REFILL

You are so relieved that you shout ‘yes’ to yourself when you see the distant glow and realise that it is a petrol station. It has been a few miles of winding country roads since your fuel warning had pinged, miles of trying to coast when you could, and you can’t believe your luck, especially given that you have been off the main roads.
You sigh in relief as you stand in the forecourt, watching the dials spin on the pump. Full tank, and hopefully a snack and maybe even a coffee to take with you. As you walk up to the garage you realise that there are a couple of people already in there, as well as the person behind the counter, which you think is surprising as the garage is in the middle of nowhere. As you push through the door, you also realise that there are no other cars parked outside.
The three men inside appear to have stopped speaking when you came in, but a reason you can’t name you feel very strongly that they weren’t speaking before then either. One is standing near the counter, looking at nothing in particular. Another stands at the back, looking at nothing in particular. The man behind the counter is standing there, very still, looking at you. It strikes you that the three look very similar, short dark hair, quite tanned, same build, as if they were brothers.
“Pump two,” you say, and you know it is ridiculous as they all saw you. The man’s eyes flick down to the card machine, and the price is already showing. You hesitate, decide that you can well do without any coffee or a snack, and then tap your phone against it. “Thank you,” you say, and head for the door, every hair on your neck standing up.
None of them move, but as you get into your car you feel watched. You don’t look back, but you drive away very fast. You didn’t want to stare, you didn’t want to look at all, so you can’t be certain, and as time goes by you’ll convince yourself that you were just tired and overwrought. But a little part of you will still know, deep down, that you were right. None of the people in that garage blinked once, and you are fairly certain that none of them ever took a breath.