UnEarthed

Chapter 18

They drive through most of the morning and afternoon with lighter conversations to stir up the monotony of the road trip to their inevitable fate. As evening begins to set in, Kenzy knows they are getting closer to their destination. Trojan said at their previous gas stop that they should arrive in Lincoln around 10pm and it is 7pm now. Glancing to her right, Kenzy sees a carnival off the highway lighting up the horizon.

"Oh wow. I've never been to a carnival before." She exclaims.

"Really?" Max's tone is surprising. "That's just un-American."

Kenzy rolls her eyes at him.

"Well, on our way back I guess we'll just have to stop there."

"That sounds like a good plan to me." Kenzy agrees and looks back out at the colorful lights of the carnival and imagines how much fun it must be. If they survive Lincoln, they will definitely need a fun trip.

Suddenly, Max's cell phone rings. "Hey, Hope..... yeah.... Ok.... We'll follow you.... Bye"

Kenzy just gives him a confused glance.

"She says Rob needs to stop for gas."

"Gotcha."

Kenzy follows Rob a few more miles down the dim highway before exiting to find a gas station. When they find one, they both pull up to gas tanks and everyone gets out of the cars to stretch their legs. The group gathers around the back of Rob's car.

"We may want to grab a few snacks inside to eat on the road so we don't have to stop again. We only have a few hours left before we reach Harry." Rob directs the team.

Hope, Max and Trojan nod in obedience and head inside the store. Kenzy stays behind and walks over to her car to pump the gas. After Rob sets up the nozzle to automatically pump his gas, he walks over to her.

"How are you doing?" He asks and places his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm okay. I'll feel better when this is all over." Kenzy stares into his eyes and falls a bit harder for him. Every day that she spends with him, she can feel the butterflies in her stomach multiply. The feelings that he causes are new, scary and strange. She has tried to fight them in the past but now she is unsure of what she should do. Suddenly, she remembers the address she found in her father's storage shed and immediately battles with the decision of whether or not she should tell Rob about it.

"We will get through this together and you will see your family again." Rob tries to console her.

"Rob, there's something I need to tell you." She decides that keeping secrets from him is the wrong decision. She wants him to know about the address.

"Yeah?"

Before she has the chance to say another word, the other teammates walk up. "We got goodies." Trojan exclaims, holding up a bag of snacks.

"Great..." Kenzy sighs, slightly irritated by the interruption. Trojan hands her a bag of chips.

"Well, if everyone's ready, let's get back on the road." Rob says. As the other's climb back in the cars, he turns to Kenzy. "What did you need to tell me?"

"Oh it's not that important." She fakes a smile.

"Okay, you can tell me later." He pats her again on the shoulder and she watches as he walks to his car, all the while thinking of how she may not get another chance to tell him.