by Hunter Shea
Carrie’s light found Brandon struggling on the ground. Something was wrapped around him, covering his head, locking his arms at his sides.
Autumn was the first to laugh.
Tina had managed to sneak away, bringing their jokester friend to the ground with a perfect tackle. She rolled away from him, giggling so hard she had to grab her crotch. “I think I’m going to pee myself.”
Everyone but Brandon cracked up.
“I think Majors just did,” Dan said, holding his jiggling stomach.
They laughed until they cried, no one able to even help him off the ground. When he eventually did, dusting himself off, Brandon said, “Well, I guess I had that coming.”
“Yes, yes you did,” Carrie said.
He looked down at his stained pants. “I think I need to wash these in the lake.”
Tina was given a round of high fives. She had twigs and pebbles in her hair, dirt smeared on her face. She didn’t even attempt to clean herself.
“Bet none of you saw that one coming,” she said.
“I think I like Tequila Tina,” Carrie said.
“No, I think I love Tequila Tina,” Autumn said.
They laughed all the way back to camp. Brandon took off his shirt, boots, and socks and walked into the lake, letting them all know how cold it was, but it was nowhere as cold as their dead hearts.
“We really can’t build a fire?” Latrell said.
None of them were used to the total darkness that enveloped the camp.
“No,” Autumn said, “but Seth brought a few battery-powered lanterns.” She pressed the button to turn them on. They were very bright, the harsh white light birthing a host of long, angular shadows that encircled the camp.
“Not quite as romantic as a roaring fire,” Carrie said. Dan got a beer for her and himself.
“But it’s Smokey the Bear approved,” Autumn said.
Brandon returned dripping wet. He found a towel in his tent, wrapped it around his shoulders and plopped down next to one of the lanterns.
“Well played, everyone. Well played,” he said.
“Here, have a beer,” Dan said, tossing one his way.
“Don’t mind if I do. I need to replenish my spent fluids.”
Tina sat beside him and rubbed his back. “I’m sorry I made you piss yourself.”
“No you’re not.”
Her face brightened. “You’re right. I’m not.” She clapped with delight.
Autumn saw Carrie whisper something in Dan’s ear. He whispered something back. She got up and slipped into their tent. Dan swished what little tequila remained in the bottle. “We have enough for one last round.” There were no objections. He filled the small plastic shot glasses he’d brought along.
Carrie came back lugging a sleeping bag. Dan handed her a shot glass.
“To Seth’s dad, seeing all your mugs again and being surrounded by nature,” Dan said.
They knocked back the shots.
“And with that, I’ll see you guys in the morning,” Dan said, taking the sleeping bag from Carrie.
“Where are you going?” Autumn asked.
“Oh, somewhere,” Carrie said, winking.
“Remember what the bus driver said, always pull out to avoid children,” Latrell said.
They took a lantern and walked off, Dan’s arm around Carrie’s shoulders.
“Why are they leaving when they have a perfectly good tent?” Tina said.
Brandon sipped his beer. “If they’re anything like they were in college, Carrie can be pretty loud. I think what they’re going for here is discretion.”
Autumn leaned over and slapped Brandon with a backhand.
“Do you have to blab everything?”
He shirked away from her. “Hey, we all know it. Tina’s the newbie. I’m just being inclusive.”
Autumn settled back against Latrell. It may have been the booze talking, or knowing her best friend was about to get laid, but she was starting to rethink her stance against period sex.
* * * *
The tequila was hitting Dan hard. Carrie could tell by the way he bobbed and weaved as they looked for a primo spot to lay down their two-person sleeping bag. He may have been twice her size, but he only had half her tolerance.
“Maybe over there,” she said, pointing to what looked like a nice, smooth clearing beside a semicircle of trees.
Did I just say offur dere? Carrie thought. She looked up at Dan, who was concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. Not that he’ll notice. Ha!
It was one of those hand-grenade nights. The kind of night where the booze slipped down your throat like water, waiting until you thought all was clear before exploding somewhere in the back of your brainpan. Carrie hadn’t had a grenade night in a long time. She’d pay for it tomorrow, but it was an awful lot of fun. She didn’t know how much she’d missed everyone until they’d met at Seth’s yesterday. Sure, she talked to Autumn every day either on the phone, texting, or Skype, but that was nothing compared to being face-to-face.
She could tell Dan had missed Latrell just as much.
Wouldn’t it be nice if every day could be like this?
“Home shweet home,” Dan slurred, laying out the sleeping bag with all the style and grace of a baboon.
Carrie looked into the darkness from which they’d come. The moon was hidden behind a passing cloud, offering very little light. She wondered if Brandon’s chemtrails were still hanging up there like laundry.
“How far did we walk?” she said.
Dan was already pulling his shirt over his head with some degree of difficulty, nearly choking himself when it got stuck around his neck.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Hopefully far enough so they don’t get all jealous over what I’m about to do to you.”
“You flatter yourself.”
He flexed his muscles. God, she was a sucker for those muscles.
“I just speak the truth,” he said. “Now, offie with the clothes.”
Carrie wasn’t in a frame of mind to argue or demand some romance. She fell twice trying to slip out of her jeans and it took the two of them to unhook her bra.
Dan latched onto her nipple like a starved newborn. He was a breast man to his core and he made no apologies. Moaning from the gentle suction, Carrie fumbled in the dark for his hard cock. It was built like the rest of him—thick and hard as granite. When they first started sleeping together, the soreness would last for days. Her body had learned to accommodate his massive member, but there were still times when she needed a day or two to recover.
With the way the booze was hitting them, she knew she’d have a tough walk down the trail tomorrow. This was going to take a while.
His fingers slipped into the folds of her pussy, teasing her clit. She moaned so loud, bats scattered from the nearby trees. She laughed, slipping into steady sighs as he took over her body.
“Ride me,” he said huskily in her ear.
He loved having her on top where he had full access to her hanging breasts. She preferred it too, because—let’s face it—being pancaked under a rutting man Dan’s size wasn’t always easy, especially when he was drunk.
Carrie slapped both hands on his shoulders, pushing him onto his back. His hands kneaded her breasts, cock sticking up straight as a flagpole.
Straddling his hips, Carrie lowered herself onto his shaft.
A cry escaped her lips that sounded more like a shriek.
Dan shifted his hands onto her hips, thrusting up to meet her.
He mumbled something, but she couldn’t understand a word.
Hammered talk that was supposed to be sexy talk.
Carrie looked up at the moon, choking when she saw it spin like a top.
Her head shot back down to look at Dan. No, the moon wasn’t spinn
ing. Just her brain.
Dan’s eyes were closed, his lips slightly parted.
“Dan.”
He didn’t answer her. His fingers lost their grip on her hips, sliding down her thighs.
“Dan, wake up.”
Another wave of spins swamped her brain, made her eyeballs dance.
She had to get off Dan. She had to get up. Her legs and arms worked against her. Carrie felt Dan’s cock softening inside her.
An owl hooted behind her.
The night seemed to grow even darker.
Vertigo hit her from all sides, rocking her like a ship on stormy seas. If it didn’t stop soon, she was going to throw up all over Dan—again!
Carrie’s sober subconscious screamed at her to get her shit together, but nothing, absolutely nothing was going to stop her from mercifully passing out.
Chapter 5
“Come on, baby, it’s time to wake up.”
Autumn patted Latrell on the back. It was like smacking cordwood. He didn’t move. His breathing was still slow and steady.
She looked at her watch again, dismissing the snooze she’d set. No sense struggling to get five more minutes of sleep. She could tell by the pink glow seeping through the tent’s fabric that dawn was here. Time to be with Seth so he could give his father a proper good-bye.
Looking for her boots, she slapped Latrell on the ass. That got him to at least groan.
“Wakey, wakey.”
“I’ll get up if Seth gets up,” he murmured into his inflatable pillow.
Autumn had pretty much passed out in her clothes. She was out of shape when it came to drinking like that. Crawling on her knees, she unzipped the tent flap. Seth was miraculously awake and making coffee.
“Morning,” she said.
He flinched, startled. “Oh, hey. Look, you don’t have to do this. I can scatter his ashes myself. It’s just nice having everyone together, you know. It makes it easier.”
“We’ll be right beside you. Don’t go to the lake without us.”
Seth had smiled and put on a brave face, but she could see the pain in his eyes. He’d been so close to his dad. Losing him to a heart attack at the age of fifty had knocked the world out from under his feet. She hoped being out here, surrounded by his friends, would help start the healing.
“Come on,” she said, unzipping Latrell’s sleeping bag. “Seth’s got coffee brewing and if you even think of missing this, there’s something else you’re going to be missing out on…a lot.”
His bloodshot eyes popped open.
“I’m up, I’m up.”
“I need coffee. Get dressed.”
Autumn took the steaming cup Seth offered.
“You still like it black, no sugar, right?” he said.
She took a sip. “Oh, yeah. Perfect. Why does this taste so good?”
“Everything tastes better when you camp. Wait’ll we catch some fish. You’re gonna flip over lunch.”
“Hidey-ho, neighbor,” Brandon said, emerging from his tent looking seven shades of disheveled. He bent over with a racking cough, spitting something big and wet sounding into a bush. “Sorry about that. Morning cruds.”
“Well, that takes care of my appetite,” Seth said.
Brandon powered down his coffee, immune to the heat.
“Ah, better.”
Tina popped up behind Autumn. “Good morning, or is it still technically night?” she said.
“Where did you come from?” Autumn asked.
Tina snorted. “The ladies’ room.” She gestured to a tree away from the campsite. “The bidet’s broken, just in case you were wondering.”
She had her hair tied back and no makeup. Damn, she was still gorgeous, but Autumn was beginning to gain a newfound appreciation for her.
“I smell coffee,” Latrell said. He was dressed in his running gear. Knowing him, after they scattered the ashes, he would go out for a jog when just sitting up was a struggle for the rest of them.
“Where’s Big Dan and Crazy Carrie?” Brandon said.
Autumn crooked a finger around their tent flap and peeked inside. “Looks like they never came back.”
“I’m sure they’re sleeping it off somewhere close by,” Seth said. He eyed the sky, the sun’s corona just starting to creep over the horizon. “We don’t have to wait for them.”
Autumn said, “You sure?”
“Yep. I gotta do this now. If my dad is watching, I know he wants me to get this over with so he can get to fishing.”
She rubbed his back, choking up. Seth and Brandon had been their clowns, their emotions about as deep as a kiddie pool. Seeing him like this killed her. If Tina weren’t here, she would have hugged him until he begged to be let go.
Seth grabbed the urn, tucking it under his arm.
“Let’s do this.”
* * * *
When the last of the ashes were sprinkled on the glassy surface of Merritt Lake, Seth allowed himself to break down, his face buried in the crook of Tina’s neck. Autumn, Latrell, and Brandon surrounded them in a hug, with nary a dry eye to be seen.
Sniffling, Seth crouched beside the shore, dipped his hand in the cool morning water and whispered, “Good-bye, Dad. You be good to the trout.”
Autumn swore she heard her heart break in two. Latrell, who could always sense when she needed him most, wrapped his arms around her, planting kisses on the top of her head.
Even Brandon was at a loss for funny or smart-ass quips to break the heavy mood.
“You got my stuff?” Seth asked, wiping his face with his sleeve.
Brandon handed over his tackle box and pole.
“If you guys don’t mind, I think I’ll just fish alone for a while.”
Tina kissed his cheek, her hand lingering on his face. Seth jiggled the tackle box and walked away.
“You’re never alone,” Autumn said, intertwining her fingers within Latrell’s.
* * * *
Seth had migrated to a fishing spot where they couldn’t see him. Tina whipped up a powdered egg concoction that came in a silver pouch, adding some salsa and cheese that made it quite good, or at least edible. They sat around the camp stove, quietly eating and drinking cup after cup of coffee.
Autumn was determined to flood her system with caffeine to make this hangover hit the road.
The sun was out and the smell of oniongrass was strong.
“Boy, Dan and Carrie really passed out,” Latrell said. Autumn couldn’t help noticing how he kept glancing around, expecting to see them come traipsing back to camp.
“They did drink enough to down a Clydesdale,” Brandon said.
“We all did,” Tina said. “I’m so glad I don’t have to go back to work for two more days. You don’t make a lot of sales when you look like death.”
Autumn wondered if Tina had any idea what death warmed over truly looked like. Because even au naturel, tired and hungover, the woman could sell penis shrinking pills to just about any guy.
Probably even Latrell.
“So, what time are we heading back to civilization?” Brandon asked, wiping spilled coffee from the top of his boot.
“Seth said he wanted to make us all lunch first,” Autumn said.
“He brought a ton of spices and lemons and stuff for the trout,” Tina said. “He said it’s his father’s recipe. It makes me a little less nervous. Seth can screw up boxed mac and cheese.”
“Everything tastes better when you’re camping,” Autumn said. She popped open the bottle of aspirin she’d been smart enough to pack. Three hands shot out, palms up. She gave them each two pills. Everyone took them with coffee, except Latrell, who chewed them.
“You’re supposed to swallow aspirin, Creedmore,” Brandon said.
“What? I like the taste.”
Autumn heard footsteps.
“I think the lovebirds are here,” she said. Carrie was going to kick herself for missing everything.
“You might want to make the next batch of eggs extra runny,” Brandon said.
Autumn got up, dusting off the seat of her jeans. She spotted Dan, the sleeping bag slung over one shoulder, walking very slowly. Carrie lumbered next to him, swaying from side to side, her shoulders hunched.
Something didn’t look right about them. She wished she’d stop leaving her glasses in the tent.
Waving her arms, she called out, “It’s about time, you guys. We have aspirin and coffee waiting.”
They kept walking as if they didn’t hear her. In fact, Autumn thought they moved like a pair of zombies, or exaggerated sleepwalkers.
“It can’t be that bad,” she said to them.
“What the fuck?” Latrell said.
“Huh?”
“What’s that stuff all over them?”
Brandon and Tina got up to see. Tina dropped her coffee, the tin cup clanging as it hit the hard pack. “Jesus.”
As Dan and Carrie came steadily and silently into view, Autumn was finally able to see what had stolen everyone’s attention.
This was not good.
Autumn bit her tongue to stifle her scream.
Chapter 6
Brandon had tripped on acid, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca, but no hallucination, no matter how real it seemed at the time, compared to this.
Dan and Carrie stumbled into camp, eyes glassy, seeing nothing around them. They were both completely naked, arms hanging limply at their sides.
“Hey,” Latrell said, the sound of his voice stopping them even though they didn’t look his way. The sleeping bag slipped from Dan’s shoulder, shrouding the camp stove.
The dead eyes, shambling gait, and nudity weren’t what alarmed Brandon.
It was the dozens of white, pulsating sacs that covered them from head to toe that made everyone take a step back from the couple. Tina immediately started crying. “Whatisitwhatisitwhatisit?”
Carrie’s lower jaw dropped open, her tongue unfurling. On its tip was one of the strange white bulbs.
