[ IP ] Midnight Road

`` Everyone ready, honey?'' Simon called back to his wife, who was cowering in the back of the car with their children. 
 
 `` Yes, Simon! DRIVE!'' Johanna shrieked. The young man did n't need telling twice, and stamped his foot on the acceleration. The car jolted forwards, and Simon did n't think about any speed-limits or laws. 
 
 The fire had started so innocently. The kids had made a campfire, a big one too, and they were oh so proud of it. Johanna and Simon could n't bear to put out what their babies had worked so hard on. 
 
 Simon was still slightly numb from sleep, having been awoken by the screams of his family as they discovered that the whole forest seemed to be catching alight. In the time it had taken to dash to the car, they had almost been trapped by the flames. He had looked back as he sprinted away from the the fire, and saw as their tent was engulfed by flames. 
 
 Johanna was weeping now, as the car travelled at breakneck speeds down the dark road, fire all around them. 
 
 Simon tried not to think of the animals trapped in the forest. He focused on the road ahead, trying to pretend that nothing was wrong. It was n't working. 
 
 `` This is all your fault, Si!'' Johanna cried, between sobs. `` *You* wanted to go on this trip!'' 
 
 Simon did n't bother to tell his wife that the entire holiday had been her idea. There was n't time for that. 
 
 Little Mary was screaming too, now. `` ARE WE GOING TO DIE, DADDY?'' the little girl yelled. She was pink in the face like her mother. `` WHY IS THE FOREST ON FIRE?'' 
 
 `` Because you built a fire! In a dry forest! And left it there!'' Simon snapped. He instantly regretted his words. `` Sorry, darling I did n't mean it,'' he tried to say, but it was no use. His daughter was crying even louder than Johanna now. 
 
 `` SHUT UP,'' Joshua yelled. `` Yes, we are all going to DIE, Mary.'' 
 
 `` Joshy, do n't say that.'' 
 
 `` It's true tho --'' The boy began, but his father cut him off. 
 
 `` Look.'' 
 
 The whole family turned their heads. The fire was only behind them now. They were free. 
 
 `` I am ***never***,'' Johanna growled, voice hoarse from screaming, `` going camping again.''
