Carnival Day

Ten

...Ten...
-May-
3:30 p.m.

"And three... two... one....... Here we are!" Charlie says as we pass the worn-out 'Welcome to Colorado' sign.

"What's the plan? Are we just going to drive around the state all day and hope to find something?" Grayson asks.

"Actually, my friend Ricky should be here somewhere. He's the one that convinced me and mom to come." Jack says.

"Do you mean the Ricky that unlocked the basement door back at the Factory?" I ask.

"That's the guy."

"Ricky Steiner?" Grayson asks, with a surprised look on his face.

"Ricky Steiner." Jack answers.

"You know him?" I say.

Grayson just shrugs, looking out the window.

"Yeah, Ricky, Gray and I used to be good friends, actually." Jack says.

"Used to be." Grayson says.

"What happened?" I ask.

"That's a story for another time." Grayson says quietly.

"So," Cole says, "where's your friend at?"

"He told me he'd be at the Heathcliff International Airport. Said it's abandoned. That's where most rebels will be." Jack says.

"Airport? Thought they'd be underground or something, out of sight."

"There's an underground base below the airport. Used to be used by the army before the first Carnival Day."

"And you know all this how...?"

"Ricky told me."

"So we're just going by some kids word and hope that he's telling the truth?"

"I trust him."

Cole sighs. "Okay," he says, "I guess we don't have much of a choice. The Freed will be roaming the streets in no time."

"Got that right." Alma says, pointing to the front window.

I look through to see a man who looks very tired and hungry, slowly making his way towards the van. Towards us.

"Remain calm, just remain calm!" Charlie says, looking like the one who was not 'remaining calm.' "We don't know for sure this man is one of them, so there's no need to panic. N-no need to panic." He starts to drive faster towards the man. "And besides, there's only one of him, and he can't outrun Ophelia here."

The man walked into the middle of the road, then stopped, staring the van down.

Charlie speeds up.

"Charlie, what are you doing?? Slow down!" Cole says. "You're going to run him over!"

"I know! That's the point! He's one of them!"

"You literally just said that you didn't know for sure if he is one of them or not. Slow down! We can just go around. Drive off the road or something."