“Did it make you sad? Do you miss her?”
“It used to make me sad, to think that her parents detested me so much that they would let my family suffer when they could help. But I got over it; I refused to be upset over something that I couldn’t change. Do I miss her? No, I don’t. I think we dated because it was fun and forbidden. There wasn’t really any love involved, at least not for me. I haven’t thought about her until you brought her up. I haven’t really had a reason to,” he finishes, looking at me as if we share a secret.
I clear my throat, suddenly realizing how heavy the conversation has gotten. I know he’s trying to tell me something, but like he said, there will be a time for that. That time is sadly not right now. “Well, I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough with all of this sentimental talk,” I joke.
“We can blame it on the wine and I won’t tell a soul,” he winks at me.
“Well that’s just great,” I groan. “Well go on and get out. We need to get ready to go.”
He stares at me, probably trying to catch up with how quickly I changed the mood, or like there was something that he wanted to say. After another moment, he graces me with a smile before hopping out of bed. “Yes ma’am!” He salutes me and he leaves out of my room.
I crack a smile before it vanishes from my face completely. If Brian saw me naked and Derrick was in the room, did Derrick see me naked as well? I surely hope not. If he did, it would be so awkward. The last time Derrick saw me naked, we thought climbing trees and mud wrestling was a good pastime.
I climb out of the bed and head into the bathroom. One last shower for the road can’t hurt anybody.
Once I’m showered, lotioned up and dressed, I grab my pack full of clothes and head out of my room to the living room to find everyone already there waiting for me. Everyone except Derrick.
“Where’s Derrick?” I ask.
“I’m right here.” His deep voice calls from the kitchen.
I turn around and I see him carrying a pillowcase full of canned goods. I look around and I notice that everyone is carrying jugs of water, along with their clothes. I also notice some heavy-duty backpacks. Brian notices my attention to the backpacks and cracks a smile.
“Turns out this family loved to go camping or whatnot. Sadly, they only had five bags and you took too long to come down, so you’re stuck with your old one,” he says.
“That’s fine,” I say while shrugging. “I’m sure my good old bag will do. Let me go find a jug and fill it up and I’ll be ready to go.”
I’m walking past Derrick when he holds up his arm to stop me. “I have a bottle for you already. There’s nothing left in that kitchen that will help us.”
“I also found something really cool,” Ashton says while lounging on the couch.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I found three pocket knives and also this weird hunting knife. It looks like a baby machete. It has a cover for it and everything. Oh! And some ponchos! The expensive ones.”
Shame fills me up as he lists all of the things he’s found. While he was being resourceful with his time, I was getting drunk and stripping.
“I also found something,” Christine speaks up. “You know how I was in the reading room? Well turns out these people were really old fashioned. There was a gun in the drawer of the desk. A full box of ammunition too.”
“They also have sunscreen here” Ashlynn says. “The kind that’s really thick and takes days to fully rub in.”
I look at Isaiah, thinking that he found something too. I mean, hell, everyone was doing what they were supposed to do but me. Isaiah turns a light shade of pink before showing me a small compass in his hand.
“We might have to go in the woods soon, so I thought this might help,” he says quietly.
“Well I’m sure this will come in handy sometime soon,” I reply.
“Are you ready to go?” Ashton asks.
I take a big breath and shake off the fear of the unknown. We were able to rest and relax in this little haven, and now we have to head out into the world and potentially die. I doubt we’ll come across many more places that were treated for acid rain. “Yeah, I’m always ready for whatever,” I respond with fake enthusiasm. “Let’s divvy up the cans of food so that no one is weighed down.”
“I know I shouldn’t have to say this, but better safe than sorry. We need to stay in the shadows and keep our heads down,” Derrick says.
We all sounded off our different forms of agreement before picking up our loaded bags and heading out into the frying pan.
The first thing that I had to do is shield my damn eyes from the blazing sun. Being in a covered house with low light is a huge difference than being out in the open. “Guys wait a minute!” I say before dashing back in the house and going into the coat closet. Bingo! Baseball hats. I run back out to the group and handed one out to each of them. “Might as well get all of the protection we can before we leave.”
Everyone put their caps on and we head out. The trip through town was blessedly uneventful and we ended up on the freeway quicker than I would have thought. The heat is bouncing off of the asphalt with so much intensity I just want to run to the nearest cover. The acid rain seems to not have an immediate effect on the road and the foliage around, even though it immediately starts to irritate our skin. Everything must have been treated before they were abandoned.
I walk up beside Isaiah and bump him with my shoulder. “How did you like our little vacation?”
“It was great. It felt like nothing was wrong,” he says quietly.
“Yeah, it was good for me too. I feel rejuvenated, though. Like I have the strength to keep pushing forward,” I respond.
“Me too,” he says. “I won’t be a burden. I’ll be strong, too.”
I wrap one arm around his shoulders and squeeze him to my side. There isn’t anything I can truly say to him. This world will teach him what he needs to know. I look over at Derrick and he looks like he’s lost in his head. I want to ask him what’s on his mind, but I can’t do that with everyone around us. Plus, I’m afraid that he saw this chocolate bar without its wrapper. And by chocolate bar, I mean me.
We were walking for a few hours when we came upon a “Welcome” sign. Clouds are coming in and I can’t believe we may be in for another storm. I don’t know what’s going on, but I only know that all of this rain means that the water levels are rising, and we definitely don’t need much more of that.
My borrowed pair of blue jeans are sticking to me like glue by the time we get to the bottom of the ramp. We’re immediately met with buildings and stores. My anxiety ramps up a couple notches. We’re definitely right in the middle of death. Thunder sounds in the distance. I roll my eyes at the absurdity of this weather.
“Let’s get in the shadows,” Derrick instructs.
We all comply and begin walking to the tall buildings. I take point in the group and slowly guide us from alleyway to alleyway. I turn to tell Derrick that we’re coming up on an open area, but he’s not here. “Derrick?!” This cannot be happening. Not when we’re so close. Not when we’ve come so far. “Derrick?! You better not be messing with me! If I find you, I’m going to kick your ass!”
Empty threats, that’s all they are. Using violence to cover the fact that my stomach feels like a bottomless pit. Emotions, so rare to me, climb up my throat and makes the already difficult to breathe air, more difficult. There’s not many of us left, not many of us left to make the journey. I need to just relax. He couldn’t have been gone for that long, so I shouldn’t be freaking out like this.
“I saw him go further down one of the alleys,” Christine offers.
I tell the others to stay put and stay hidden while Christine shows me the alley Derrick was supposed to of had gone down.
“Christine are you sure you saw him come this way?” I desperately ask.
“I’m almost positive I did,” she says. “He said that he wasn’t feeling too well and that he needed to rest. He knows we’re
almost there and he didn’t want to slow us down once we got to the hard parts.”
“Hard parts?” I scoff. “Like any of this has been easy.” At that moment, a thunderous boom echoed throughout the sky, followed by a dangerous display of light. My group jumps out in fear, eyes wide and chests heaving. “Come on,” I say. “We’re in for another lighting storm, let’s find shelter before one of us gets hit.”
I’m moving on auto-pilot, searching for Derrick while also searching for shelter. My lungs are trying to shrivel up in my chest, but I won’t let myself go into panic mode. Not now and probably not ever.
Everyone is quiet as we walk stealthily down the alley that Christine said she last saw Derrick, but there’s no sign of him at all. He must have jogged away, knowing that there was only so much time before I notice him missing. I should have known something was up when he let me take point so easily.
I feel a small hand slip into mine and I look down at Isaiah. He has his head trained forward and his eyes constantly surveying our surroundings. I choke back a sob after realizing that he’s trying to protect me, because clearly my head isn’t in the game anymore.
I stop walking and I look up at the sky, feeling the tears cascade down my face.
“Derrick, where are you?” I whisper.
11
Derrick
I slowly creep down the alley after giving Christine a stupid excuse. I know she doesn’t believe me and there’s only a limited amount of time before Kiani comes looking for me. Kiani. I can’t believe I’m leaving her behind, but I can’t abandon Sam either. She’s here. I know it. If the note I found on the Bandit at the truck stop was meant for us, and let’s be honest, who else would it have been for, then she’s here.
So close, yet so far away. You’ll find me if on this path you’ll stay. In the tallest tower is where I’ll be. Come. Find me. Bow to your new King.
I pick up my pace when I can hear Kiani calling for me. The sheer panic in her voice causes me to falter in my steps, before picking up my pace once again. She should know better than to draw potential attention to her and the others.
I have no choice but to trust her to keep the others and herself alive while I’m gone. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, or if I’ll make it back alive. All I know is that I have to find Sam and then find the others.
I stare at the massive building in the distance, towering up in the sky. If I was a crazy, power hungry Bandit, that’s the place I’d live. My heart begins to pick up pace as I head towards the skyscraper. I don’t know if this is the bravest or stupidest thing I’ve ever done, and it doesn’t matter either way.
Sam, I’m coming for you. I swear.
12
Kiani
I fall back against the hot wall of the building we’ve huddled next to. I slide down until my butt lands on the equally hot concrete ground. Everyone circles around me, concern and panic written across each of their faces. I don’t know what is worrying them the most: the fact that Derrick has abandoned us or the way I’m handling it. I know that we haven't been seeing eye to eye lately, but that’s no reason to leave us… to leave me.
Derrick has always been there. From my first fight, to patching up my knee after a failed trick on my bike. We rarely did anything without the other, and we never left the other one hanging. I bang the back of my head softly against the brick wall continuously. Trying to get my brain to jumpstart and figure out what Derrick has up his sleeves and where he could’ve gone.
When I finally figure out where he could’ve gone off to, I feel like such a dumbass. “Of course,” I whisper. “Why didn’t I figure it out sooner.”
“Figure what out?” Christine asks quietly. She kneels down on my left, placing her hand softly on my knee.
I know why I didn’t think about it. I never thought it could happen. That Derrick would choose someone over me.
“He went to go look for Sam, didn’t he Ki?” Brian asks.
“Who is Sam?” Ashlynn chimes in.
Brian looks at me for confirmation. I know what he’s asking. Whether or not it’s ok for him to tell them about Sam and The Game. I shrug, letting him know that I don’t care if he does or doesn’t. What does is matter anyways? Who cares if they know that I was incapable of saving one friend? Right now, we’re going up shit’s creek without a paddle and I’m losing my desire to give any fucks about it.
Brian takes my cue and begins telling everyone that sad tale of how we lost Sam. When he’s finished, everyone is staring at me with shock and pity written on their faces. I’d rather take the shock. I don’t need, nor want, anyone’s pity.
“I get that that’s a sad thing to happen to you, and I’m sorry, but what does that have to do with Derrick abandoning us?” Ashton asks.
“He thinks she’s still alive,” Brian supplies.
“What?!” everyone exclaims.
“We had an argument while we were at the house. He wanted to look for her and I was against it. We don’t know if she is actually alive and we also wouldn’t know where to look. We haven’t gotten any more clues as to where they could be. We don’t have the luxury of time to look for her. He disagreed.”
“Ah, I see. So he left you to go look for a dead girl. How nice of your best friend to just up and leave you,” Ashlynn huffs.
Before I had time to contemplate if what I’m about to do is smart or not, I’m already on my feet and punching Ashlynn in her jaw. I’m gearing up for my second swing when strong arms wrap around my waist.
“Kiani! Stop it!” Brian hiss.
I’m seething as I stare down at a stunned Ashlynn. Ashton and Isaiah are checking on her when her eyes clear and become enraged. “You stupid bitch!” she screeches. Ashton catches her as she springs towards me. I don’t even flinch at her aggressive advances. I stand still in the arms of Brian with my fists balled up. If she gets too close to me, I may have to lay her ass out.
“Ash chill out! You probably alerted the Bandits to our location with that screech!” Ashton says. He turns heated eyes on me, and I know he’s more mad about the situation than he’s letting on.
“I’ll say this, and then I’m through with this whole thing,” I say in a barely controlled voice. “If you ever talk about Sam in such a callous manner ever again, there will be no one here that will be able to stop me from beating your ass.”
“I’d like to see you try,” she seethes.
“We need to find a safer place to talk,” Christine interjects. “Ashton was right, we may have alerted the Bandits to our location and I’m not too keen on dying today.”
“Follow me,” Brian says.
He grabs my wrists and lead us down the alley until we find a small area that’s relatively safe. Everyone stands around in a loose circle, with me and Ashlynn being partially restrained by Brian and Ashton.
“What do you want to do, Kiani?” Brian asks me.
“Why are you asking her for direction?! It’s clear that she’s not sane without Derrick deciding her every move!” Ashlynn quietly exclaims.
I lunge for her again, but Brian anticipates my action before I’ve fully begun to do it, restraining me against his chest. He leans down a little bit so that his mouth is right on my ear. I shiver at the feeling of his breath against my skin.
“You need to get ahold of yourself, or you’re going to get us all killed. We can’t afford for you to lose your cool,” he whispers.
His words took the wind out of my sails. He’s right. I can’t put all of their lives in danger because my heart hurts. I have to do what’s right and be the leader that I have always been. I don’t need Derrick to be strong, I’ve always been strong on my own. He was there when my confidence was shaken, but he didn’t give me my confidence in the first place.
No matter how deep the feeling of abandonment and betrayal may cut, I won’t succumb to the pain. I take a deep, cleansing breath. Relaxing my shoulders and trying to clear the malice from my brain. I know what I have to do.
“I’m going
after him,” I say.
“Of course you are!” Ashlynn says snidely while throwing up her arms.
Lucky for her I’m more in control of my emotions, so she won’t have to get acquainted with my fist again. “I don’t expect any of you to come with me. Actually, I don’t recommend nor want you to come with me. This will take me way off course and I’m pretty positive we’ll both die. I would never ask any of you to risk your lives for a frivolous hope and dream. I’m going after him alone.”
I pry myself out of Brian’s strong embrace and step away from the group. I look each and every one of them in their eyes, even Ashlynn, and will them to understand. “Derrick may have chosen to go after a ghost instead of staying with us, but I can’t abandon him. I won’t. You guys know how to survive now just as much as I do. I know you’ll get to Russia as if we were with you the whole time. You’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want to leave you behind,” Isaiah says quietly, looking very upset.
“You have to, this will be very dangerous,” I say.
“Which is why I’m coming with you,” Brian says defiantly, crossing his arms across his chest.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“This isn’t up for debate,” I say heatedly.
“You should give us a choice in whether or not we want to go,” he says.
“I won’t have your blood on my hands.”
“You won’t. Not if we have a choice in going or leaving. We can all look after ourselves.”
My eyes flit to Isaiah when he says that, and Isaiah puffs out his chest and lifts his chin up. We’re running out of time, and I can’t force them to leave if they don’t want to.
“Fine, it’s your decision on whether or not you want to come with me,” I huff.
“Are you guys insane? If Derrick and Kiani want to go look for Casper, then let them. That doesn’t mean we all have to die!” says Ashlynn.
“You can go all you want, but I’m going with Kiani,” Brian states.
Kiani’s Journey- Mayhem Page 8
