I glance into the back seat and Claire is either fast asleep—or has passed out. I can relate as I kind of feel like doing the latter. Once we pass Stratford the road opens up and we find ourselves in a flat plain. The buildings and subdivisions are now behind us, to my great relief. I begin to drive as fast as I can. I do not want to go through anything like that again.
“Next populated area?”
“Paso Robles… Estimated population around fifteen thousand survivors. Current population Unknown… Multiple routes found that bypass the major areas—would you like to route away from the city. It will add an estimated fifteen minutes to your current drive time.”
“Fuck yes,” Robert answers back.
“Rerouting…”
The flat plains eventually turn into mountains as we snake our way through the tall peaks and follow a river as we complete the final leg of our journey. The smoke clears as we make our way out of the mountains. Ahead, I can see the ocean. It is so brilliantly blue that I almost cannot tell the difference between it and the sky.
We continue on Morro road. We reach a small subdivision that resides by Cabrillo Highway. Things seem much calmer here. Although a little vacant, which makes me feel almost just as uneasy.
“I… I think I know where I am,” Claire whispers as she taps me excitedly on the shoulder. “Go… probably… yeah. Go Straight.”
“I nod as I reach my hand back and place it over hers.
We pass a sign that says Lisa Keiser Park. I notice, through the trees, a baseball field and some playground equipment.”
“We are… really close,” Claire says as she points to continue on. “I used to… my parents use to take me there. I would… I would play baseball?”
“You’re doing great Claire,” I say as I squeeze her hand.
We round a corner and the ocean is right beside us. I let out a sigh of relief. We’ve made it to the edge of the country. We follow the path and reach a sign an orange and white barricade that says ‘END’ in large letters upon a yellow sign. A giant, soot black, rock formation juts out of the water as waves break upon it to the right.
“Go… around the sign, follow the sand road,” Claire says as she points to the right. We follow a series of rough roads as Claire directs the way. At the end of one of the roads we come across a gate. Beyond the gate sits a huge house—concrete in structure with tinted dark windows. It is a huge mansion. It seems rather out of place here. I suppose though, that is what makes it the perfect place if you want some security. I look down to the water and spot a large boat. It turns out that Claire was right all along—from as far back as that first week. She did have a boat and it appears to be a very sleek, advanced one. Then again, I would imagine no less from the former president of a leading pharmaceutical company.
“We get out here…” Claire whispers as she nervously begins to tap me on the back.
Robert and I exit the car Claire nearly stumbles as she rushes out. I get into the trunk of the car and get the backpack. I toss the rifle around my shoulder. Robert runs over, assault rifle on his back and hands me the metal case.
“Forget something in the back seat?”
I almost laugh as I shake my head. “You know it’s me forgetting things that got me in trouble with Claire once.”
“I slapped him…”
“You’d think he’d learn then?” Robert says as he pats me on the back and grabs a large bag full of food. Claire rolls out her suitcase and begins to head towards the gate.
I follow as I admire the dramatic landscape. It is so beautiful here. I watch as the waves come in against the sandy shore. Outcroppings of lush green plants line the road. Seagulls fly high in the air and circle around us. I cannot believe that we have made it. I know I have doubted so many times that we would—but here we are. The last step… what we do next, that’s a bit more of a leap to figure out. However, at least I know we are safe.
As we stand by the large gate, it’s metal bars rising high into the air and adorned with spear tip like flourishes, Claire places her hand upon the a strip of metal. “Welcome home… Claire Derry.”
With a short clank, the gate opens up. She happily continues on as Robert follows behind her. I pause for a moment and look back to the sleek red Mazda XIII, I feel sad in a way—despite it just being a car. Then again, it wasn’t just a car. It saved our lives more times than I could count. We would not be here without it. “Goodbye,” I whisper as I feel a strange sense of sadness overcome me. I guess I had grown rather attached.
Claire notices me and rushes over. “I’ll miss it as well, you know?”
“Yeah,” I say as I place my arm around her and we begin to walk towards the house. The door shuts behind us.
Claire runs her hand down a strip of metal upon a large arched door that slowly creaks open. The door is massive and has about twenty tiny windows of red glass that paint the large hallway in brilliant shades of crimson and ember. We descend a large staircase and enter a huge open room with white marble floors… Claire looks around, she begins to smile—however, just as soon as the smile spreads across her face, it is gone… just gone. I rush over, dropping my belongings, as she collapses to the floor. I see some dried blood by a black table.
“Claire…” I whisper as her eyes dart back and forth, her breathing is heavy.
“This is… where it happened?” Claire speaks as she closes her eyes. She places a hand to her forehead. “My parents didn’t abandon me… my father… he never abandoned us. Back then… no—he stayed with us. He was so sure that he could cure us. Mother was… different… like me but not the same way. Just different like me, he wouldn’t let them evaluate us. He stayed and took care of us. One day though, after a few years… I don’t know, mom changed. She got angry and I couldn’t calm her down. She… kill… killed my father. I remember running as she came… she was so angry with me. I don’t know… I didn’t know why. I made it out of the gates and the men… in the black suits with the C-Shapes badges and their guns. They came and shot her. They took me. They made me… open up the house so that they could get his body… nobody ever called for help. Dad… he didn’t have time. They were just all there already… all those people from C-Shapes. They… took me away, I don’t know where, and eventually? I forgot?”
“It was the calm,” I whisper. “It made you forget—they wanted you to forget.”
“They… didn’t abandon me.”
“They never did,” I say as I hug her tightly.
“Those C-Shapes were some serious assholes,” Robert says as he shakes his head. “What did they want with her father anyway?”
“He was working on an alternate cure—they wanted his company,” I say as I help Claire back to her feet. “They didn’t want competition… he wouldn’t co-operate… probably didn’t trust them.”
“Typical greed bullshit,” Robert says as he places a hand on Claire’s shoulder. “At least you know the truth. That’s important.”
Claire nods as she wipes away the tears from her eyes. “I’m sad, but… they didn’t abandon me after all—he tried so hard. He didn’t give up on me. Just like you, Ethan. You never gave up on me.”
“That’s what you do for those you love,” I say as I nod. I bring her close to me and kiss her forehead.
At the far edge of the large room, a pair of glass doors leads to a dock. I stand in front of the view knowing that is my future—to be at sea. I just hope Noah doesn’t come and visit me like in my dreams. I already know I have an important message to deliver. Although… I still do not know who will listen.
“So you know how to operate that ship… right?” Robert asks Claire as he pats her on the back. “We’re in a bit of a shit pickle if you aren’t.”