“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
Dear Reader
A City Trapped Behind Walls.
Revenge. Betrayal. Murder.
Where did it all go wrong?
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The Future of London Box Set (Books 1-3)
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The Exterminators Trilogy: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Box Set Page 45