Summer just kept staring at the tree, staring at the spot where the van had been. The idea that Coach could have driven off and left them behind was, at that moment, so incomprehensible to her that it seemed more plausible that the van had somehow vanished into thin air. She looked at Russ. They were really doomed now. They would die for sure.

Just then she heard an engine rev to life.

It was a welcome sound.

She turned, searching for the source of the sound, but she didn't spot the van until its headlights flicked on. Two bright, white beams lit up all the plants and trees in their path and shone right into Summer's eyes. She could barely see anything as the van roared out from behind the brush.

She could tell, however, that there was no one behind the wheel of the large white car, which was speeding straight at them.

   Chapter 23

Summer tried to dive out of the way, but Russ was in her way, standing rooted as a tree. A tree that was about to get mowed down by—
Shrieking, Summer shoved Russ with all her might. Russ, losing his balance, took one step to the side, taking her along with him.

The van came so close to hitting her that she felt the metal flick the back of her shirt before she and Russ went down.

The van rushed on, hitting first one tree, then the next. Then the driverless car stalled. The ignition turned—once, twice, three times before the engine caught. The headlights came back on. The van started to maneuver through a U-turn. Summer didn't need to see anymore. She knew the van was coming for them again.

She was pulling on Russ now, shouting, trying to get him back to his feet. Together, they both started to run into the thickest part of the surrounding forest, putting as many trees as they could between them and the van.

They went about a hundred yards before they heard the crash. They stopped, turned. The van was coming after them!

Smashing into trees right and left, the battered car kept backing up and, like a battering ram, cleared its own path through the woods until ...

KABOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!

The engine of the van exploded in a giant fireball that turned the black forest into a blaze of light. A wave of heat surged outward from the blast, knocking Summer and Russ to the ground. She could actually hear the tips of her bangs singeing. She could feel the smoke and grime burn into her skin.

But at least the van was dead. Russ moved close to her, putting a protective arm around her shoulders, holding her, squeezing her tightly as they watched the van burn.

As they lay on the ground, their heads were close together.

Which made it easy for Teddy to smack them both in the skull with one clean blow.

   Friday the 13th: Road Trip, chapter 24