“Where are we?” asked Lex.
“You’re awake!” Cleo sat up and reached out for Lex, her hand gently caressing his forehead. “I was so worried!”
“Why, what happened?”
“The Russian Destroyer sank the Shooting Star and we fished you and Jesse out of the ocean. You were both hypothermic when we found you!”
“Is everyone okay?”
“Yes,” replied Cleo.
“Thank God,” said Lex, leaning back and resting his head on Cleo’s thigh. Her warm hands felt so good, as she caressed his forehead and ran her fingers through his blonde hair. Lex could feel his eyelids growing heavy, before sleep conquered him and he fell into a dream.
World War III – Day Eighteen
Redwood Forest, California
“Someone’s coming,” Jesse whispered, through the opening in the tree trunk.
Lex sprang to his feet and grabbed his rifle, before stepping through the opening with Cleo at his side. Several times throughout the night the small group had heard enemy patrols pass close by, searching for something or someone. “What is it?” he asked, peering into the thick fog and straining his ears for any sound of movement.
“There’s an eighteen-wheeler coming down the road,” said Jesse, pointing at the lights in the distance.
“This may be our only chance at catching a ride,” whispered Lex. “I’ve got an idea,” he added. “Jesse, you and Cleo come with me. Mom,” he said, turning and sticking his head back through the trunk’s opening, “I need you to stay here with Jillian, but be ready. When we call for you I need you to bring our supplies and meet us by the road, over there.” Lex pointed at a large Redwood tree, standing tall and defiant beside the road.
“Okay, but be careful,” cautioned Beth.
Lex and Cleo headed for the road, with Jesse bringing up the rear after giving Jillian a long kiss goodbye. When they reached the side of the road Lex bent down beside the tree he’d pointed to and began explaining his plan.
“Are you sure it’ll work?” Cleo asked, when Lex finished outlining his plan.
His eyes roamed over Cleo’s body from head to toe and he grinned, “Oh, it’ll work. Now come on, everyone get in place!”
*******
Casey slowly and carefully guided the eighteen-wheeler through the heavy mist blanketing the windy road and the dense forest beyond. The heavy fog engulfed the truck, providing poor visibility and an eerie ambiance. A light drizzle of rain began to fall, making the pavement wet and slippery. Surrounded by gigantic trees, the large truck looked small, as it snaked its way through the forest.
From out of the mist, a woman suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. Wearing nothing but a bikini, she was drenched from head to toe. She waved her hands frantically and Casey slammed on the brakes, bringing the truck to a screeching stop.
“What is it?” asked Shannon, sticking her head out from behind the curtain.
“It’s a woman,” said Tyler, sitting up straight in the passenger seat. “And not just any woman,” he added, letting out a whistle.
“Or it’s a trap,” said Casey, scanning the road ahead.
“What should we do?” Shannon whispered, hoping her children weren’t listening.
“I don’t want to leave a helpless woman out her alone,” said Casey, “but at the same time I’m not sure if it’s safe.”
“What harm could she cause?” Tyler said, as he opened the passenger door and climbed down from the cab.
“Wait!” Casey called out after him.
Tyler ignored Casey and walked toward the woman with his hands outstretched. “Are you alright?” Tyler examined her scantily clad body, searching for any type of weapon, but found none. “How did you get out here all alone?”
The woman’s hands were cupped over her face, as though she were crying. She dropped her hands to her side and gazed deep into Tyler’s eyes. “Please help!”
“Of course,” said Tyler, mesmerized by her beauty. She was amazingly gorgeous. Her slender body glistened in the rain, as she stood there shivering. And she had the most exotic brown eyes. Yet, she seemed vaguely familiar. “Here, come with me,” he said, reaching out to take the woman’s hand. “What happened to your clothes?”
Cleo reached out with both hands and grabbed Tyler’s, pulling him toward her. At the same time she kicked one of his legs out from under him, bringing him to his knees.
“Ouch!” Tyler screamed, as Cleo twisted his wrist. “What the hell!”
“That’s no way to talk to a lady,” said Lex, stepping out from behind a large tree. He pressed the muzzle of his gun to the back of Tyler’s head. “Your voice sounds familiar. Do I know you?”
“It’s not likely,” spat Tyler.
“Maybe, maybe not, keep talking,” replied Lex.
When Tyler refused to speak, Cleo twisted his wrist and he screamed. “What do you want me to say?”
“How many more people are in the truck?” asked Lex.
“Go to hell!”
Cleo applied pressure once again and Tyler squealed in pain.
“She can just as easily break it,” said Lex. “For the last time, how many people are in the truck?”
“What’s it matter?” asked Tyler. “You don’t stand a snowballs chance in hell of taking that truck, they’re ready and waiting for you! It’s not like the two of you’d be much of a threat anyway.”
“There’s more than two of us,” replied Lex.
“Oh, like I’ll fall for that again,” hissed Tyler. “I think you’re bluffing! I think you’re all alone!”
Lex’s head snapped around and he looked more closely at Tyler. “Say that again.”
“What?” Tyler asked. “That you’re a piss poor liar and you’re all alone!”
“I thought I recognized his voice,” said Lex, glancing at Cleo. “He’s one of those raiders I had a run in with, one of the Enlightened Ones.”
Tyler’s head snapped up at the name of his old gang and beads of sweat ran down his forehead.
“Bloody hell,” said Cleo, grabbing Tyler’s chin and twisting his face into the light, “I think he was one of the Parish brother’s lieutenants.”
“I thought you looked familiar,” said Tyler, grinning up at Cleo. “You’re the one who took out the mortar guns, aren’t you?”
“What should we do with him?” asked Cleo, withdrawing a hidden knife, from God knows where, and pressing the blade to Tyler’s throat.
“You should let him go!” Shouted Casey, as he climbed down from the cab.
Lex turned and shaded his eyes from the truck’s headlights. “Who are you?”
“I’m the guy who told you to let him go,” said Casey.
The ominous sound of a shell being chambered into a shotgun, sent shivers down Lex’s back. He squinted into the bright lights, but couldn’t see anything except for a pair of boots. “Do I know you?”
“It’s possible,” replied Casey, still concealed by the fog and bright headlights.
“I don’t suppose you’ve eaten at the Ramblin Rose Café?” asked Lex. “And did you used to carry a baseball bat for protection?”
“Lex? Is that you?”
“It’s me,” said Lex, lowering his gun.
“I see you’ve made it to the coast,” replied Casey, as the two men walked toward one another and shook hands.
“Yeah,” said Lex, “but now I need to get away from it. Where are you headed?”
“I’m not really sure,” said Casey. “I met a strange man on the side of the road who suggested I head in this direction. I didn’t know why, until now.”
“Why?” asked Lex.
“Well, to meet up with you of course,” laughed Casey. “I’m guessing you need a ride?”
“Yes we do,” admitted Lex. “Can you make room for us?”
“Of course,” chuckled Casey. “How many of you are there?”
“It’s just the two of them,” spat Tyler, from his knees, still held captive by Cleo’s unyielding grip.
“Y’all know each other?” asked Casey, glancing from Tyler and Cleo to Lex.
“We’ve had a run in before,” said Cleo.
“A couple of times,” added Lex. “He’s one of the leaders of that gang of so called, Enlightened Ones.”
“You don’t say,” gasped Casey, looking at Tyler with a new set of eyes. “I wondered why he was so secretive about his past. We found him lying in the middle of the road riddled with bullets, more dead than alive. If it wasn’t for Shannon he wouldn’t have made it.”
“Who’s Shannon?” asked Lex. “I thought you traveled alone?”
“Well, yes, that’s true, until recently that is,” said Casey, his cheeks blushing red. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
“Wait,” said Lex, “contrary to the deductions of Sherlock over there, we’re not alone. There’s five of us. Come on out!” he shouted, over his shoulder.
Jesse suddenly emerged from the fog, his gun held ready.
“It’s alright,” said Lex, “these are friends. Well,” he glanced down at Tyler, “at least some of them are.”
A moment later Jillian and Beth appeared from out of the mist, carrying all of the medicine and supplies they’d salvaged from the Shooting Star before it sank.
“Casey, I’d like you to meet my mother, Beth. Mom, this is Casey Cooper. We met on the road after everyone vanished. He’s a good man.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cooper,” said Beth, offering the large burly man her hand.
Casey bowed and kissed her hand softly. “The pleasure is all mine ma’am.”
“And this,” said Lex, wrapping his arm around Cleo, “is my woman.”
“Hello,” laughed Cleo, “shaking Casey’s hand, “my name is Cleo.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Casey, with a big grin. “I see you’ve picked one who can handle herself,” he added, nodding toward Tyler.
“That she can,” agreed Lex, casting a wink at Cleo, who smiled in return.
“Where did you two meet?” asked Casey.
“In a small town named Clearview. Nice people,” added Lex. “In fact, that’s where I was hoping you’d take us?”
“Of course,” bellowed Casey, “happy to do it. And who is this young couple?”
“Oh my bad,” said Lex, “this is Jesse and Jillian. We met them in San Diego and sailed here together. Jesses’ a Marine. He was stationed on one of the beaches when the enemy landed.”
“No doubt that was a hell of a fight,” said Casey. “I’ll bet you saw some unbelievable things.”
“You’ve no idea,” admitted Jesse, the image of one of the super soldiers flashing through his brain.
“Well, we’d better get going,” said Casey, glancing around. “These woods are full of enemy troops. They’ll kill us just for fun if they find us.”
“You’re right,” agreed Lex.
“What about him?” Cleo asked, her knife still held to Tyler’s throat.
“We can’t trust him,” said Lex.
“We can’t kill him,” replied Casey.
“We could just leave him here,” suggested Cleo.
“That’s as good as killing him,” pointed out Casey.
“Was he alone when you found him?” asked Lex.
“Yes, well that is no, not really. There were other bodies, but he was the only one alive.”
“We could tie him up and put him in the trailer,” suggested Jesse. “I don’t mind sitting back there and keeping an eye on him.”
“That’s a good idea,” agreed Casey. “I can only fit a couple of you in the cab anyway. The rest will have to ride in the back.”
“How many passengers are you carrying?” asked Lex.
“I’ve got a family of three traveling with me,” said Casey, his cheeks blushing again.
“Let me guess,” asked Lex, “Shannon?”
“Yes and her two little ones.”
“Why don’t you and your mum ride up front,” suggested Cleo. “I’ll ride in the back with Jesse, Jillian and this one,” she added, shoving Tyler away from her and to the ground.
“Here,” said Jillian, handing Cleo her clothes.
“Thanks mate,” said Cleo, accepting the clothes and quickly getting dressed.
“Here’s the key to the trailer,” said Casey, handing Jesse a key.
“Thanks,” said Jesse, as he secured Tyler’s hands behind his back. He pulled him to his feet and led him to the back of the trailer, with Jillian and Cleo following, carrying the remainder of their supplies.
“Come on,” said Casey, patting Lex on the back. “I want to introduce you to Shannon and her kids.”
Lex took his mom’s arm and guided her to the truck, helping her to avoid puddles in the road along the way. He opened the passenger door and helped her climb up into the cab.
“Hello,” said Shannon, sitting in the back of the cab with the curtains open. Sam and Sandy were sitting on either side of her on the bed.
“Why, hello,” said Beth, as she found a seat next to them. “My name’s Beth, what’s yours?” she asked, smiling down at Sandy.
“I’m Sandy and this is my mom and my brother Sam.”
“Nice to meet you Sandy,” said Beth, patting the girl’s leg. “And you Sam,” she added, shaking the boy’s hand.
“My name’s Shannon,” said the young woman, sitting between the children. “Are you a friend of Casey’s?”
“I believe my son and he shared a past encounter,” answered Beth. “He’s been kind enough to offer us a ride.”
“He’s a good man,” agreed Shannon. “He’s been nice enough to show us the same kindness. Where are you headed?”
“A town named Clearview,” answered Beth.
Casey was already in the driver’s seat when Lex climbed up into the cab and closed the door. “Shannon, I’d like you to meet Lex. Lex, this is Shannon and her children Sam and Sandy.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Lex. “I’ve already heard you so much about you,” he added, grinning at Casey.
“Oh really? I didn’t realize you gentlemen were out there that long,” said Shannon.