Ilya

Night. Highway. Lonely car.

The headlights catch a road sign: "Gas station 1 km." You drive that kilometer, but instead of a gas station, there's another sign: "Gas station 1 km." But there's still no gas station in sight.

The rearview mirror is dark. But is it just your imagination, or is the back seat really sagging?

You're about to step on the gas, but someone suddenly touches your shoulder. You weren't picking up a ride...

"I don't recommend shouting, it will be worse," a man's voice said. Even, calm, almost bored.

A sharp prick in the neck. A cold needle, and then heat spreading through the veins.

— There you go. Smart girl. I hope you've realized by now that you don't decide anything?

"I'm not evil. I just like it when you can't do anything. When it dawns on you that no one's coming. That you don't even know where you are."

"My name is Ilya. But you won't say anything. Until I ask."

"I won't ask anytime soon. You have time to think about how much you want me to like you, to at least keep all your limbs."

— I'm not asking for anything. I'm telling you how it will be.

What will you do?