*****
Max ran through the hospital, looking for someone who could help Tyler. He barked and barked but no one seemed to be able to see or hear him.
He realized he had found one person who could see and hear him: Zachary!
Max tried to think where he'd find Zachary. The last time he had seen him was when Zachary was pulling the kids from the school bus, one after another. He looked around, concentrating.
Suddenly, a feeling came over him. The feeling yanked his head in a certain direction, as if what he was looking for was that way. Max had never felt anything like it, but he had the distinct feeling Zachary was in that direction.
The feeling led him directly into a wall. For a moment, Max was a bit confused. His training was to figure out how to lead around objects, and here his instinct was to plunge into the wall.
Finally, he yielded to the sensation. His pale form passed through the wall, into another hallway beyond. He kept following the feeling, and it led him through room after room until he finally entered a dark room, with several tables.
Someone turned on the lights.
It was Zachary! He was standing near the door, with his hand on the switch.
Max barked, and Zachary turned.
"Max? Is that you?" Zachary looked puzzled.
Max barked and stuck his tongue out, trying to reassure him.
"Where are we, Max? What is this place?"
Max concentrated now on finding Tyler. The feeling came over him again and pulled him in the direction of the corner.
"We have to be brave, Max. Be brave," Zachary said.
Max barked to get his attention.
"What is it, boy?"
Max walked toward the wall, indicating to Zachary to follow.
Zachary followed him.
Max wasn't sure how he'd go straight to Tyler with Zachary following him. He was used to leading others around, not through. But he concentrated again, and walked through the wall.
"Max? How did you do that?" Zachary called.
Max came back and barked at him, then turned and walked through again. He wanted Zachary to follow him!
Suddenly Zachary's body turned a ghostly pale, and he stepped through the wall after Max. Max yipped with pleasure. It had worked!
"What's happening?" Zachary asked. "Are we dead?"
Max barked and indicated for Zachary to follow him further.
Zachary straightened up. "Okay. Be brave. Let's go, Max."
Max led him on through the walls and rooms.
They emerged from the final wall to find themselves outside. Max saw his destination up ahead. Tyler was on the back of a black truck.
Max barked and ran toward him but the truck pulled away before he could get to it.
It took him some time to lead Zachary to the base, but when they got there Max knew this wouldn't work. He tried to concentrate on finding help to get inside the base, but nothing happened. There were armed guards everywhere, and even if he got Zachary inside, there was no guarantee if he helped Tyler, they wouldn't just get hurt again.
To make matters worse, Zachary did not understand where they were or why they were there, and Max couldn't make him understand.
"I want to find my Poppa. Maybe God could make him well again," Zachary said.
Max decided to bide his time until he could find help to get them to Tyler. He concentrated on finding Zachary's father, and the feeling came to him.
Max and Zachary spent a long time getting to his home. For one thing, Zachary had been terribly hungry, and had needed to try and get food. Some strangers were kind enough to give him some food, and one person even offered to give him a ride to a local shelter. Max had tagged along, because Zachary couldn't turn down the offer to find a place to sleep. He couldn't seem to resist helping people, either. Not a bruise or tiny cut went unhealed everywhere he went.
People seemed amazed by Zachary and wanted to do anything to help him, but couldn't see or hear Max. Max couldn't find a way to get Zachary to tell them to help them get onto the base. A day became two, became a week, became a month.
Over time, Max began to give up on ever helping Tyler.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Zachary called out.
"I know that place! That's my home!"
The feeling was leading Max past the house, but Zachary couldn't be stopped. He raced up to the walk to the door, only to find it locked. Max passed through the door, and concentrated, enabling Zachary to follow. The house was empty. Every wall was bare and the rooms were empty of furniture. Zachary went into one corner room, and stared at the emptiness for a long time. Finally, he sunk into a corner and began to cry.
Max wanted to lick his face to make him feel better, but couldn't. The sensation was still coming to him, though, and not from this house. He barked and barked, and finally Zachary looked up.
"You want me to follow you, Max?"
Max jumped toward the wall and turned back.
"Okay" Zachary said, standing.
Max led him through the wall, then down the street. Finally, at the end of the street, the feeling led him off the road and into a field. On the other side of the field was a fence, which they passed through with ease.
On the other side of the fence was a graveyard. In a far patch of the graveyard, they found a fresh grave, with no marker. Max knew Zachary's father was there.
Zachary knelt before the freshly filled grave, and wept. Max made a half-hearted effort to dig, but Zachary stopped him.
"No, Max. No. He's with God now. He's with God. He would want me to be brave and do my best to do what God wants me to do."
Max didn't understand, but he stopped digging. His paws couldn't move the earth, in any event.
Suddenly, a sensation hit Max's head like a miniature bomb going off. It was the old urge, the old ache, to find help to get to Tyler. Max snapped his whole body around like it had been electrified. THERE. He ran in that direction full tilt, giving it everything he had.
"Max?" Zachary stood. "What is it?"
Max did not slow down. Zachary jumped up and ran behind him.
They came to a two-story house in the suburbs, a much nicer house than the one in which Zachary and his father had lived. Max went right through the door and Zachary followed.
No one was home. Zachary plopped onto the couch, exhausted and breathing heavy.
Max searched around, but found no one. It didn't make sense, the sensation was coming from right - Max started. No, it was coming from...UP. He looked at the ceiling, and felt the sensation get closer, and FAST.
There was a loud noise from the front lawn, and muffled noises at the door.
Someone fumbled with keys in the lock and opened the door, then two people scurried inside: a black man in a plain white t-shirt, and a gangly white man with curly hair and glasses. The gangly guy locked the door behind them, switching on the lights.
"Okay, okay, gotta think," he said.
"Are your parents here?" the black man asked.
"Are they still my parents? Then no, they're not here."
"Hello," Zachary said.
The two of them jumped. "Who the hell are you?" the gangly man with the keys said.
Zachary stood. "My name is Zachary."
The other man walked into the living room, limping a bit. "Are you with THEM?" he asked.
"No," Zachary said.
"Who are you?" the first man asked again.
Zachary seemed to recognize them "We were on the school bus together," he said.
The two men looked at each other.
"How did you find us?" the first man asked.
Zachary looked down at Max but Max shook his head and gave a doubtful whine. He didn't think it was a good idea for Zachary to tell anyone about him. The scientist who hurt Tyler had been looking for him.
Zachary shrugged. "I just did."
*****
The blue-haired woman brought her hands up, and threw them forward. A cascade of energy blew the tables apart and knoc
ked them all to the floor.
Max, however, was unaffected, and he had already found Tyler nearby, lying on one of the tables.
Kevin stood up and approached her.
"Listen," he said, "my name is Kevin. We were on the bus together."
The woman brought up a fist and unleashed the energy at him. It buffeted him, but seemed to have no effect. The waves just crashed around him.
Kevin looked around himself for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, that doesn't work on me."
While they spoke, Max barked at Zachary to get his attention, and led him to Tyler. Zachary pulled the sheet from Tyler's upper body. Realizing whom it was, he nodded to Max and laid his hands on Tyler's chest. A glow passed down his arms and into Tyler's body, spreading out and fading. Tyler opened his eyes.
Zachary leaned close and whispered, "No one can see Max. Don't tell."
"What?" Tyler asked.
"He'll be okay," Zachary said, pulling the sheet away from him. Tyler sat up.
Max's tail wagged so hard he almost fell over.
*****
As the bus struck the railing and sailed through the air, Max began to fade away. He barked in terror, but the sound seemed to fade out. He couldn't touch anything, couldn't run, could barely even move. Nothing made sense.
The bus struck the water and glass shattered around him but didn't touch him.
Max closed his eyes and shook in fear.
*****
"Max? If you're there, show yourself. It's okay, boy...." the scientist said.
*****
"Your power is a trap," Brandon said to Becca, "and you're caught in it. You have to break free."
"Why should I?" she asked.
"Because I don't think we can do this without you," he answered.
Becca thought for a moment.
Max suddenly knew what he had to do. He had seen how their powers worked together. He knew what he could do. He felt his old training kick in. Anticipate their movements, lead them through the obstacles.
He knew Becca could sense him. He barked at her now, sending her his intentions the same way he'd guide with the harness.
WWHAT THE FUCKK?
Max concentrated harder than he ever had, sending her what he needed her to do, and how she needed to do it.
TTHIS IS SOME CRAZY ASS SHIT! OK DOG, WE'LL TRY IT YOUR WAYY
"Well then" Becca said aloud, "you really are fucked." She opened the door and she and Mia slipped into the hall. Max trailed after her.
Tyler closed the door behind them.
*****
"Nice job, Blue," Becca said.
OOKAY, MIA LISTEN TO ME, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT TO GET PRETTY TRICKYY
What? Mia sent.
JJUST PLAY ALONG WITH WHAT I'M SAYINGG
Becca went on, playing out their little scene of abandonment. The worst part was unleashing the pain in Mia's head, because that really had been building, but there was nothing to be done about that.
She walked out the door, and once out of sight, stopped.
OOKAY, FIDO, WHAT'S NEXTT?
Max concentrated, making her like him. While he was at it, he sent one other thing.
WWHOA OKAY, MY BAD. MAXX
Max nodded.
Becca laughed. CCORRECTED BY A DOG. NO ONE IS EVER GONNA BELIEVE THIS SHITT
*****
The water rushed in, but Max couldn't feel it.
His fur was ghostly pale and luminescent. He felt nothing around him. All he knew was that he and Tyler needed help.
Suddenly, Zachary woke from next to Tyler, and pulled a piece of glass from his chest, dropping it into the water.
Max barked and barked, until finally Zachary looked his way, and he felt he might be saved.
*****
When he could hold his eyes no more, Tyler blinked, and the guns sounded.
Max focused.
The bullets raced through them, and Tyler looked around confusedly.
Max barked happily.
"Max?" Tyler said, surprised.
The soldiers began searching for him, not able to see or hear.
"I can see you! What's going on?" Tyler asked.
"That's what I'd like to know," Mia said.
"Mia!" Tyler said, able to see her now. "You're alive!"
II SAID I'M NOT ALL THAT BAD, ONCE YOU GET TO KNOW MEE
Tyler turned, and saw Becca, her beautiful face and form illuminated by ghostly light.
"Becca?" he said, amazed.
"How do ya like me now, gorgeous?" she asked.
"This is unreal. Did you do this?"
"Uhhh," Becca pointed down. "You're not gonna BELIEVE this!"
Max put his tongue out and panted with pride.
*****
They had arrived in time to see Zachary and Kevin taken away on gurneys. The others were gone. None of them knew quite what had happened, but they knew who was behind it, and he was right in front of them.
"Max? Are you here right now?"
"We should kick this guy's ass right now," said Mia.
Max turned to Becca, and sent her an order to relay.
MMAX SAYS NO. HE SAYS TO WAITT
"Max says?" Mia asked.
Max gave her a quick bark and she was silent. He had gone beyond what he had ever known, but it was still his training upon which he relied. Still leading, still unseen.
NNO, I SEE WHERE HE'S GOING WITH THIS. WE CAN FIND OUT MORE NOW THAN WE EVER COULD COMING RIGHT AT HIMM
As the scientist moved closer, Becca reached out with her mind.
Max growled, knowing the scientist could not hear.
HHE'S NOT GUARDING HIS THOUGHTS NOW, BECAUSE HE THINKS WE'RE ALL DEAD OR GONE. WE'RE NO THREATT
"What do you see?" Tyler asked.
Becca saw flashes of the bus. During the crash, before the crash, LONG before the crash.
WWHAT THE FUCK? THIS GUY ISN'T A SCIENTIST AT ALL...
"Who is he?" Mia asked.
Becca laughed. HHIS NAME IS CARL MACKLINN
HHE'S THE FUCKING BUS DRIVERR
CHAPTER TEN
CARL
"A dream come true."
When the doors released, they moved into the hall.
Carl felt a thump on his back: Kevin pushing him forward. He led them in the direction of the computer lab.
Brandon, Simon, Heather, and Zachary followed. Carl made sure to keep his distance from Zachary. He wasn't sure whether the kid remembered him or not, or what he was up to, but he had no intention of allowing Zachary to touch him.
Especially not when I'm so close, he thought. They still believed him to be Dr. Samuel Juergens, and he was leading them to the computer lab, where his endgame awaited.
Kevin and Tyler hung back, but Heather stepped up beside him.
"Is there really...Will there really be some kind of catastrophe if we don't stop it?" she asked.
Carl glanced at her. "Absolutely."
*****
His boots slipped through the wet grass as he crept, keeping his eyes fixed on the Sergeant just ahead. Night in the bush was absolutely dark, but the full moon above shone a pale light down upon them, enabling him to make out a few of the other men in his platoon.
Suddenly, pinpoints of light popped in the tree line, and the quiet night exploded in a cacophony of gunfire.
There was no cover. Carl raised his rifle and opened fire, targeting the points of light. He saw two men go down. The Sergeant was calling for them to bug out, but Carl didn't retreat.
He kept his rifle up and fired into the night. Bullets whizzed past him, splashing in the puddles and throwing up splatters of muddy water.
One light disappeared, then another. Carl kept firing.
"Hey man," a voice said from beside him. Sound of a fist rapping on plastic. "Hey!"
Carl looked up. A young man in his twenties was standing next to the video game. Carl released the mounted "rifle" in front of the screen and turned.
"What?" he said.
"Um, dude, your game
ended like five minutes ago."
"Oh," Carl turned back and saw the pre-game scenes playing. "Oh, sorry." He reached into his pocket.
"Man, there's other people waiting to play the game. Can you step out, please?"
Carl sighed, but stepped out as asked. A kid who had been waiting looked at him like he was crazy and stepped in, inserting his quarters.
"Can I talk to you over here for a minute?" the man asked.
Carl nodded and followed him over to the counter near the exit.
"You okay, sir?" the man asked. His nametag said ROGER.
"I'm fine."
"What was that, some kind of 'Nam flashback there or something?" Roger asked.
Carl shook his head. "I didn't serve."
"Huh?"
"I didn't serve in Vietnam. Or anywhere. My brother did. I wasn't accepted."
"Oh. Sorry, man. Look, we, uh, we can't have this kinda stuff. You're kinda freakin people out. You know?"
Since he had been laid off from the auto plant where he worked, Carl had been up here every day. Too ashamed to tell his wife what had happened, he had instead spent his days filling the games with quarters and trying to forget about it. This was not the first time his mind had wandered.
"Sorry," Carl said, shrugging. "I didn't mean to."
"Okay, well, I kinda need to ask you to leave, okay?"
"What? No!"
"Yeah, sorry man."
"Is there a manager I can talk to?" Carl asked.
Roger pointed to his badge, where under his name were the words GENERAL MANAGER.
Carl sighed. "I'm just...I got laid off my job, and...I'm not causing any problems. I just needed something to..."
"Sorry, man," Roger said with a tone that said he was not sorry at all.
"Fine," Carl said.
He walked out and went to his car. Closing the door, he sat there for a moment, then brought his fist up and slammed it down into the dash.
The games had made him feel better. Feel powerful for one, able to control the world around him, to do something about it. No matter what the game threw at you, there was a way to win. There was always victory at the end. That appealed to a visceral need he hadn't even known was there.
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