Alswyth cursed softly under her breath. It was okay. There were no kids on the bus. The first two stops she had pulled her stop sign, flashed her red lights, and blown the horn.

Nothing. Had Gabriel blew his trumpet and snatched them away, leaving her behind? Nonsense.

It was a ragged day for anyone to be out and about. I don't blame you, she thought. She should be home and snuggled between the blankets, too.

A sharp left hairpin turn and then the drop off of Dead Man's Hill. Her body rocked slightly in the seat. The crease between her eyebrows deepened. A bead of sweat popped out on her forehead.

She shifted gears and took her foot off the gas pedal. The incline was steep. The curves were treacherous and sharp.The engine growled and protested. She smelled the brakes. They were overheating, but it was impossible to let off the pedal.

The pounding rain was coming down in sheets, battering the roof of the bus. The noise of the rain seemed to be amplifying each second. Water puddles washed acroos the hard surface, despite the angle of the hill. For a horrifying instant, Alswyth felt like she was in a small paddle boat floundering in the middle of a raging monsoon.

Why in blue blazes hadn't they called off school today?

She prayed she would not meet another vehicle coming the other way or slowly going down the road in her lane. It wasn't fit weather for cats or dogs, let alone kids and their bus driver. Alswyth gritted her teeth.

It wasn't worth it. Whatever the county was paying her to do this right now was not worth it.

She thought she heard a sound. Where was it coming from? What was it? It was loud and sharp. Quick. Like a gun shot. Thunder? Maybe. But where was the lightning?