Rachel squeezed up close to Crazy Diamond. Their arms were wrapped around one another as they watched the fire and inhaled that thick, intoxicating smell of burning wood. The fire hissed and popped. Several times, Rachel buried her face in Crazy Diamond’s long hair. But she always resurfaced quickly.
The fire burned all night and into the morning.
The next day the children presented Rachel with a plastic box containing Cody’s ashes. The box, about the size of a shoebox, had been one of many storage containers in the bus. Today it was given the task of being an urn.
Rachel took the box. It was heavier than she’d thought.
“Want me to come with you?” Crazy Diamond said.
Rachel thought about it. But something inside told her she was supposed to make this trip alone.
“I’ll be alright,” she said.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
Rachel walked the trail to the dam by herself. She had to make several stops along the way for a rest. But she didn’t mind – there was no rush to either get there or go back to the bus. Sometimes while she was catching her breath she’d listen to the birds singing and talk to her dad like he was there beside her.
Which he was. Sort of.
Eventually she reached the dam. With the box in hand, Rachel walked to the same place that her dad had scattered her mom’s ashes ten years ago.
Rachel took the lid off the box and looked at a mixture of light and dark grey ashes sitting at the bottom. She felt strangely unaffected by the sight. They were the last physical trace of the man – but not the man. She glanced over at the Hollywood sign in the distance and thought about her parents.
“Bye Dad,” she said. “Bye Mom.”
She tipped the ashes over the side and watched them scatter in the breeze.
Rachel stayed there for a long time afterwards. Staring out towards the water and the hills. She had no idea how much time had passed before she was ready to leave and get back to the bus. But the light was starting to fade and she decided to go, even though she would have been happy to stay there all night.
“I’ll come back,” she said, staring across at the Hollywood sign. “Wait for me, okay?”
She paused, as if waiting for a response.
The next morning they were all set to leave the reservoir. Grandma Anna and Crazy Diamond oversaw a number of supply checks, food and fuel mostly. Some of the children helped the adults out while others played amongst themselves on the hiking trail. There was a large roadmap in the bus but as far as anyone knew there was no particular destination in mind.
Crazy Diamond walked up to Rachel and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Hey,” Crazy Diamond said. “You okay?”
Rachel shrugged. “Suppose.”
“I just wanted to ask you something,” Crazy Diamond said. She looked around as if she didn’t want anyone else to overhear. “Your powers. I mean your gifts…are they gone?”
Rachel looked away. A couple of kids were playing hide and seek near the entrance to the hiking path.
“Rachel?” Crazy Diamond said. “Are they…?”
“Yeah,” Rachel said. “All gone.”
Crazy Diamond nodded. She was looking at Rachel with a searching eye.
“Right,” she said. “And you’re okay with that?”
“I’m relieved,” Rachel said. “I’m normal again. I’ve earned the right to be normal, don’t you think?”
“You sure have.”
There was a loud tooting noise. Grandma Anna was leaning over the wheel, pounding on the horn. There was a serious look on her face.
“C’mon everyone,” she said. “Let’s hit the road.”
Crazy Diamond and Rachel walked towards the bus. Some of the other kids were already sitting down in there. Tegan and Stutter smiled at Rachel as she walked down the aisle. Rachel smiled back but it felt like a hollow gesture.
“I’m going to sit in the back by myself for a while,” Rachel said to Crazy Diamond. “Look out the window and think.”
“Alright,” Crazy Diamond said, sitting down in the middle row. “Call me if you need me. I’ll be here.”
“I will.”
Rachel sat down in the backseat, leaning her head against the cool glass.
“Where are we going?” Tegan called out. She was looking at Grandma Anna who turned around and shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re in charge now,” the old woman said. “You decide.”
“Me?” Tegan said. “I’m in charge?”
“All of you,” Grandma Anna said. “I just drive this thing. And I won’t be around forever to drive it either. So start thinking about where you want to go.”
The yellow school bus rolled away, heading north on the 101 towards Insterstate 5.
Rachel’s face was pressed up against the window.
A row of palm trees lined the edge of the freeway. Giant telephone poles stood in the distance, their long, redundant wires stretching on for miles. Empty buildings played the part of desolate spectators. All these old familiar sights were ghosts – they would haunt the world in silence from now on.
Rachel leaned back in her seat. She ignored the empty chatter of the other kids as they discussed where they should go next. With a quick glance down the aisle, she made sure no one was looking at her. Then slowly, Rachel stretched out her hand and watched as the colored lights danced around her fingertips.
She thought back to her birthday party. It wasn’t that long ago but it sure felt like a lifetime had passed since they’d all sat together on the seventh floor of the Rand that night. Rachel remembered the sloppy rendition of Happy Birthday, and the tin of birthday cake peaches with the green candle sticking out the top. But most of all, she remembered the feeling of being surrounded by friends and family.
Rachel recalled the wish she’d made that night while blowing out the candle.
It had come true.
But victory wasn’t enough. She knew that now.
The End
‘Civic terror, apocalypse, gangs, horror, complete decline of civilization…read it and weep!’ - Mallory A. Haws
The Future of London (Books 1-5)
Dystopiaville
Is this fiction? Or is it the future?
Shut Up and Die! - Season 1, Episode 1
WaxWorld - Season 1, Episode 2
‘So many twists and turns it feels like you are on a rollercoaster ride that is not safe at all.’
The Future of London
L-2011 (Future of London #1)
Mr Apocalypse (Future of London #2)
Ghosts of London (Future of London #3)
Sleeping Giants (Future of London #4)
Kojiro vs. The Vampire People (Future of London #5)
The Future of London Box Set (Books 1-3)
“Modern dystopian at its very best.” - Kirsten McKenzie, author of Painted.
GrimLog (Tales of Terror)
Apex Predators
Air Nosferatu
“What’s not to like about zombies and sharks, or zombie sharks?” - CJ (5 stars)
“Brilliantly fast-paced horror that was unputdownable.” - Chantelle Atkins (5 stars)
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