The bus trundled along its usual route when a dog appeared out of nowhere and started running alongside iteveryone was stunned when they found out why.
Every morning, it followed the same path. The bright red double-decker, Route 318. The driver, a steady bloke named Nigel, was always punctual, always on schedule. The road wound through open countryside, straight and free of traffic or fuss. The passengers were nearly always the samea few commuting to work, others heading into town for errands, and some just enjoying the ride and gazing out the window.
Everything was normal. Nigel looked relaxed, the radio hummed quietly in the background. The sun shone, the morning was crisp. Passengers chatted idly, some dozed, others scrolled mindlessly on their phones.
Thenout of nowherea dog dashed onto the road.
A golden retriever, big and shaggy, with a glossy coat and surprising speed. It ran beside the bus at first, matching its pace, then began weaving back and forth like it was trying to get their attention. Its ears flapped, tongue lolling.
The bus came alive. Someone stood up. A young bloke by the window pulled out his phone and started filming. A woman with glasses laughed, “Look! That dogs racing the bus!”
“Mustve lost its owner,” muttered an older gentleman.
But something wasnt right.
The dog suddenly picked up speed, overtook the bus, and planted itself squarely in the road, barking and growling. Nigel had no choicehe slammed on the brakes. Tires screeched, the bus lurched to a halt.
“Whats going on?!”
“Whys it acting so strange?”
“Its not letting us move!” someone yelled.
The doors hissed open, and a few passengers cautiously stepped out, approaching the dog. It didnt back away or boltjust stood there, watching them.
And then something awful happenedand everyone understood why the dog had behaved so oddly.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion. The bus was flung into the air with such force the ground trembled. Flames erupted, windows shattered. Those whod stepped out survived. Shock. Screams. Someone dropped to their knees. Another clapped a hand over their mouth.
They were mere metres from death.
And the dog it didnt run. It stayed, as if it knew.
Nigel staggered up, pulled out his phone with shaking hands, stared at the wreckage, and whispered, “It saved us But from what? Who did this?”
The police launched an investigationto find the culprits and figure out how the dog knew what was coming.
