The Longest Road (Book 2): The Change

by Thompson, A. S.

  “I'm sorry, I probably look like a train wreck right now.”

  “Then you have got to be the most beautiful damn train wreck I've ever seen.”

  The kind words brought a smile to Lisa’s face, despite the infrequent sobs.

  “I just,” she started to say, then stopped.

  “No, please, go on. You can tell me anything.”

  “I, I just feel so lost. So angry. So alone without him, you know? He was the only family I had…”

  Alex's chuckle caught Lisa off guard. She was slightly appalled. She wasn't sure what she had said that made Alex smile.

  “Oh, shit, no I'm not laughing at that. Damn I feel like a dick. It's not what it looks like,” he said, rushing the words. “It's just that I literally got done saying the same thing to Collin and Steve.”

  Lisa exhaled and appeared visibly relieved that Alex wasn't laughing at her misfortune. “Oh, okay! For a second there, I was going to punch you in the face and walk away!”

  He grabbed both of her hands.

  “Ya, no. I was not laughing at you. I promise.”

  He paused to think about his own pain. Then, he looked into her sad eyes, and knew there was something special about her. It was as though through their combined loss, an emotional connection had been established. Because of that feeling, he wanted to confide in her.

  “Six months ago my best friend, Billy...he died. I didn't know it then, but I know it now...I went all dark side…”

  “Like Anakin Skywalker?”

  God I’m falling for this girl, he thought.

  “Basically. I want you to know that I have felt the pain you're feeling. I loved the taste of that anger. It felt so good. I was so caught up with the negative side of things; I had so much hate stacked up inside, ya know? I realize now everything that I do have. Everything I could ever hope of having is right here. My family, my friends. My life is here now. And Collin is right. Life is too short, and in this world, it's even shorter. And I don't want to spend whatever time I have left hating everything. I know this sounds corny, but I want to feel love again...”

  Lisa was speechless. Every word that Alex had said rang true. Neither realized it, but they had moved closer to one another and were now chest-to-chest.

  “...Look, I know this isn't the most appropriate time, then again timing was never my strong suit...” Alex said, searching for the right words.

  Screw it, sack up, Alex, he thought.

  “...There's something else, Lisa. I just want to tell you that I care about you. And that no matter what happens, I'm never going to leave you. You can always count on me.”

  He leaned in, hesitated for a second, and then chose to give her a kiss on the cheek instead. “I mean it.”

  Lisa physically retracted. She pulled her hands back, and stood there for what seemed like an eternity.

  “I’m sorry,” Alex said, kicking the sand. “That was inappropriate. Selfish of me to lay that on you, especially with what you’re going through.”

  Then, out of nowhere, Lisa grabbed on to the back of Alex's head and pulled it toward hers. She kissed him on the lips, wet and passionate. After a minute, her lips released his.

  Alex was in a blissful daze.

  “It was just what I needed. And I like you, too,” she said, biting her lower lip. Then she held out her index finger and said, “But don't think I am going to put out on the first date!”

  Alex held up his hands in defense. “I would never suggest that! I'm a gentleman!”

  “Uh-huh...we'll see,” she said, wrapping Alex's arm around her as they walked back to camp. “But if this is going to work, then you need to work on your sign language. I can't always read lips.”

  “Deal. But let’s move slow, it might take me a while to get on top of it.”

  “That’s what she said.”

  1733 hours

  Eleven graves- one for each member of Camp- plus one additional for Tyler Goessling, lined an elevated section of Providence beach that was situated well outside of the tides' reach. The bodies of the departed were covered by a combination of cloth, sand and rocks. Wooden crosses with the names of the deceased were placed at the heads of each, with a thirteenth and fourteenth serving as a memorial markers for Cody Campbell and Diane Phillips.

  Neither a grave nor marker was given to Larry MacArthur- Kelly’s decision after being told about her boyfriend’s desire to abandon the girls, and his actual desertion during the firefight.

  Using torches for light, friends of the fallen gathered in front of the burial ground. Even the newcomers came to show their support. Charlie noticed that Kelly was shivering from the encroaching onshore breeze, so he offered her the warmth of his sweatshirt. Ally and Dylan huddled next to Alex, Lisa, Travis, Eddy and Matty. Jenny had found a supportive friend in Christopher, and Marilyn kept a watchful eye over them. West positioned himself off to the side, watching from a distance. Nick and Collin stood across from the group, behind the graves. They decided it best to lead the service together.

  Collin cleared his throat and began the procession by saying, “I'm having trouble finding the right words. So, I guess I will just talk about them. These people were more than just random strangers who survived with us. They were our family. We had come to rely on each and every one of them, like they relied on us...”

  Being a funeral service, the tone was inherently somber, but Collin did his best to keep it uplifting. He spoke kind words about each individual member, referencing when he could, a funny moment or citing an example of their exemplary character. The speech carried on for another two minutes and by the end, many of the faces smiled through their tears.

  “So goodbye, and may you finally rest in peace,” Collin said before walking around to join the others.

  “Some of them,” Nick said, scanning each grave, “I knew since the beginning. Others I had come to know over a few months. Regardless, I feel blessed to have known all of them, and will always proudly remember them, and the gift of friendship they gave me. I will miss you all.”

  Nick squatted down and scooped up a handful of sand. He brought the contents to his mouth and recited a Sioux prayer, loud enough for everyone to hear. Then, he passed by each grave and dropped the coarse grains.

  After, Lisa, Jenny, Travis, and Collin stepped forward, offering their loved ones a symbol of their deep affection. Lisa left a flower over her father's grave. Jenny took the clipboard that her and Josue used and set it at the base of his cross. Travis removed his dog tags and hung it on his brother's cross. Collin knelt down next to Diane's memorial cross, but with nothing tangible to leave, he whispered a prayer.

  “Thank all of you for coming,” Collin said, rising. “I know they appreciate it. You don't have to stay for this next part if you don’t want to…”

  “You said it yourself,” Charlie interjected, “we're part of this family now.”

  The others nodded without a moment's hesitation.

  1744 hours

  Despite the rough look, the funeral pyre was beautifully crafted. The wood logs and sticks were carefully stacked over three feet high. Above them, Steve laid down multiple towels for Sarah's body to rest comfortably on. Surrounding her were ornate displays of flowers, clusters of pine needles and other decor.

  With her hair pulled back and arms folded across her chest, Sarah looked at rest in her summer dress. If no one knew any better, they would have thought she was in a peaceful slumber.

  Steve stood like a statue next to his wife. Holding a torch in one hand, Steve placed his free hand on top of hers. He stared into her closed eyes. Then, he kissed her for the last time.

  “I’ll always love you,” he whispered, pulling his lips from her forehead. Then, he placed the torch against the wood.

  Within minutes, the flames grew ablaze and the heat, radiant, but Steve remained close. He wasn't ready to leave his bride, not even an inch. His expressionless face stared into the harsh flames; rarely did his eyes blink.

  One by one, ea
ch person passed in front of Steve. Some offered him a hug with their condolences, while others simply spoke hopeful words.

  Lisa took Jenny by the hand and waited off to the side for Alex.

  “Steve,” Alex started to say, “I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Sarah truly was an amazing girl, and I'm so sorry that this happened.”

  He gave his cousin the hardest of hugs and continued to hold him tight, despite Steve's lack of reciprocity.

  “I love you, bro. If you need anything, I'm here.”

  Collin, the only other person who remained, waited a minute before approaching Steve.

  “I can't tell you how sorry I am, Steve-O. I know you're hurting, I can't imagine how much, but know that we are here for you.” He wrapped his hand around Steve's head and pulled him in to his. “Sarah is up there, with all our family. They are all in a better place. Just know that I love you, bro. Until my dying day and forever after, know that.”

  Collin pulled away. For a split second, he thought there was a flicker of emotion in Steve's eyes, but it was the reflection of the fire that had deceived him.

  “We'll be waiting for you in the RV. Whenever you're ready.”

  Long after Collin departed, Steve stared into the blaze.

  Northeastern Oregon

  November 30, 2009

  0333 hours

  Sweetie had been on the road for over four hundred miles without a stop. Like a loyal horse, she would push herself until death.

  Steve sat rigidly in the driver's seat. Before departing Providence, Steve had declared his interest to drive, citing the reason that he wanted to keep his mind occupied; he did add a minor caveat that he wanted to be left alone up front. Everyone respected his request and remained aft of the driver's cabin.

  A combination of the recent, tragic events and the late hour were more than enough reason for the majority to catch some much needed rest. Marilyn, Chris and Jenny utilized the top bunk above the driver's cabin. Both Ally and Kelly found a comfortable bed in the two bunks across from the bathroom. Nick and Harry passed out in a seated position at the kitchen table. While Travis, Charlie and Dylan volunteered to follow closely behind in the metallic black SUV.

  “Water, water, water, where are you?” West said, opening the refrigerator. The beam of light was blinding at first, but he quickly found what he was looking for. He snatched up a bottle and brought it to the back.

  The queen-sized bed was reserved for Collin, whose position changed constantly from sprawled out to fetal. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't sleeping. His face was pale, skin and clothes drenched in cold sweat, and the area surrounding his bite wound was becoming increasingly redder by the hour. Trinity was coursing through his veins, slowly taking over his body, and because of this blight, Collin’s non-injured hand was cuffed to the bedpost.

  “Got some water for him,” West said, sliding the door shut behind him.

  In the corner closest to Collin, Lisa was fast asleep, head resting in Alex’s lap.

  “Thanks for that. I didn't wanna get up and risk waking her. She's been through a lot. We all have.”

  West stood on the opposite side of the bed and unscrewed the bottle cap.

  “How's he been?”

  “Not bad, but not good,” Alex replied, checking his watch to verify the time. “I think he's been hallucinating. Definitely running a fever. I'm not sure how much longer he has. He could change in a minute or seventeen hours. There's no way to tell.”

  A sequence of harsh coughing stirred Collin awake. After he managed to catch his breath, he labored himself to a seated position. At first, he wasn't sure why his hand was cuffed, then he remembered. “Oh, right. My idea.”

  “Here, drink this,” West said, handing Collin the bottle. “Don't be stingy either. You need the fluids, so down that whole thing or else.”

  Collin didn't argue. He took several small drinks until the plastic bottle was empty.

  “Thanks. How long have I been out? Where are we?”

  “About four hours or so. I wouldn't call it sleep though. We’re in northeast Oregon. Another couple hundred miles and we should be there.”

  “Ya, you hear that?” Alex started to say, “So you better stay with us, okay?”

  Collin seemed hopeful, but a tickle in his throat prompted another round of coughing. Then, he turned away from Alex and vomited. West barely dodged the projectile liquid.

  “Uh, sorry guys,” Collin said, wiping his lips.

  “Don't be,” West replied. A moment later, West returned with another bottle, and a towel to wipe up the mess. “Let's do little sips this time.”

  “Agreed. Well, since I'm awake, how about that explanation?”

  Using his foot, West shoved the soiled towel against the corner. He leaned his head against the wall and sighed.

  “I guess I still owe you one, don't I.”

  “Wait, explanation about what?” asked Alex.

  Collin answered for the sergeant major.

  “About the end of the world. About his part in the outbreak. About what really happened.”

  “His part? What? West, you were involved?”

  “Unfortunately, I was. I was a pawn in the largest terrorist attack and biggest cover up in the history of the world,” West said, staring blankly across the room, as though the memories were playing out in front of him. “About a year ago, I retired from the Army...”

  For the next hour, Craig West divulged everything. He disclosed highly classified intelligence with the ease of a casual conversation. He began with his retirement from Delta, and how he and eleven others had been recruited to a clandestine outfit tasked to stop a worldwide terrorist attack. How his mission was to track down and inject a high-ranking terrorist with a state of the art tracking device. Then, after completing the mission, he discovered that he and the other operators had been declared terrorists and enemies of the world.

  From there, he explained how he went on the run and stayed dark. His only contact was Shanna Finley, a friend who worked directly for the President. Then, West included in vivid detail, his confrontation with Daytona Briggs. How, through Shanna, Daytona was able to track him down at the port of New Bedford.

  West ended the story with the information that Daytona confidently revealed; his own involvement, the LIFE Corporation, but worst of all, how Daytona confirmed that the tracking substance was really the Trinity Virus in disguise.

  “...Last thing I felt was two bullets in my back,” West said, lifting his shirt to illustrate. “When I hit the water I must have blacked out...”

  Both Collin's and Alex's eyes bore looks of "you have got to be kidding me.” But the story was far too detailed to have been fabricated.

  “...I don't even know how many days later, but next thing Ido know, I'm waking up in the back of some houseboat. As the story goes, this old Navy vet, Hank, was his name, well Hank was sleeping in his bunk when he heard the shots. He scooped me out of the water and immediately went to work on me. He said I didn't have a pulse for three and a half minutes. If it wasn't for him, I'd be a floating corpse in the Atlantic right now.”

  Alex looked like a kid who was being told a bedtime story.

  “Then what happened?”

  “Hank patched me up best he could, then took me to his actual home on an island just off the coast. He didn't have a TV, but we listened to the reports on his radio, until one day they just stopped broadcasting. He filled me in on the earlier ones, you know from when I was out cold. I had no idea how fast, how ruthless this Trinity Virus was. Worse, that it was uncontainable. It was everywhere. It took me about two and a half months to get back on my feet again. Then another couple to regain my strength. And when I felt I was ready, I thanked Hank and took off.”

  “Just like that? Why'd you leave?” Collin asked.

  “Hah, it's funny. Hank said the same thing. He said 'There's no place left to go. The U.S. is destroyed.’ I told him my story like I’m telling you now. Then reminded him about Shanna. I
knew she was still alive. I didn't know where, but she was somewhere and I would tear apart Heaven and earth to find her again. ‘Family’, I told him. He understood completely. He was sad to see me go, as I him, but we wished each other well. Even told me to stop by if I was ever back in the area. So, from there, I got back to the mainland, borrowed a Cessna and hopped from one airport to the next.”

  “How'd you know where to go?” Alex started to ask, “You said it yourself, she could have been anywhere.”

  “I knew of a few top secret government facilities. You know, those places where the congressmen run and hide if there's a major disaster. There are at least a dozen across the country. I found a couple. Some of them welcomed wandering Americans; others shut survivors out like with extreme prejudice. But at each site, I got more and more Intel about the others. Then, I heard rumors about the President holding up in one in the Pacific Northwest, don't know where exactly, but it didn't matter.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Supplies. I was rationing my already rationed rations. Hell, I was coming up on two days without fresh water as well. One night I was holed up in a Fish and Game station in northern Washington, and heard Nick's broadcast. I got the coordinates and made my way there, barely. Nick had a good thing going, so I decided to stick around until I could plan my next move. As it turns out, the President came on the radio and told me where to find him. Shanna will be with him, I know it...Anyway, that's my story. Now you know it all.”

  “Wow,” Alex said, attempting to process the entirety of it all. “So you were a patsy?”

  “I was. The whole 'operation' was a ruse. A set up. A smoke screen for the American people. This LIFE organization used me and countless other good men to take down the world.”

  “That's some story,” Collin said, sounding sincere. He started to say something else, but a rush of pain swept over him. It appeared to have initiated in his wrist, and then spread up his arm to his head. His entire body twisted and writhed in pain.

  “AHHH my skin is burning! My head feels like it's on fire! Ahh, fuck, fuck, fuck, it hurts so bad!”