Back Roads

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of sexual and physical abuse, and incest.

Harley Altmyer, age 20, is being interrogated by police regarding the murder of an unnamed victim, later revealed to be Callie Mercer. Harley discusses the many times he and his best friend, Skip, attempted to kill Skip’s little brother, Donny. The boys used the office of a local abandoned mining company as a clubhouse, making their plans there. Harley thinks about a woman he took there and becomes enraged, deciding to focus on Skip instead. The cops comment on his lack of focus, one suggesting he’s in shock while another grumbles that they won’t get anything relevant out of him. The sheriff urges Harley to speak, but he continues to focus on Skip and Donny. He thinks of a time they tied Donny to the train tracks where they knew a train hadn’t traveled in years, or the time they tricked him into sitting under the garage door as Skip closed it over him.

One of the officers becomes frustrated and lifts Harley out of his chair, yelling at him to talk about the victim. Harley talks about Skip again, so the frustrated cop hits him.