"Did you find any water?" I asked, wanting to wash some of the grime away but not daring to use what little we had for drinking water. Ali just shook her head. I sighed and went back to work on the four-wheeler.
Shifting it into neutral, I pushed it to the driveway, cringing as the wheels rolled through the blood left from the dead-brains. The pavement was hidden by a layer of sand, but the four-wheeler rolled a bit easier once I got it there. I leaned awkwardly over the four-wheeler, one hand on the opposite handle bar, the other pushing the clutch down near the foot pedal. I didn't know if I could get the momentum I needed on my own, but I had to try.
Once I got started, the four-wheeler rolled easily enough. I put a little more effort into my clumsy run, and got it up to what I hoped would be a reasonable speed. I was going as fast as I could in this difficult position, so I held my breath and popped the clutch. The four-wheeler jerked as the wheels caught, and my momentum carried me straight into the handlebar. It smacked me in the face before I flipped over it, landing flat on my back on the sandy concrete.
I blinked as I lay motionless, staring up at the blue, cloudless sky. Groaning in embarrassment, I lay there, unwilling to move. The four-wheeler sat silent a few feet away, and I turned slowly to stare at it. Replaying the last few seconds over in my mind, I was positive I'd heard it growl as I tumbled.
Ali's footsteps seemed to echo as she ran around the building, and I was staring back up at the sky again when she approached. She slowed as she drew closer.
"Are you okay?" She said breathlessly. My eyes flicked over to her when she came into range and I saw she was struggling to stifle her laughter.
"I'm just wonderful." I said, sitting up. "How about that push now?"
"Fine." She snickered. "I guess you earned that much."
"Damn right." I said, reaching for the handlebar to help me stand. We pushed the four-wheeler back to the edge of the driveway again, and we both kept our eyes on the horizon to make sure we hadn't attracted any more dead-brain curiosity. Ali had thoroughly cleared the area, so we had a little time before one wandered close enough that we'd have to deal with it.
"Alright," I said as I climbed on and pumped the clutch until I found what I thought was second gear. "Just get ready to jump to the side if it starts, or you'll run right into me."
"Got it." She replied. "Ready?"
"Go for it." I gripped the handlebars and leaned forward so Ali could see over me if she had to.
Although it was slow to get it started, once we were rolling, Ali had the four-wheeler up to a faster speed than I could ever accomplish on my own.
"Here it goes!" I called out, warning her before I popped the clutch. The tires grabbed hold of the pavement immediately, but the four-wheeler didn't jerk as violently as I had expected, letting Ali run safely off to the side. There was a low rumble beneath me, and then the engine roared as I gave it gas and the four-wheeler was moving on its own.
Ali let out a whoop, and when I turned the four-wheeler, she was jumping up and down. I was laughing as I passed her, and she ran beside me as I drove back to the shed. We hadn't attracted any dead-brains, and I figured we would be fine to let the engine idle while the battery recharged.
I pulled up alongside the shed, and Stephanie was peering out the open window. The smile she gave me was heartwarming, and it seemed to lift the dark cloud that had been hovering since we left the hotel. Her eyes were filled with a sense of relief so great it might overwhelm her.
"Will that thing be able to haul a cart too?" Ali said as she caught up.
"Don't know about this one, but I know our old one would have been able to." I said. "We used to have a wagon that we hauled logs and hay in. Steep hills would give us problems, but we could push it if it came to that. We can't pack it too heavy since it'll be pulling all three of us."
"Just the essentials then, same as before." Ali said as she nodded in agreement. She turned to enter the shed, calling behind her. "I think I saw some rope in here, and a tarp we can use to shield Stephanie from view.
Ali gathered the few items she'd mentioned while I positioned the cart behind the four-wheeler, lining them up as best I could. Using a piece of PVC pipe I found in the garage, I threaded the rope through it before tying the cart to the four-wheeler. Hoping the pipe would serve as a brace, I continued to work on getting the two hitched together while Ali secured the tarp. When we were done, it looked hideous, but it would shield Stephanie while allowing us to move faster.
"Let's try the clubhouse first. With luck, it'll be clear." Ali was saying as she inspected our work.
I looked at Stephanie, who had been watching us from the window the entire time. She was smiling, and it caused the corners of my mouth to curve up as well. This was the most relaxed I'd ever seen her, and I finally started to believe we were doing the right thing.
I stepped to the window, grasping the sill with my hand as I cautiously reminded her. "You'll have to be quiet."
"I know. I promise." She whispered, looking at me earnestly. She laid her hand over mine, her fingers gently brushing against my skin. The soft touch released a swarm of nervousness in my stomach, and I flinched, jerking my hand away. The wounded look Stephanie gave me cut deep.
"I'm sorry, caught me off guard." I smirked, trying to spare her by turning my hand so she could see the bruise on my knuckles. It didn't actually hurt, but she didn't have to know that. As soon as she caught sight of the dried blood, her hurt look turned to worry.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were hurt!" Her whisper rose to a level I wasn't comfortable with, and I glanced around for any dead-brains before turning my attention back to her.
"Shh," I leaned close, raising a finger to my lips. "It'll heal. We'll be ready to go soon. Let me take your pack."
She smiled slightly, seeming to have already forgiven me, and pushed her pack out the window. I noticed she was gripping the little pitchfork and realized she was going to keep it with her, maybe even permanently. At least she had something to defend herself with.
I tossed the pack into the cart and looked to Ali, seeing her glaring at me. She angrily motioned me over, and I stumbled toward her, guilt replacing the nervousness. It was obvious she wasn't happy with my exchange with Stephanie, and she pulled me close to whisper harshly in my ear.
"Do not lead her on. You have to tell her."
My cheeks flamed as I pulled away. Flustered, I whispered back. "I'm not. I mean I will. Tell her that is. And I'm not leading her on."
"You better be sure about that." She continued to frown at me, and I could only nod under her glower. She relented only slightly but kept the angry tone when she spoke again. "Check the north side for any freaks before we get her loaded. I'll check the south."
"Yes, Mother." I scoffed, stomping off to look for dead-brains. Ali didn't comment, but neither did she leave. It wasn't until I slipped around the side of the garage before I heard her walk away. Stephanie already had me flustered, and now Ali was making it worse. I huffed and scrubbed a hand through my dirty hair, trying to shake off the stress.
Stephanie was just being nice, and it had caught me off guard. There wasn't anything there for Ali to worry about. No way Stephanie could want that kind of relationship, not after what she'd been through... right? But I had to tell her. I couldn't keep holding a dangerous secret like that. It wasn't right. My mind was made up by the time I'd finished my circuit. I would tell her tonight.
Feeling somewhat less conflicted, I saw Ali standing on the pavement, looking back to the western hills we'd come from that morning. Intending to let her know what I had decided, I went to her, but the thought died away as I approached. When I saw her face blanched white, drained of all blood, I immediately knew she was watching more than just dead-brains in the valley.
"What?" I croaked, trying to follow her eyes to see what she was seeing. Maybe I saw something move along the ridge, maybe it was a dead-brain, but it could have easily been a trick of the sun.
But Ali coul
d see it. Her answer sent an icy tremor through me.
"Reed."
CHAPTER 3 – ALI
We fled. After the rush to get Stephanie settled in the cart, I climbed behind Joss, and he drove us away from the small shelter. It didn't feel like we could go fast enough, even though the four-wheeler roared underneath us. I could see the freaks in the distance turn our way as we raced along the road, but I ignored them. They wouldn't frenzy over the noise, and they weren't quick enough to catch us... but how fast was Reed?
He was too close. If we had lingered any longer, he would have been on top of us by nightfall. If it hadn't been for Joss's determination to get the four-wheeler running, we would be stuck on the golf course, unable to get away. Hopefully, we could get the golf cart running, because I didn't share Joss's faith in the gasoline dependent four-wheeler. We needed another mode of transportation. The four-wheeler couldn't last long.
Unable to hold a conversation over the rumble of the engine, I was left to be tormented by my thoughts. Occasionally I looked behind us to check on Stephanie, but the tarp I had strung around the cart hid her from view. I could only assume she was tucked safely inside.
Neither Joss nor I had told her what I'd seen. The relief on her face when she had climbed into the cart was an emotion I couldn't bring myself to shatter. She didn't need anything else to worry about. There would be no chance to tell her while we traveled, so Stephanie would be able to enjoy the ride in peace.
The only road that led away from the golf course took us to the highway. I was no longer afraid that someone might be out searching for us in a vehicle. If Reed didn't have one, then I was positive Ryan had pulled off his coup. My mind spared me a brief moment from the fear of Reed, and I found myself hoping Ryan had survived. If Ryan had survived and took control of the hotel, would it be safe to go back? I thought on it for a moment, weighing our options, and decided not to risk it for now. We could always swing around later, once we lost Reed.
My distraction was short-lived, and my thoughts focused back on Reed in a matter of seconds. I craned my neck, trying to see behind us again, but the cart blocked the view. I had nothing to do but sit idly behind Joss and worry. It twisted my gut into knots.
We made it through a break in the valley wall, and the land opened up beyond, revealing the outskirts of Las Vegas. I inhaled sharply, seeing the Vegas skyline in the distance, and some of the fear began to relent. Reed couldn't keep up with us on foot, and even though I had to leave the possibility open he could have developed some inhuman talent like Joss and me, I refused to believe outrunning an ATV was one of them.
I feared he would chase us forever, and I bit my tongue, knowing Joss was already going as fast as the four-wheeler would allow. No matter how much extra distance we managed to put between us, I would not be sleeping easy tonight, if I slept at all. Maybe we could get ourselves hidden in the city, and I could prepare a trap for him. At the least, I hoped the four-wheeler got us far enough that we could let Stephanie rest somewhere safe and secure.
My gaze turned toward the surrounding neighborhoods, and I was surprised by the lack of freaks in the residential area. The highway itself was vacant as well. Although we weren't under the constant strain of a freak attack, the lack of activity was unsettling. If Vegas had been hit by the red mist, there should be plenty more of those bastards wandering around.
We passed a few freaks that lingered in the road, and they looked on with curiosity, not bothering to move out of our way. Joss had to drive around some, and one drew close enough that he was able to clumsily swing at it with his hatchet, scoring a hit on its arm. It got knocked back in the process, but didn't seem to care. The cart passed just inches away from its face, and it stood there, bleeding from its new wound.
The road continued to clear up the further we drove. As we approached a long, vacant stretch, I tapped Joss on the shoulder, signaling for him to stop. We had been traveling for a while, and I wanted to check on Stephanie and get a look behind us.
Joss gave me a concerned glance but slowed to a stop. I noticed he didn't bother to kill the engine, which was probably a good idea.
"What's up?" He asked as I dismounted from the four-wheeler. I wobbled, my legs vibrating.
"I just wanted to check on Stephanie." I said, shaking my legs and trying to work the feeling back into them. Joss smirked at me wryly, but he also began to stretch. Groaning, I walked to the cart and pulled the tarp aside.
Stephanie yawned as she set up, having been using her bag as a pillow again. She had been drained by the earlier events, so I hoped she was able to get some rest. Her hair was frizzy and tangled, but she smiled as she looked at me, softening her expression.
"How you doing?" I asked sincerely. Even after the scream that nearly brought her death on the ridge, I thought I could get to like the girl. She was determined to get through this with us, but she seemed so fragile. I felt another flash of doubt as I looked at her belly, but hopefully we had time to prepare for that.
"I'm okay, I think." She whispered and tried to smile. "I'm hungry, and I need to pee."
I chuckled and offered a hand to help her out of the cart. "We're clear for a bit it looks like. Not many freaks around."
"This must be where Reed had his men working to clear them out. They lost some men here." She took a long look around before slipping to the back of the cart to do her business.
Once she disappeared, I searched the landscape, trying to spot movement. Several freaks tottered about at various distances, growing smaller until they were only shambling specs, but not one of those movements seemed to belong to Reed. I sighed heavily, satisfied for the time being, and turned to the cart.
I dug through our supply bag, searching for something Stephanie could eat that wasn't congealed soup. I found a packet of pasta and a can of fruit cocktail. I grimaced at the fruit, remembering an experience I had awhile back with some peaches, but I left them on the seat. Stephanie could decide if she wanted to take a chance. At least they wouldn't be toxic.
It was time for me to put Walter's words to the test and skip a couple meals. Since Stephanie didn't have our resilience, the more food we could save for her the better. As long as we could keep her safe, there would be no shortage of supplies here. My gaze swung toward the west, and my thoughts strayed.
How do we keep her safe from Reed?
I quickly wiped the unease from my face as Stephanie appeared. She joined me as we walked back to Joss, who had finished topping off the gas in the tank. He was frowning, and I caught the smell of something burnt. It took me a moment before I realized the smell was coming from the gasoline. My stomach sank, but Joss turned to smile at Stephanie when we approached.
"So, where we going?" he asked nonchalantly, but I could see the anxiety in his eyes. They lingered on mine, a silent message of worry, and I was thankful Stephanie didn't seem to notice the exchange. We would continue to ride the four-wheeler as far as it would take us and hope it didn't die in the middle of a crowd of freaks.
"Well, I always wanted to see the strip." I forced a grin. It might not have been the best place to go, but at least it was a destination, and we would be putting more distance between us and Reed. I hoped we could get far enough away from him that he wouldn't be able to track us.
"How do we get there?" Joss asked.
"Just follow the signs." I turned and pointed to the road sign that clearly led the way to the old Vegas nightlife. Turning to Stephanie, I asked her. "You ready to go?"
"Yes. I think I could ride in this thing all day." She said with a happy sigh and climbed back to her seat. I frowned, and Joss returned the same concerned look. I took the opportunity to scan the road one more time. With a shake of my head, I shrugged at Joss and motioned toward the four-wheeler. When it was my turn to climb on, I groaned. My legs still felt numb.
We traveled further west, following the road signs to the strip. As the highway started to become cluttered with more and more stalled automobiles, the freaks returned.
The placement of the cars reminded me of what I had encountered in Dallas. Looking inside some of the windows, I spotted the rotting skeletons of the freaks that had been entombed in them. It confirmed my suspicions that Vegas had been hit by the mist.
With the denser number of freaks in the road, our speed slowed. At times, it was a struggle to make it through the maze of cars combined with the lumbering bodies, but at least the four-wheeler and cart were small enough to travel through most of the obstacles. There were a few times I had to jump off to push the freaks out of the way. As long as they didn't frenzy, I didn't want to leave a trail of bodies for Reed to follow.
My concern for Stephanie grew. One time I checked on her, and she had adjusted the tarp so she could see out. The next time I looked back, she had covered it up again. That was for the best. With the number of freaks around us, if they frenzied now, there was no way either Joss or I could save her. The strain on Joss's face was an indication he was as worried as I was.
We worked through what seemed like several miles, every step of the way tortured with anxiety. The worst of it was when we got to an overturned semi-trailer, and Joss had to drive into the ditch to get around the pile up of cars behind it. I yelled at Stephanie to hold on and be quiet, and I had to jump off the four-wheeler to make sure the cart didn't overturn or get stuck.
It was tense, and my muscles were screaming as I struggled to hold the cart up-right on the ditch slope. Breathing a sigh of relief when it was safely on the concrete again, I stared around in wonder. On the other side of the semi, the highway stretched out in front of us, virtually clear of any vehicle and not a freak to be seen. Everything had been caught behind that semi-trailer in a world-ending traffic jam.
Joss gave me an astonished look and I could only shake my head in wonder. I climbed back onto the four-wheeler, and Joss drove on. It was almost bizarre at how empty the road was after what we had just struggled through. I tried to pull up the memories of when Vegas had fallen off the grid, but I was pretty sure it was after my father and I had fled Los Angeles. Maybe the people here had the time to evacuate or go to ground before they got hit.
The Phoenix Curse (Book 3): After Page 7