The Road Demon
A small room. Curtains were drawn over the window, making it dim.
But it was already midday outside. The sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains was enough to survey the little space.
Screws, wires, and machine parts were scattered across the floor, along with tools like screwdrivers and pliers. In one corner sat a small mechanical lump connected to an electrical outlet, its red charging light blinking steadily.
And atop the room's largest fixture—the bed—a girl sprawled in the most carefree pose imaginable, snoring away.
Then the door clicked open. In walked Roque.
He eyed the messy floor with a hint of displeasure before stepping inside and pulling back the curtains by the window.
Bright light flooded in, and the girl scrunched up her face, wriggling under the covers to bury her head.
"Get up already."
At Roque's words, she peeked out with one eye, squinting up at him.
"...Slept late last night. Lije needs more sleep."
"The sun's already high. How much more do you want?"
Lije mumbled something incoherent, burying her face again. Just then, the room brightened further as Bini, the robot that had been charging in the corner, beeped to life and stood up.
On its four legs, it unplugged the cord from the outlet, stowing it inside itself, then began moving as if doing warm-up stretches.
At the beeping and whirring, Lije poked her head out from the covers. She stared blankly at Bini's routine for a moment before muttering,
"...Lije used to be diligent. Getting lazier and lazier..."
"Good to know you realize it."
"..."
Confirming Lije was awake, Roque sidestepped the scattered parts and left the room. Lije, still dazed, stretched long on the bed before getting up and following. Bini, now fully energized, trailed behind.
Out in the kitchen, a plate waited on the table, set by Roque: scrambled eggs, bacon, and such for breakfast. Lije plopped down naturally.
Seeing her seated, Roque grabbed juice from the fridge and sat across from her. Soon, only the clink of forks on plates filled the space between them.
Lije chewed with her eyes half-closed, fork in mouth. Then, noticing the unusual quiet, she glanced at the living room TV. A faint white glow flickered in her eyes. The powered-off screen crackled to life.
Lije's eyes snapped back to normal. She hadn't turned on the TV. She'd meant to play some radio tunes, not the news.
Roque held the TV remote, which he rarely used.
"Too quiet for morning. Just watch the news."
"...You said the sun's high. That was you, Roque."
Roque didn't reply. He set the remote by the table and focused on his meal. Lije, figuring the news made it less quiet anyway, dug into her plate. Roque watched her eat leisurely, sleep still clinging to her face.
"Gonna sleep more after eating?"
"Sleeping after eating makes you a pig."
"...Where'd you hear that? Never mind. I've got somewhere to be later."
Lije looked up at him, clutching her fork.
"Where?"
"The repair shop. Getting the car fixed."
"Lije go too."
"Then eat fast and wash up."
Roque drained his water glass and stood. Seeing that, Lije shoveled her food faster.
Then, as if remembering something, she looked up.
"We going to the ice cream shop too?"
"...Yeah, let's."
Roque, clearing plates, nodded at her sparkling eyes. Lije dumped the last of her eggs in her mouth, tossed her plate in the sink, and bolted to the bathroom. Bini, cluelessly excited, poked around under the table.
Roque nudged it away with his foot and ran water over the dishes.
Roque finished the dishes over the news drone. As he wiped the sink and dried his hands, Lije burst out of the bathroom and dashed to her room, probably to change.
By the time Roque leisurely dried his hands on a towel, unfolded his sleeves, turned off the TV, and grabbed his coat from the sofa, Lije—ready to go—had already raced to the front door without waiting.
Roque shook his head with a faint smile and followed.
The middle-aged dwarf mechanic grinned around his cigarette.
"Heh. Where'd you catch a bullet this time?"
Roque rubbed his temple like it ached.
"Just happened."
The mechanic shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Eh, I just get my hands dirty and paid, don't care about the story. Problem's how bad the internals are. When'd it happen?"
"Two days ago."
He tilted his head.
"Drove it here fine anyway? Looks like just surface damage."
The mechanic fetched a stool and popped the Black Knight's hood to inspect. Roque hid his unease, stroking his chin. Lije, watching Roque's rare expression, turned to survey the shop.
It wasn't large. Room for maybe three cars at once, and only one other employee besides the dwarf dealing with Roque.
But the back shelves overflowed with parts: worn junk mixed with unopened new ones, like a recycling center masquerading as a garage.
Lije tugged Roque's collar.
"What?"
"Where's this?"
"Repair shop."
As Lije cocked her head at the curt reply, the mechanic laughed heartily from under the hood.
"Not just any repair shop. One for old, beat-up classics. Like this beauty."
"This one?"
"Yeah. Black Knight, '77 model. Last one off the line last century. Could be in a museum, no lie."
Lije eyed the Black Knight anew. The dwarf wiped oil from his hands with a rag, chuckling wryly.
"Heh. Hood's shot full of holes, but engine and lines are pristine. Blows my mind every time."
"Why?"
Lije had sidled up to him. The mechanic chuckled indulgently at her curiosity.
"Seen this car a dozen times in five years? Hell, I rescued it originally. Nobody in this city knows its guts like me. But it always surprises. How's it stay so damn perfect?"
"Perfect?"
"Yeah. When this guy drags it in after a shootout or crash—any other ride would've been totaled. But pop the hood? Just enough damage to need fixing. Every time."
Lije tilted her head.
"So Roque's just a good driver?"
The dwarf shook his head.
"Nah, can't explain it all that way. Pipes fine the whole drive here, then burst the second I touch 'em? Every damn visit? More like the thing's got a will of its own."
Lije's round eyes fixed on the Black Knight. Silent with the engine off, it just stood there.
"Burst again this time?"
Roque asked from behind. The dwarf grinned.
"Lucky you. Just patch the hood. Hour or two if you're not rushed."
Roque sighed faintly, nodding. Good it was fine. The dwarf deftly removed the hood.
"Rest area's over there. Fridge has drinks—help yourself."
True to word, a corner held a table, chairs, and fridge. Roque grabbed a canned coffee from the fridge and sank into a seat. Lije followed, sipping a soda.
But she soon stood, peering out the window at the shop. Through it, the dwarf and his lone helper worked on the Black Knight's hood.
Her face was unreadable as she watched.
True to the mechanic's word, the repair was quick—one of the shop's perks. He wiped his hands.
"Cleared the bullets rattling inside too. Did a full check while at it. Supposed to come last month, y'know."
Roque silently pulled a plastic card from his pocket. The hitherto nonchalant dwarf bowed deeply at the sight.
"Always grateful, sir. Keeps me in business. Heh."
Roque smiled faintly at the joking tone. Speed and quality were the upsides; the downside was the steep labor fees—double downtown corporate shops. Felt like his wallet just got lighter.
As he paid and moved to climb in, the mechanic piped up.
"Oh, sir—heard the rumor?"
"Hear plenty. Not sure if it's yours."
The dwarf smirked.
"Nothin' major. Word of some weirdo cruising Midland. Picks fights with supercars, starts races outta nowhere. Urban legend stuff."
"...Races?"
"Yeah. Drag on the same road, bumping and weaving."
Roque shook his head, thinking Midland's got every kinda nutjob. The dwarf continued.
"Nobody's beat him—or even ID'd him. Talk of 'road demon' bullshit now."
"Anyone hurt?"
"Few coastal road idiots spun out, couldn't handle their own speed. All swear the demon mesmerized 'em. My take? Just shitty drivers."
Roque snorted, slid into the driver's seat, and shut the door. He inserted the key and turned it. The Black Knight's engine roared fiercely, echoing through the shop.
The dwarf nodded approvingly.
"Good as new. Watch for that psycho anyway. Never know."
"Will do."
Confirming Lije buckled in, Roque gave a vague reply and pulled out. The dwarf watched the Black Knight glide away with a curious look, then turned back to work.
The Black Knight halted smack in Midland's downtown core. Traffic light.
Late afternoon deepened; the narrow sky bled red. Roque, gazing at the sunset, glanced at the passenger seat. Lije slept soundly, stuffed with ice cream, clutching an extra box for home.
As he watched her peaceful face bathed in sunset glow—
The Black Knight's radio crackled with static—kkiririk—though neither had touched it. Fiddling manually yielded only more noise.
Roque narrowed his eyes at the oddity, then felt an intense stare and turned.
There idled a black coupe, growling low like a beast catching its breath—kurrr.
Similar shape to the Black Knight but bigger, more angular, with a massive supercharger bursting through the hood.
Roque peered into its tinted windows. A shadowed figure in the driver's seat met his gaze. Their eyes locked.
Flames of madness blazed from the shadow's eyes.
"...The road demon."
The coupe revved—kurrung, kurrung—taunting him. Roque gripped the wheel, eyeing it.
"Sorry, but no interest in playing with unknowns and childish games."
The blazing eyes narrowed in a smirk. Mocking him. Roque's brow twitched; his lip curled unconsciously.
Sunset pierced Midland's skyscrapers, painting their road crimson. No other cars around—maybe the outskirts, or some eerie force.
Roque stared ahead at the straight Midland road, hand sliding to the shifter as engines traded roars.
He pressed the accelerator.
"...Yeah. Freshly tuned—might as well run."
The next instant, red turned green. Black Knight and demon coupe surged forward, leaving black tire streaks.