I follow the country roads until I hit 24 West… as I pause at the stop sign, I take a deep breath in to calm myself and begin to speed down the small highway.
“You are exceeding the speed limit,” the computer warns as I reach speeds near ninety miles per hour. “Disregard it; however, warn me if another car approaches.”
“Understood…”
It is early evening when the GPS tells me to exit off of 24 West and head north on 11. I feel much more comfortable being back on the country roads. It seems as though my speeding has gained us time. We passed very few cars, mostly farm vehicles. I reached for my gun every time, however I know that it was a necessary evil. I follow 11 north for twenty miles and pull off on Country Road 220. I follow the road for a bit until I reach a driveway that is obscured by tall bushes and overgrown fields of high grass. Had it not been for the map, I would have easily passed it over. I begin to drive down the rough rock road.
“Too much…” Cherie whispers in her sleep.
“We’ll be safe soon,” I say, although I do not know if she is coherent enough to recognize what I am saying.
After rounding a corner, I bring the car to a stop. I strike my fists against the steering wheel. In the orange glow of the fading sun I can make out the burnt remains of a building.
“What’s… what’s wrong?”
“Stay in the car, Cherie,” I say as I put on the glasses and step out of the car, gun in hand. I begin to walk to what remains of the building. The smell of smoke and burnt wood hangs heavy in the air. A layer of smoke, like a fog, hangs low against the evening grass. I’m no expert, but by guessing I would imagine that this happened recently… perhaps, even earlier today.
Before I can investigate any further a low rumble fills the air, quieting the loud drone of the crickets. A car emerges from the tree line and begins to head my way. I begin to run back to the car. A man in a black suit steps out, he holds a gun in hand, but does not aim it at me.
“Ethan Chase!” He shouts as he commands me to stop. “I just want to talk. My weapon is pointed down!”
I turn around to see that this is true. “What do you want from me!?”
“It is time you went home! All of this can be worked out!”
I am a short distance away from the car. I know that this man is a Hunter—I also know that they are not always known for their honesty. “How do I know that you will take us home safely?”
“Only you can return—the girl is too much of threat. She hasn’t been on her meds. Surrender the girl and I promise you can home. Aren’t you tired of running? Don’t you want to get back to your comfortable life—your apartment!?”
“Alright…!” I shout across the field as I prepare myself to do something stupid.
“I knew you’d see reason!” The man shouts back as he begins to approach.
I point my gun at him and fire two shots as I begin to run back to the car. Unfortunately, both the distance and my aim cause my bullets to fire off harmlessly into the dirt causing tiny wisps of dust to fly into the air.
I reach the car as the man begins to fire his weapon.
“Windows down,” I say as begin firing my gun.
“I don’t like this noise,” Cherie says as she plugs her ears and curls up into the seat—at least she is out of range of the gunfire.
Since I lack the accuracy to hit the man, I start aiming at his car. I fire a few bullets until I manage to take out his front tires. He pauses and looks back—he knows that I have just stranded him for a while and that he cannot give chase. He begins to run towards the car, gun firing off rounds. A few hit the door but bounce of harmlessly. I start to wonder exactly where Noah got this magnificent piece of machinery. I put the car into reverse and begin to back away, I take aim at the man one last time and fire—I hit him and he takes a bullet to the knee. A spray of red shoots forth as he falls to the ground… I think to finish the job, but the grass he has collapsed into is too tall. I figure, regardless, C-Shapes now knows that I was here—whether he lives or not. However, he will not be chasing us down any time soon.
I begin to speed down the road—although I do not have a destination. I look over to Cherie briefly, she has completely passed out.
“GPS… I need a town sparsely populated—close by.”
“Routing to Lawson Missouri, arrival time forty-five minutes at this current speed.”
“Any cars on the road…?”
“No cars are currently near out destination.”
As I close the distance, I keep looking back into the mirror. The terrain has turned back into farm land—large open straight roads. I am so worried that at any moment more Hunters will appear on the road despite what the GPS says. I did not expect them—I do not know how they found out about Noah’s hideout. It only strengthens my belief that there must really be some important information in that metal case he gave me… that or he tipped off the wrong person at the C-Shapes Research Facility… either way, from my end, all I can see is that whatever plan he had is quickly unraveling and it puts Cherie and I in even more danger now.
Before reaching town, I take West 196 Street. It seems like more comfortable territory to me. The roads have been pretty much abandoned. Large vines spread across the road making it difficult to figure out exactly where it is at times. I hit a large pothole and the car warns me that the road I am on might be Unstable. I spot a cluster of tall trees in the distance over the high prairie grass. I take a chance and drive down what I think is a driveway. I feel better once I hear the sounds of rock and gravel strike against the bottom of the car. If the driveway is in such a state, then hopefully the house is vacant. I need to get Cherie somewhere safe so she can rest.
I put on my glasses and pull my gun out as I reach for the door. The house looks abandoned from the outside—the paint has peeled and sections of wood are visible beyond the siding. However, it looks structurally sound. The roof is still in good shape. I try the front door, however it is locked. I think of attempting to kick it down. However, I realize that I might need that lock in the future. I make my way to the back of the house, all the windows seem to be intact—another good sign. I find a rusty old cellar door. I pull it up with a little interference from some vines that would rather it stay closed. I set my glasses to ‘identify’ and begin to make my way down the stone steps. I stumble around for a bit in the dark until I find a pull string for a light. I close my eyes and wish for the best as I give it a pull—thankfully, the basement is bathed in a pale white glow. I find cans of food stacked up to the ceiling on wooden shelves. I quickly pass by row after row of bottled water. Perhaps things are going to be alright after all. I make my way up the stairs and into the main room of the house. I turn on the lights—so far my glasses do not detect any signs of life. The living room looks like a normal rural farmhouse… kind of like the one my grandfather had when I was a kid. The house is old, full of cobwebs and dingy white paint and hardwood floors that look rather neglected. An old TV sits in the center of the room next to a fireplace, a plastic covered couch sits in the center. I search the small kitchen, the refrigerator still works. It looks like whoever lived here simply left… perhaps they went Aggro. I search the dining room; a large table with a crocheted stained white cover sits alongside a row of windows. I carefully make my way up the creaky stairs. I find three rooms, all empty. The main bedroom has a large bed in the corner and a chair that faces the window. One of the two smaller bedrooms looks like it was some kind of office, the other, a child’s room. I find a bathroom, complete with a claw footed white bathtub. I give the knob a turn and hot water pours from the faucet. Not only is the house clear—but it seems to be in perfect shape. I place the gun back in my pocket and make my way to the front door.