When I was just about to yank on Pamela's door mine popped open. Thank god for that I was going to have to wake her up yet. When she wakes up in going to be so bored. All the moaning about how long it's taken. Telling her about this bit of weirdness won't get me anywhere.

Well, that's a stroke of luck. I think to myself as I walk around the car. Where did all this ice come from? Sat back behind the wheel I grasp the key and give a little silent prayer before turning the key. The lights flash on and stay lit. I turn it further and the engine starts to turn over and then jumps to life. Just a random problem that seems to have now fixed itself.

The lights were still out as I drove with Pam still sleeping. If anyone saw her they might have said she was dead. She looked lifeless head flopping from side to side now and again when I turned.

The lights didn't look like they were ever going to come back on. Far into the distance was still pitch black. With the road being so quiet I put the lights onto high beam. The second I did I saw a hitchhiker with a sign. It was too dark and I was moving too fast to see what it said. He must be mad trying to thumb a lift here. He is likely to get himself killed. I brake hard and pull over stopping about ten feet away from the man. He jogged up to the car. He saw Pamela sleeping and opened the back door. in a whisper, he said to me.

"You're a lifesaver mate. Are you sure you're ok to give me a lift?"

I looked at his sign. It said anywhere anytime.

"Yeah come on jump in. Just don't try and rob us. We don't have anything. Your sign is a bit. Ermm cryptic shall we say? Oh, and you don't need to whisper. world war three wouldn't wake Pam up."

"Thanks mate your a real lifesaver. To be honest the sign isn't cryptic though. My girlfriend friend and I were arguing. Next thing I know she has pulled over and told me to get out and we are over. So I don't care where I go or how long it takes."

Now I had had a chance to see this man. I could see he was around twenty-five well built not fat or skinny but solid. He was clean-shaven and his clothes were clean if not smart. He was wearing a pair of jeans trainers a black t-shirt and a denim jacket. Looked like he could have been in a band.

"Well if you don't mind the company of an old man and a sleeping old woman. You're more than welcome to come with us. I could do with some company "

"That's great. Thank you."

He answered me eagerly. He doesn't seem like he will be too much trouble. The next town I pass is where he gets out.

As I pull out the air has a chill to it again. The windows start to fog up. The movement of pulling out makes Pamela's head flop over and it makes me jump. Her eyes stay closed. I just move her back and carry on building speed and crank the heaters up. The guy in the back starts to say something.

"I'm Joe by the."

He stops mid-sentence. I look in the mirror and see his face. His eyes so wide they looked like they could fall out and his mouth was wide open.

I saw no reason for him to suddenly be so scared.

"What's up with you son?"

He raised one shaking hand to the window. I had to turn awkwardly to see. I wished I hadn't. A hand print was in the fogged-up window. And it was moving.