by Alan Janney
“Did you infect me in the hospital when I was born?” I asked. “Like, stuck a needle in me?”
“One of us did, Martin or me. We’re both licensed to practice medicine in all fifty states, so it was easy.”
“You once told me you didn’t know many medical terms,” I remembered.
“I lied.”
“I didn’t think the disease was contagious,” I frowned. “How’d you do it?”
“The virus is only communicable under the right circumstances.”
“What are those circumstances?”
“I’ll explain that,” he said. His voice was fierce and earnest. I never saw him look worried before. “Soon. I promise. The only thing you need to know at the moment is that Martin will achieve those circumstances again in the near future. Unless we stop it.”
“He’ll be able to infect other children soon?”
“Correct.”
“Carter. You suck. For a lot of reasons. Seriously. You should be in jail.”
He nodded and said, “I’m making penance for past sins, kid.”
“Sounds to me like all of Los Angeles could pay for them.”
“Which is why I want the Outlaw to stick around,” he said in a cloud of smoke.
“I will not be one of your stooges, Carter. You’ve strong-armed good people like Samantha and Puck into being your puppets. Not me.”
“I’ll call in some additional reinforcements.” He ignored me, his white pointy teeth flashing. “And we could use Tank’s help too.”
“What?! Tank hates me. He hates you too!”
“Not as much as he hates the Chemist. We’ll handle him with care.”
“If he ever wakes up,” I noted wryly.
“He’ll wake up. I’m his doctor,” he chuckled. “Best chance his brain has is to stay under a while longer.”
“You’re his doctor??”
“I didn’t drag him out of there just to let him die, mate. When he’s fully developed he’ll be a big bomb to throw at Martin.”
“Carter, you’re the worst. Some of my friends will be here soon and I want you gone.”
“Keep something in mind. I’ve got a short temper,” he said and he stood up. He threw his cigarette butt into my lawn. “And I’ll throw your dead body into the ocean if you cross me.”
“I destroyed the listening devices you planted in my room,” I growled at him.
“I always protect my investments,” he shrugged. “I’ll put more in soon. I don’t want to be your adversary, Outlaw. Remember that. We’re on the same side.”
“Then act like it.”
“Martin told you that you’re special,” he said as he started walking away.
“I remember.”
“That’s bad news for you.”
“Why?”
“It means he wants you for his protege. Wants to be your mentor, a father figure, pass everything to you. And he’ll stop at nothing. I’ll explain more later.”
“I don’t care,” I called. A black SUV pulled up. Carter got into the passenger side and it roared away. “But I am hungry,” I said to myself. “For some chocolate.”
My phone rang. Or, the Outlaw’s phone rang.
“Yeah?” I answered it.
“Carter’s driving away,” PuckDaddy said. “What’d he say? Both Shooter and I are listening.”
“Carter is the worst,” I said.
“Yeah we know. What’d he say?”
“He wants the Outlaw’s help.”
“Woohoo!” PuckDaddy shouted. “I knew it! We’re joining forces with the Outlaw!”
“Weren’t we already on the same team?”
“Yeah but now it’s official. Makes us cooler by association, dummy. Plus, he told us it was 50/50 whether he would kill you or not.”
Samantha asked, “Is Katie coming over?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Are you going to tell her that you’re the Outlaw? That you’re in love with her?”
“No way. Not while she’s waiting for Prince Charming to wake up.” I wanted to tell Katie so badly, but as usual Tank screwed it up. One of these days she’d see through his disguise. I hope.
She asked, “Are Cory and Lee coming over too?”
“Yeah, they’re coming too.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Great!” I said.
PuckDaddy said, “Leave your phone on! Puck wants to listen. Our lives are SO much more fun now.”
“You people are weird,” I smiled. “Puck you should come over too.”
“I don’t live near you, stupid.”
“Oh yeah.”
“But you’re the first person that’s invited me to hang out in ten years. This is a weird feeling,” he said.
“I have to go. Here comes Katie. She’s early,” I said. She was limping down the street in a soft ankle cast. She looked so pretty I thought my heart would break.
“Of course she’s early,” Samantha Gear laughed. “She’s in love with you.”
The End
Epilogue - Excerpt from Katie Lopez’s Journal
October 15th
Mami and I are wondering if we should pack up and move. The Outlaw recommended downtown Los Angeles be evacuated, and the city is now taking him seriously. Thousands of people are streaming east on the interstate. Probably more like hundreds of thousands. We live less than ten miles from downtown.
The Chemist seems unstoppable. I know the military is considering carpet bombing large portions of southern Los Angeles. The stories coming out of the Chemist’s territory are hard to fathom. Wild men running like animals in the buildings. Cannibalism. Rampant drug use.
I think about my encounter with the Chemist often. I know I’m lucky to be alive.
What I remember most about that night is the Outlaw, especially our retreat. As we fled that intersection I heard two voices. The Outlaw’s voice and a girl’s voice.
One thought keeps surfacing. How did they know Hannah was a cheerleader?…
The Story continues in…
The Sanctuary
Book Three of the Outlaw Series
Due out soon!
Alan Janney…
-is married to a beautiful girl
-has two handsome boys
-used to teach high school English (brilliantly so)
-leads Young Life
-invites you to consider John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
