On the Edge of the Blade
With every breath, Mac Gibbons senses the edge of danger—and one wrong move could be his last.
Welcome back to The Devil’s Road, where vengeance runs as thick as blood through the veins of Sequoyah County. With secrets tightening around him, Mac Gibbons faces a threat more chilling than confinement—and it’s waiting for him in the shadows of Issue 21.
If you missed yesterday’s post, can catch up on the Issue #20, Red Dirt & Cold Steel.
Now, settle in, my Faithful Ramblers, for Chapter 6, Issue 2 of The Devil’s Road.
In 2004 an Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations analyst discovered a crime pattern along the Interstate 40 corridor between Oklahoma and Mississippi. Subsequently, The Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I.) started the Highway Serial Killings Initiative. They discovered over 500 bodies of women along the interstate highway system with more than 200 potential suspects, a trail of bloodshed that coats the heartland. The Devil’s Road is a serialized novel based on this horrific discovery.
The cold white fluorescent bulbs in the Sequoyah County Correctional Facility pop and buzz as they come on in the visitation room. A couple of metal tables and benches, bolted to the floor, populate the empty space. A row of windows lines one wall, looking out over the empty prairie landscape and the eighteen-foot razor-wire fence, separating those on the inside from freedom.
Mac Gibbons, now in an orange jumpsuit, enters under the grip of a correctional officer. The officer walks him to the nearest bench and shoves him down. Mac raises his handcuffed wrists, expecting the CO to unlock him, but instead, they’re latched to a steel ring on the table, keeping his hands bound and stopping him from getting up.
“Jesus, man. I ain’t even done nothing,” Mac protests as the officer leaves with only a grunt in response. The nicotine-stained walls loom close, and the scuffed, torn linoleum seems to close in around him. A large, dark stain spreads under Mac’s feet, and he wonders if this seat was someone’s last stop. Depending on who walks through that door, it could be his too.
He’d arrived in the area with a cheap recipe for crystal meth and a handful of contacts in Little Rock and Dallas. He should’ve kept moving, but the thrill of making money on guns and drugs made him feel like Tony Montana. Nothing gave him a thrill like firing a fully automatic into the night sky after a big sale. But those guns came with partnerships, and one of them might be the reason he’s staring at that stain now.
The door swings open, and Mac tries to turn his head, but the handcuffs stop him from seeing who’s entered. The door whines as it slowly swings shut, the latch clicking back into place. Then silence.
“Hello?” Mac says, twisting left, then right, trying to get a look. “Somebody there?”
The thump in his ears grows louder as his heart pounds in his chest. Sweat beads on his forehead, and he can smell last night’s booze leaking through his pores. A long sigh floats over him from behind.
“Who the fuck is here, man?” Mac says, the hair on his arms standing on end. “You know what I’m in here for, my dude. I know people. You hear me?”
A large, calloused hand grabs Mac by the face, covering his mouth and pinching his nose, shutting off his airflow.
The Driver leans in close, voice low and sharp. “I could have one of these boys in here gut you like the pig you are, or maybe you’d prefer to earn your keep on your knees. Don’t matter, one way or the other. Now that the Feds have all the product, I got no use for you anymore.”
He lets go, and Mac gasps, coughing as he gulps down air. “I had it handled, man. I did — I did my part, I swear. That injun motherfucker is trying to screw us both, man. It ain’t me.”
“What do you mean ‘screw us both’?” the Driver asks.
“He’s the one that messed me up,” Mac stammers. “I met him at the spot and handed him the duffle. He asked if I wanted a drink, and I thought—”
The Driver’s hand moves to Mac’s throat, squeezing tight. Mac gags, his eyes bulging, pulling at the cuffs to get free. Just as the world starts to blacken, the Driver lets go.
Mac’s head slumps on the table, wheezing. “Just listen, man. Give me a second. He drugged me. I think he had it planned. Think about it—who handled the bust? He’s making a move on our spot, man. He’s after both of us. You’re next.”
The Driver grabs a handful of Mac’s hair, jerking his head up and off the table. “Nobody comes after me, you dumb shit. You, of all people, should know that by now.” He slams Mac’s face into the metal table, a sickening crunch echoing as his nose breaks. Blood drips down his face as he moans in pain, eyes filling with tears from the impact.
“You think you got it all figured out now, little piggy? Think you’re some sort of big man with all the answers? I think you’re just trying to save your own skin,” the Driver says, watching as Mac slumps back, resting his head on the cold table. A soft series of clicks come from behind him.
“What the fuck is that?” Mac asks, the fear growing sharp in his voice.
The blade of a box cutter presses into Mac’s three-day stubble, digging into his neck just enough to leave an impression.
“There’s nothing more efficient than a box cutter,” the Driver murmurs, his voice calm. “Cheap plastic, a razor sharp blade you just snap off when it dulls. Always sharp. No upkeep, no mess. Just clean and efficient.” He pops the stained, rusted tip of the blade off on the table, presses the thumb guard, and extends a fresh section.
The Driver places the blade under Mac’s chin, leaning close. “Your problem is, you think you’re smarter than the rest of us. You ain’t from around here, and you look down on us because you got a college degree. Well, turns out that degree’s only good for cookin’. And as much as I’d like to peel your fat head, you’re pretty good at it.” He presses harder, voice a deadly whisper. “Open your mouth.”
Mac presses his lips tight, shaking his head, but the Driver digs the blade in just enough for Mac to wince and comply.
“That’s right,” the Driver says, placing the blade on Mac’s bottom teeth. “Now bite down.”
Mac bites down on the blade. The Driver bends the plastic handle until the razor snaps off in Mac’s mouth. Mac whimpers as the metal touches his tongue.
“Now, keep that under your tongue, and don’t let the guards see it. You want out of here? Earn it. Maybe you’ll use it for me. Maybe I’ll test how tough you are. But if I were you,” the Driver says, his voice laced with menace, “I wouldn’t leave it in your bunk.” Mac nods quickly, holding the blade steady in his mouth.
The Driver releases him, and Mac can taste the blood pooling under his tongue. “Keep it tucked away, little piggy. Consider it a gift—a good deed, if you will. You’ll hear from me soon. Pray, if you got anyone left to pray to, that it’s good news.”
The door creaks open, then slams shut. Silence.
Mac spits the blade onto the table, a smear of blood and spit coating it, staring back at him as he trembles. The lights hum above, indifferent. He glances out the window just in time to see the Driver heading toward the gate, toward freedom. The Driver stops, turns, but Mac drops his head. He’s not ready to look that man in the eye.
With a shiver, Mac slips the blade back under his tongue, where it scrapes against his skin. He survived this meeting, but every second from here on, he’s on borrowed time.
If this week’s issue got your blood pumping, refer a fellow traveler to join the ride and unlock some devilishly good rewards!
The Devil’s Deal:
REFER 2 FRIENDS: Unlock 1 month of The Devil’s Road for free—no strings attached.
REFER 5 FRIENDS: Claim 3 months free, plus a PDF copy of The Devil’s Road pilot screenplay. Step deeper into the darkness.
REFER 10 FRIENDS: Score 6 months free, along with a signed, mailed copy of The Devil’s Road pilot screenplay—your own piece of the story, right in your hands.With Halloween just around the corner, I couldn’t think of a better time to bring you, my Faithful Rambler, to the end of Part 1 of The Devil’s Road. Now six chapters in, I want to offer a refresher for any New Witnesses to the trail of bloodshed left behind by our enigmatic Driver. His identity remains a mystery—for now—but Part 2 may finally bring the truth to light.
