by B. C. Tweedt
Greyson smiled. “Ah, I get it. But the first people to notice would be the terrorists. Then they’d stop the truck, get out, and shoot us.”
“Oh.”
“But let’s keep that as Plan B, okay?”
“Getting shot. Plan B. Uh…what’s Plan A?”
“We push these doors open hard enough and long enough for Sydney to reach underneath and unlock the padlock. Then we pull up the rods and somehow stop the truck.”
“Right.”
“So get over here. Everyone. Press this door.”
The group lined up, outlined now with the faint amount of light emanating from underneath the double doors, and pressed their shoulders to the door.
“Sydney. You ready?”
“Ready? No. I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t even see…”
Greyson gave her a look, which he hoped wasn’t scaring her with a swollen black eye, crusted-bloody nose, and bruised cheeks. It was meant to inspire her.
“You can do it, Syd. I saw you do it on stage.”
Her fingers played over the hair clip and she grabbed another two bobby pins from her hair, letting her hair settle down to her shoulders. Greyson eyed it. The way it bounced brought back memories of when he had ridden behind her on her horse, Dancer. He had almost laid his head in her hair, smelling its fragrance as it bounced up and down in the rain. He longed to do it again.
“Greyson?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re drooling. Are you okay?”
“Oh. Uh…it’s my lip…it’s swollen. You ready, Syd?”
“I guess. Just don’t let it close on my arm.”
Greyson gritted his teeth. That would be awful. “You heard her guys. Let’s do it. Ready? Set? Go!”
Liam, Greyson, Jarryd, and Sam shoved their shoulders against the door and felt it give, but not quite enough.
“A little more! I’m almost through!”
The boys grunted and pressed, their shoes skidding on the smooth metal surface. The light began coming through and the metal machine shone, reflecting the light across the inside of the cargo carrier like it was crystal.
“I’m through! Keep it open!”
“I’m slipping!” Sam shouted.
“Not yet,” Sydney replied. “I can feel it. It’s…”
Greyson made the call. “Get your arm back in!”
And Sam slipped to the floor with a crash; the doors slammed them back into darkness. Greyson waited for her scream.
Chapter 32
“That was too close!” she screamed.
Sam was next to her on the ground, moaning with pain. With his back, it was too much. Sydney sat up, leaning back against the bomb, and took his hand, comforting him, as Greyson and the other boys took a breather.
“There’s n-no t-traction!”
“I know. It’s not going to work.”
Greyson huffed and felt the truck accelerate. How far away is the city? It couldn’t be far. And how will it happen? Will they stop in the center of the city and talk it over with the governor? Will there be a flash and it’s all over? Would Sam’s Dad ever let a nuclear bomb in the city? Or would he risk killing his own son?
“So, Plan B?” Jarryd asked. “Getting shot?”
“Well, I do have one shot of my own,” Greyson thought out loud. “If we lure them to come back here, we could ambush them.”
“Y-y-yeah!” Liam shouted.
“No, wait.” Jarryd felt for the bomb and found Sydney’s face.
“That’s my face.”
“I know. Move for a sec, would you?”
“Gladly.”
When Sydney had moved, Jarryd took her place. Greyson waited in the dark for an explanation.
The explanation came in the form of light. The doors creaked open a full inch and the light exposed Jarryd, sitting with back against the bomb and feet pressed against the doors.
“This is totally going to work. Just brace yourselves against the nuclear bomb. Trust me.”
Greyson and Liam lit up with excitement. “Alright! Sydney, you in?”
“Yeah. But give me more of a warning this time.”
“Will do. Ready, set, go!”
The three boys pushed, Liam and Greyson with feet on the bomb and hands on the door, Jarryd with back to the bomb and feet to the door. They pressed and pressed harder.
“A little more!”
The doors creaked and moaned – it didn’t seem like they could give any more.
“Calf-press! Attack!”
Jarryd’s calves bulged, giving the door that extra inch. The veins in his neck swelled as he pushed with all his strength.
“I’m through!” She grabbed the chain and pulled the padlock down as far as it would go. “Found it.”
The boys huffed and puffed, like an opposite tug of war. Their muscles strained and their faces turned red. Breaths escaped in brief gasps between the strains of their voices.
“Hey, Greyson?”
Greyson looked down at Jarryd, noticing the veins on his neck bulging with the strain. “What?”
“You never…did the dare.”
“What dare?”
“I dared you…to ask Sydney…if my calves…were sexy.”
Greyson shook his head. “Now?”
“While she’s…up close…and personal.”
“Syd? Are Jarryd’s calves…sexy?”
“Yes! Don’t distract me!”
Jarryd smiled and put extra ‘umph’ into the press. But the strain was getting to him, just like to the others. His smile faded into quick huffs and puffs.
“I’m almost there! I’m doing it!”
“Uggggh!”
“Aaaaaghh!”
“I-I-I c-can’t!”
Greyson glanced at Liam and saw the way his face had lost its color. The ferocity in which he had attacked the door faded to that of sleepiness. He was going to pass out.
And he was about to call it off when Sam slammed into the door, joining the effort despite the pain from his back.
Liam slipped to the ground, out cold.
Greyson and Sam exchanged a long look as they pressed. Neither wanted to show the pain, but their faces betrayed them. Their endurance was failing, too. Any longer and they would end up like Liam.
“Just a little longer!”
“Aaaaghh!”
Jarryd’s calves were burning and cramping, as if frozen. He strained and strained until he felt sure he had made a mess of his underwear, but still pressed on. There was no way he would be the one to let them down.
They heard the chains being dragged in first and then her voice.
“Got it!”
The boys collapsed in a heap, breathing in deeply and stretching out their legs and arms.
“We did it, boys!” Jarryd said, massaging his poor calves. “Sydney, you done good. You done good.”
“I dropped the padlock, but I got the chains in case we need them. Now it’s just the bars. We’ll have to reach out from the middle and pull one of these bars up. I can use the chains.”
The boy’s looked up at her faint outline. “Again?”
“Yeah. So do you want to do it before or after the bomb blows up?”
Greyson rolled over and slapped Liam. “Let’s go buddy. We need ya.”
Once Liam was revived and the boys were again in position, it took just twenty seconds, but it almost took their lives.
“Almost there…”
She yanked the chains and…
“Aaaaghh!”
The left door swung wide open toward the speeding highway. Liam flew toward the road, but grasped the door tight. His body swung freely with the door as it pivoted toward the side of the road. A following car honked its horn and slammed on the brakes, the driver and passenger’s eyes as white as wool.
“Liam!”
Greyson pulled Sydney away from the door and jumped over Jarryd’s legs toward Liam’s door.
“Help!” Liam squeaked, holding on for dear life.
> Greyson reached out for a hold on the door or for Liam, but the door was fully opened and out of reach. As he leaned out from the inside of the trailer, the road beneath began to mesmerize him, flying by – it was as though he were looking into a waterfall.
“The chains!” Greyson grabbed the chains from Sydney, and Sydney grabbed hold of his shirt. Holding onto the closed door, he swung the chain at Liam. It landed between the door and his shoulder. Liam instantly pressed his shoulder against it to keep it from falling onto the road.
Greyson pulled and the door swung toward him. When Liam got close enough, he grabbed him and felt Sydney pull his shirt from behind. As quick as it had happened, it was over. They lay in a pile against the bomb, watching the door flap in the wind and the rain.
Liam was nearly drenched and shivering with fright. Greyson wrapped his arms around him and rubbed him for warmth.
“You’re alright, buddy. It’s okay. We’re almost safe, okay?”
“O-o-okay,” he whispered.
Greyson continued warming him, but his mind sprang to action. They were free. They had actually done it. He hadn’t really thought through the next steps, because he had never truly believed they would get the opportunity. But now, he snapped a reassuring look at Sydney and then to Sam.
Sam had to live. He had to. If he got off the truck, the governor would be free to blow the U-Haul sky high. And if he lived, Greyson’s sins would be nullified. Sam’s survival would be – what was Emory’s word? – his penance – a payment for his sins. Another step toward the cure.
“We have to get you off this truck.”
Sam stared at him.
“How?” Sydney asked. “How do we get them to stop?”
Greyson took a breath. “We don’t.”
Chapter 33
The five of them braced themselves against the closed door, taking glances through the open door to the rushing road, imagining themselves bouncing off the concrete over and over until they finally stopped. Could anyone survive that?
“You’ll be fine,” Greyson said.
Sam scowled. “I think you’re just trying to get rid of me.”
“Exactly. So your Dad can do his job.”
“And you’re not jumping?”
“No. I’m going to take care of the bomb, just in case your Dad can’t do it in time.”
As if on cue, they heard sirens in the distance. Greyson glanced at their surroundings. They certainly weren’t in the city yet – too many trees.
“You tried to get rid of me once before…” Sam stared at Greyson, nothing condemning in his look, but a solemn understanding.
“Yes. But I’m sorry. I-I had to…”
Sydney listened, hesitating to get involved.
“You had to?” Sam asked. “Really? Why?”
“Yes! I did. They had to get what they wanted. You!”
Sydney had to jump in. “Wait. What? You let them take him?”
Greyson was caught between the two. “I-I…”
“Well, did you?”
“Yes! I told them where he was, okay? I made a deal. If they got him, they wouldn’t kill you guys or our families! Isn’t that what you would have done? One person for many. It’s a trade I had to take. It was for the good.”
“For the good?” Sydney asked scrunching her eyebrows, nodding sarcastically. “For whose good? Yours? What about this city? You give them what they want so you can live happy with those you love, huh?”
Greyson grit his teeth. Why isn’t she grateful? I saved her and all of them! And she’s attacking me?
“I did it for you…” And Dad…
“But to let them nuke a city? Kill thousands of people?”
Greyson had had enough.
“No! I-I didn’t know they had a nuke. But they will nuke the city if he doesn’t jump, right here, right now!”
Sam looked back to the highway and there was a moment of calm as he recollected himself with a gulp.
“We can still stop this, Sam. I can make this right. But you have to jump.”
“Give me your shirt.”
Greyson paused. “What?”
“Your shirt. Wrap it around my head – and my face.”
Jarryd laughed. “Yeah. Gotta protect his pretty face.”
“Shut up,” Greyson blurted. “You’re jumping, too.”
“Liam – give me your shirt!”
The boys wrapped the thin cotton t-shirts around Sam and Jarryd’s heads as best as they could. The cloth helmets would have to do.
After another glare at Greyson, Sydney turned to Sam and gave him one last piece of advice. “Just put your arms around your head and curl into a ball. Don’t flail.”
“Okay.”
“And have the first person you find call your Dad.”
“Got it.”
Sydney and Sam exchanged a long, unflinching look.
Greyson grew impatient. “You have to go.”
“You be careful, too,” Sam urged Sydney, ignoring Greyson. “I want to see you again.”
“I will. Me, too.”
Greyson rolled his eyes. “At any time, this goes off and we’re all dead.”
Sam ignored him. “Sydney.” He grabbed her hands in his. “I might not make it; and if I don’t, at least I could say I did this.”
And with that, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
The other boys watched as they smacked and slowly withdrew, smiling.
“And away you go…”
Greyson pushed him out of the truck.
--------------------
“Greyson! You jerk!” Sydney slugged him on the shoulder.
“Look! He’s fine! I think.”
Sam was pushing himself up on the side of the road, disappearing into the distance. He had bounced pretty hard. And the distance of his roll had been impressive.
At least he’s moving.
“You are such a jerk.”
“Y-y-yeah.”
“Doesn’t matter. Now we can get on with it.”
Suddenly, a loud drone erupted into a piercing shriek and quickly faded into a distant rumble. The sound was unmistakable.
“Jets!”
“Th-th-they found us!”
Greyson searched the sky, but they were long gone. What does that mean? Are we saved? The sounds of sirens were getting louder and seemed to be coming from behind. Perhaps they would rescue them. Or they’d destroy the truck. Or perhaps they’d do nothing because the governor would order them to stand down to save his kid. What father wouldn’t?
“It…it doesn’t mean anything.” He turned to his friends. “We don’t know what they’re going to do, but we know what we have to do. We have to stop this truck.”
Together they gazed at the bomb.
“This bomb can’t go off. Now, just get me to the top, and then you guys make like Sam and hit the road.” Greyson started reaching for a handhold on the door flapping in the wind. He looked back for help. “I need a boost.”
“Wait. We’re staying, too. Don’t be stupid.” Sydney put her hands on her hips.
Greyson backed down from the door. “No way. It’s too dangerous. You need to get as far away from the bomb as possible. And tell the FBI that no one is on the truck. If they need to take it out, they can.”
“That’s suicide!”
“No. It’s doing the good that has to be done.” And it would cure him of the infection tearing into his conscience.
“Then what are we? Cowards?” Sydney asked, defiantly. “I’m staying.”
Liam raised his hand enthusiastically. “M-me, too!”
Greyson looked out into the rain and almost lost his balance as the truck sped up. “No. And that’s final. You’re going to get me up to the top, and then Jarryd – make sure they all get off.” Greyson realized he was shouting, but didn’t wait for them to object. “Okay. The only way to stop this behemoth is to take out the driver. I have one shot. Get me to the top.”
Sydney held up the chains. “Then w
e’re strapping you up with the chains. If you fall on the way up, we got you.”
Greyson nodded slowly. “Good idea.”
Just before he made for the door, Greyson stopped and eyed Liam. He was muttering something to himself, eyes closed and head bent. “Liam. You okay?”
He looked up. “I-I was p-praying.”
They exchanged a long look before Liam went back to praying. Like someone had put a hand on his shoulder, a calm went over Greyson and he walked over to the rest of them. Together they shared a moment of silence, not knowing if they should pray with Liam, or just spend one last moment of peace together. Greyson looked around the group. He was thankful for each one of his friends. They’d been through a lot together and he loved them. He could never let one of them die. They were meant to be together, forever. Fate had led him to sports camp and to the fair. There was no denying that. For a second he prayed that Fate, or God, would lead them out.
“Amen.”
Liam looked up and nodded. As if the momentary peace and tranquil had lulled them to sleep, it took a jolt from a bump in the road to knock them back into reality – the reality that at any moment there would be a flash and they’d all be dead.
“Let’s get ‘em.”
“W-wait, G-Greyson?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“I-I h-have s-something to t-tell you.”
He smiled and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Tell me when we get out of this, okay?”
Liam nodded, reflecting, and then forced a smile.
Chapter 34
With an awkward hand-to-butt boost from Jarryd below as Jarryd winked at Sydney, Greyson climbed to the top of the speeding truck, the chains trailing from his waist. Instantly rain was whipping into his bare skin like pins and needles; he had to turn his hat backwards as the wind threatened to tear it from his head. Lying on his stomach on the ice-cold, wet metal, he waited for a moment, collecting himself – not wanting to move for fear of falling to the speeding asphalt.
But it wasn’t him that fell. Suddenly he heard a yelp, and looking back, he watched Jarryd’s body roll to a stop on the side of the road. Not long after, the chains around his waist cinched and he heard the door creak as someone climbed up to meet him.
He saw her face and sighed. For a moment she paused, smirking.
