U.G.L.Y. Part 2

I headed east, now knowing the kids were probably safe for the time being. If she had been gone for days then she was probably not still on the road. Her sister lived in a more isolated place than we lived. Maybe they would be safe for the time being.

I decided to find them. they were in the Sierras, in Lake Tahoe city. That is where I was going. I drove East to highway 395 then headed north.

The drive would be long. It was dark now and I expected it would take most of the night to drive the full distance. I settled in for the long trip. I pulled out an IPod and scanned the list of artists looking for something soothing that would calm my nerves and push the racing thoughts out of my mind.

I believed the kids were safe, I stopped thinking about anything specific and let my mind clear. Images began to flow through my head as the road stretched out in front of me into the distance.

I thought of a woman. When I was unnerved I would often create an image of a woman in my mind. It made me feel warm and peaceful. Usually she was imaginary, something perfect that my senses craved.

My thoughts turned to a woman from my past. She was what I found to be most intriguing about the women I had known. She was beautiful, l.u.s.tful, sensual, and a complete pain in the a.s.s. She made me anxious and I decided she was the wrong image for me to carry to try to calm down.

I chuckled to myself as an image of a new woman crossed my mind. she was a recent love interest who was young, beautiful, smart, and s.e.xy. She easily had 10 years on me but for some reason had some attachment to me.

We had been dating off and on for a while and I was beginning to fall for her. But I couldn't trust the feeling. I had been married for 15 years to a woman who wrung every ounce of energy out of me. I had a bad habit of running myself into the ground over a woman.

Amanda asked me to open up emotionally to her. I did, through my breakdown I opened up. It wasn't what she wanted after all and she asked me to leave.

How could I trust how I felt about a new love. I decided to put those thoughts out of my mind and wondered where she was. She was out of town and I hoped she was safe and longed to see her.

-Drive-.

The US 395 was a long desolate stretch of California highway that connected the southern part of state with Northern destinations like Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Tahoe. Tahoe was where I was headed. Jaime had said Amanda had taken the kids to her sisters, and that's where she lived.

It was difficult to keep track of the kids. Amanda was always taking off with them because she was p.i.s.sed off at something. It really didn't matter what it was. She didn't need much of a nudge and she would unleash her fury on anyone in earshot. Proclaiming how the world was against her and no one respected her, She would pack up the kids and take off.

I spent much more time than I wanted tracking them down and persuading their mother to come back to town. I wasn't nice about it, but she usually responded which kept the sheriff from getting involved. That, however, had happened from time to time anyway. I had my share of visits from sympathetic sheriff's deputies responding to a false phone call from her.

She was always the eternal victim. I was glad for the fact I didn't have to deal with her on a daily basis anymore. Living with a woman like that presented daily nightmares that I didn't have to face anymore. Now there was a new nightmare to face.

I drove past the last gas stop before the first long stretch of highway started north. The last bits of civilization pa.s.sed by in the darkness. Gas stations displaying bright signs inviting weary travelers to stop in, gas up and enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee. The nightmare that was coming hadn't gotten here yet and people strolled down the road unaware of the horror that was headed their way.

I was calmer now, my panic had faded and overwhelming rush of relief washed over me knowing that I was heading towards my family.

I was beginning to feel exhaustion. I could clearly recount the past few hours now in gruesome detail. I remembered walking out of the bar and hearing the distant screaming. It was unforgettable. That sound would stay with me, like noise in the back of my mind as I drove north.

It was dark now and the road ahead, illuminated by the cars headlights, seemed to fade into a dark abyss in the distance. The car rolled along over the subtle hills. One after another they rose and fell, like waves on the sea.

I was getting drowsy now and my mind was fogging up. I fumbled in the center console for the IPod and tried to change the music to something more upbeat that might wake me. The sound of rain came through the speakers, then a sullen baseline setting the tone of the song.

"Riders on the storm" the lyrics began.

My mind started to fade again as the lyrics repeated. The road ran on into the dark and the music played in the background. An image began to form in my cloudy mind.

The morning sun streaked through gaps in window curtains, beams stretch across a quiet room. I opened my eyes and found myself lying in bed. It was morning, and I could feel a warmth in the air, like summer. The windows in the room were open and a ceiling fan was spinning overhead, circulating warm soothing air around my body.

I didn't know how I got there but it felt good. I felt good, no stress, or tension, nothing lingering or nagging in my mind. I hadn't felt like that in a very long time.

A soft moan escaped a body lying next to me. Covered in a thin white bed sheet. I turned to see my partner but I can't focus on her. The figure rolled over to face me and as she did the sheet slips to the side revealing a beautiful naked body.

I followed the curves of her body as my focus cleared. I traced the curve of her legs, her hips, her mid section, the swell of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. My eyes rolled over her shoulders and along her neck, I stopped to focus on her hair, it was dark with subtle curls.

Her form was familiar. I had felt her before, felt her presence, I knew her, but her face was not clear. She wasn't recognizable but still attached to me somehow. I knew her as my lover.

She slid towards me and gently grasped my erection, gently kissing me. Tightening her grip she slowly moved her hand, sending an intense sensation through my body with each stroke. She slid her tongue into my mouth, caressing mine.

I felt an overwhelming warmth and love. I knew I loved this woman but I still didn't know who she was. I couldn't focus on her face.

She wrapped her legs around me and I could feel her heat against my leg. I could feel how aroused she was. She was wet, pressing hard against me she moaned softly.

In the distance, outside the bedroom window a horn began to blow. A deep horn like the kind you hear on a big truck. It began to get louder and sound closer. Eventually it sounded like a truck had pulled up under the window of the bedroom and blared its horn. As it got louder the light in the room got brighter. Brighter and brighter until the beautiful form of this woman was washed out by the light.

I opened my eyes to find I had fallen asleep and drifted across lanes. I was facing the headlights of a very large semi truck.

Panicked, I sat upright in the drivers seat. I leaned forward and jerked the steering wheel hard to the left. The semi truck attempted to swerve out of my path but the two vehicles made contact. It didn't take more than a touch at the speed we were traveling. A slight touch was enough to send my SUV into a spin and it careened off the road into the dark desert.

I managed to keep control of the car and bring it to a stop. I laid my head down on the steering wheel. My body shook from the adrenaline rush that was so intense, I couldn't stop myself from crying.

After a while the shaking had stopped and I lifted my head, wiped my eyes and looked out through the winds.h.i.+eld. The dust had settled and I could see that the headlights were partially obscured by large desert plants. Just beyond that, the ground seemed to disappear. 10 Feet ahead of the vehicle, the ground fell away at least 100 feet down into darkness. A very large ditch was cut into the desert, housing railway tracks as they traveled under the highway.

I turned off the car, killed the headlights and stepped out into the cool desert air. I took a deep breath and began to feel a calm wash over me again. Still shaking, I sat down on the ground and just stared off to the north, listening to the wind.

I felt strangely tranquil and after some time my eyes adjusted to the landscape. The desert was faintly illuminated by a waxing crescent moon. Eventually, I noticed a yellow glow over a hill to the north.

"It must be Kramer Junction" I was talking loudly to no one. "It cant be too far. I need gas and I could use a shot of anything right now" I said to the darkness.

After some effort, I managed to get the SUV back on the road. There was little damage to the car except some scratches and dents. With the four wheel drive I was easily able to drive out of the soft sand and back onto the pavement.

I drove north following the glowing horizon. It took another hour of driving before I crested the last hill. Two intersecting remote highways met below, surrounded by the light from restaurants and gas stations, spread out across the valley floor.

-Crossroads-.

Kramer Junction rose out of the desert like a Christmas parade. A crossroads intersecting US 395 and US 58, quite literally in the middle of nowhere. It was an oasis of fast food restaurants and gas stations offering weary travelers treats for their tired bodies and tired vehicles.

I sat behind the wheel of my SUV and stared into the flickering lights. As the vehicle descended the hill covering the final 10 or so miles of road, a flash caught my eye in the distance. To the North of the junction a prison sat on a hill. This prison was not affected by the first wave of infection but It was one of the prisons authorities had transferred surviving prisoners to, making room for the ill.

The flash I saw was the lights in the prison flickering on and off, then a small explosion followed that could be seen sending a fireball into the night sky that lit up the surrounding desert. The flash disappeared quickly and before I could give it much more thought I had arrived at a gas station on the edge of the junction.

I badly needed to stretch my legs and get a cup of coffee, maybe a bottle of whiskey as well. I pulled into the station and up to the nearest pump. I thought briefly that the explosion I saw was a result of the new infection and it had now gotten ahead of me as I worked my way North. That thought sent a shudder through my body and my next thought led me to never finding the kids. I pushed it out of my mind and slowly walked towards the door to the mini mart.

Through the lit window I could see people inside the store, standing very still and watching a TV screen. I walked into the store and could hear a news report about the outbreak in the southland area creating a growing death toll. And it was spreading.

"Hey kid" I said loudly so I could get the clerks attention "I need gas".

"Uh, yea" the clerk, a young kid with dirty blond hair about 18 answered "how much?"

"Here Take $50, that should fill it up.

I glanced at the TV monitor hanging above the register to see a reporter in a news room reading a prepared statement from the CDC. The statement said that people were showing symptoms similar to the original U.G.L.Y outbreak and were attacking each other. The reporter described what I had seen outside the bar. It seemed to be spreading through contact with other patients who would rapidly fall ill before becoming very aggressive. There were reports of containment. I knew there was no containment, I saw how fast it spread and what its victims turned into.

"Contained my a.s.s" I said a little louder than I had expected to.

A few heads turned to look at me but turned back to watch the screen without asking me about what I said. I turned slowly to the door and walked out into the night air. What a f.u.c.king mess this was. I was having some difficulty understanding what was happening even though I watched it happen in front of me. I was growing suspicious of groups of people and Wondered if I should avoid populated areas.

I started ga.s.sing up the car and thought about the first wave of the infection. An epidemic that caused millions of people to kill each other. No one really knew yet what had caused it and the event had pa.s.sed so fast there was little the CDC or government officials could do to try to understand it.

What I saw at the bar was similar. The behavior of the infected was like it was before except they didn't kill the people they attacked. They were infecting each other with purpose.

Out of the corner of my eye off in the distance I saw headlights swerving back and forth and could hear very faint popping sounds.

"POP, POP"

Seconds later, as the lights got closer I realized I was hearing gunshots. Two sets of headlights were rapidly coming towards the gas station. As they got closer I could make out the details of two vehicles. The vehicle in the rear was a police vehicle with an unlit light bar across its roof. A man leaned out of the pa.s.senger side window and was firing at the vehicle in the lead.

I rushed to put the gas nozzle back in the pump and ran around the car, pulling the keys out as I moved. I jumped in the drivers seat and started the engine. The two vehicles were getting very close now and couldn't have been more than a block away.

I threw the gear selector into drive and pushed my foot to the floor. Just as I cleared the curb and started onto the street the vehicles came into the parking lot of the gas station. They must have been within 100 yards of me and I could see the drivers and pa.s.sengers clearly.

The men in the first car were prisoners dressed in orange jumpsuits. The pa.s.senger in the second car was leaning out of the window and firing a shotgun repeatedly at the first car. As the two vehicles entered the parking lot of the gas station, a shot hit the right rear tire of the first car. The tire exploded and the car began to roll. The rolling car smashed straight into the gas station store front.

I could see the surprised faces of the patrons that were huddled inside as the car rolled over and over. It careened through the gla.s.s and burst into flames. The police vehicle following, tried to stop but was moving too fast and lost control. The car hit the fuel pumps, instantly igniting them.

I pushed harder on the gas peddle and tried to get some distance between me and the blast. The desert lit up with the light from the fireball. It was so bright it was almost like daylight.

I drove North as fast as the car would go. After a few minutes the light from the explosion dissipated and withdrew into a faint orange glow behind me. I shook my head trying to get the image of the shocked faces behind the store window out of my mind. Just ahead on the hill I could see the prison more clearly than before. It was on fire. All I had seen since this nightmare started was buildings burning. I pa.s.sed the access road to the prison and I could make out the silhouette of people running along the road. It was difficult to tell if they were prisoners or guards. As I drove past I could hear the screech of the infected. I focused my eyes on the road ahead as a shudder went through me.

-Miles to Go-.

The drive went on forever it seemed. I drove through the night, stopping when I could for gas or to get coffee. There were a number of small towns, isolated gas stops along the road. The people at these stops were half asleep retirees or high school kids barely awake enough to notice I was there.

As the night wore on I was getting anxious again. I couldn't stop imagining the horrible state the kids could be in. I was sure Amanda had made a bad call and left them with some "friend" which she tended to do.

I started to remember how bad the divorce was and how many times she had tried to take the kids away from me. I thought she did it to get more money. I was flushed and could feel anger start welling up inside me at the thought.

The first light of dawn was beginning to appear in the east. As the sun rose I could see mountains ahead and I began the long climb towards lake Tahoe. I followed the windy road through the foot hills, then into the mountains and reached a turnout that overlooked the lake just as the sun cleared the horizon and daylight filled the sky.

I stopped the car to stretch my legs. I walked to the edge of the look out and pulled my ball cap down over my brow. In the valley below was Lake Tahoe and if I squinted I could see Lake Tahoe City. That's where I needed to go to find the kids. I thought again about whether it was a good idea to come here. If this was where she really was.

She could have been anywhere, she had friends and boyfriends all over the mountains and I didn't know if she would take refuge with family or friends first. She didn't trust her family so she found friends to help her. Anywhere there was a ski resort she had visited there would be a group of ski b.u.ms she hung out with.

I wondered if the information her boyfriend gave me was right. It was too late if he was wrong. I was sure he was dead or infected by now. I decided that he didn't have any reason to lie to me and at this point it didn't matter. I was here now and I was going to look regardless.

I tried to avoid a creeping desperate thought of what I would do if they weren't there. It was a terrible helpless feeling that was lingering in the back of my mind. I drove on, down the winding road and into the city.

-Hopeless-.

Lake Tahoe was a resort town the size of a small city. It had hotels and casinos and a thriving economy built from gambling and tourism. Normally the population this time of year was pretty high, lots of tourists and gamblers.

There were very few people around as I drove through town. The news of the coming disaster was spreading and I was sure the people here knew what was happening. Maybe those that had the resources took off. Maybe they thought they could find some safe refuge. Maybe they made an attempt at get to their loved ones in areas that were beginning to get overrun.

I drove through town. The main road branched into a series of small streets leading into residential areas. I turned onto the street that Amanda's sister lived.

It was a nice neighborhood. her husband was a local contractor and had done pretty well for himself building vacation homes. This area always had work for people interested in providing a vacation getaway for the rich.

I could see the house a half a block ahead and in the driveway I could clearly see Amanda's car. I parked and tried to straighten my clothes up. I looked pretty rough after the events of the night and I didn't want to scare the kids.

I walked up to the house, took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Knock, Knock, Knock"

No answer, I knocked harder.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

Nothing. I pushed the doorbell a few times and heard nothing but a dog barking in the distance. Looking to the right I could see a path that led around the back of the house. I jumped over the railing and walked around behind the garage and into the back yard.

The back entry was made up of two gla.s.s doors, easily eight feet tall, that opened up into the dinning room. I walked up and knocked on the gla.s.s. I could see the living room and stairs that led up to the bedrooms on the second floor.

I could see piles of clothes and small items laying everywhere. They were spread out like a trail leading all the way to where the front door was. They had left in a hurry.

No one was there and I realized that they were gone. The only vehicle in the driveway was Amanda's. I had to a.s.sume the other vehicles were in the garage.

I walked back around to the side of the house and looked in through the window to see an empty garage. A trail of items strewn out across the floor. They were really gone. My stomach sank and an overwhelming feeling of loss came over me. How would I find them now.

-Alone-.

I was in shock at first, and for a while I sat on the front porch of the house staring off into the distance. I listened to the wind. I could hear birds singing in the tall pines off in the distance and thought there was nothing left to do. I had nothing to move forward for. Suddenly I wanted a drink and I set off to find some place to drown myself.

I drove into town and came across a bar that had its front door open. I stopped and walked inside finding a few people sitting at small tables. A few older men sat at the bar. Everyone was watching news reports on the television.

It had gotten bad. The news was reporting a spread of violence that had completely over run southern California. This thing was spreading so fast that in one night it had over run Los Angeles and all of the outlying areas. All of the suburban areas that stretched across the basin had fallen. There were no resources left to stop it. It was spreading south as fast as the people carrying it could get there.

San Diego was now in the grips of complete chaos and would eventually fall. The infection would easily cross the boarder into Mexico.

"You serving?" I asked the bartender. It was 7:00 am and most places wouldn't be open let alone serving alcohol.

"Yep, what the h.e.l.l. Grab a seat" The bartender replied.

I ordered a beer and a shot of rum, made myself comfortable and watched the screen. Helicopters were circling the fallen cities and the cameras showed thousands of people running through the streets. They moved in groups, like swarms of bees.

One camera showed a group of people who's car had broken down on a crowded freeway, get overrun by a hundred infected. It was horrible. On occasion you could hear the screams of the hosts carry all the way to the microphones on the helicopters.

"Hey, how about a drink" A young woman was standing next to me. I hadn't notice her walk up as I was staring into the monitor.

"What? I'm sorry, what did you say?", I felt sleepy and was having a hard time focusing.

"Can you buy me a drink?" She said again.

She was pretty, very tanned, wearing short denim shorts and a tank top showing just enough cleavage to draw my eyes unintentionally to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.