#DeadLives4Ever

25 - Rosa

My foot slammed down on the gas pedal, the car grunting in protest of being forced forward. I lurched into my seat as we turned a corner, but I couldn't risk slowing down now. Even though I'd already called ahead and letting the station know about the attack, I knew I could waste anytime getting there.

Next to me, Ryan was looking at his wound. The blood was already starting to congeal and turn dark. He hadn't said anything since coming into the car, and to be honest I wasn't sure what he was thinking. His face looked neither too sad nor too happy, but somehow a mixture of both.

"You ok?" I asked, keeping one eye on the road.

"Kinda ironic, right?" Ryan said. Again I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"It'll get easier, I promise," I told him. I was kinda lying there, but what was I supposed to tell him?

"It's ok," Ryan replied, "I'm happy."

I turned my head to him, after making sure it was safe to do so that is. We were driving through the mountains at this point, and I didn't want to run the car off the road. "Really?"

"I always wondered what it would be like," Ryan said. "Guess now I got the rest of my – death ahead of me? Is that the right word?"

"Who knows."

"Anything I need to know about? I mean, something I might need to change in my lifestyle?"

"You should get used to eating liquid food," I told him, "you won't be able to eat anything solid anymore. Your digestion can't take it."

"I see. Can I still use the toilet?"

"Yeah... that's probably a story for another day. It gets a little... messy..."

Which believe me, I found out to my horror the first time that happened.

The car went silent for a few moments, Ryan looking like he wanted to say something, but then deciding against it. He seemed to change his mind more than once about wanting to speak, so I decided to speak instead.

"Thanks for what you did back there, I owe you one."

"Still doesn't make up for the other things I did," Ryan replied, morose.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You weren't to know."

"I meant what I said," Ryan said, "I'll tell everyone what happened. I don't care about my career, everyone needs to know. And heck, I'm Dead now – people should automatically believe me, right?"

I chuckled lightly. You know, all the problems he caused me, Ryan was all right. Maybe there would be some hope after all.

"Listen to you too," grunted Chief in the back seat, still in handcuffs. "Sounding like a pair of love-sick puppies."

"If I were you, I'd be careful what you say outside of a lawyer being present," I told him pointedly.

"You honestly think that you've won?" Chief mocked. "Even if you manage to get the secret out, what makes you think the world is going to be a better place? We can't coexist, you know – Humanity has shown it looks out for itself and that they can't mix. It's been like that even before the pandemic. You're wasting your time."

"Maybe," I replied. "Maybe this is all just a pipe dream. But dreams don't mean shit unless you go for them, right?"

Chief snorted in what sounded like a weak chuckle. "You really are an idiot, Frost."

"Yeah, well she's not the one in handcuffs," Ryan replied back, "sir."

"Oh shit..." I suddenly gasped.

As we turned a corner round the mountain, I could see fires burning in the distance. Huge fires, covering many miles across.

"Is that... the Dead Zone?" Ryan gasped.

"It's happening already," Chief laughed. "You're too late."

"Shut up!" I slammed my foot on the gas. "Ryan..."

"On it!" Ryan cried. He turned on his radio and contacted the office. Hopefully they were already on their way, but even so I tried to get this piece of shit car moving.

I wasn't normally a praying woman, but I prayed to God that Shawna and Jessie were be ok. I just hoped he was listening to me. I mean, he was supposed to love all his children, right?

Please let them be ok.