Everyone Dies in the End

by Brian Katcher

  Run away.

  I collapsed on my bed and slept for six hours. Thankfully, L.J. did not return. It was almost dark when I woke up. I changed, then grabbed my few changes of clothes and stuffed them into L.J.’s backpack. Toiletries, my files on Gowen and everyone, and Aaron’s razor.

  I strapped on my stolen bag (forgive me, L.J.). I took one last glance at the computer I was leaving behind, and left, not taking my room key.

  I walked past the floor lounge, where Aaron and John sat playing cards. Downstairs, where Steph was talking with some friends. Outside, into the balmy July night.

  Somewhere out there, someone wanted me dead. If I hung around, they’d succeed, and maybe take my dad out in the bargain. My only hope was to leave the state, lose myself in obscurity. Go somewhere they’d never find me.

  And then what? I hadn’t even graduated high school. Flip burgers? Push a mop? Work in a mill? What the hell was a mill, anyway? I wasn’t the rugged type. For years, I’d worked toward the goal of being a respected professional. Someone people would look up to. Now, because of one stupid letter, I was on the run. I’d lost my future, my hopes, my family…

  Dad. He’d never stop worrying. Even if I sent him an e-mail, he’d never give up trying to find me, never stop searching. Maybe Mom too, though that was debatable.

  I wished I could call him. Just to tell him not to freak out. But Dan had explicitly threatened him. I couldn’t involve him any further. In a year or two, when things died down, we’d get together. Hell, the past couple of years I’d wanted nothing more than to get away from him.

  But not like this.

  I realized I had no idea where I was walking. The imposing structure of the University Power Plant towered over me. Anything could be lurking in the shadows. I hurried on.

  I didn’t have much money on me. Tomorrow, I’d find a branch of my bank and convert my savings into cash. Not very safe, but I couldn’t leave a paper trail with a debit card or travelers’ checks. Years of busting my ass every summer, raking leaves and delivering packages, and now I had to waste it all on escaping.

  I hurried toward a lighted street. Funny, I just came to this town. Now I was leaving forever. I’d kind of miss Columbia, and the people I’d met. L.J., Aaron, John, Steph, Charlie…

  Charlie. Her name stopped me dead.

  She wouldn’t know I’d bugged out. She’d wait for me to call her. She’d try to call me, and think I was avoiding her. After all she’d done for me, she’d think I didn’t care enough to tell her goodbye.

  Good. I need to make a clean break of things. Anyone who associated with me was in danger. She needed to just forget about me.

  I felt the lump of my cell phone in my pocket, next to the razor. I’d meant to leave it behind, but it had slipped my mind.

  Don’t do it, Sherman.

  I dialed a number. “Hello, Charlie? Feel like doing something?”

  She met me on the crowded corner of Providence and Broadway, parking her tiny car half on the sidewalk. She looked at me oddly.

  “Just how long are we going to be out?” she asked, gesturing at my backpack.

  I tried to smile. The traffic was making me nervous, I fully expected a bullet to come flying out of a passing car. “Hey, you mind if I drive?”

  She started to say something, then slid over to the passenger side. I tossed my bag in the back and scooted behind the wheel.

  As I fumbled with the seat adjustment, Charlie cleared her throat. “In case you have any ideas about driving me out to some secluded place and taking advantage of me…” She looked at me severely. “Finger Lakes Park isn’t far from here. Or Rock Quarry Road.” She didn’t smile, but her eyes twinkled. One freckled shoulder popped out of the wide neck of her sweater. I could see the cleft of her arm. She wasn’t wearing a bra.

  With trembling hands, I started the car. An older, passably-attractive girl just invited me out to the local lovers’ lane for a night of fun. No strings attached; she knew I’d be going back home in a few weeks.

  And there was no way I could take her up on her offer. Driving out to some dark and secluded place…not a chance. I think this pissed me off more than the loss of my education and future.

  “Let’s grab a bite.”

  Charlie nodded, adjusting her top to a more modest position.

  I drove over to the business loop and pulled into Sonic.

  “Get me a low-fat frozen yogurt,” instructed my date.

  “Two large chocolate malts with M & Ms,” I barked into the speaker. Charlie would never be skinny, so why the hell shouldn’t she enjoy herself? When I glanced over at her, she was grinning, in her odd, scrunched up way. Good call, Sherman.

  We sat silently until our order came. “So Sherm,” she said, after licking the ice cream off her straw. “My sister’s in a production of Godspell this Wednesday. Wanna be my date?”

  There was no use putting it off. This would be the last time I saw her.

  “Sorry, no.”

  She missed the seriousness in my voice. Perhaps she chose to miss it. “Yeah, it’s a pretty lame show.”

  “Charlie…I, uh, can’t see you anymore.”

  I waited for her to demand an explanation, but she just sat there, stirring her malt.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to…”

  “Take me home, Sherman,” she mumbled, sadly. Well, not so much sadly as resigned.

  “It’s just that I have a lot going on…”

  She turned to me and narrowed her eyes. “Stuff it, Sherman. I’ve heard this speech enough times that I don’t want to hear it again.” She slammed her cup down into the console. Then she realized it was too big to fit so she sheepishly picked it up again.

  I felt awful. A girl of her, um, figure was probably used to guys making excuses. She thought I was just tired of her, or worse, embarrassed.

  Good. Then she’ll forget about me. Clean break, Sherman, clean break.

  “Charlie, I’m in trouble.” I tried to touch her hand, but she pulled away.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean I’ve gotten in bad with some powerful SOBs. I have to leave the state for a year or so. Get myself lost.”

  This time, she reached out for my hand. “That guy at the coffee shop?” The restaurant’s neon sign illuminated the concern in her face.

  “He’s one of them. I’m cutting out tonight. I don’t know where I’m going, but I couldn’t leave without…you know, saying goodbye.”

  She stared at me for a long time. “I’d think you were bullshitting me, but something tells me you’re serious. What’s this all about?”

  I shook my head. “It’s complicated.” You know, train accidents, cults, mental patients, Depression-era murders, stuff like that.

  “And you can’t go to the police or anyone?” Her fingers were wrapped in mine.

  I shook my head. “Too late for that. Goodbye, Charlie. I’ll miss you.”

  We hugged for a long time.

  I wanted to lose myself in her soft arms. Just hold her. Forget about my troubles. Somehow, life on the road wouldn’t be so lonely if she was with me.

  With me…

  Don’t even think about it, Sherman.

  It’s a bad idea.

  She’ll say no.

  I pulled away from Charlie’s embrace, almost violently. I started laughing at the absurdity of my idea.

  “What’s so damn funny?”

  “Charlie…come with me!” Now that I said it out loud, it didn’t seem so stupid. My desperate flight for my life could easily become a crazy adventure with a wonderful girl. Two wild young people (okay, one wild, one kinda not), off wherever the road takes them. This was the sort of thing other people did. It was stupid and illogical and nuts. But it was right.

  Plus, Charlie had a car. It would save me the hassle of a Greyhound.

  She was looking at me with a mixture of shock and suspicious. “Sherman, I’ve known you for one week. I…” She petered off, her objections
losing momentum. I placed my arm around her bare shoulder.

  “Charlie, have you ever wanted to do something just completely wild? Just forget about everything, hit the road, no thought of tomorrow? Everyone wants to do that.” Well, not me, but she probably had more of a spontaneous side.

  Charlie looked like a news anchor on fast forward, she cycled through expressions so rapidly. “My God, you’re serious. Why…why me?”

  Because you’re cute and you’re the only one who might say yes. “Because I really like you and I can’t hang around to see where this goes. I’m willing to abandon everything, but I don’t want to give up you. Not if I don’t have to.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Sherman…but…I’m starting college in a few months.” She was crushing her styrofoam cup. Ice cream ran down her wrist.

  “So start it next year. Or whatever, it’s not important.” Wow. Never thought I’d say that. “How old are you?”

  “Nineteen. Um, in eight months.”

  “You realize this is the one chance you’ll have to do something like this? Once you enroll in school, you’ll be too busy. And then you’ll have a job, and a house, and before you know it you’ll be forty years old with three kids and an ex-husband. I know you like me. Drop off the grid with me for a year. If you get sick of me you can always go back home. Let’s watch the sunrise in another time zone. What do ya say?” I hoped my smile was beguiling, and not, as I feared, psychotic.

  “Sherman, you’re the last guy I ever expected to…” She trailed off again and was silent for a bit. Her breath came rapidly. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She swallowed, then opened her mouth again.

  I had the feeling a rejection was about to come out, so I quickly blocked her mouth with my lips. She made a surprised noise and dropped her malt to the floor. I placed my hands on her shoulders and didn’t pull away until I felt the tenseness in her muscles relax.

  “Let’s go,” she said, her voice barely a squeak.

  We held hands as I pulled back onto the loop. Good God, what a difference a week makes! Instead of worrying about my future, I was worrying that I wouldn’t have one. Instead of taking things slowly and methodically, I was hitting things fast and without worry. And instead of kissing Dr. Hopkin’s butt, I was kissing Charlie’s face. That last one, at least, was an improvement.

  Charlie was mumbling, half to herself. “OhmygodohmygodIcan’tbelieveI’mdoing thisohmygodmygod…” Her eyes were huge, her face red, her mouth in a dopey grin.

  I rolled down the window and let the crisp night air fill the car. This was all going to work out. I hugged my new partner, picturing her waitressing at some Alabama truck stop as I worked at a car factory. Me carrying a load of logs into a secluded Wyoming cabin while she cooked supper. I also imagined the roadside motel we’d stay at tomorrow night, where we could have another type of adventure.

  There was a full moon out. I rolled down the window, squeezed Charlie’s hand, and braced myself for an unexpected future.

  – Chapter Thirteen –

  Charlie snuggled so close to me that she accidentally knocked us into neutral more than once. I steered with one hand, while letting the other casually creep down the back of her sweater and massage her shoulder.

  Leaving behind everything I knew and starting a new life with a girl I’d just met…that was something other people did. I wanted to pound on the horn in triumph. For once in my life, I was going to be the Guy People Talked About.

  I imaged L.J. at a concert next year, passing around a joint and reminiscing about his Scholars roommate who just ran away one night.

  I paid as little attention to the Columbia roads as safely possible, determined to make my compass heading purely random. I almost didn’t catch what Charlie was telling me.

  “We’ll stop by my house so I can pack and say goodbye to my parents. Then we can go to Wal-Mart for supplies. Or maybe we could leave tomorrow morning. Sam’s Club is cheaper, but they’re closed right now.”

  My partner in crime was about to foil our high speed getaway. I’d forgotten that no girl ever went anywhere without careful packing. I slowed the car down.

  “Charlie, when I said I was leaving now, I meant right now. Once we leave Columbia, we’re not stopping.”

  She flashed me her wide grin. “Sherman, I can’t travel wearing this. I need to grab some clothes.”

  “We’ll buy you some new clothes in a day or two.” We were on a very tight budget. How much could an entire new woman’s wardrobe really cost?

  Charlie was quiet. “I have to tell my parents I’m leaving, so I might as well pack then.”

  This was turning into a weekend road trip. “They won’t let you go. Charlie, it’ll be okay. Just e-mail them in a week or two.”

  We were almost at the 63 exit. To the north lay the gold fields of the Yukon, to the south the wild streets of New Orleans.

  “A week or two? They’ll panic! They’ll call the cops if I don’t come home tonight.”

  Apparently the word ‘cops’ caused my face to betray my thoughts. Charlie broke physical contact with me.

  “Sherman, why did you say you had to leave town?”

  Regretfully, I sped past the highway exit. “My life just got really complicated recently. And I know if I don’t leave tonight, I never will. That’s why I don’t want to stop.” There. Put everything in Charlie’s lap. Make it her fault if this failed.

  Charlie was tapping both feet, which caused other parts of her body to wiggle. This was simultaneously sexy and unattractive. Eventually, she spoke.

  “Well, how about this? My older sister lives near here. I’ll tell my parents that I’m spending the night at Katherine’s. Then we stop by her house, I borrow some clothes and tell her what I’m doing. She won’t try to stop me, and she can tell Mom and Dad what’s going on in a couple of days.”

  It wasn’t a bad compromise. Charlie would be less concerned, which would make for an easier trip. I agreed.

  “Okay, pull over to that gas station. I’ll make a couple of calls.”

  I parked at the all-night convenience store, centering my car in a puddle of light. I scanned the small crowd of loud students, my paranoia returning. Charlie leaned over and kissed my ear, then reached for the door.

  “I’m going to give Katherine a call. Why don’t you go inside and grab us some sodas?”

  I grabbed her wrist, maybe a tad too roughly. “Why not just call her in here?”

  Charlie snatched her hand away. “I’m just talking to my sister. Nothing you need to listen to.” She smiled at me, but her eyes were narrow and a little suspicious.

  “I don’t see why you can’t call her in the car.” What was she going to say to her sister…and was she really calling her sister?

  “I don’t see why you have to listen in on my phone calls. Is that what life with you will be like?” Charlie casually laid her hand on the door latch.

  I was too distracted to be sensitive. I thought back over the events this week. How had Dan known I’d be at that coffee shop? Who told him I’d been to the Historical Society? How did he suddenly know so much personal information about me? All this started right when Charlie showed up. Maybe she’d been running her mouth too much. Or something worse.

  “Charlie, have you been talking about me to any guys?”

  “Excuse me!” The tone of her voice informed me I’d best rephrase that question, and right sharply.

  “Have you been telling things about me to some men? Hey, answer me!”

  Charlie had started to open the car door. I reached out to restrain her and barely managed to stop myself. There was a very long, unhappy silence.

  “Sherman…”

  “Take you home. I know.” I started the car. No apologies could salvage my plans now. My outburst had reminded Charlie how little she knew me, and that she had no real reason to trust me. I was traveling alone.

  We’d driven a mile or so when I broke the silence.

  “I’m sorry.”

 
; She shrugged.

  “Seriously. I’m not usually like that. It’s just…” I waved my hand in a circle, as if that could somehow explain everything.

  Charlie rubbed her nose. “What is it you’re running from?”

  I didn’t answer.

  “Who is that guy, Dan?”

  “Let’s just drop it, okay?” My adventure across North America no longer was an adventure. It was a stupid idea that I was bound to, simply because I couldn’t think of a better plan.

  “Sherman? It was a neat idea. And maybe if I’d known you a couple of months, I would go.”

  I bit my lip. We’d never have that chance. I touched Charlie’s hand and she laced her fingers into mine.

  “So are you really leaving?”

  “Yeah.” Whoop de do.

  “Can I do anything for you?”

  “No. Just let me drive to the bus station, you can leave me there.” Whimper, whimper. “Uh, which way is it?”

  “Just keep driving. I think you’ll hit the outer road after a mile or so. Sherman, um…”

  I shook my head. I didn’t feel like talking. I just stared at black, featureless scrubland on the outskirts of Columbia. Soon, I’d buy a one-way ticket to some city I’d never been to and try to start a new life…

  What the hell was that?

  It was just a nondescript, two lane road, branching off into the darkness. The kind you could pass a thousand times and not notice. But the name on the crooked sign. Danvers Road. Something rang a bell. I pulled over, then backed the car up.

  “What’re you doing?” Charlie’s voice was tense. After the episode at the gas station, I don’t think she liked the idea of being alone in a darkened car with me. Funny what a half hour can do.

  I leaned over the back seat and opened the backpack. Soon, I’d retrieved the briefcase. I dug through it until I found the little map.

  Directions to Irontown Cemetery. And there was Danvers Road, right at the beginning. The graveyard was only a few miles from here. The place where crazy Denton claimed a mysterious man named Saberhagen had been buried. Several times.