The Ride - Chapter 14 - The Ride (for Denmother)

[OMR]

It seemed to Glen that he had held his breath for about 15 minutes waiting for whatever had broken down the bedroom door to come busting through the bathroom door. He finally let out a long shuttering breath and for the first time turned to look at Sandy. She had been lightly tapping on his arm for several minutes, like a pesky fly that just wouldn’t go away. The first thing he noticed was her crystal blue eyes. They were wide and wild. Then he happened to look over her shoulder and his eye went the same way. “We’re not in Kansas and more, Toto!” he muttered. She gave him a brief quizzical look and then returned to looking wild eyed. He preferred the quizzical look.

He had expected to see his old neighborhood beyond their house… the old reliable street that ran straight and true in either direction… other houses that would be sitting on comfortable neatly trimmed lawns… driveways filled with cars, bikes and early morning papers. But what greeted Glen’s gaze was a barren plain. The large trees that had framed his street looked like skeletons. The street was in great disrepair with weeds spouting from every crack. The houses that he expected to see were nothing but ruins. He could make out wooden beams sticking out of the pile of rubble, lath and plaster. Here and there were cars that had completely rusted out, their windows gone and door wide open.

Glen didn’t know quite what to say. A loud sound of splintering wood and shattering glass came from within the house. Glen quickly glanced back through the bathroom window at the door… but saw nothing. Making up his mind that he really didn’t want to see what had been on the other side of that door; he grabbed Sandy’s hand and pulled her across the slippery roof. Several times they had almost taken a tumble off but somehow Glen had managed to get them safely to the corner of the roof where he could lower himself down onto the top of the fence and finally onto the ground. It took a little more talking to get Sandy down, but she finally stood next to him, breathing heavily. He noticed that she had a small smudge of dirt on her cheek and her golden hair was blowing across her face. She looked absolutely beautiful. He felt stirrings within himself. He almost laughed out loud. What a time to be horny! Sandy had given him another quizzical look. Later, he thought… if there was ever to be a later.

Crouching down, his gaze took in the surrounding area, weighing their options. It was as though the whole house had been transported to another time. His first thought was post atomic. The surrounding area looked like it had been hit with a pile driver. There were no trees, bushes, or grass… nothing green. Everything was shades of dirty brown. It was while he was staring at the surrounding dirt that his eyes caught the outline of large… no, make that giant prints in the dirt. They looked like a cat’s paw only with more toes and 5 times bigger. Glen glanced down at the small weapon and realized that this might not be enough to stop whatever had made those tracks. They had to move now!

Staying low, he and Sandy ran around the back of the house to the side door of the garage. Luckily, the door opened and they slipped in. Inside the light shown through the garage door windows illuminating the car that they had stuffed the other Glen’s body into. Well, they wouldn’t have to worry about disposing of the body now. Glen opened the trunk and lifted the body out and placed it on the floor against the door leading into the house. Maybe if whatever was in the house making all that noise suddenly came through the door, it would have something to chew on before it turned its attention to Glen and Sandy.

Without a word Sandy had climbed into the passenger side’s front seat. Glen looked around the garage looking for things that he should take with them. He threw several filled gas cans into the back. Thank God the other Glen had been prepared! He also found some sleeping bags, a large can of water, rope, a stove he wasn’t familiar with and a locker of dried food packages. The best find was a case of what looked to be dark beer. Glen hoped the other glen’s taste was similar to his. Throwing all this into the back seat of the car, Glen jumped in and realized that he didn’t have a key. He would have to go back into the house and search for them…. something he wasn’t looking forward to.

Sandy looked over and saw there were no keys, opened the door, got out, went over to the other Glen and took the keys out of his pocket, climbed back in and handed them to Glen. “Here you go, Slowboy” He could have kissed her right then and there…. And probably would have but there was a loud thump against the door leading into the house. Whatever was in there wanted into the garage. Glen started the car, fingered the garage door remote expecting the garage door to open. It didn’t and he realized that there was no electricity to open it. Climbing back out of the car, Glen pulled on the manual release for just such an emergency and the garage door slid upwards. Jumping back in the car, Glen floored it. The car literally leaped forward just as the door to the house crashed outwards. Glen glanced into the rearview mirror, saw a large dark shape that seemed to cover the whole back of the car… but then the car was at the bottom of the drive and he turned into what was left of the street.

Glen felt rather than heard the sound of something that had lost its prey. Sandy’s head turned to look back and her crystal blue eyes went even wider. Somehow, glen didn’t really want to know what was back there. All Sandy could say was “Faster…Faster…Drive Faster!” He did!!!

Although he could see the vague outline of the road, he didn’t quite know where he was going. He had the strange sense that he was going south. Sandy had laid her hand on his right leg and he suddenly felt a pang of familiarity. His Sandy had always done that. Maybe they weren’t so different.

Glen realized that his mouth was completely dry. Glen reached around the seat and found the case of beer. Keeping his eyes on the outline of the road, he pulled a bottle out and twisted off the cap and handed it to Sandy. She looked at him thankfully, took it and took a long pull on the dark bottle and handed it to Glen. He put the bottle to his mouth and like-wise took a long deep drink and almost finished the bottle. I say one thing, he thought, they sure knew how to make beer here… or wherever he had been. He handed back to Sandy and she finished off the bottle and threw it out the window. He caught himself just before he was about to tell her not to litter.

The sun was starting to go down as he pulled into what was left of the city of Laguna Beach. He could recognize certain buildings here and there. In fact there was the cycle shop he had so long ago broken into. He slowed just enough to see that the insides of the store seemed empty. The two story building was made of brick and seemed to be in fairly good condition. In fact, the upper story windows were intact. This might be a good place to hold up for the night. Glen pulled the car off the road around the back of the store. He parked next to the open back door. Climbing out, Glen told Sandy to wait in the car. She didn’t argue. Holding the gun and flashlight in front of him as he had been taught as a soldier, Glen slipped into the store and to his right and crouched down ready for anything. But the only movement was from a rusted bicycle wheel that seemed to be turning from the wind.

Moving through the store, Glen glanced at rusted bike frames that seemed to be thrown around as though a child had been playing there and suddenly left without picking up. Glen moved to the stairwell that went up to the second story. Climbing the stairs, they protested all the way with cracks and pops. If he had been trying to sneak up on someone, all elements of surprise were now gone. Pushing open the door at the top of the stairs, Glen’s flashlight caught movement in the beam. Unable to stop himself, Glen fired off a round which was answered with a shattering of glass. Lowering the gun, Glen saw that there was now a very large hole in the mirror in the hallway. Glen looked at the weapon and whistled. Packs quite a punch, he thought. Somehow he felt better.

There was a creaking and pop behind him and it was all Glen could do not to whirl and shoot whatever was behind him on the stairs. Sandy’s big blue eyes looked back at him. “Damn! I almost shot you, Sandy!” She quickly hurried up the stairs and into his arms. There were tears in her eyes. “I didn’t know what was happening. I heard the shot and just had to find you.” “I understand”, Glen said and motioned to the mirror. I’m one for one with mirrors now…” Sandy’s arms snaked up and around his neck. She pulled his head down and let her soft lips kiss his ear, face and finally lips. He returned her kisses with fervor. He could feel stirrings again. It’s got to be all this danger that makes me so horny, he thought. Sandy’s hands had begun to undo his belt and zipper, then froze when the stairs started to creak and pop again. All thoughts of sex were suddenly lost in stark reality….

Someone or something was coming to join them.

[sdyeti]

Woohoo!! Keeping me on the edge of my seat!!!

[Pain Freak]

More!!!

[J_Sims]

I saw chapter 13 and the ride and thought someone spent too much $$ on bikes and was filing BK LOL

[xhuskr]

keep it coming!

[foofighter]

thanks for the read Gregg! just what i needed.

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice way to cap off a good training ride. Thanks OMR.

[OMR]

I keep getting emails asking for the early chapters... FYI: grasshoppers, Gene has put a stickie in the Pub for all past chapters

[genusmtbkr5]

Hey Gregg, just noticed that there was already a chapter 13. Shouldn't this one be chapter 14?

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/pub/12535-ride-chapter-13-say-aint-so.html#post177834

[OMR]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Hey Gregg, just noticed that there was already a chapter 13. Shouldn't this one be chapter 14?

The Ride - Chapter 13 Say it ain't so!

That's what happens when you get old!.. You're right... can you change this to chapter 14? Thanks.

How are the knees today?

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by OMR

That's what happens when you get old!.. You're right... can you change this to chapter 14? Thanks.

Done.

Originally Posted by OMR

How are the knees today?

Last night, I couldn't even put pressure on it. I took a couple pain pills and some Glucosamine/Chondrotin. Today, I can walk at least. I'll take it easy for a bit and I'll be fine. Thanks for waiting, always a pleasure to ride with you.

[denmother]

Fantastico!!!! Chapter 15??????

[Red Hot Sloth]

Yea yea yea yea...gimme more, gimme more!!!!

[53-12]

Posted five days ago, and I just now found it? Man I am slipping. Oh well better late than never. Thanks, and bring on the next chapter.

[Wrecker]

How can you continue to keep us on edge at the end of each chapter? Don't you have a conscious?

[slowSSer]

OMR: thanks for giving me something to smile for here sitting in a dingy smoke filled bar in st louis.


(NOT kiddin about the smoke filled part- at least the G&T's sre strong)