Elizabeth. Why?

ELIZABETH. WHY?

Roy Mathews

Freddy searched for his hoodie but couldn’t figure out where he had left it. The room was warm, but outside it was freezing cold, and he didn’t want to venture out without it.
“Where is this global warming thing they keep talking about?” he wondered. “It’s colder than last winter.”

“Are you looking for your jumper?” Jessica asked. “Check under those guys lying on the couch,” she added.

He found his favorite hoodie under a pile of bodies sleeping like logs. He pulled it out and put it on as he prepared to leave the party. He checked the time on his mobile again: 1:15 a.m.

He opened the door, and a sudden gust of cold air rushed into the room, signaling the wild winter weather outside. He searched for his sneakers among the pile of shoes near the doorway and was finally ready to drive back home.

As he stepped out, Jessica reminded him about the long drive from Beachlands to Mount Albert in central Auckland.

“Hey, Freddy, are you okay to drive at night? How much have you had to drink?” Jessica asked.

“A couple of beers. It’s all detoxified and gone. My liver is extra efficient, you know,” he replied.

“I don’t know about your liver, but when the cops ask you to blow into their testing kit, the liver won’t lie,” Jessica said sarcastically.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got my full license, I’m sober, and no cops would come out at this time of night. They have families too,” Fred said confidently.

“I’ve got spare rooms in my house, and a couple of my mates are sleeping here tonight. You can stay over and go to work in the morning from here. That way, you don’t have to take the risk of driving this treacherous road in this horrible weather. I know you only got your full license last month and don’t have much driving experience at night. So, that’s my offer,” Jessica said firmly.

“Thanks, Jess. Thanks for the offer. I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight. Or maybe I should be wishing you good morning instead,” Freddy grinned.

It was pitch black outside, with no streetlights, no moon, or even stars in the sky. He spotted his old Toyota Corolla parked in the driveway and opened the door. Looking through the windscreen, he saw nothing—it was completely fogged up.

“Shit. It’ll take another ten minutes to clear this up,” he muttered to himself. He started the car, switched on the AC, and waited for the windscreen to clear. The dashboard screen displayed a two-degree temperature and the warning sign: Freezing conditions, take extra care.

Eastern Beach is a newly developed residential area in the southeastern suburbs of greater Auckland. Many young families have moved into this area in search of a peaceful country life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Proximity to the beaches and the tranquility of the countryside draw many visitors to the area during summer. However, for those who drive to work in the city, it is a very long commute when the heavy traffic in the suburban areas is added to the open road in the countryside.

Freddy pulled his car out of the parking area and headed toward the main road. The streets were almost empty, and he glanced at the time displayed on the dashboard screen: 1:35 a.m.

The street name, Jack Lachlan Drive, reminded him that this was the last road in the Eastern Beach suburb. Beyond it began the open country road. He accelerated a bit more, knowing that 100 km/h was the legal speed limit in the countryside, except for sharp curves and turns.

“So far, so good,” he thought—nobody on the road.

Just as he pressed the accelerator further, two shiny eyes appeared in the distance—a possum, he realized. The headlights of his car reflected off the poor animal’s tapetum lucidum, a God-given adaptation that allows animals to see better at night. He quickly shifted his right foot from the accelerator to the brake, but it was too late. The right front tire flattened the possum’s head, ribcage, and bushy tail. The back tire delivered the final touch—all in a matter of seconds.

“What an end to a life! In a second, a soul is freed from the confines of a pathetic physical body. That poor creature’s soul must be relishing the succulent leaves of evergreen trees and mistletoes in paradise. So, I’ve added another burden to the Almighty. He’ll need to prepare another trap to control a possum from Beachlands. How many possums and pests do we dispatch every day in the name of conservation? All these souls could create havoc in paradise, turning it into a netherworld.”

No, animals don’t have souls, Freddy argued with himself. Only humans have souls. God made humans in His form out of clay and blew into their nostrils. That’s how the soul entered the human body. He didn’t blow into the nostrils of any other animal.

Freddy’s imagination spiraled, riding wild as the car pushed through the empty countryside.

He reached the intersection of Whitford-Maraetai Road and Pukerangi Rise. As he drove past the junction, a human figure emerged from the fog, crossing the road. The area was shrouded in mist, but in the headlights of his car, he saw her clearly—a young woman. She signaled for him to stop.

Freddy hesitated. His instincts told him to keep driving, but the miserable look on her face made it impossible for him to leave without offering help.

“Why is this girl here at this time of the night?” Freddy wondered. He slowed down and brought the car to a stop. The young woman approached his side of the road.

“Could you possibly give me a ride to Botany if you're heading that way?” she asked, her voice soft and polite.

“My car broke down, and I had to leave it parked on the curb at Pukerangi Rise,” she added.

Freddy's mind raced with questions. “Is this a trap? Is she genuine? What if I get into trouble?” Doubts flashed through his head.

He glanced at her again, standing on the freezing road, shivering slightly. She seemed sincere, almost vulnerable. “Maybe she’s telling the truth,” he thought.

“Okay, I can drop you off at Botany. Get in,” he said finally.

She opened the back door and slid into the seat behind him.

As she entered, a sweet and unfamiliar fragrance filled the car. Freddy suppressed the urge to ask what perfume she was wearing, deciding it wasn’t the right time for such questions.

“I’m Elizabeth. Elizabeth Smith,” she introduced herself. “I was at my boyfriend’s place in Clevedon. I left my old car there and borrowed his new Mazda3. He’s a mechanic, so he can fix my car.”

“So, where are you heading now?” Freddy asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

“I’m going back home—well, my parents’ home in Howick. My mum or dad will pick me up from Botany,” she said with confidence.

“But it’s 2:00 a.m. Are they really going to pick you up at this hour?” he asked, puzzled.

“Don’t worry. They know I’m coming,” she assured him.

Silence fell between them. Freddy stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror. She was undeniably beautiful, but there was something in her expression—worry, maybe even sadness. “She seems troubled,” he thought to himself.

The car reached the Whitford junction. Only ten or fifteen minutes more, and Freddy would arrive at Botany, the southeastern edge of Auckland.

To break the silence, he asked, “Are you working or studying somewhere?”

“Sorry, I was in a different world. Did you ask something?” she replied.

“I asked if you’re working or still at uni or something,” he repeated.

“Yes, I’m a nursing student. Second year at AUT. What about you?” she asked.

“Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Freddy, a final-year engineering student at Auckland University, majoring in civil engineering. Right now, I’m working part-time at a supermarket in town to pay off my loan,” he said.

“You’re lucky. You’ve almost finished your degree, and soon you’ll find a better job,” she said.

“Why are you worried? It’s much easier for a nursing graduate to find a job than an engineering graduate in New Zealand these days,” Freddy replied.

“I don’t know if I’ll even complete the course. I have problems. Serious problems. I don’t want to talk about it now… maybe later, if we meet again,” she said, her voice trailing off.

As they spoke, an ambulance and two police cars sped past them, heading toward Auckland City. These were the only vehicles Freddy had seen during his entire journey.

“Must be some serious accident,” he thought, slowing down as he approached the Mangemangeroa Bridge.

“We’ll be at Botany in two minutes,” he assured her.

“Do you want me to drop you at your parents’ place?” Freddy asked.

There was no response. He glanced at the rearview mirror.

There was no one in the back seat.

Panic surged through him. “Where’s Elizabeth? Did she fall out of the car?”

“There’s no way I can stop on this sharp curve,” he muttered, his heart racing. When he reached a passing lane, he pulled over and checked the back seat.

Nothing.

No sign of Elizabeth.

An eerie chill ran down his spine.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Jessica’s name appeared on the screen. His trembling hand picked up the phone.

“Hi, Freddy. It’s Jessica. Sorry to bother you while you’re driving. Are you still on the road?”

“Yeah, I…,” words didn’t come out of his mouth.

“My good friend Elizabeth… she passed away in an accident on that road, near the intersection of Whitford-Maraetai Road and Pukerangi Rise,” she said, her voice faltering. “Did you notice anything when you passed that area? Please take care, Freddy. Good night. See you later.”

She hung up before he could respond.