Post by hurricane on Oct 3, 2010 5:26:01 GMT -5
It's all coming to an end. No one is gonna make it out of this. Not me, not you and especially not her. All you can do is fight the inevitable...and only that will work for only so long. Sooner or later you're going to have to realize that this is the end of the world...and there is no savior coming.
Christian wiped his face clean of the dirt and grime that had accumulated over the past couple of days. Part of him kept hoping that at any moment he would wake up and all of this would be gone. Maybe this was all just a dream and he would soon wake up in his Malibu home once more next to some beautiful supermodel.
He splashed his face with water and closed his eyes tight. He stood there hoping to open his eyes to a view of the Pacific ocean...he could already kind of smell the salty wind. Slowly his eyes opened to reveal him standing in a Utah movie theater bathroom looking at a shade of his former self in the mirror.
Voice
Christian?
Christian turned to see the young Desmond standing in the doorway of the bathroom looking at him.
Christian
Hey, Des. What's up?
Desmond
It's Alice. She's ready for you.
Christian
Tell her...tell her I'll be right there.
Hey, Des. What's up?
Desmond
It's Alice. She's ready for you.
Christian
Tell her...tell her I'll be right there.
Desmond nodded and left. Christian turned to face himself in the mirror once more.
Christian
You can do this.
Christian walked out of the bathroom and toward the lobby of the theater. There stood Alice and Desmond waiting for him.
Alice looked up at Christian but he turned his attention to Desmond. He couldn't look her in the eye without seeing the fear she had back at the hotel. He couldn't allow that rage to overtake him again.
Desmond
Are you ready?
Christian
Yeah...do you really think we should leave...given what's happened?
Alice
If we don't leave...it just means they'll come back...but this time there won't be anyone to clean up the mess.
Christian met her eyes. He could see her pain...a pain that he too felt.
Christian
I understand. Have you said goodbye to Virgil?
I understand. Have you said goodbye to Virgil?
Alice tried to speak but no words came out. Finally she shook her head.
Desmond
He's in theater five. We'll be in the jeep when you're ready, Alice.
He's in theater five. We'll be in the jeep when you're ready, Alice.
Christian and Desmond began to head toward the doors.
Alice
Chris...Christian?
Christian stopped and turned back.
Christian
Yeah?
Alice
You mind...mind coming with me?
Yeah?
Alice
You mind...mind coming with me?
Christian turned to look at Desmond. He gave Christian an acknowledging nod and continued outside. Christian began to walk with Alice to theater five.
They were silent for the most part.
Christian
You know...I'm not too good at the whole...apology thing but I'm sorry.
Alice
Can we just not talk?
Christian
Yeah.
As they entered theater five they made there way to the first row where Virgil was seated.
As they made their way around the seats it becomes clear that something is different about Virgil...mainly that he's no longer living. A single bullet wound to his chest is apparently the culprit in his demise.
Christian stands back as Alice approaches the body. She takes a seat beside him and tries hard not to look at the blood.
Christian watches as she takes Virgil's lifeless hand in her's and squeezes it.
Finally she finds the courage to look at his face. Though his demise was obviously violent he looks almost peaceful. A tear rolls down her cheek as she lays her head on his shoulder.
Christian
Who...who was he? To you?
Who...who was he? To you?
She doesn't say anything. Christian takes the seat beside her and lays a hand on her shoulder. She starts to pull away but gives up as if she doesn't have the power to. Instead she leans over to him and whispers something into Virgil's ear.
With that she stands and begins walking out of the theater without giving the body a second look. Christian watches her leaves. He looks over to the body and stands.
Christian
I'll be seeing you then.
I'll be seeing you then.
Christian leaves and catches up with Alice who has stopped at the concession stand to grab some napkins to wipe her eyes. She notices Christian.
Alice
Thank you.
Christian
It was nothing.
Alice
Come on, let's go. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Christian
It was nothing.
Alice
Come on, let's go. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They drove as far South East on the highway as they could until the gas finally gave out somewhere just outside of the Utah state lines.
It was Desmond first who decided to speak.
Desmond
So...any ideas now?
Alice
Yeah, we walk.
Christian
Walk? Where are we walking to?
Alice
Don't know. At least not now. All I know is Virgil said that if there was ever an emergency it'd be best to head South East toward the ocean.
Christian
The Atlantic?!
Desmond
That's our plan? To walk a few thousand miles?
Alice
You got a better one?
Desmond
Yeah, how about we go back to the theater? We can reinforce the doors and be prepared in case....
Alice
In case what? In case the raiders come back and decide to kill us to? Yeah, that sounds like a great plan, Des because it worked out so well for Virgil and everyone else.
Desmond
Look don't blame me if the old man could handle shit while we were gone.
Alice draws her gun as Desmond draws his.
Christian
Holy shit! Calm down!
Alice
Take it back!
Desmond
Suck my dick!
Christian
Just hold on for a second here.
Christian turns to Desmond.
Christian
Look I'm totally with you, man. That place may not be safe but at least it's not in the middle of nowhere.
Alice
What?!
Christian
I'm just being honest, Alice.
Christian moves toward Desmond.
Christian
Just lower the gun. We'll go back and see what we do from there.
Christian extends his hand for a handshake. Desmond looks suspiciously.
Desmond
Sounds like a plan, brother.
Desmond lowers his guns and shakes Christian's hand...only to be met with a left hook to the face. Desmond goes to the ground and Christian grabs his gun.
Desmond
What the hell, dude?
Christian
I lie. What did you not even watch my show? I'm the bad guy. Now get up and lets go...oh and apologize to the lady.
Desmond
Fuck you!
Christian
Okay, if you want to do it that way you can just walk your happy-ass back into Utah and see how you do without your gun...and your pants.
Alice
You'd take his pants?
Christian turns to Alice.
Christian
He said "Fuck you" to me. Christian don't play that.
He said "Fuck you" to me. Christian don't play that.
Christian turns back to Desmond.
Christian
Your choice, buddy.
Your choice, buddy.
Desmond looks at Alice and back at Christian.
Desmond
Doesn't look like I really got a choice here.
Christian
Sure you do...but you only get one that doesn't suck for you.
Desmond
Fine. I'm in.
Desmond made it to his feet and turned to Alice.
Desmond
I'm...I'm sorry for what I said. Virgil was important to all of us and you especially.
She said nothing, only starred at him.
Desmond
And I swear that we'll get those bastar-
And I swear that we'll get those bastar-
They all felt it at the same time. The ground began to slightly rumble. They turned to look down the long stretch of highway that they had just traveled and as they did they saw it come over the hill.
The semi must have been running at least a hundred miles per hour when it came over the hill. Christian even swore that the thing got some air. All of this became terrifying when they realized that it was headed directly toward them.
Alice
Shit, move the Jeep off the road now!
Shit, move the Jeep off the road now!
Immediately the three sprang to action. Alice got in the driver's seat while Desmond and Christian got behind it to push.
Alice
PUSH!
The semi was barreling toward them and seemed to get faster with each second. What started as a cute Hotwheel-sized truck had now evolved to a giant killer titan of metal.
The Jeep didn't move an inch.
Desmond
What the fuck, Alice?
Alice
I don't know what's wrong!
Christian
Try taking your foot of the brake for one!
Immediately the car began to slowly roll forward. Christian watched as the semi got closer and closer.
Just as the car was about to get safely off the road the right front bumper snagged on the wreckage of a smashed Datsun and wouldn't budge.
Desmond looked up to see that the semi was now less than a football field away from them.
Desmond
Fuck this!
Fuck this!
Desmond grabbed his bag out of the back and sprinted off the road.
Alice was completely oblivious. She kept trying to rock a little life into the Jeep so that it could bypass the vehicle blocking it.
Christian
I KNOW! FUCK!
Christian stopped pushing and ran to the driver's side door and grabbed Alice, she nearly punched him. He grabbed as tight as he could and threw himself backward into the ditch just off the road. Luckily for him Alice sprung forth from the Jeep just as the semi tore through the Datsun and devoured the Jeep.
Desmond watched as the semi rode up the side of the Jeep, overturned and skidded across the highway pavement finally coming to a stop not far from them.
Immediately he ran towards it.
Desmond
Christian! GUN!
Christian! GUN!
Christian threw him his gun and Desmond caught it mid-stride. He reached the cab of the truck that was now laying on it's driver's side window and scaled it in what seemed like a slight leap and a bound.
Christian looked down at Alice who was still trying to figure out what happened.
Christian
Why couldn't we just leave it?
Alice
The...the supplies. We have to have them. Oh god, what happened?
Christian
Well besides you nearly becoming a pancake, I saved your life.
Alice stood up and saw Desmond on top of the cab reaching for the door handle. She immediately ran over to join him.
Christian
You're welcome!
Desmond opened the door and looked inside. He had to turn away and gag.
Alice
What happened?
Desmond
The driver...
Alice
The crash killed him?
Desmond
I...I don't think so.
What happened?
Desmond
The driver...
Alice
The crash killed him?
Desmond
I...I don't think so.
Alice climbed up and looked in.
In the cab laid the remains of what looked to be the former truck driver. His hands grip tightly onto the wheel unable to let loose because of the barbwire holding them there. Long spikes have seemed to be driven into his thighs into the seats keeping him from moving out of the spot behind the wheel. The most grotesque feature however is that all the skin and muscle has been removed from his head above the lower lip and symbols have been craved into the skull to be displayed.
Desmond
Holy fuck!
Alice
We need to leave now!
Desmond
Holy fuck!
Holy fuck!
Alice
We need to leave now!
Desmond
Holy fuck!
Christian stands off the side of the road confused.
Christian
What? What is it?
Alice
You don't want to know.
Desmond
HOLY FUCK!
Alice
Desmond!
Desmond
WHAT?!
Alice
Calm down, get your shit and lets go.
What? What is it?
Alice
You don't want to know.
Desmond
HOLY FUCK!
Alice
Desmond!
Desmond
WHAT?!
Alice
Calm down, get your shit and lets go.
Desmond doesn't even respond. He just acts. Alice jumps down to join Christian.
Christian
Alice, what the hell is going on here?
Alice
They're back and they're following us.
Christian
Who?
Alice
The...the people that killed Virgil and the others.
Christian
Whoa...holy fuck.
Alice
Yeah.
Desmond is already walking at a quicken pace down the side of the road.
Alice
Come on, let's catch up with him before he tries to run.
Christian
Sure thing.
Alice
What did you know?
Christian
Huh?
Alice
Right before the crash I remember hearing you yell that you knew something. What was it?
Christian
I...I knew that I just had to get you out of there.
Alice
That's it?
Christian
Yeah.
Alice
Are you okay, Christian?
Christian
Yeah, I'm perfectly perfect.
Alice
Okay...well come on. I don't want to lose Desmond.
Alice runs off to catch up with Desmond as Christian stands there on the side of the road.
Voice
You're not gonna tell her?
Christian
Tell her what?
Voice
The truth.
Christian
What? That I'm going all Sixth sense and seeing dead people?
Christian turns back toward the semi and faces Virgil, who besides the fact that he's laying dead in theater five about 80 miles North is standing right there on a highway leaving Utah.
Virgil
She's gonna find out eventually.
Christian
I'll tell you what. I won't tell if you don't.
She's gonna find out eventually.
Christian
I'll tell you what. I won't tell if you don't.
Christian begins to walk in Alice's direction leaving Virgil's shade standing alone.
Virgil
Christian?
Christian?
Christian turns back to face the undead old man.
Christian
Yeah, figment of my imagination?
Virgil chuckles at the joke but soon turns back serious.
Virgil
She's waiting for you, Chris. She's been waiting for a while.
Christian
Alice just left? I'm pretty sure I can catch up.
She's waiting for you, Chris. She's been waiting for a while.
Christian
Alice just left? I'm pretty sure I can catch up.
Virgil lowers his head and closes his eyes. Christian watches confused. Finally Virgil raises his eyes to Christian. There is a painful sadness in them.
Virgil
It's all coming to an end. No one is gonna make it out of this. Not me, not you and especially not her. All you can do is fight the inevitable...and only that will work for only so long. Sooner or later you're going to have to realize that this is the end of the world...and there is no savior coming.