233 The Dark Rider

"My god!" Dakota shouted, cutting the wheel hard to the right on instinct to keep from hitting the dark figure standing in the middle of the road, causing the truck to flip. Within a second, I was thrown around the cab of the truck as Dakota tried desperately to regain control. I grabbed my talisman and yelled, "Protect!" Suddenly a blue glow surrounded us as the car continued to flip. The sound of metal scraping the wet road filled my ears as the truck finally came to rest on its roof. 

Dakota's body lay lifeless beside me. 

"Dakota?" I breathed, barely audible over the rain.

Nothing.

I reached over, my bloody hand shaking, and felt under his jaw for a pulse and it was steady. Relief washed over me, knowing that at least he was still alive.