From the northbound side, a pair of distant headlights swerved and careened off, flying over the dirt and grass median separating the two roads. Events were already out of his control. The vehicle on the right tailed toward me, slamming into the side of the Jeep and pushing it toward the left. At the same time, the oncoming vehicle had gained control and was aimed directly at the front of my vehicle. I barely had a moment to curse before the vehicle impacted.

For an agonizingly long second, the world exploded. Slivers of glass spun through the air; the roaring crash of the two vehicles slamming into each other rang in my ears; tires squealing on the wet asphalt abruptly silenced. Suddenly, I felt very warm. Something was wet inside my coat.

Dazed, I leaned my head against the seatbelt, witnessing smoke rising from the twisted carnage of metal. I could not see the other driver. Only one headlight between us worked, shining a wayward beacon into the un-answering dark.