THE VIBE; Episode 2

If you missed the 1st episode, you can read it HERE

THE VIBE; Episode 2

Given that it was not unusual for some drivers to sometimes drive at breakneck speed at Strum Street, nobody took extra caution, not until
the trailer smashed the first vehicle. That was when the commotion started.

The trailer smashed through two vehicles and veered to the left, running down some kiosks and structures that the market women used in displaying their wares.

The atmosphere was panic-stricken. Drivers abandoned their vehicles as they scampered for safety; market women deserted their wares as they fled for their lives. A lady had even locked up her kids in her car as she stepped out to buy something. Fred watched as the trailer practically crushed the car as it made its way down the street.

Passengers were jumping out of commercial vehicles; some even went through the windows. People were running helter-skelter, those who were not fast enough were pushed and trampled upon. 

Everybody was trying to get as far away as possible from the oncoming trailer.

Meanwhile, the trailer continued its rampage until it finally ran into a newly erected electric pole.

Fred was dazed as a feeling of “déjà vu” enveloped him. It felt like he was seeing the vision all over again. He witnessed the whole thing from the other side of the street.

Chris was saying something and touching him, obviously trying to get his attention, but Fred was too lost inside his mind to hear him.

Then Fred ran off. He had to find out; he really needed to find out. He ran as fast as he could towards the spot where the trailer crashed into a pole. He had to see, to make sure.

And indeed, he saw it – the lifeless body of the driver.

He took a good look at his face, and sure enough, it was the exact face he had seen in his vibe.

A feeling of perplexity enveloped Fred. He began to walk away slowly, not really aware of where he was going.

He eventually found himself in front of a locked shop. It seemed like the owner had not been there for a while.

Fred sat down on the ground, resting his back on the wall for support.

He tried to piece everything together. He recalled his earlier vibe. He juxtaposed it with what he just witnessed and it was spot-on. Everything matched almost perfectly, right from the color of the trailer to the face of the driver, even the name of the street!

His perplexity increased all the more. The whole world seemed to be swirling around him. He seemed to be hearing inaudible voices in his head. He tried to calm himself down. He tried to think.

Could he have made a difference? 

Could he have prevented any of these from happening? 

What could be the reason for this vibes?

A million questions were running through his mind, and ten million voices were providing nebulous answers. He felt like he was going crazy. His head felt so hot, he needed something to cool it down.

He looked around and saw a clean bucket filled with crystal clear and sparkling clean water. He dug his head right into it.

*******************************************************************************

Chris has been searching everywhere for Fred. He saw him run off to the crash site but he lost him amidst the crowd that gathered at the scene.

Eventually, he found him.

He was soaking his head in an old, dirty bucket filled with muddy rain water.

“Fred!” he shouted. “Damn”

He rushed towards him and pulled him from the water.

“What is wrong with you man?”

Fred had the look of a man who was completely lost.

“Have you lost your mind? Why are you bathing your head with dirty water?”

Dirty water? Fred looked at the bucket of water again.

It was an old, abandoned metal bucket that was filled with rain water which must have been at least two weeks old.

“But…” Fred stammered.

The confused look on his face became even more pronounced.

“Come sit down” Chris urged him.

They sat down together.

“I’ve been searching all over the place for you. I saw you run off and I tried to follow, but you were way too fast. At a speed like that, am sure that even Usain Bolt would be no match for you”

Chris made the last sentence in jest, to relieve the tension in the atmosphere, but it obviously didn’t work because Fred did not even smile.

“Can you now tell me what happened?” Chris cajoled him. “You know you can always talk to me”

“I think I may be going crazy” Fred said almost in a whisper.

“No, you’re not” Chris reassured him. “Whatever it is, we’ll find a way out of it”

“Am beginning to see things - things that are not there. I hear voices in my head. I…”

“Wait” Chris stopped him. “Slow down. Let’s take it one by one. What exactly did you see?”

“You remember that vibe I had last week you visited?” Fred asked.

“Yes” Chris replied. “Though you didn’t give me the details.

“Well you have the details now”

“How?” It was Chris’ turn to look perplexed.

“The gruesome accident we just witnessed. Every little detail, from the color of the trailer, down to the face of the driver, everything… I saw it all”

Chris’ mouth was wide open. His eyes were almost as round as saucers.

“So they’re not just hallucinations…”

He sounded quite low, as if he was talking to himself, but Fred still answered him.

“Yes, they’re not just hallucinations”

“Goodness gracious…”

Chris was still perplexed.

“You know what this means Fred?” He asked with a tinge of excitement in his voice. “You can actually see the future!”

“Do you think that’s a good thing Chris?” Fred asked.

“I – I don’t really know” Chris stammered. “Perhaps it is. Nothing happens without a reason”

“So what’s the reason in this case?” Fred asked again.

“I honestly don’t know” Chris said standing up. “But I promise you, we’ll work this out together”

Fred also tried to stand up, but he felt rather weak. Chris stretched out a hand and helped him up, but as he stood up, Fred seemed to step into a realm of nothingness.

Then slowly, the haze began to clear.

He could see at least five masked men, heavily armed with sophisticated firearms. Two of them were emerging from what looked like an inner room, with heavy black bags slung over their shoulders.

One of them was standing in front of what looked like a counter…

Fred could not really understand what was happening. He looked further around and noticed the many people lying face-down on the floor.

Then it struck him. This was a bank robbery!

Watch out for episode 3.

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Thanks!

#DEVA