Chapter Two

Interstate 80, Utah

658.3 miles away from where she needed to be

Elisa shifted in the tan bucket seat; after more than 36 hours she was damn uncomfortable. "This blows," she mumbled along with a curse under her breath. She'd had the engine rebuilt for about $800 and now the thing was making a loud whirring noise and the car was decelerating quickly. She'd first heard a whizzing noise in after a pit stop for a short nap in Colorado but since she'd heard it the sound was consistent and getting louder.

"Come on baby," pleaded Elisa rubbing the steering wheel. "You can do it."

Her encouragement fell on deaf ears after a few groans from the engine she had to pull her car over to the shoulder. "See!" cried Elise feeling the car jerk before cutting off by itself. "Obviously I'm not meant to get there," she glanced in her rearview mirror to see Blake was napping before she checked the road. "Empty," she whispered disheartened before reaching down for the lever that would pop the hood.

Lifting the hood produced a cloud of nauseous black smoke that smelled like burning fluids. "Great," grumbled Elisa dropping the hood and going back to the car. "Now what am I supposed to do?"

Elisa could feel tears burning at the back of her eyes; the trip so far had been fairly easy which she should have taken as a bad omen. In the time she'd been driving Elisa had only seen a handful of cars all heading in the opposite direction. Not one restaurant was open and barely any gas stations.

"A rest stop or an open gas station," mumbled Elisa dejectedly looking around. "Fuck my life," she whispered closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath she checked Blake before going to the trunk, "well at least it's day time."

With no other choice Elisa did the only obvious thing and that was to start walking. And as she did her mind drifted back to the first time she'd met Quon.

***

(Flashback)

Elisabeth age 8

Quon age 8

Vernon Bay, California

Elisabeth sat on the front stoop staring out at the vineyards across the gravel road to the Nelson's farm. The dry hot breeze blew heralding another boring day on the Chance vineyard; and the word vineyard was used loosely when it came to their measly acre of land.

A bored sigh escaped the little girl, nothing really ever happened in Vernon Bay; population 731. It was another listless summer day with her dad working in the small field behind the house trying to make their vines grow.

Elisabeth slowly stood up to stretch her small limbs when she heard a rattling sound. She quickly climbed up the four steps of the porch looking left then right anxious to see where the sound was coming from. Her parents didn't have a tractor and the Nelson's tractor didn't get this close to the road. Just as she was giving up her search a white and orange moving truck came into view.

"Neighbors," screeched Elizabeth running in place excitedly. "Finally someone new is moving here!" she exclaimed while clapping her hands giddily. "Maybe there's a kid I can play with!"

"Elisabeth Ann Chance!"

Elisa turned around with a pouty frown to see her mom coming her way from the small vineyard.

"I know...I know," sulked Elisabeth sitting back down on the porch. "The doctor said my asthma is getting worse and I need to not exercise myself." Elisa shook her head when her mom smiled; it wasn't like she really understood what that meant she was just reciting the words her mom said to her every morning, noon and night.

"That's right," nodded Agatha Chance wiping her hands on her khaki overalls. "No running, jumping or anything that will make you short of breath. Your treatments are so expensive and needless most of the time."

Elizabeth's small face scrunched up but she remained as quiet as an eight year old could. "That's why no one will play with me," she finally mumbled after what felt like the longest 30 seconds of her life. "Everyone thinks I have cooties because of you."

"I raised you not to care what other people think," responded Agatha curtly. "Now I know I heard a truck and I'm sure it's the guy that your dad rented the cottage out back to."

"Oh," pouted Elisa sadly. "A man rented the cottage out back."

"Yes," smiled Agatha watching her only child's shoulders drop in disappointment. "He and his young nephew."

"Nephew?" repeated Elisa sadly.

"According to your father, Roderick and his 8 year old nephew are moving into the rental. What's the little boy's name again," sighed Agatha watching her daughter carefully. "Ah yes...," smiled Agatha, "according to your daddy Roderick's nephew has a weak constitution and his name is Quan."

"A weak dissertation like me," gushed Elisabeth jumping to her feet excitedly. "That means he and I may be able to play together."

"Your daddy sure thought so," smiled Agatha opening the white screen door. "Why don't we go in and get washed up so can we go over to the cottage and meet Roderick and his nephew Quan with your dad?"

"Ok," jumped a happy Elisa running past her mom, eager to meet someone that could be her friend.

"No running," yelled Agatha as Elisa bolted down the narrow hall to her room. "Elisabeth no running or you'll need one of those damn treatments!"

Agatha paused outside the two foot high light blue and yellow picket fence; she took the opportunity to give Elisa one more once over. Her appraisal took in a pair of all white canvas gym shoes with dark blue socks, Elisa's scar free mocha brown legs encased in knee-length blue jean shorts and a dark blue shirt with yellow and green stars. Agatha nodded in approval.

"You look perfect," she quickly ran her fingers over Elizabeth's hair pushing loose strands back toward the pigtails her young daughter had done. Agatha's lips pulled back slightly as she tucked a few strands behind the girl's ear. "I should have done your hair though. You look like a ragamuffin by the head."

Agatha made a tsking sound as she pushed hair behind Elisa's ear before giving her knees a long look. "At least you put some baby oil on those," she grumbled.

Elisabeth released a sigh when her mom's eyes left her and turned to her husband giving him a curt nod so they could continue.

Not long after Willis knocked for a short boy of about 8 or 9 to answer the door with big crystal clear green eyes. His mop of curly of brown hair looked as if someone had just ruffled it. "Aye," he stated with a thick accent.

"Hi," responded Willis with a big smile on his weathered dark brown face; "we're your new neighbors."

The boy stared at them quietly for a moment before he looked over his shoulder, "Ro'erick thee landlords are 'ere!"

The sound of heavy footsteps from the back of the house rushed toward the front and a handsome man with mysterious grey eyes and dark red hair came to stand behind the small boy with a sunny smile that rivaled Willis's.

"Willis," stated the man opening the sky blue painted screen door for his unexpected guest to enter. "I wasn't expecting you and your lovely family so soon."

"Elisabeth was excited," responded Agatha pushing her daughter toward the little boy. "When I told her that Quan -"

"It's pronounced Kuon," corrected the little boy.

"Oh," frowned Agatha unable to see the difference in the way she pronounced it. "I understand that your nephew has difficulties breathing like my Elisabeth and thought they could play together. Since he can't play with the other kids either."

"I can't," frowned Quon sending a puzzled look over his shoulder to his uncle. "I wasn't aware of this Ro'erick," continued Quon with a calm that belied his young age.

"Of course you can't," smiled Roderick patting Quon on the shoulder before squeezing it slightly in warning. "I'm sure you and Elisabeth will get along well."

Quon turned with a frown toward Elisabeth before holding his small hand out, "I'm Quon Ambrosius from the Isle of -."

"Dublin," interrupted Roderick sending Quon a pointed stare.

Elisa smiled down at Quon, from her two inch height advantage, before a small giggle escaped her. "I'm taller than you," she stated looking at his pale hand in wonder before clasping it in her own. "I'm never taller than anyone," Elisa smile faltered as a wave of dizziness hit her.

"I'll grow," frowned Quon with a flush before snatching his hand from hers. "And I'll be tall like my father and his father."

Roderick nodded as he showed everyone into the front room.. Boxes cluttered the cozy living room leaving barely any room for the over-stuffed couch that sat in the middle or the two arm chairs. "I see you brought an apple pie," stated Roderick pointing toward the plastic container that Elisa held tight against her chest, "I'll go get plates and coffee."

"Elisabeth put that there," pointed Agatha toward a small table, "and go make Quon's acquaintance."

Elisabeth stared at her mother confused before she turned large brown eyes toward Quon hoping he knew what her mom had just said. "Why don't I show you my room," suggested Quon curtly..

"Okay," exclaimed Elisa. "I've never been to a friend's bedroom before! My mom doesn't like me to go to my friends' houses because I might exercise myself."

Quon nodded before pointing toward the narrow hallway, "I think you mean exert. My room's the last one on the left."

Elisabeth didn't need to be told twice before she headed in the direction Quon pointed in. She arrived at the first door and started to open it. "That's my uncle's room mine is the one a little further down on the left," sighed Quon from behind her..

"Oh," nodded Elisabeth before going to the last door on the right at the end of the hallway. She threw the door open and frowned; "This is the bathroom."

"That's not the left," stated Quon his young voice exasperated.

Elisabeth eyes fell to the floor and she let Quon walk pass her down the hallway to show her the way. She slowly walked into the last room on the left behind him, "Your room's all set up."

"I move fast," responded Quon bumping pass her to close the bedroom's door.

"Do you like to read?"

"I love it," responded Elisabeth gleefully.

"That's good," replied Quon without inflection. "I have a lot of books that we can read and talk about."

Elisabeth wandered over to the bookshelf and a frown slowly pulled her lips downward. "These are big kid books."

"So you can't read these yet," asked Quon staring at the spine of a wizard and warlock book he was hoping they could talk about.

"I-I'm sure I can with a little effort," snapped Elisabeth reaching for the book he'd been staring at. "I just need to practice a little," she continued opening the book. A dejected look appeared on her face when she didn't see any pictures. "Or maybe a lot," she whispered sadly she tried to sound out the first word.

"It's okay I'll read it to you until you're able to do it yourself," sighed Quon taking the book gently from her hands. "You sit there;" Quon pointed toward the cushioned window seat while he sat down in a dark blue beanbag chair. "And I'll sit here," he stated calmly flipping open the book to the first page.

"You're awesome," smiled Elisabeth a little breathless with her eyes shining a little too bright as she gazed at Quon.

Quon green eyes twinkled back and a flush of color lit up his cheeks as he smiled at Elizabeth's enthusiasm, "I'm not that great."

*****

The sound of an engine pulled Elisa from her thoughts. "Put your thumb out baby we need to catch a ride," she laughed turning to see a new model SUV driving toward her. "Oh I hope they stop," she frowned as she waved her arms wildly hoping to get the driver's attention.

"Oh thank goodness," smiled Elisa when stopped beside her.

"Is that your car about five miles back," asked a friendly looking young woman from behind the wheel.

Elisa took the caramel complexioned woman and with an impish grin. "I had no idea I'd walked this far."

"I thought it was weird being that most people this way had started to drive toward the Canadian border or at least the midwest," said the woman. "Where are you on your way to?"

"Um," frowned Elisa wondering if any buses would be going toward California. "I need a new car I guess," she finally responded. "I have to get to California to make sure my dad is ok."

A look of disbelief past over the other woman's face before it quickly disappeared. "Get in," said the woman finally after several seconds of silence. "My friends and I decided since this could be it we'd go on the camping trip we'd been talking about for ages."

As quickly as possible, Elisa unhooked the car seat with Blake in it, folded the stroller and put both in the backseat before jumping into the large sports utility vehicle. "Do you think there's a place I can get a car?"

"No," laughed the woman, "The looting that happened here was real." The woman shook her head as if remembering something she didn't want to talk about. "I'm Sierra," announced pretty hispanic woman.

"Elisabeth," she responded taking the woman's hand.

Sierra turned appraising hazel green eyes toward Elisa and her smile faltered. "On the radio they said the girl from the picture name was Elisabeth Ann Chance."

"Did they," frowned Elisa not moving a muscle. "I guess that found out the girl's identity. What else did they say?" Elisa shifted uncomfortably before she laughed half-heartedly, "That old rust bucket didn't have a radio so I have no idea."

"You're her right," asked Sierra putting the car in drive. "You're trying to get to California to stop them?"

Elisa beth shoulders lifted in a shrug, "What if I am?"

"I know you don't have any reason to trust me but I'd rather you get there in one piece since they are talking about killing a shit load of people for you," stated Sierra without infliction. "I have no idea what you could have done but shit I'd rather not die because of it."

"I didn't do anything," whispered Elisa with a frown. "All I did was leave," she mumbled while closing her eyes.

A look of disbelief twisted Sierra's face as she pressed a button on the car's touch screen. "I'm gonna call my friends and let them know what's up," she announced.

Elisa shrugged, "Why not just call the police or something?"

Sierra finger hovered over the send button before she sighed, "'because I have a feeling they don't get that those two guys want you alive and well, not dead."

"What!" screeched Elisa opening her eyes.

"I'm assuming you don't know but according to the news Elisabeth Ann Chance is wanted dead or alive," stated Sierra pressing the call button. "And I think the majority of the populace would see you dead in hopes those things go away without doing any more damage"

"Don't-don't' call them" she exclaimed reaching for Sierra's hand. "What if they want me dead too?"

"If I don't call they'll get worried; with all the looting and riots they'd think I got hurt."

Elisa released the other woman's hand turning her head to watch the trees as the large SUV drove down the expressway doing at least 60 mph. "I have to admit," sighed Elisa after several long minutes, "I'm really starting to regret ever meeting him."

"Uh huh," nodded Sierra before switching her audio to a small bluetooth in her ear.

Elisa didn't really pay attention to the conversation at first but as it started to get heated she tuned in.

"You're the scum of the Earth Stan!" barked Sierra wiping tears from her eyes. "Stay the away from me!"

The car started to accelerate as Sierra continued yelling, "You killed them! I should have known they didn't just up and leave all there shit! Oh my God you're a monster!"

Elisa's heart started to pound as she listened to Sierra's end of the conversation. Whatever Stan was saying it was definitely not something good.

"Don't you dare try to catch up with me or I swear on everything good I'll run your ass over" growled Sierra pressing the accelerator and sending the SUV pass 80 mph. "I know you fucking killed Thomas and his wife! They were kind and old! What the fuck you sick ass bastard! Stay the hell away from me!"

Elisa reached over and pressed the disconnect button on the screen ending the conversation. "That didn't sound good," frowned Elisa as Sierra wiped tears from her eyes.. "What's happening?"

"When Stan and his friend showed up at my foster parents house with this...this car I believed him like an idiot when Stan said they'd fled to Canada like Stan said. I should have known better. Thomas and Gladys had lived in that little house for over fifty years! They'd never just abandon it. I'm such a fool," cried Sierra never slowing down the vehicle, "that sick bastard! He said we should take your body to the authorities. Your body! Not you! But your body!"

Elisa shuddered as the car picked up more speed. "Are we going to do 100 until we get there?"

"I'm gonna try," growled Sierra not slowing down. "I knew something was off when he gave me Thomas's truck yesterday. He'd told me he'd left for Canada but something didn't ring right. Now I'm thinking he and his sick ass friends may have killed him and his wife. Who'd notice with everything going on that two seniors were missing?"

"Oh God," groaned Elisa turning to see Blake was starting to wake up.

"This is one of those new gas efficient cars and it's supposed to get about 400 miles to the fill up. It'll be okay. We just need to swap the plates incase Stan decides to call the police."

"Uh," frowned Elisa considering the SUV. "Cars normally get those miles not SUVs. You'll need to stop and fill up sooner or later and when you do you should leave me and Blake there," whispered Elisa. "I'm not trying to get you killed-."

Sierra shook her head with a self-deprecating chuckle, "Earth to Elisa. When they realize you have that things kid -."

"My son isn't his," frowned Elisa turning to see bright green eyes staring at her.

Sierra sent her a disbelieving look. "I saw him on the news like everyone else. That kid has the same color eyes as the one with brown hair."

"He's my son," repeated Elisa reaching into the back seat for Blake's diaper bag and grabbing a pack of fruit snacks to give him.

"I have some food in the trunk," announced Sierra. "Like I said we were going on a final camping trip before the end of the world."

Elisa shook her head worry marring her face. "Leave us at the next gas station. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"It's a little too late for me to just kick you to the curb don't you think? I've already told a psycho where you are and if I abandon you out here how are you going to get to the designated spot in time to save everyone."

Elisa found Sierra's smile contagious and laughed. "You make this sound like one of those almost dystopian sci-fi movies where the girl has to save the day."

"So let's save the day," chuckled Sierra. "Two girls are always better than one."

Elisa peeked out the corner of her eye to see the Sierra was very much serious as the car continued speeding down the deserted expressway. "Not sure who's crazier you or me," smirked Elisa before sitting back in the leather seat.