Finally I reach a city and the sign reads “Welcome to Arlington”. With a sigh I got off the bike and pull it alongside my right side. Once I reach the closest bench I quietly lay the bike down, taking off my pack, and sat on the firm wood. After sitting for awhile and catching my breath I started to look around and right across the street is a Motel 61 but on the right side of the highway, a little ways down the road is what looks to be a gas station. That could be a place where I might find some food and a map to check off my route. So I stand up and pick the bike up, hanging the backpack onto the seat, and then started walking to the gas station.
I look at the sign when I’m close enough and see the name of the little, two block town gas station “Cario Coop.” I lean the bike against a pole next to the gas pumps, walk up to the double doors and look for any sign of a bell to signify my entrance. After I am assured that the door won’t make a sound when I open it I step in side, wincing at the squeak of the unkept hinges. A quick look around and quiet listening signifies there’s no movement, but I still need to be quiet just incase a monster is in here. The inside is little shack looking, it has three clear refrigerating doors on the wall closest to the door, and a little slush machine on the far wall. There’s also a little shelf in the center, about four feet high and ‘round six feet long, at the end of the store is a cash register counter. The place was trashed, everything was thrown from it’s place and onto the floor. I start scavenging for anything in a sealed package.
I look for a snack here instead of eating my canned food because I only have five left and six water bottles. The bread ended up being moldy to the point that I had to throw it out. But I need to save the canned food for dinners or emergencies. As I look around I find a overturned map rack by the counter. I walk over to it being careful to not step on anything that would make a sound. Quickly I rummage through the maps and eventually find a map of Kansas. Finally after a couple more minutes of looking around I eventually found a king sized Reese's along with a Pepsi and some gummy worms. Well that will have to do for now. This might give me more energy so I can get places faster. I think to myself with a smirk.
I finish my Reese’s and about half the bottle of Pepsi, I make a hole in the gummy worm package, I find a string and tie the bag to the inner part of the handlebar. I sit on the bike seat holding the weight on my right leg and propping my foot on the bike’s left side pedal. Pulling out the map I trace my finger over the route I would need to take to get to Penalosa. Then when I finish doing the math in my head, the distance and time that it will take I should make in there in about one hour and forty some minutes. I look down at my watch and it says that it is 1:23. So I should make it there by approximately three-ish. I think, cocking my head to the side slightly. Well then I should go through Penalosa and stop at… I trace a longer line with my finger heading south. Actually I can stop at Kingman for a rest and go all the way to Byron. Great finally out of this wretched state.
I have only two reasons of hating this state and they are she died here, and there is nothing here not even those monsters.
****
Once I make it into Kingman I don’t find any benches, so I just sit on a curb, setting the bike next to me and taking out a water. I already drank all my Pepsi on the first break I took. To my surprise I only stopped six times to rest my legs and catch my breath. Suddenly a big clanking sound comes from behind me, scaring me onto my feet and I flip around searching for movement. The sound seem to of came from inside, or around, a funeral home building. Nope, nope, nope, nope. I think as I grab the bicycle and my backpack, then peddle off a little ways down the road.
I stop again in front of a restaurant named “Jeri’s Kitchen”. It’s getting so hot. I set the bike down again and walk inside the restaurant with my pack strapped on my right shoulder. I walk around a bit checking out the place for any of the man eating monsters that roam the earth. When I am assured that the place is clear I walk into the women's bathroom and change into my jean short-shorts and a white t-shirt with the band “My Chemical Romance” printed on the front. I slip off my boots and put on my tennis shoes, then put everything back into the very front pocket of my backpack. As I walk back out I check my watch, it reads 3:37. Well, I guess I better get a move on so I can get a nice can of food and some rest, I think sarcastically. I look at the sidewalk where I left the bike and find it gone. I look around, pondering, that maybe I set it down somewhere else, but I don’t find it anywhere. Okay I’m out of this creepy town, next town I stop at I’ll look at my map again to see where I’m actually gonna make it today. So I jog out of Kingman and once I’m out of the creepy little town, I walk the rest of the way to the next town.
****
I ended up having to stop in the highway to look at the map, and I walk all the way to Duquoin. It’s already 10:43 p.m. and I am tired from all the walking. It was a very long walk there, but hours later, and two blistered feet, I finally stumble along my destination. I walk down Central Avenue and find a two story, white house with only two trees on either side of the driveway. It’s my mom’s favorite brand of house, a Victorian. She use to always say, “Dylann, I want you to get a house like that for me and you. When you're rich and famous.” With a deep sigh of longing I walk up the steps to the house and walk right inside the unlocked door.
After checking the house for any dangers and finding none, I choose a room on the second floor. There's a long narrow set of stairs to the left of the front door and the stairs lead to a wide hallway with white walls and two closed door. The first door is on the right and is a bathroom. The next door, which is on the left side, leads to what looks like the master bedroom.
As I walk down the hall I notice there’s nothing decorating it except one little table with a vase and a picture hanging above it. The little table is marbled green and yellow with foldable sides and comes up to my hip. The table has a white lace tablecloth covering its top. The lace has a shining golden trim that’s designed with black swirls. Adorning the top of the cloth is a twisted blue glass vase with a golden rose protruding out of the mouth. The picture hanging on the white walls has a family of three. They look so happy. The father is standing next to the mother and the mother has her hand on the shoulder of a little boy standing in front of them. The boy looks to be ten in the photo. He has sandy hair that stops just at the top his brown eyebrows. He has the same narrow nose as his mother and has thin lips like his father, but his eye are as green as grass in spring.
After gazing at the family for a little while longer, I head towards the end of the hall. A floor to ceiling window. Once I reach it I realize a turn and a short hallway that leads to another door. I open the door and see nothing but blue. Then my eyes adjust a little more and I see shadows of objects. I then see a blue chair that matches the blue bed with blue blankets and a blue bookcase that is turned so you can’t see the shelves. What a weird way of decoration. If that is what you wanna call it. I think to myself.
I choose the master bedroom to sleep in for the night. So I strip to my bra and underwear, letting out my braid, and crawl into the cool, crisp sheets. As soon as my head hits the feather, pink pillow that has the word Her stitched into it, I sleep for the first time a dreamless sleep.
****
The next morning I wake to the smell of pancakes. Keeping my eyes closed I take in the sent. Maybe it was all a horrible and very long dream and my mom is cooking breakfast for my dad, before he goes to work, I think hopefully. Then I open up both of my eyes and stare at the ceiling. It could pass for my bedroom ceiling only if it didn’t have a swirling, textured look to it.
I bolt straight up. Someone must be in the house ‘cuz I still smell the pancakes. But who in the world would be making pancakes in the apocalypse? I hurry and dress, grab my sword from my pack and slink up to the bedroom door. Putting my head against the wood to listen for any sound of movement, I hear nothing so I barely open the door and it lets out a loud creaking sound. I wince at the loudness and peek around the thick door and see the hall deserted. So I slip out into the hall, holding up my sword like a base-ball bat.
I make it down the creaky steps and around the corner that leads to a dining room. The kitchen is connected with the dining room with a large arched doorway. I set my back flat against the wall about two feet wide next to the door frame. I inch my eyes around the corner and see the back of a boy facing me. Oh God this can’t be good. I take in his appearance as best as I can from my position. He’s taller than me but doesn’t look lanky. He has wiry muscles going up his back and twining around his arms. He has sandy blonde hair that is long but barely reaches the top of his spine. He shifts a little to the right and I see he’s flipping an egg in a small, red pan.
Slowly I bring my sword down so that it is in front of my belly button but still the point is towards the boy. Creeping up behind him, he puts the pan down. In a flash I has the sword to his throat and my free hand on a pressure point that's located on the back of his neck. I watch as his green eyes roll back and he becomes a dead weight. I grunt at his heaviness and set him on the floor and turn off the burner with the eggs. He will be out for about ten minutes. I have to hurry and think of something quick, to tie him up to something. I quickly start looking around and my eyes halt on a chair that is at the dining table.
(To be continued )
