The sky hung low with dense, gray clouds, and a sharp, icy wind swept down from the mountains, rustling the damp leaves scattered along the roadside.
John had been on the road for over two hours, urgently called back to the office, and was racing to get to the city before nightfall. Beside him on the passenger seat, his German Shepherd, Barbara, lay curled up, quietly dozing with her head resting on her front paws.

Up ahead, his headlights caught sight of a car moving slowly, unusually so, along the otherwise empty road. Instinctively, John eased off the gas.

As he drew closer, he noticed the rear door of the car crack open, and in a flash, something was tossed onto the roadside. The door slammed shut, and the vehicle sped off into the misty rain.

John’s heart skipped.

For illustrative purpose only
“Did you catch that, girl?” he muttered. Barbara had lifted her head, alert, her eyes fixed on where the object had landed.

At first glance, John assumed it was just a discarded garbage bag.
But then, in the dim beam of his headlights, he saw it move.

Without hesitation, he pulled over and switched off the engine.

Stepping out, the cold hit him instantly—sharp wind against his face, rain slipping past his collar. His shoes crunched on the wet gravel as he approached the object with cautious steps.

It was wrapped in a thick, filthy blanket, bound tightly with a blue rope. But the movement wasn’t from the wind. A faint, heartbreaking whimper came from inside.