Nightwalkers

Chapter 4

I wake in a cold sweat. I am still in the truck, but Alec isn't here. I sit up and look at my surroundings. We have pulled off the highway and we now rest on an abandoned dirt road.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and get out of the truck. I look around for Alec, but he's nowhere to be seen. I walk around to the back of the truck and open the tailgate. I look for my green bag that has my brush, toothbrush, and makeup inside. When I find it, I go back to the passenger seat and open my mirror inside the bag.

The first thing I do is brush my hair, which was a lot more tangled than I had thought, and put it in a quick braid down the middle of my head. I wipe off all the extra makeup from the day before and reapply it. When I get done, I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. Then I remembered that I was supposed to call Lily. I check my phone and I have three missed calls, and twenty-eight texts from people. Mainly from Lily. I went through all of them. Most were just from people at school sharing with me their condolences. I quickly brush those off. Then I see that I got a couple messages from Kyler.

KYLER: Hey, Kayla. I just wanted to see if you were okay after what happened last night. I really do care for you and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. Oh, yea. I know I probably shouldn't be bringing this up but, we might want to reschedule that date. :(

ME: Hey Kyler. I really appreciate you texting me. And yea, definitely reschedule. I'm not going to be in town for a while. But when we get back, absolutely. ;)

KYLER: Awesome, see you then!!!

I am locking my phone when I see Alec shutting the door next to me.

"What were you so happy about?" He asks me.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"When I was walking back, you were reading something on your phone and smiling like an idiot." He sounded annoyed, and if I didn't know any better, I would say that he was jealous.

"If you must know, I was texting Kyler." I say, "Why do you care?" He takes a deep breath through his nose and stares ahead ignoring me.

"Where were you?" I ask. He keeps ignoring me and continues to drive. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, you know. It's not very attractive."

"I was out doing something for your grandfather." He said. He was really beginning to get on my nerves. Why was he acting like this? I seriously don't understand it.

"I really don't                                                           appreciate you being a dick to me because you're jealous of some other guy! I mean seriously! I just met your a matter of hours ago and you're already stressing me out!" I yell at him, "You seriously can't expect me to just fall for you just like that!" I let out a big breath and stare out my window.

"I'm sorry." He said. I could tell that he's upset but I don't acknowledge it. I just stare out my window.

As time passes, we sit in silence. Neither wanting to talk to the other. I can see him occasionally looking at me in the reflection of the window. Or see him beginning to say something, but just close his mouth again. I look at the time on my phone. 6:53 p.m. We have been driving since around 11:00 a.m. I thought he had told me that it was only a four hour drive.

"Where are we going?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"I'm taking you to your grandfather. Just like I told you before." He said, staring at the road ahead.

"You said that it would only be a four hour drive! Its been almost eight! Aren't you tired of driving?" I ask.

"Yes, but I can't stop again. I need to get you to your grandpa before night fall." I could see bags under his eyes, as if he hasn't slept in days.

"Pull over. I'll drive the rest of the way. Just tell me the address and I'll put it in my G.P.S. You can go to sleep." He doesn't argue which surprises me. He pulls the truck over and we trade seats. I unlock my phone, hand it to him and he types the address.

"Austin, Texas?" I ask.

"Yep, it's about another hours drive if you take the speed limit. So I suggest you floor it." He said getting hazy. I don't speak anymore after I hear the slight snoring coming from Alec. He looked so peaceful when he slept. So serene. Without knowing it, I leaned over and brushed a piece of hair from his face.

I drive for another hour until we finally reach our destination. When I shut off the truck, I look around to see where we were. We were surrounded by desert, for the most part. But, the building we were at was huge! I'm sure that in its prime, it must have been a pretty nice place. But now, it looks like its been burnt down and rebuilt with its remains. I hear Alec begin to move around. I nudge his should a bit to help him wake up.

"Hey, we're here. Time to wake up." I say in a smooth, gentle voice. He sits up, stretching and groaning. Then he stops. He's looking out the windshield at the building we were at. He quickly opens the door and sprints to the building.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" I yell at him. I get out of the truck and follow after him. When I get to the entrance, I see that there is a faint smell of something rancid. Almost like rotten eggs. I bring my shirt up to cover my nose.

"ALEC!" I yell. Nothing. No response. All I get is a slight rustle from somewhere upstairs. I decide to check it out.

As I walk down the upstairs hallway, I realize that the damages done to this place a newer than I thought. I looks like it's been like this for only a couple days. Maybe that's why Alec was in such a rush to get inside. Then I hear the rustling again and see that it's coming from the only room with an open door. It must be Alec.

I go to the room and stand in the doorway to find Alec sitting on the floor with his head resting in his hands. He's trembling almost like he's been crying. I walk over to him and sit down, wrapping my arm around his shoulders.

"Alec? What happened here?" I ask. He looks up at my, face stricken with anger and resentment.

"Nightwalkers. That's what happened." He got up, and walked to the dresser across the room.

"Where is everyone?" I ask, "I mean, it can't just be you and Grandpa. You've got to have some family and friends around here." He looked at me and I quickly shut my mouth.

"If anyone is still alive, they are somewhere in Nevada." he said, "So I guess that's where we're going. Just let me go to my room and get a few things. I'll meet you in the truck." And with that he walks away.

I make my way out of the house and go to the truck. But before I can open the door, something catches my eye. I turn around to see if anyone is around, but I don't see anything moving. Then I feel something grab my ankle and pull me to the ground. I scream at the pain searing up my leg. I feel myself being pulled under the truck, I kick at whoever is pulling me while trying to catch my grip on something. I feel hands going up my leg, scratching and clawing at my skin. I feel blood running down me. I begin to get dizzy when I see Alec storming out of the house with a gun in his hand. He takes aim at me and fires. I scream again but realize that I didn't get shot. He runs over to me and pulls me into his arms. I hear him trying to comfort me. Then my knees give out, and everything turns black.