Dissolve (28 page)

“We saw his murder scene and it was terrible. He is the one who did this to us. We think that he was a part of some organization that is behind all of this. He was just a pawn in this game of chess they said,” I explained.

“That would be a terrible thing to see, I am so sorry you had to witness that. It is even creepier to hear that there is a group of terrorists doing this. They are taking out our infrastructure one state at a time and we are helpless to stop it or know who is next,” he replied.

I returned to my post in the front seat and watched the hysterics as Vienna slid into the middle and the boys flanked her. Then Mia and Nessa wedged themselves into the back seats on top of Shane and Liam before Noah went around and shut all the doors. I was laughing with them by the time Noah reached the front and got into the driver’s seat.

“You have been driving all day, are you sure you are up to it?” I asked.

“Yeah, I will be fine for a while. Not having to worry about other cars and speed limits helps. I will let you know when I need someone to take over,” Noah said.

“Your call, I will navigate then,” I responded. Then a nagging thought that had been lingering in the back of my mind snagged and I frowned, conflicted.

“I can’t go back to St. Louis; I am wanted for my fiancés murder if not for questioning. Unless the state’s population has declined, I can’t chance it.”

“Oh Cora, I completely forgot about that. We can hide you. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said as he placed his hand on mine.

I looked up into his muddy brown eyes and saw the compassion they held. Noah was a genuinely great guy. I would be foolish not to pursue him once this is over if I knew what was good for me. I sighed and gave him a sweet smile before responding. “I trust you, so let’s do this.”

Noah started the car and we turned back out of the city and onto the interstate. I twisted on the radio until I found a news bulletin. I turned it up and the vehicle went silent.

“
Nebraska and Kansas have been destroyed bringing the total state count to ten. There is some speculation as to the roots of these attacks. Experts decline to comment but word of a terrorist attack aimed at the United States is the prevailing theory at this point.”

As soon as the news cast was over and it began to replay, I turned it back down and stared out the windshield in the dimming evening light. The sun was setting behind us and was casting a soft amber glow. I shut my eyes and sighed before taking a steadying breath and opening them again. I turned to see the stunned expressions on everyone’s faces.

Vienna’s eyes were downcast and she was silent as usual, absorbing everything. Liam looked more confused than ever and Nessa had gone white as a sheet. Tears were forming again in Mia’s eyes and Shane looked up to meet mine.

“Missouri wasn’t on the list. Are you sure you are okay with this?”

“I don’t think we have a choice. The note was clear and we need to find our eighth. We are stronger as a group and they have less of a chance of controlling us if we have all the abilities we can collect. With Vienna’s smarts and Nessa’s mind reading we should be able to navigate through,” I said.

“What if we reach a road block? We are the only survivors from the annihilated states. They are going to want us for questioning no doubt,” Mia asked.

“I hadn’t thought of that. Judging by the rate of decimation, the state of Missouri could be gone before we even reach it. If not, we will wait until it is or come up with a better plan,” Nessa said joining the thread of conversation.

“That is true, and then I won’t have to worry about being hauled in for murder either. I guess it is settled, we go and see what happens,” I responded.

“I can’t believe that ten states are already gone. It is so eerie to think of being so alone without the hustle and bustle of others. I wish we could do something to stop these people,” Mia said.

“We will just have to wait and see what Missouri brings. I think we should drive all night, taking turns. The sooner we get there, the sooner we get this nightmare closer to ending,” I suggest.

“I agree that is the only way we will get this over with. We need more information before we can stop this,” Noah said before returning his attention to the road.

A new blanket of silence settled over the SUV and I returned to flipping through the radio stations that were still running. I was relieved to find a station playing punk music and stopped on it. After it was over I hummed to myself the tune of another song until it ended and faded into the next.

Still exhausted from all the uproar of this day, I rested my eyes and sank into the seat. I tried to clear my cluttered thoughts and pulled a white canvas forward in my mind. Then I sprouted some vivid red tulips amongst the newly formed green grass. The warmth of the sun in the sky made me smile and I added a blue sky with fluffy white clouds next. I felt at peace and began to fade out of consciousness.

When I woke next, I was surprised to find us slowing to a stop in complete pitch blackness. I looked around just before the headlights blinked out and we were alone with the night.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Power outage is what happened,” Noah responded with a grimace.

“Oh, then how are we going to get gas and food now?”

“We are going to have to syphon the gas and eat shelf items like we have been. The darkness pretty much sucks and it is making it harder to see around the abandoned cars on the road. Add to the fact that the day was hell and I am utterly wiped out now. I think it is time to let someone else drive,” he said.

“Well I need to get the heck out of this car first, I have cramps in my cramps it is so tight back here. We need a bigger vehicle,” Nessa complained.

“Yeah, it is pretty close quarters for us back here. Let’s get a hose to syphon from the gas station and some snacks first. Then let’s start looking for a van of some sort,” Shane suggested.

“I definitely think the bigger vehicle is a good idea. No offence but I am stuck between the four of you and it is too tight,” Vienna admitted.

I gave her a small pitying smile before grabbing Noah’s hand and heading towards the gas station. I waited until we were out of earshot before saying anything.

“What do you think of all this? I mean we are returning to St. Louis and our families, which could be nothing but ash soon,” I said solemnly.

“I don’t like any of this. Things are getting worse and worse at every turn. I wish we could go back to when it was just the four of us. The powers were cool and the situation didn’t seem as deadly. I am glad I met you and all, but when bad guys are getting murdered by worse guys, I want no part of it.”

“I agree this is getting pretty scary. I fear losing my family in St. Louis, but I fear being pinned for a murder I didn’t commit as well. One or the other is inevitable. It gives me the creeps just to think about it,” I admitted.

“Let’s just get the hose and some food. Then we can focus on what is going to happen,” Noah said as he opened the store door for me and ushered me inside.

I headed straight for the register and searched for a sack to put stuff in by the moonlight. Once I successfully found one, I hurried to grab some water and sodas. I filled the bags with drinks and reserved one for all the granola bars, chips and candy bars I could get my hands on. A hand grabbed my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I let out a shriek and turn around.

“You’re a little jumpy there,” Noah said with a little laugh.

“You scared me. Don’t do that in a place like this. It is creepy enough in the dark. I can’t have you sneaking up on me also,” I scolded.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I got the hose so I can get us some gas. I got to tell you, I am not looking forward to the syphoning part of this.”

Before I knew it, his hands were tangled in my hair and his lips were on mine. His kiss was fierce and desperate, his mood seeping through me. I couldn’t help it, his lips were soft and my heart picked up pace. I returned his kiss, as desperate as his until we were both breathing ragged. I reluctantly pulled away before things could spin out of control.

“Let’s get the heck out of here then. These dark empty places give me the creeps. I feel like zombies are going to spring out at any time,” I said.

“If there are zombies then we have much bigger problems,” he joked.

The mood was lighter as we stepped back out into the night and towards the SUV. I wondered briefly what it would be like if it had just been the four of us instead of the seven of us now. Shane would probably be with Nessa and I would have gotten a little closer with Noah. His rugged good looks were irresistible. I quickly snapped out of that train of thought and brought my attention back as we approached the SUV.

When we reached it, Mia was sitting in the front seat and Shane was leaning against the driver’s front door. Nessa, Liam and Vienna were stretching and chatting as they leaned against the back bumper.

“Shane is driving now. He is going to try and find us a usable van so we aren’t so cramped on the first leg of this new road trip to St. Louis. I will be so thrilled just to get out of cars and not road trip for a while. I am sick of the road,” Nessa grumped.

We girls took pleasure in watching the guys trying to syphon gas. They looked like the three stooges. Finally Shane ended up with the right amount of suction and got the gas from a car we pulled up next to. We ended up with enough gas to get us by until we found a change in vehicles.

I sat on Noah’s lap and the entire time all I could think about was the electricity that crackled between us as we touched. I was very aware of his hands resting on my hips. With every passing second, I wanted him more and more. My body’s response to him was so automatic; I couldn’t concentrate on anything but him.

I only broke free of my trance when Nessa caught my attention. She was sitting on Liam’s lap and her head snapped to the side before she was shouting, “Stop, there is a van right there!”

In the darkness led only by moonlight, Shane slowed to a stop and pulled over. In an instant, Nessa was out the door and Liam was following after her, I was trailing shortly behind them. We soon approached the van and examined it closely. It was a silver van, a few years older model. I lifted the door handle to make sure it was unlocked. To our good fortune, it was and the keys were dangling in the ignition.

I jumped into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The engine wouldn’t start and the battery was probably drained. I called to Shane to get the jumper cables and give us a jump. As soon as we managed to get the car connected to our SUV, I turned the keys again and the engine thrummed to life and I watched as the lit gauge went up to almost full.

“We are good; there is even plenty of gas. Let the others know that we can switch over now,” I said.

As soon as they turned back to tell the others, I left the engine running and made my way to the middle and sat down in a single seat. Things were progressing with Noah and I didn’t know how I felt about that. I felt bad being so hot and cold but my feelings were conflicting with my brain. I wanted to be with Noah, but every time I got close to him, images of Tom flooded back to me. The day Tom and I met, the day he proposed and the day he died flickered through my memories.

My thoughts were cut short by the others opening the doors and hopping in. Noah, the gentleman that he is, hauled our bags and put them in the back. Shane wasted no time getting into the driver’s seat and Mia in the passenger seat. Noah settled in the seat across from mine and Vienna slid to the back seat, followed by Liam and Nessa.

Liam and Nessa giggled amongst themselves as Shane pulled the car into gear and started down the highway of abandoned cars. The streets were scattered with an assortment of cars, trucks, SUV’s and semi’s. It was eerie to think about the ghostly highway littered with empty vehicles. A yawn escaped my lips and Noah handed me Mia’s blanket.

“Rest, I will watch over you, you’re exhausted. I can see it written all over your face,” he said in a gentle voice.

I was exhausted and craved sleep. Reluctantly, I settled and let my eyes slip shut. I blanked out my mind as a white canvas again, taking a deep breath to expel the thoughts of the day. I tried for a while, but all I could think about was the never ending loop of Tom my mind was caught in. Everything was so vivid and realistic. I felt so many emotions course through me as the different scenes played out.

The day I met Tom, I was at the little bakery just down the street from my tiny apartment. I was getting my usual, four vanilla cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting. I turned to leave and smacked right into a gorgeous blonde. His eyes met mine and I actually swooned. He caught and steadied me before I could reel it in. I felt like a girl in a romance movie, like Julia Roberts.

We had an instant connection and I knew from the start, it was something special. We ended up getting coffee and talking for hours. Afterwards, I was giddy all the way back to my apartment. When I got home, I checked my messages and he had already called and left a message asking me out for a dinner date. I instantly called him back and agreed. We had been a couple ever since.

Chapter 26:

I was startled back to consciousness by a hand gently brushing back my hair and tucking it behind my ear. I opened my blue eyes to see Noah peering at me with concern. I soon realized tears had escaped and I quickly wiped them away.