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Chapter 1

Ember woke up to the sound of light rain and a bus seat creaking.

"Hello?" She stood up.

Looking around, she realized it was empty.

"Sir...?" The bus driver was up in his seat.

She touched his shoulder and his head rolled. He wasn't waking up. She shook his cold, pale body vigorously, demanding him to open his eyes.

Wait, cold? Pale? He was dead. Her hands tugged away from the man and panic set in.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!" Ember scrambled to the back to grab her belongings and forced to bus doors open.

She slipped on the last step, and got up to look around.

She started walking towards a broken down gas station. The lights of the station were still on as night fell. She open and walked through the doors. Very run down, she thought, the floors were cracking, and a ceiling tile was dangling.

"Hey there." she was startled by the voice and spun around, "Can I help you?" It was a young man, probably about 20.

"Uh- yeah, sorry you scared me. But, yeah I need to know where I am. The bus broke down a few miles back and- I-" She exhaled. She had no clue what to do.

The boy showed a small smile, and pulled out a map. "You're just about to enter Gardner," He fiddled with the map. "Then after that it'll take about half an hour to drive to Lawrence."

She stood silent for a minute, thinking. "Wait! I don't have a car, and I can't walk in these!" She gestured to her old shoes. There was holed up in her toe area, and the sole was falling off.

The boy looked annoyed, snapping his head up to her eyes from across the store.

"You know if you really wanted some help you could've used a cellphone." He monotoned.

She looked around outside the store windows, looking for some kind of pay phone, and realized it was already dark and raining.

"Do you think I could use your phone to call a cab?" She gulped, suddenly standing in a store with a very hostile looking man in the middle of the night with no where to go, didn't seem so inviting anymore.

He pulled out an expensive looking phone and handed it to her.

"Uh... what's the cab services number." She pursed her lips.

He threw his head up in annoyance. She cowards mentally at even asking.

"Look-" He looked at her.

"Ember." She stood with her arms crossed.

"Look Ember, I wouldn't go walking alone in this town or in any town in this state to be fair. I'd be happy to give you a ride to mine for the night," He smiled at her, all hostility drained from his expression. "And then tomorrow mornin' I'll take you to Lawrence." He returned to a straight face fiddling with the register waiting for her reply.

She looked down at her feet. He could be a killer, or worse, a rapist, she thought. If she does go with him then she'll be sheltered from the rain, and get to Lawrence. She didn't have any other choice considering her feet were already in pain, and her clothes were tattered.

"Okay, so what time do you close up?" She walked up to the counter, now face to face with the man.

"Around midnight, and my name's Greg." He smiled at her, propping his elbows up and resting his head on his hand.

She looked around for a clock, and didn't see one. She exhaled loudly, and decided to buy snacks just to be nice. She picked up some Doritos, a pack of gum, and a few bottles of water.

After paying she sat outside of the store staring at the empty road.

-

247 minutes later, Greg, stepped out, and locked the two doors. She stood up and smiled at him. He gestured her to his car (a nice one at that.) and opened the door for her. She slipped in looking at the black embroidery. A single bunch of jasmine hung off of his rear view mirror.

"I actually- Greg thank-you so much." She shifted in her seat as they drove through the night.

"No problem!" He turned on the radio. Nothing but static, he smacked the stereo and still nothing.

She weakly smiled and reached over and pressed the 'Satellite' button. He was on the AUX.

Smoke On the Water. Began playing at full volume, Greg sheepishly turned it down. Ember glanced to finally take in his features.

He was handsome. Black eyes, and, obviously dyed, brown hair. A freckle kissed the tip of his nose, and another found its way to the side of his jaw. He seemed quite tall, with a thin figure.

She looked before he could catch her staring.

"How old are you?" She broke the silence.

"Just turned 21 on the 5th." He smiled, "and you?" He glanced her way.

"17, I turn 18 in a few months." She leaned against the window.

"Promise me if I fall asleep I won't wake up finding you dead?" She turned towards him. He looked really confused.

"Is that what happened to the bus... all those people?" He gulped.

"No, the bus only took route to Lawrence, and everyone was gone when I woke up and the only person dead was the bus driver." She shifted again, remembering his cold lifeless body.

Greg didn't dare to ask anymore questions. How could the bus have been full when no one had been in the shop or even past it since dawn, the time he got there?

He looked over at Ember, her black hair had fallen in front of her face. She was asleep, maybe he could just ditch her to the side? She seemed very dangerous. But, he'll take his chances.

He sighed looking at the road sign, 3 more miles.