“Not as of this morning, now sir do you have anything you would like to tell us just to make our job easier?” I shake my head. His partner opens my passenger side door taking out his flashlight he begins tearing through the front of my car.
“Place your hands on the hood of the car sir.” I do as he says. “Now is there anything on your person that could poke, stick or prick me?” I shake my head as he kicks my legs into a wider stance. He begins emptying my pockets onto the hood of my car and pats me down.
“You know what’s happening on Mayberry Street?”
“The government has started confiscating all registered firearms in order to protect the public. It appears there has been a confrontation related to this.” He finishes patting me down. “How’s the car looking?”
“Cars clean.”
“Well not anymore,” I reply, he ignores me.
“Sir you may take your things off the hood of the car.” They turn and walk away without so much as a good bye. Dam I guess I know what it feels like to be used. Like a bad one nightstand, my stuff all disarranged.
It’s finally here, the occupy protests weren’t even that crazy in Chicago. Last I heard they government cracked down and arrested most of them. I guess this is probably happening all over the country now. Now that our rights have been suspended. I put my ridiculous amount of change on the hood of my car, back into my pocket and continue to the liquor store.
Pulling into the jam packed parking lot, it’s never this full, people must be stocking up. I walk in the shelves almost completely bare, and Wally the owner obviously overcome with joy behind the cash register, he’s been raking it in. I walk down the aisle, only a few bottles of jack, Bacardi, and the occasional UV. I get to the end; o thank god I exhale grabbing the last plastic bottle of vodka. I will forever and eternally have a love affair with cheap vodka.
I grab the bottle, and after a solid ten minutes standing in line I realize how dumb it was for me to go directly to a liquor store after the police just saw I’m only nineteen. Wally gives me a wink. He was a friend of my dads, they grew up together or something and ever since they died he’s been letting me buy alcohol. “Need smokes today Mr. William?”
“I suppose it can’t hurt.” I joke to him.
“Ha, that’s not quite what my doctor told me.” He retorts tossing the pack to me. “On the house free o charge now if you would stop drinking this horse piss vodka I would maybe give ya a discount on it.”
“Everyone’s got their vices.”
“I suppose, it’ll be fifteen bucks kid.”
Handing him a crumpled up twenty. “You know what’s going on with this stars thing?” I ask.
“Only thing I’ve heard is something about showing that there are more people for the government than those occupiers. Kind of just making it seem like the protests are a lot smaller then they’re made out to be. But that was just some gossip I overheard, sounds pretty stupid if you ask me.”
“Huh, ya I’m taking the train up to Chicago and getting one today.” I say grabbing the vodka and heading towards the door.
“Well you be safe now. If things get any weirder you can always come hang out at my house.”
“Thanks I’ll keep it in mind.” I tell him as I head out the door and to my car.
Pulling out of the parking lot I see two more cars pulled over with the owners being searched. One of the police, patting down a rather large man, his hands wedge between the fat folds under his beer gut.
CHAPTER…
I feel it. The blood rushing through my ears as my entire body prepares to see her. I don’t know why it happens, it just does. The uncontrollable heart rate, the smile painted on my face. Think of a joke, think of a joke! I tell myself the words echoing off the walls in my head. So loud and over bearing that I’m not even able to try and think one. I knock on her door, “I’ll be right there!” she yells from what sounds to be the other end of her trailer. My heart racing as I hear her scurrying around trying to finish getting ready.
Finally she opens the door her broad crest whitened smiled highlighting her already baked eyes. She’s stoned out of her mind.
“Hey,” she says. Causing an instant electrical shutdown to occur in my brain.
“Hey,” I’m able to muster out as she wraps me in a hug. I try to keep the blood in my ears from flowing to other places.
“So, what the hell is this about stars?” She asks as she jumps from her top step into her mini trailer yard.
“I don’t know, it’s probably just to make us feel all warm and fuzzy. All for one and one for all sorta thing. Oh, wait look,” I tell her as I produce the vodka.
“Is this how we die in Chicago?” She asks with a glorified smile.
“I wouldn’t say die but if I’m getting on that farris wheel then I’m going to need some motivation.”
“I have only one question, where in the hell do you plan on carrying such a large bottle?”
“…Shit”
“HAHAHAHA, I can in no way fit that into my purse.”
“You see this is all your fault if you would just forget the dam Farris wheel.”
“Oh, oh, it’s my fault is it? Well I suppose if your balls would actually drop, you wouldn’t even need it!”
“Hey now let’s not say something we can’t take back. My balls are perfectly fine where they are.”
“Ok, ok I’m sorry how bout this we’ll drop this off at your house and when we come back from Chicago we’ll just drink it there.”
Now this has to be a hint towards something. “Su, su, sure that sounds good.”
CHAPTER…
We walk back to my place, drop the bottle off and get to the train station right as it pulls in.
The train slowly comes to a stop and we are instantly greeted with a sea of people already on their way get their freedom stars. Quite an ingenious name. We slowly push our way past the first few rows and take a spot standing about halfway into the rail car. It’s so pack that when I turn around I can feel every part of Grace against me. It's... distracting.
“Well this is just peachy, a half hour of ass touching,” she smiles
“I know right I need to take the train more often.” We laugh.
“Hey do you have a phone charger I could borrow?” a well dressed black man asks us. Grace obliges rummaging through her purse.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks” he says continuing down the train pushing people aside looking for an open outlet.
“Well you’re never going to see that again,” I tell her.
“O it’s fine, where’s he gona to go?”
“Ya your right, but I'll still keep an eye on him just to make sure he doesn’t try to get away from us.”
He stops and plugs in his phone. Turning it on and immediately calls someone. Probably just a family member he’s meeting to get a star with I assume. But something’s off. He starts to yell. “What? What are you talking about?” He pauses listening. The blood rushes from his face. Immediately hanging up the phone and yells. “EVERBYBODY NEEDS TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT STOP THERE IS…” A deafening explosion, it happens so quickly as the man’s head flies by still holding his expression of terror. I instinctively wrap Grace in my arms trying to protect her. In an instant the air fills with the sounds of twisting and crunching metal, mixed with panic screams.
My ears feel as if they’re blown out, everything sounding as if its miles away. I grab Graces chin to have her look at me. “Are you alright?” I yell unable to tell how loud I’m being.
She nods as she puts her hand to my forehead. “You’re bleeding.”
I reach up and sure enough not a large but steady stream of blood is coming from the left side of my head. “It’s nothing, you’re sure you’re alright?”
“Yes I’m sure.”
I pull her in to me, wrapping her in a bear hug. Thank God I think. Turning around to survey the aftermath. The right side of the train almost c
ompletely blown out, with only shards of twisted metal flowing in and out of the gaping hole in the train. I look down to the people who were once there. But I see now that they were just as once people as they were standing there. It’s a mess. For about ten yards the train is a stew of interchanging almost unrecognizable body parts and insides. A man whimpers and moans half sitting half lying, his chin dug into his chest. His right leg and left foot completely gone, his shirt jagged and ripped soaked in blood. Staring entranced at the stream of blood and pouring from the wounds, he’s done for. He’s dead, deader than dead.
A voice over the intercom crackles out of the speakers. “We have been informed that rebel terrorists have placed and detonated a bomb in one of the rail cars. We have been told by the United States government that this may be a ploy to overtake not only the train but kidnap passengers onboard and have been instructed to continue on our route. For those in the rail car we ask that you move to the next car up the train, as the one behind you is already over regulation occupancy. Paramedics onboard are making their way to you. Please if your injury is not immediately life threatening, allow them to attend to others.”
Instantly four men in military uniform appear behind us. “Will everyone able to walk please move to the next car.” I nod to them as I grab Graces hand and lead her through this god forsaken mess. We take two steps but I can tell she won’t make it. I turn to her, her body engulfed into convulsions.
“Here, I have you” I say as I pick her up. “Just close your eyes it’s alright, your fine I have you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?” She nods as hear dark blue eyes disappear behind her eyelids.
A sudden rush of euphoria and the feeling of unbridled victory. I’m happy, I am so incredibly happy. I don’t know why. With so much death so close to my feet I can’t help but feel so incredibly accomplished. I have her. All of her, so close to me. In the back of my mind I know it’s a cheap win, but I can’t help it. Having her so incredibly vulnerable and me as her rock. It’s what I’ve wanted for so long.
The air is filled with the smell of burnt hair and diesel. It’s quite disgusting. I feel it seeping into my hair, clothes, and the deepest reaches of my nose. It feels as if I will carry this smell with me for years. We slowly make our way over hands missing fingers and bodies missing more than what make them whole. My foot sinking into the sludge of someone’s half digested breakfast of champions. But out of this incredible sight something catches my eye. I look down to see two hands. Two hands their fingers still intertwined both missing their owners yet still holding each other. Huh. I think to myself and keep walking. We make our way to the edge of the car someone holds the door open with about ten heads poking through trying their best to get a good look at the carnage that they so luckily escaped.
“Excuse me,” I say as they allow us through. Everything still sounds miles away. The screaming of children frightened from the blast intertwined with scared mothers yelling at their husbands to get them off the train, or to just do something. I walk about half way and turn to two guys sitting down.
“Would you mind if we take your seats?”
“Absolutely not, go ahead” one of them says as they move from their chairs. I softly lay Grace into the seat next to the window. Her eyes still closed tears silently slipping out of them. I plop down putting my arm around her as she sinks into me. I’m on top of the world and nothing could bring me down.
CHAPTER…
We pull into Union station, the boarding platform filled with police and paramedics as we slowly come to a stop.
A voice once again coming over the intercom. “Due to recent events the police will be questioning and patting down every passenger, there are paramedics for those injured. We appreciate your patience as we try to deal with this situation as best we can.” “As always thank you for supporting your local Amtrak.”
I look down as Graces eyes slowly open. “Ok we’re here, we’re safe.”
She sits up wiping the now almost dried tears from her eyes. “Ok” she whispers. I don’t know why but her eyes have never seemed as beautiful as they does right now. Gently holding her hand I lead her out of the train.
Turning to the guys who let us take their seats. “Thanks again.”
“No problem” one responds in a strong southern accent. He’s tall about 6’3 with a plaid long sleeve shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. His pensile thin mustache just barely curling at the ends. The other man is quite short maybe 5’6 with brown thinning hair.
“Names Roger, and this is my friend Over and you’re dam lucky to be standing here.”
“Ya, it was a close one that’s for sure.”
Over holding out his hand, “God must have something special for you two.”
“I sure hope so. O, my name’s Will and this is Grace.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“I take it you guys are trying to get your stars?” I ask.
“Yep we’re truck drivers and if we want to keep working we have to declare our citizenship. Just so they know we aren’t smuggling weapons and what have you.” Roger tells us.
“O, so do you guys drive together?”
“Naw, just seen each other at rest stops a few time an talk over the radio. Actually that’s where we get our names,” he smiles. “Cause Over’s always talking my ear off. So he’s always gotta say over when he’s finally finished, and I’m always just trying to make sense of it all.”
Grace lets out a crackling laugh that shocks all of us.
“Well I’m glad to put a smile on that pretty face. Especially after what you’ve been through.” Roger smiles turning to Over who has an unpleasant look on his face. “What’s wrong with cha?”
“Just go around telling strangers I’m a windbag full of hot air why don’t ya.”
“O for Christ sakes how am I supposed to explain our names?”
“O just forget it lets get our prostates checked by the cops and go get our stars.”
Roger turns back to us “he’s a little cranky, didn’t eat his Wheaties this morning.” Turning back to Over, “you want a snickers bar? I’ve seen more than my fair share of commercials telling me it’s the proper solution to this problem.”
Over rolls his eyes and starts towards the line of police. We turn following him as he slowly leads us through the sea of people. We get close and as a police officer see me he waves us up. I grab Grace’s hand and we head over to him.
“Do you need medical attention?” he asks me.
“No I think the bleeding stopped but I wouldn’t mind a Tylenol.”
“I think we can do that but let me get to know you real quick. Hands at your sides, do you have anything that can prick or stick me?”
“Nope” instantly I realize Grace’s stash. Shit what can we do? I look to her, as she seems to have come to the same realization.
“Ok all clear, you can head up to the ambulance now.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“You see my friend there,” he nods. “I forgot I put a lil weed and a pipe in her purse. As you can tell we’ve been through a little more than we were hoping for.”
“Don’t worry son I’m not handing out tickets for a little extracurricular activity. Plus after what you’ve been through I doubt a judge would convict you anyways.”
A sigh of relief escapes my mouth “thank you.”
“No problem, now go ahead and get to that ambulance.”
I turn to Grace and mouth that it’s ok. She nods and I turn and head to the ambulance.
The paramedics give me two Tylenol and I make my way back. Grace is through the line and heading for me. Roger and Over right behind her.
“Say, Grace tells me you two been here a few times. We ain’t so familiar with Union Station, you think you can show us how to get there and back to the train?”
I nod and we continue down the tracks towards the main station, following signs with big
stars and arrows showing us the way
CHAPTER…
“Hey before we go me n Over gona go smoke a cig, that ok?”
“Thank god I was just thinking that, Grace doesn’t understand the importance of smoking.” I reply.
“O ya cause you know cancer is so in now a days.” She jabs
“Blah, blah, blah, by the time I get cancer they will have a tiny little pill you take and in five minutes, poof you have a brand new state of the art lung.”
She rolls her eyes, passing us heading to the street.
“O don’t you roll your eyes at me.” I yell as I catch up to her.
Exiting Union Station we see the streets absolutely covered in stars paraphernalia. “Show your pride, get a star!” One reads. “Stand united,” reads another. It's weird we are in the middle of downtown Chicago but looking down the street past the train station it's nearly deserted.
“Where is everyone?” I ask the group
“Cities on lock down ya know.” Roger replies, “No businesses are open, not even Dunkin Donuts.”
“Ya but there are always people around this is eerie.”
Police every few yards watching people shuffle in and out of Union Station randomly searching whomever they think looks suspicious.
“This is nuts.” Over exclaims
“Well I mean there’s kind of a war going on.” Roger retorts
“Ya but I never would have thought anything could shut this city down.”
“Let’s go to the shady side of the building,” Roger interjects. “I'm burning up”.
We make our way around the building as I pull out my menthols. “You know those crystallize you lungs right?” Over informs me.
“Ya I figure if I’m gona give myself cancer I don't think a few crystals can be much worse.”
“Ha, I suppose.”
We make it to the side of Union Station. A large poster of military men in uniform stand folded flags in hands, behind them the slogan “We've come too far” written in red, white, and blue.
“I guess they weren’t convincing enough.” Graces says.
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