They hadn't seen any indications of civilization for hours, and the petrol gauge was perilously nearing empty.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Sarah enquired, a hint of discomfort in her voice.

Jake, her lover, smiled comfortingly at her. "Good. Just a little bit farther. Believe me."

Sarah reluctantly nodded and sank more into the old sedan's faded leather upholstery. The vacant road ahead was illuminated by the headlights as the Sa y broke through the darkness. But Sarah's sense of being watched persisted as they continued to drive.

Abruptly, a silhouette emerged from the distance, standing still in the center of the street. Jake floored it, tires screeching on the pavement, and Sarah's pulse skipped a beat. The apparition was a man, his eyes shining in the faint light, his face hidden by the shadows. 

"Who... who is that?" With her heart hammering, Sarah uttered a barely audible whisper.

After a brief pause, Jake rolled down the window. "Hey, how are you doing? Do you require assistance?"

 The man stared at them like a lion pursuing its prey, not answering. Sarah's fingers trembled as she reached for her phone and dialed 911, her stomach churning with anxiety.

However, the man immediately surged forward, his hands scratching at the pane, before she could press the call button. Jake floored the throttle pedal, sending the car jolting ahead as Sarah shrieked. As they drove off, the man's screams resounded through the night, leaving him by himself in the shadows.

They traveled for hours, the anxiety still holding them tightly. However, they eventually arrived at the safety of civilization as the first rays of morning appeared on the horizon. The man in the dark would always be in their memories, even though they would never talk about that night again.

ANOTHER ROAD TRIP:

 The old roadway wound its way through thick forests and barren areas of wilderness, stretching out before them like a ribbon of worn asphalt. Mike and Emily, Jenna's companions, had been driving for hours, with only brief radio static interruptions to break up the boredom of the journey.

They were in the middle of the forest as dusk approached, the tall trees lining the road with spooky shadows. As they descended farther into the night, Jenna shivered and began to feel uneasy.

"Perhaps we ought to locate a spot to spend the night," Emily nervously said in her voice.

Mike gave a nod of agreement while glancing at the thick vegetation on both sides of the road. "A campground ought to be located up ahead. See if we can locate it.

The only noises they heard as they continued to drive were the motor rumbling and the wind rustling the leaves. But their hearts pounded as they abruptly stopped as they approached a bend in the road.

A downed tree blocked their way, its gnarled limbs splaying across the road like a gigantic claw. A wave of icy fear passed over Jenna as she peered at the barrier, her breath stuck in her throat.

Mike continued, his voice hardly audible above a whisper, "We can't go any further."

As they exited the vehicle and their footsteps reverberated through the quiet of the woodland, Jenna had a shiver down her spine. Jenna felt a sickening sensation in the pit of her stomach as she realized they were utterly alone in the dark woods.

There was a growing sense of gloom as they tried to find a path around the fallen tree. Jenna was plagued by the idea that they were being observed and that there was something evil hiding in the shadows just out of sight.

Abruptly, a spine-tingling cry shattered the darkness, reverberating over the woodland like an ancient roar. Jenna's mind raced with terror and her pulse raced as she hurriedly searched around.

Emily exclaimed, "We need to get out of here," her voice quivering with fear.

However, before they could take any action, a low growl from the shadows caught their attention. When Jenna realized they weren't alone in the jungle, her blood raced cold.

Their hearts thumping inside their chests, they stumbled back to the car with quivering hands. However, when they left the area, Jenna couldn't get rid of the impression that something sinister and ravenous was waiting for them in the shadows.