“It’s okay,” he says, studying my expression. “I’m not expecting anything from you. This world is too insane for relationships or dating. I just wanted to do something a normal eighteen-year-old guy would do, you know? Just in case I die properly next time.”
I let out a small laugh and smile shyly. “Okay.”
Just then, Zeke and Ben return with Stephan. He has a huge bruise from where I punched him, and looks incredibly angry. They’re carrying a box filled with cans of food. At last, we’ll be able to eat. Molly looks at Stephan coolly, as if to warn him that she has neither forgotten nor forgiven the gun incident.
“You must be the survivor,” Bree says with a friendly smile.
Stephan gives her a moody look. “That’s me.”
“Well, thanks for letting us stay here,” she adds, brightly. “We appreciate your hospitality.”
Stephan touches his jaw and winces. “I didn’t exactly have much choice.”
“Come on,” I say, peering into the box filled with can of beans and fruit. “Let’s eat.”
We gorge ourselves on the provisions, and as we do, we look over our map again, plotting out our route. Between mouthfuls of canned peaches, I look at Stephan.
“You said you knew a good route to Texas,” I say. “So, tell us.”
“The Mississippi is by far the safest route,” Stephan explains, pointing it out on the map. “You can follow its path all the way to Baton Rouge in Louisiana.”
“We have a boat,” I explain as I pop another piece of peach into my mouth. “It’s in Toledo Harbor. It would only take a couple of hours to head back and get it. We could send a small group.”
“A boat isn’t going to do you any good,” Stephan says, his laugh closer to a scoff.
“Why?” I ask, frowning.
“Because there’s no water in the Mississippi anymore. The riverbed is completely dry.”
“What?” I snap. “Then why would we even bother going that way?”
“Because it’s still the best route,” Zeke says gently. “And at least this way we won’t have to go back for the boat.”
I chuck my empty can down on the ground, making it clatter. Everyone jumps at the sound. I don’t know why I’m so angry, it’s just that fate seems to be throwing every obstacle it can at us.
“You really need to chill out,” Stephan says.
“Chill out?” I say, getting more irritated by the second. “What about this scenario do I have to be chilled out about?”
“Well,” Stephan says, haughtily, “how about the fact that I know somewhere nearby where we can get motorcycles?”
I stare at him, my mouth agape. “Why didn’t you say so?”
He gives me a smug look. “Maybe something to do with you punching me out cold. It didn’t exactly warm me to you.”
“Brooke!” Bree chastises me. “You didn’t, did you?”
“He was pointing a gun at Molly!” I cry, defending myself.
“Stephan,” Bree snaps at him. Then she looks at each of us in turn. “Can we all please stop arguing? It’s not doing any good. We’re all in this together so we may as well start acting like friends.”
I fold my arms and stare Stephan down. He gives me a fake smile, one that says we will probably never be friends. But if he knows how to get us bikes, and as long as I’m in possession of his gun, then we’re sticking together.
“Fine,” I say, relenting. “Let’s get some sleep. We leave for the Mississippi in the morning.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Ta-da,” Stephan says, gesturing to the open garage door.
I peer into the gloom. Inside I see several old vintage motor bikes and choppers, covered in thick dust and cobwebs. They look like they could have belonged to a gang of Hells Angels once upon a time. They’ve certainly seen better days.
“And these things work?” I ask, incredulous.
I can’t help thinking that Stephan’s led us on a wild goose chase.
“Oh, they work,” he replies.
He walks into the garage and toward one of the choppers, then retrieves the keys from inside its seat compartment. He twirls the keys around his fingers, showing off. I roll my eyes.
“Hurry up, please,” I say. Stephan’s really testing my patience.
He grins and finally puts a key in the ignition. The bike thrums to life, its engine roaring and throwing out fumes.
“I don’t believe it,” I say, pacing forward and drawing up beside the bike. “How much gas is in this thing?”
“It has a full tank,” Stephan replies. “They all do. I’ve been siphoning gas for years, filling them all up, just in case.”
“In case of what?”
“In case I ever found somewhere to go.”
For the first time since I’ve met him, I feel bad for Stephan. He’s a survivor like me, who’s done morally questionable things to survive just like I have. Making Molly a hostage was just a desperate act on his part. Can I really say I wouldn’t have done the same if our positions were reversed?
“Thanks,” I say, trying to sound sincere. “We’ll get to the Mississippi in no time at all with these. Come on, guys, grab a bike.”
Everyone enters the dark garage and chooses a vehicle. I make sure my bike has a sidecar so that Bree can travel with me with Penelope on her lap. It makes me feel better to have her close. Charlie chooses to ride in a sidecar with Ben. As Ryan attempts to mount a bike, I rest my hand gently on his arm.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea for you to be in control of a vehicle after what happened yesterday.”
“I’m not an invalid, Brooke,” he replies. “I’m fine now.”
“I know, I’m just being cautious. And anyway, you should be in a sidecar with Jack really. You are his master, after all.”
He finally agrees to get in the sidecar with Molly driving.
Before we set off, Zeke pulls out the map.
“It’s four hundred miles direct,” he says. “But that takes us straight through Chicago.”
I shake my head. “No way. We need to avoid Chicago entirely. There’ll be an arena there. I’m certain.”
He nods in agreement. “Then how about we take this route, heading slightly southwest? We’ll avoid Chicago completely, but it will add an extra three hours to the journey.”
“Three more hours?” Ryan repeats. “That’s a hell of a lot more gas used up than needs to be.”
“I think we should take the direct route,” Molly says, joining in the debate.
“I think we should take the safest route,” Ben contests.
I sigh, my head filled with thoughts that swirl around. “Is there anywhere to stop off midway?” I ask Zeke. “We could do with hunting and picking up some more provisions.”
Stephan makes a scoffing noise. “Yeah, great idea, since you’ve eaten all my rations.”
Even though it’s true that we finished up the last of his rations over breakfast, I shoot him a glare and he quiets down.
Zeke shows me a spot on the map that’s meant to be a wooded area. It’s on the direct route, close to Chicago. It would be risky to go that way but I’m starting to think it’s our best bet.
“Remember this map is about a hundred years old,” Zeke reminds me. “Whether that wood is still there or not, there’s no guarantee.”
I nod, understanding that it would be a risk to head somewhere we can’t be certain exists, especially when it’s so close to a major city.
“Molly and Ryan are right,” I say finally. “We need to head the most direct route. We can stop off here in the forest, pick up some provisions, have a rest. Then we’ll detour a little south so that we miss Chicago entirely.”
I look up at my friends, hoping for confirmation. Ben’s the only one who doesn’t look impressed. He must think I’m siding with Ryan when I’m really just trying to do what’s best for everyone.