Surviving Paradise (Full Draft Version)

CHAPTER 28

"Tell you what Ashton Black, I will let Willy go, all of your friends go."

"Thank you."

"In return for you."

"NO ASHTON!"

CHAPTER 28

Ashton was still awake tuning his guitar.  Allisa listened as she set the coffeemaker up, then swung open the kitchen door.  He looked up at the creak, quirking a smile, and she quickly sent one back.  These expression traits were more and more becoming second nature to him.

“So Jane gets her cast off today.”  Pacing to the front window, she stared blankly at the street that was just beginning to stir.  A dog ran into the yard, raised a leg to a shrub and scampered off.

“Yeah.”  His fingers went from tuning to idle chords.

“Will is taking her?”

“Yeah.”  There was no expression change on his face, but his chords went from major to minor, and she listened for a few seconds to the mournful riff.

Allisa moved to sit on the coffee table in front of him, and his music slowed as he waited for what she would say.  “Remember the sunblock?”  At this point, she almost took her words back, or at least adlibbed.  Why get his hopes up?  Or what if it seemed to work and then failed, leaving him vulnerable when there was no shelter?  “Want to try it?”

Allisa experienced second thoughts again, as she actually handed over the container.  “Don't forget your scalp and ears.”  Turning to the mirror in the tiny bathroom, she paused before she left him.  “Is the no reflection thing going to be a problem?”  Ashton shook his head, sniffing at the bottle.  “Don't get it near your eyes, 

The kitchen windows all had the special tint that had been applied to all of the downstairs glass.  Unlatching it, she tried to push it up, but it did not budge.

“It's glued closed I think.”

Whirling at Ashton's voice, she nearly knocked her coffee cup into the sink.  With the stealth of a vampire, he had come down the kitchen stairwell, and stood beholding her feeble fight with the pane.  Goggle shades were dangling from his thumb.

“I was thinking, just a square of sunlight on the floor, you know?”

The explanation rewarded her with another one of his smiles.  “What, I can't just walk outside?”

“Please don't.”  Allisa surveyed his attire.  “And I wish you would have worn long sleeves...”

Ashton stared down at his 'Life Sucks and then you don't die' tee shirt, and matched it's humor with his reply.  “You really have no faith in your medicine do you?”

“Let's open the garage door!”  The inspiration hit her and she crossed to that particular exit. 

The garage would perfectly allow in an indirect ray of the planet that was a death ray to Ashton.  If, heaven forbid, he began to smoke, he could just step back into the house and close the door.  If everything went well, then they would know that he would be just as safe in a parking garage, like the one attached to the building containing the office suite of Jane's orthopedic surgeon.

Ashton did not smoke or burst into flames.  They both stared fearfully, and then in marvel at the exposed skin of his arms as they stood next to his car.  When his wondrous steps began to carry him too close to the driveway, Allisa stepped in front of him.

“Oh no you don't.  You can't just trust it.  What if it is breaking down?!  I need--”

“The fu--”  For once Will did not say the entire word, probably because his mouth was hanging open too much to finish the sentence.