The Drive

Hannah gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned whiter than the examination papers the instructor held. She had to pass this driver's test because everyone was counting on her. Taking a deep breath, she put her foot on the gas pedal and pressed down.

"That's it, now ease out onto the road, then turn left at the stop sign." The instructor's deep voice had a commanding tone that only added to Hannah's anxiety. She told herself to only focus on the road and not how her breakfast was threatening to reappear on the dashboard.

"Where are we headed?" she asked.

"The point of the exam is to ensure you know how to follow directions and can drive properly; not to know where you're going to end up." His voice became slightly deeper. "Just keep going."

She made it to the stop sign without any issues other than pushing a little too hard on the brake, causing the two of them to jerk forward in their seats. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him make a note on his clipboard. She swallowed hard and looked ahead, trying as hard as possible to make her turn smooth. She continued driving as he issued instructions on where to turn, but at no point did he ask her to stop or park anywhere, which she found odd.

"Um, excuse me," Hannah spoke up after almost an hour of just driving around. "Am I supposed to try parking in different spots or anything?"

"That will be at the end of the exam," the instructor said. "For now, keep going down this road."

She sighed but kept going. She had noticed however, that they had left populated areas a while back, and were now driving down a barren landscape. She didn’t think she’d ever have a reason to be out in this area, but she remembered her father saying that with the newfound freedom her driver’s license would bring would also carry specific obligations to go where she was not used to being. Nevertheless, the further they drove, the deeper the pit in her stomach became.

“At the next turn, I want you to slow down and turn off the headlights.”

Hannah blinked.

“Turn off the headlights?” She asked. “How am I supposed to see the road?”

“You’re not.”

Hannah’s foot became heavier than lead as she slammed on the brakes, on purpose this time. She didn’t even mind the seat belt tightening painfully against her chest as her body was propelled forward. This was not something she was prepared to do. None of her books went over being able to drive blind. None of her teachers mentioned it being something she’d have to learn. None of her friends that had already taken their tests said anything about it. She was confused and frightened.

“I’m sorry, I know you said earlier that I’m not supposed to know where we’re going, but I can’t just start driving blindly down a road I’ve never driven down before!” Hannah was breathing fast, the pain of the seat belt only adding to the discomfort she felt.

The instructor sighed and placed his clipboard on the dashboard in front of him. He undid his seat belt and shifted so he was facing Hannah, who was still clinging to the steering wheel. He leaned forward slowly and turned the ignition off. Silence quickly permeated the small space, and Hannah’s arms dropped to her lap. She could feel the heat rise quickly with the absence of the air conditioning, and beads of sweat popped out along her forehead.

“Look,” he began. “I know this whole thing hasn’t been at all what you expected it to be.”

Hannah nodded, her eyes blurring with tears and sweat.

“But” he continued. “When you checked in for your test, you name ended up being the one selected for extraction.” He sighed heavily as Hannah’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“What” she exclaimed. “How? When?”

“It happened while you were filling out your paperwork. And, you know the law; anyone selected for extraction cannot contest it.”

Hannah tried to swallow but her mouth was drier than a sandbox and she started choking on the hot air around her. Coughing and struggling to breathe, her life flashed before her eyes. She saw herself and her siblings playing; her parents reading them bedtime stories every night. She saw herself hanging out with her friends, dreaming of what they were all going to do when they grew up. She dimly pictured herself getting married and starting a family of her own someday. Now, all of it was for nothing. She would soon be nothing.

The instructor had unbuckled her seat belt and was slapping her back to help her stop choking. The force of his hand slamming onto her spine brought her back to the present. His face was blank, but she saw a lone tear making its way down his cheek. He didn’t want to be in this position any more than she did, but neither of them had a choice. She gulped and tried to slow her breathing as he sat back into his seat.

“Are you going to be okay?” He asked.

She nodded.

“I guess,” she replied. “Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

“I couldn’t. The law states we can’t give you any opportunity to escape.” He looked out the front window. “The car is on a magnetic road now, so we can’t go anywhere else even if we wanted to.”

“You mean, you’re getting extracted too?” In all the folklore and whispered conversations about the whole ordeal, no one had ever mentioned more than one person being extracted at a time.

“Instructors aren’t told that part until we’ve signed the blood contract at the start of our employment.” He rubbed the back of his head and neck. “If it had been a known risk, no one would be signing up to be instructors.”

Hannah’s fear dissipated a little as she really looked at the instructor’s face. She could now see the lines of worry etched all over his forehead, and she wondered how many times he had to stand in front of the extraction screen, wondering if that exam was going to be his final one. She looked down at his hands resting on his lap and placed her right hand on his left. The gesture calmed them both down despite the heat now radiating from the sealed car.

“I’m sorry you have to come too, but I’m glad I’m not alone.” She said.

“Me too.”

She took her hand off his and placed it on the ignition button. For a moment, she thought about possibly fighting back. Maybe I could knock him out somehow and run away, she thought. He’s not that much bigger. Or she could convince him to come with her, and they could both escape their fate. But she knew no matter what she or they tried, there wasn’t anywhere for them to go. Ancient humans had destroyed so much of the planet that the only things outside the city walls were dirt and death. And, of course, the extraction chambers.

“I’ve been thinking the same thing this whole time.” Her finger still hovered over the button as she turned her head to look at the instructor again. “How could the two of us get out of this. Unfortunately, we both have trackers, and the car is escape-proof. There’s nothing we can do other than meet our fate.” He leaned forward and put his finger over hers, so they both pressed it, starting the car back up. “The faster we move forward, the faster the pain will be over.”

Hannah sighed and put her hands back on the steering wheel.

“What do I do now?” She asked.

“Just drive forward slowly,” the instructor answered. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

Hannah shifted into drive, and once more put her foot on the gas pedal.

“I’d better be reincarnated as a princess or something.” She said as the car slowly moved forward.

The instructor laughed.

“Me too.”