“Hey Joey!” Talitha called out from behind Eric.
“Hey there little girl.”
Well this is turning into a party, John thought.
“This roller coaster keeps turning round and round doesn’t it?” Joey continued as he stepped forward to slam a hand on John’s shoulder. “Or maybe we both just like a bit of storm chasing.”
“Good to see you mate,” John said, “but I reckon it’s both. We’re on a roller coaster heading straight for the eye of a monster and the track’s missing a few screws.”
Eric was visibly relieved that the sudden intrusion wasn’t a threat. “We’re glued together molecules and chemicals that beat a heart for a snippet in time on a molten ball of rock heading straight for the bowels of a black hole, so a quick roller coaster ride don’t seem so bad.”
“You still rank Anthrax over Slayer so I don’t think you’re in a position to be getting all philosophical,” Aaron remarked before turning back to Joey. “Klementina should be finished pulling back the curtain for John’s friend any minute now and then we’ll be saddling up. I’ve checked the flight plan three times this morning and we should be fine, so you go start warming up the engines and I’ll wrap things up down here.”
“Deal.” Joey offered a quick salute and crept his way back up the stairs, with the weight of his steps showing a little more mercy on the old timber this time. “Got some weird weather brewing out there,” he called back over his shoulder, “so get ready to expect the unexpected!”
And then he was gone, leaving a surprising absence of energy in his wake. Maybe, John figured, it was because Joey was the only one that seemed to be somehow enjoying himself, and if that was the case he must have lived one hell of a life up to now. But then again it wasn’t as if the narco distribution room didn’t have a few other interesting stories in its company.
“Joey will back me up about Anthrax,” Eric said as though deep in thought. “He’s from New York so his tastes are a little more refined.”
“To be continued,” Aaron promised as Vanessa and Klementina stepped back out of the tunnel shadows.
Talitha rolled forward with an electric hum and was visibly excited at their return. “Aaron and Eric are fighting again.”
“We’re not fighting,” Aaron whined like a scolded child, “it’s just that one of us knows good music when we hear it, and one of us doesn’t have a fucking clue.”
“That’s another swear word. That makes fifteen already for today, so you owe me a can of soda.”
“I think it’s fourteen.”
“No way,” Talitha laughed, “it’s definitely fifteen.”
As Aaron feigned shock and Eric nodded his agreement, John watched Vanessa closely. Her face was the same, as were the curls in her hair and unwavering sparkle that seemed etched into her eyes, but she wasn’t the same woman from just moments before. Maybe it was the way her head was cocked the side and mouth unmoving, or maybe it was the shock that had clenched the muscles in her face, but either way there was a drastically different aura about her.
Klementina checked her watch. “Unfortunately we’ll all have to get to know each another time because we need to get the show on the road, so take one last look at the sort of things that an abundance of drug money makes possible. Chances are you’ll never be here again.”
She turned quickly on her heels with a kick of dust and headed towards an old wooden crate like door hiding in the shadows against the far wall. Vanessa stared up at John with eyes wide and alert.
“What she just dropped on me,” she whispered, “is that really real?”
“If not this is one hell of a charade,” John replied.
“I don’t even know if I can think straight right now…”
“It’s probably easier that way for now.”
Eric ruffled the top of Talitha’s hair and then together they all followed Klementina across the room. Aaron stepped forward and yanked the handmade door to the side to reveal the cavernous elevator that was lit by a single overhead globe. For the moment they all chose to remain silent. With the door closed once again a series of rattling creaks and moans announced their ascent to the surface, with solemn faces all around except for Talitha who couldn’t help but smile as her excitement grew.
John glanced at Vanessa and could see that she was nervous. Truth be told, so was he. Home never seemed so far away and wherever they were headed wasn’t going to get him any closer, even if there wasn’t anything worth going home to anymore. Still, how hard could a drive to the edge of the city be?
The rumbling of an unseen chain grew louder and louder until coming to a sudden stop. Aaron raised a hand to ensure nobody moved, whipped out the gun he’d stuffed into the back of his pants and slid open the door. An unsettling red light streamed in from the overcast sky and there was the smell of salt in air that blew hot and spasmodic. John wasn’t sure if it was normal weather for Miami or not, but the sky was definitely unlike anything he’d seen before.
“All clear,” Aaron announced with his weapon held tight against his chest.
“This is gonna be cool!” Talitha said.
“It sure is,” Klementina agreed. “Remember what we talked about though. If things start getting scary I want you to put on your music okay?”
“It won’t be scary. The police computers won’t be working properly for a while and I’ve got John and his friend to take care of me.”
Figuring nothing more needed to be said she sent the wheelchair rolling towards the three black vehicles parked on the edge of a weed filled lot, forcing the others to catch up. There were two sports trucks and a van nestled between them. John could see Joey leaning as casual as can be against the rear vehicle, hair blowing in the swirling wind and mischievous grin pointed their way.
Vanessa reached out for John’s arm and brought him to a halt as the rest of the team marched across the long fragmented concrete. A mixture of excitement and fear creased the edges of her eyes.
“Klementina told me where we’re going and there’s not too many places to turn off if things get hairy, just so you know.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“Oh nothing much,” Vanessa shrugged. “Just, you know, the city’s gonna be turned on its ass and that little girl there is the only hope we got of making through to other side. Trivial shit, you know?”
“I won’t hold it against you if you want to turn around and head home Vanessa. As far as I’m concerned the chance to meet you is one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me and there’s nothing that’s going to change that.”
“Are you serious right now?” she asked with her good hand slamming onto her hip. “My mind might be blown out of the fucking water, hell I know it is, but I ain’t turning around and heading home.” The muscles along her cheek softened and her hand slid to the side. “There’s a cat sitting in a hotel room right now that’s gonna hate me real bad if anything happens to you so I got a responsibility here. Besides, for an ex cop from the other side of the world you’re alright.”
“You’re pretty alright yourself,” he winked.
Vanessa took a deep breath and rolled her neck. “Then let’s do this.”
Together they joined the gathering by the vehicles. Aaron opened the side of the van and lowered a thin steel ramp as Eric scanned the skies and Joey checked his watch yet again. Klementina, meanwhile, handed John a set of keys.
“The navigator’s been encrypted but you should still only switch it on if things get desperate and you’re not sure where to go. I’ve given Vanessa the address and she’s got a pretty good idea where we’re headed, but you’ll have Aaron and I leading from the front and Joey chasing your tail so you should be just fine.”
“There’s a red button next to the ignition switch,” Aaron explained. “Switch it on and you’ll be able to talk with both cars. Switch it off and we don’t have to hear your singing, capeech?”
“And yo John!” Joey called out from his casual lean, “if co
mms break down keep an eye on my lights. It’s two and four brother. Two flashes means all good, four flashes and the show’s about to start. Signal Aaron the same way with your front beams and tap your brake lights to keep me in the love.”
“One more thing,” Klementina said as the red hue of the sky seemed to darken slightly. “The rule book is well and truly out the window from this moment forward. More than likely it’s going to be a long boring drive but no matter what we don’t stop for anyone.”
“What about cops?” John asked.
“We’ve tapped all their frequencies so we should hear them long before we see them, and right about now they’ll be getting some strange calls that should keep them tied up for a while. So whatever you do, don’t stop.”
Aaron stepped up to Vanessa and peered down as though unsure whether to say anything or not, and she was quick to return the favour. The standoff only lasted a few seconds though because Aaron broke into a grin and somewhat nervously tapped his fingers against his legs.
“Helluva way to meet a nice lady,” he swooned. “Maybe when we get to where we’re going you can tell me how you landed in all this.”
“Boy you don’t mess around do you?” she said.
“Stay safe out there. There’s a lot of people counting on all of us.”
Eric brought his hands together with a loud crack. “Okay, time to get this show on the road.”
“I love road trips,” Talitha sang as she steered her chair up the ramp and into the van with well versed ease.
As Klementina jumped in to say her goodbyes John started to head for the driver’s seat but as soon as he opened the door Vanessa slid past.
“Now’s not the time to be learning about driving on the other side of the road mister policeman.”
“I was kinda planning on driving,” John said with a frown.
“And I was kinda planning on not finding out about the end of the world and yet here we are,” she laughed.
“She might have a point there brother,” Aaron said while following John to the passenger seat and leaning into the cabin. “Got something to make the journey a little more comfortable.” He flicked open the glove compartment, pulled out a solid chrome handgun and offered it to him with a smile. “Extended clip is fully loaded and safety is one hundred percent off. You’ll find more ammunition wedged under the seat. I take it you know how to use one of these?”
John caressed the craftsmanship as the weight pushed down into his palm. A strange yet familiar crackle of electricity tickled his nerves, a sensation born of conditioning that holding the power of life and death was somehow a good a necessary thing. He couldn’t imagine what he might actually need it for, but there was a comfort that was quick to wash over him.
“I can hold my own,” he said.
“Good,” Aaron nodded, “cause there’s a shotgun taped to the roof in the back as well. I’m not saying we’ll need them, but travelling without firepower is like sitting down at a restaurant with an empty wallet.”
“That’s one way to look at it I suppose.”
Klementina slammed the side of the van and John climbed up into his seat. The engine kicked to life and he turned to watch Talitha awkwardly reach down to make sure the brakes on her chair were on.
“You ready to hit the road?” he asked.
“Super ready,” she replied.
“You let us know if you get uncomfortable honey,” Vanessa called out over her shoulder.
“Do you know Bobbie?” Talitha asked.
“You mean the gold haired monster Bobbie?”
“Yeah,” Talitha giggled. “John promised I could meet him next time. Is he cute?”
“You bet he is,” Vanessa replied assuredly. “Something tells me you and Bobbie will become friends quicker than lightening.”
Joey appeared by John’s window as the sound of his fingers drumming against the roof echoed in the cabin. “It’s good to know we’re playing a part in the future isn’t it? A day like today gives a little meaning to waking up.”
“You’re a braver man than me trying to look for meaning,” John offered.
“Ah you got it all wrong. It’s not a matter of looking for meaning, it’s a matter of taking it when it’s in reach.” He peered in and waved at Talitha. “It’s a beautiful day to roll the dice that’s for sure, so keep an eye on your mirrors and see you on the other side.”
With Aaron and Klementina in the front car and Eric and Joey in the rear, it was time to move. Like a large metallic snake they crawled around the side of the dilapidated building and rolled to the edge of the highway. When there was a big enough break in the traffic Aaron led the charge and guided them onto the road. All three engines whined with an increase in speed as, overhead, the clouds of the strange red sky swirled into one another. As Vanessa adjusted the mirrors John ran his fingers along the gun then wedged it between his legs, wondering not for the first time if things could possibly get more surreal.
“Comms check.” Aaron’s voice crackled from speakers hidden in the roof. “Everyone read me okay?”
“Loud and clear,” Joey replied quickly.
“All good in the middle,” John assured them.
“What about you Talitha?” Now it was Klementina’s voice bouncing in the cabin. “If you need anything we’re right here.”
“You worry too much Klem,” Talitha called out, “everything’s going to be okay.”
“I know it will be sweetie.”
The speakers fell quiet as the lanes around them pulsed with traffic. At first John couldn’t help but study every driver and passenger in the vicinity but, soon enough, realised there was no way to keep track of them all. The smarter option, he figured, was to sit back and wait for anything out of the ordinary, whatever that might be.
Holding the wheel steady, Vanessa slid on a pair of sunglasses that belonged decades back in time before reaching down and pressing the red button. Then she checked her mirrors one more time, placed both hands on the wheel and released a long sigh.
“Being told the world’s gonna end sure has a way of messing with your head,” she mused. “I don’t know whether to laugh my ass off at the joke or start making things right with the almighty Lord.”
John turned to her with eyebrows raised. “Seems to me there’s room to do both.”
“Uh uh, I don’t wanna be throwing no laughter at baby Jesus that’s for damn sure. I’m already gonna have to climb my way over those pearly gates.”
“All things considered you seem to be taking it pretty well.”
“Ha!” Vanessa laughed. “You expect me to run screaming down the street or curl up in a ball and cry?”
“No,” he tried to backtrack, “I meant…”
“This city was built on two founding principals, the short con and the long con, and there ain’t a week that goes by someone isn’t hollering about the world coming to an end. Short or long it’s nothing but a con. But Klementina?” Her head shook as though still in disbelief. “I never seen her before in my life but I can tell you right now those eyes of hers, they don’t lie. Call it intuition or call it whatever you want, but it’s a gift that’s just about all I got in this life and when she told me what she told me, I knew it was the truth. It didn’t make sense, and I don’t suppose it ever will, but I felt it in every bone in my body and now here I am a twig in a river in a storm like it was always meant to be.”
“What about mine?” John asked.
“Your what?”
“My eyes. What do you see when you look into my eyes?”
She turned to watch him for a brief moment. “The same thing I saw when I picked you up at the airport, a wounded man with the kindest heart wrapped tight with danger.”
John leaned back in the seat and wondered how accurate she was. Wounded was probably a little off the mark because broken was probably closer to the truth, and yet he felt as if the deeper he spiralled into the madness of the city and the Hallucigenia Project the easier the pieces began to fit back to
gether. The demons still sat perched on the wall between wake and sleep and any sense of security seemed like sand through his fingers, but it finally occurred to him chaos was quickly becoming a soothing tonic. That Candice was ready to join him for the dance all but guaranteed the realisation.
“I should’ve been dead three times over,” Vanessa continued, “and that doesn’t come without its learning. Life, it only makes sense until it doesn’t, and death don’t make sense until it does. We all gotta die one day and when that day comes everything you think you know gets taken away. It’s like a baby being pulled from the womb only there’s a whole lot more you don’t wanna let go of, and the last final moment of realisation before death? That’s the water breaking, the comfortable world you knew coming to an end. Talking with Klementina before, us meeting like we did, me being here right now, that’s the water breaking baby, and when you realise it then the things that don’t make sense make sense.”
“You know Vanessa,” John said solemnly while looking out the window, “me and death aren’t exactly strangers. God knows I’ve seen the scars on its face close enough to touch, and what you just said there is as close to the truth as I’ve heard.”
“Then I guess we’re both losing our damn minds.”
Along the edges of the road the scattered concrete buildings beyond the barriers were becoming few and far between, replaced with thick green vegetation that seemed heavy and tired as though exhausted from reaching out for the sun. Somewhere up ahead a horn competed with the din of gusting wind and high speed traffic. John edged forward and scanned the cars up ahead but there was nothing to hint at the reason for the blast, and after checking the mirror to ensure Joey and Eric were still tucked behind he leaned back into the seat.
“Dying doesn’t have to be scary,” Talitha said suddenly from the shadows of the cabin. “It only feels scary cause there’s something else in control. You just need a little trust. When a star stops twinkling, a bridge to forever gets made.”
The Hallucigenia Project Page 51