"Can't you lift the whole thing by yourself?" I asked him.
"It's a little heavy," he pointed out.
I sighed, but picked up my end of the mattress. He was right. The water-logged frame was heavy. We hefted it out of the culvert and close to the fire. I dropped my end and sat down in the center of the mattress. My feet stretched out towards the flames.
I lay down and sighed. The warmth from the fire kept me warm. The last image I had before my eyes closed was of Vincent.
CHAPTER 9
The dream. It was the same from before. I stood in the middle of the wasteland. To my left was the deep gash in the earth that invited death for those careless enough to walk to the edge. This time I avoided it and turned my attention to the rest of the landscape. Nothing but barren ground around me and rocky mountains in the distance. I cupped my hands around my mouth.
"Hello?" My voice echoed across the valley in which I stood. It was the only reply. "Hello?"
"You seek to know the truth, but will the truth please you?" a gravelly voice answered.
I narrowed my eyes. "Who's there?"
"How funny. She demands to know who I am when she doesn't know who she is."
A light flared up behind me. I spun around and watched as a giant wall of flames shot up from the canyon. The heat from the wall stung me. I raised my arm over my face.
My eyes flew open. I sat up and looked around me. There was nothing but the desolation of mud and weeds. The river meandered not far off from where I sat atop the mattress. I looked to my right. The fire burned with life as it consumed a recently sacrificed log. On the opposite side of the fire lay Vincent beneath his large coat. His eyes were shut and his breathing was even.
I ran a hand through my hair. Loose strands fell into my face and stuck in the sweat that covered my brow.
"What the hell is going on?" I whispered.
There was no answer forthcoming, so I lay down and went back to sleep. No new dreams interrupted my rest, and when I awoke it was to a hand on my shoulder.
My eyes fluttered open. A shadow stood over me. I started up and wrapped my fingers around the grip of my gun. The shadow held up their palms towards me.
"It's just me, Vincent," the shadow reminded me.
I relaxed. My hand slid to my side. "What do you want?"
He dropped his hands and slumped his shoulders. "I just wanted to ask you if you wanted something to eat." He stepped aside and revealed a lively fire. Atop the flames was the grill and another can of beans.
I looked up at the sky. The weak light of the sun sat on the eastern horizon. I glanced at my watch. Eight o'clock.
"An hour. . ." I murmured.
Vincent paused over the beans. A stirring spoon was clutched in one hand. He looked up at me. "Pardon?"
I swung my legs over the side of the mattress and stretched my feet towards the fire. "We have an hour until the banks open. Since I don't have enough money on me for a taxi I'll start walking now."
"What about a credit card?" he suggested.
I stood and shook my head. "I don't want them to be able to trace where I went. Besides, it's just a couple miles to my bank. I'll be there and back in no time, and I could use the exercise to stretch my legs."
I walked away down the beach front southward away from camp.
"Hey, Leila?"
I paused and half-turned to Vincent. He stood close to the fire. A light breeze blew over us. His coat flapped in the wind. My necklace lay over the front of his coat. "Yeah?"
"Don't take too long, okay?"
I smiled at him. "Just three hours, remember?"
"I won't go anywhere until you come back," he promised.
"Don't worry. I doubt I'll have much trouble," I replied.
Little did I know what Fate had in store for me as I set out down the beach. I found a flight of concrete stairs a half mile down that took me to the street above the trash. The townhouses loomed above me as I walked down the sidewalk. Cars flew by as people raced the clock on their way to work.
I checked the time. Eight-thirty. In thirty-five minutes I'd be late for work again.
"Elliott wouldn't believe my excuse. . ." I murmured to myself.
None of that mattered now. I'd promised myself to this adventure with this strange, amnesia-suffering man named Vincent Mortale.
"Vincent. . ." I whispered. Was that even his real name?
My thoughts kept me occupied until the residential blocks fell away and were replaced by the commercial district. The townhouses changed to skyscrapers. Buses and taxis mingled with the cars. I joined the thick foot traffic that covered the sidewalks until I came to my stop.
My bank was a local city bank, the Royal Credit Union. The exterior of their offices mimicked the look of stone and were set back from the street so a pool of water could surround the building. Steps led up to a wide platform and the four doors that made up the entrance. The interior was completely modern. Marble floors reflected the heels of customers' shoes and overhead was a large chandelier. A long row of teller windows stood against the wall opposite the entrance. A short line stood at attention in front of the occupied teller windows.
I stepped into line and glanced at my watch. Ten minutes after nine. I'd have forty minutes to get my money and leave. The line moved forward at a steady pace, and after ten minutes I found myself at one of the windows.
I slid the teller my driver's license. "I'd like to make a withdrawal from my checking and savings accounts."
"And how much would you like to withdraw?" he asked me.
"All of it."
He raised an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong with our service, ma'am?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No, I'm just going to need it, that's all."
"Very well." He typed my name into the computer. In a few moments the cash drawer beneath the counter sprang open and he counted out the bills. "One hundred, two hundred-"
"I'll believe you," I assured him.
"All right," he agreed. He finished the count silently and handed me the money. "Will there be anything else today?"
I rolled the money into a wad and tucked it securely into the inside pocket of my coat. "Nope, that's it."
He smiled and bowed his head. "Have a good day."
I clacked across the marble floor and stepped outside. The bright glare of the sun forced me to pause and blink. I raised my arm and glanced up at the sky.
That's when someone pressed the barrel of the gun against my lower spine. I felt a cold, familiar voice breath down my neck.
"Don't move or I'll be forced to use this."
I frowned and dropped my arm to my side. "Is that any way to speak to a citizen, Officer Pararius?"
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side out of the traffic that moved through the front doors. "Where is Mortale?"
I raised an eyebrow. So that really was his real name. "Haven't seen him." Not in over an hour.
I winced when Pararius pressed the gun harder against my spine. His voice hissed down my neck. "Don't fool with me, human. Tell me and I will let you go."
I snorted. "Like I'm supposed to believe you?"
He shoved me forward towards the steps. "Then move."
Pararius led me down the steps. A black sedan pulled up to the curb. The rear passenger door opened and Leno stepped out. The only evidence of her terrible facial injuries that remained were two faint, jagged lines of pink skin. She stepped aside. The way was clear into the car. My eyes widened as Pararius pushed me towards the exterior.
The crosswalk to our right turned green. The heavy traffic flowed away and towards us. A wave of people swelled behind us and between us and the car.
I jabbed my elbow into Pararius' gut and jumped into the flow of leftward traffic.
"Get her!" I heard Leno yell.
I snaked my way through the mess of people and glanced over my shoulder. Pararius pushed the people aside. His prodigious strength caused whole columns of pedestrians to crash onto the sidewalk. H
is right hand was hidden in his pocket.
He gained on me. I rushed forward. Step by step I lost ground. I looked behind me. He was a yard away. His hand reached out for me. I twisted around and pulled out my gun. I aimed the weapon and fired.
The two shots flew straight up. The world turned into chaos. People screamed and scattered. Some ducked onto the ground. Cars braked and crashed into each other. People looked out office buildings. Others slammed their windows shut.
Pararius lunged at me. He grabbed my left wrist and pointed the gun at the ground. A deft twist and he forced me to drop my gun. I stumbled back and clutched my wrist. The nerves throbbed. He pulled out his gun and pressed it against my forehead. His lips curled back in a maniacal grin.
A tall, red-coated figure flew up from the crowd. They darkened the sky and their shadow flew ahead of them. Pararius saw the shadow and spun around. He swung the gun upward, but the figure slammed him into the sidewalk. The concrete beneath them cracked and sank into a depression in the shape of Pararius' outline.
The figure knelt even with me, and I saw it was indeed the gray werewolf from before.
"Vincent!" I yelled.
The creature didn't acknowledge me. It leaned down so its snout nearly touched Pararius' face and curled its lips back in a hideous snarl. Pararius' eyes widened. Sweat poured down his forehead. His body quivered as he shook his head.
"No. No! N-" His final word was cut short when the gray werewolf bit into his throat.
The sharp fangs dug deep into Pararius' flesh. Blood splattered everywhere. A horrible gurgling noise escaped Pararius' mouth. Blood dribbled from the corners of his mouth and his eyes dimmed.
I covered my mouth with one hand and stepped back. The crowds around us parted. My eyes caught sight of the gleam from my gun. I lunged for it as the werewolf raised its head. Its blood-soaked teeth dripped with the precious life liquid.
I snatched my weapon and pointed the barrel at the creature. My hand trembled, but whether from the pain of the burns or fear I couldn't say. The werewolf stood and stepped away from its victim. Those terrible eyes never left mine. My eyes flickered down to Pararius. His throat was torn apart.
The werewolf stepped towards me. I whipped my head up and tightened my grip on the gun. "Don't come any closer!" I warned it.
The creature stopped. Its eyes narrowed. The coat it wore rippled in a soft breeze that lifted the stagnation of this terrible city. The crowds were gone. Abandoned cars littered the streets. No one dared leave their office buildings.
Sirens broke the silence. Police sirens. I glanced in their direction, and when I returned my attention to the creature it was gone. Vanished. I lowered my gun and swept the area. Not a trace was left except its victim and a pool of blood where it had stood.
I holstered my gun and hurried into the nearest alley. My life in this place was officially over.
CHAPTER 10
The network of alleys led me back to the beach. I hurried down the stairs and glanced down the beach. A dark figure sat on the barrel. The hunched posture told me it was Vincent. He noticed my coming and stood just as I arrived at our camp.
"I heard sirens. Was everything okay?" he asked me.
I stopped three yards from him and looked him over. There was no sign of blood. "Have you been here the entire time?" I questioned him.
He nodded. "Yeah, why?"
I sat down on my drum and brushed away some loose hairs. Sweat soaked my temples. "Because things just went from bad to worse. That werewolf showed up again."
His eyes widened. "At the bank?"
I closed my eyes and shook my head. "No, worse. Outside the bank. The same people from last night tried to get me into a car and-"
"What?" His eyes widened. "What people? What did they want?"
"They weren't exactly talkative. They tried to get me into their car, but their plans were cut short when the werewolf showed up." My eyes flickered up and I studied Vincent's concerned face. "You're sure you were here the entire time?"
He nodded. "Yeah. At least, I think I'm sure. I don't remember doing anything else."
I snorted. "That isn't exactly comforting, but I guess it doesn't matter. What matters is it was worth it." I rummaged through my pockets and was glad when my fingers brushed over the roll I'd stashed there earlier. I pulled out the wad of bills and turned it over in my hand. "This should get us some decent supplies and it'll last longer if we avoid motels. Unfortunately, we can't spend it in the city. After that fiasco we'll probably see my face plastered on the front covers of all the newspapers."
His eyes fell on the bills and widened. "That looks like a lot of money."
"My life-savings," I admitted as I pocketed the cash. I stood and looked around the camp. "Got any more cans of beans?"
He nodded at a pile of half a dozen cans. "There's those, but that's it."
I snatched the blanket from the mattress and spread it on the ground. The cans were tossed inside, and I wrapped them in a bundle. "This should work until we get to another town."
I hefted the bag over my shoulder and glanced at Vincent. He stood partially faced away from me. His eyes lay on the townhouses and cars that passed above us.
"You okay?" I asked him.
He shook himself and turned to me with a smile. "Yeah. I guess I just got to thinking."
I raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. I feel-" He sighed and shook his head. "I don't know why but I feel disappointment."
"Maybe you came here to do something," I suggested.
He hung his head. "Yeah, maybe. I guess I might never find out."
"Maybe your memories are waiting for you in the north," I reminded him. I readjusted the sack over my shoulder. "Anyway, we should go."
Vincent turned his face to me and smiled. "You're right."
We turned away from our camp and trudged down the muck and rocks that made up the river shore. Behind us were two lives destroyed by reasons we didn't know and couldn't understand. Before us was the unknown. I paused and looked up at the sky. The white silhouette of the approaching full moon hung over us.
"Leila?" Vincent called.
I shook myself and looked to him. He stood a yard ahead of me.
"I'm coming," I replied.
And we went together into the void of uncertain adventures.
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