Chapter 2

Levi shivered in the dark as he checked the address. It was the only place with the lights on, so that was something. Before he could knock, the door was yanked open by an asian kid with a phone.

"Hey, Levi right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good to meetcha, and welcome to the great cross country adventure.” The kid said, pointing his phone at Levi’s face.

“Huh?”

“You’re Levi right?”

“Well, yeah, how’d you know?”

“Looked you up of course, and who else would show up this early. Anyway, we’re totally going to have to redo your entrance,” he said, putting his phone down. “I can’t post our great transAmerican road trip without some enthusiasm. By the way, what’s up with your online presence? You barely have a facebook page, and no twitter handle? Instagram? Seriously, if it hadn’t of been for those pics your mom posts, I wouldn’t have known what you looked like. Oh, and come on in, it’s cold out here.”

Inside were three other bleary eyed kids, all about his age.

“Oh, I’m Paul by the way,” his host said, over his shoulder. “I’m from Palo Alto originally, and if your wondering why I'm in Yonkers, New York, I wish I could tell you. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Levi said as he fought back another yawn.

“Yeah, likewise. So, everyone else’s already here. Levi, meet Cara, Alice, and Phil.” Phil grunted and Cara nodded. Alice didn't even bother.

“Toss your stuff in the back of the red honda civic out front, just don't block the window. Actually, what are we waiting for? Everyone go to the bathroom?” Paul's phone was out again, panning around the room.

“So, Levi,” Paul continued, “What’re you doing this side of the world? I mean, we’re a long way from home.”

“Journalism, just started though.”

“Nice, that’s kinda my thing too.”

“You’re a journalism major?”

“What? Nah. Anthropology. Some chick told me it was an easy major. I’m just here doing my time till my YouTube channel takes off. Now that’s basically journalism right there.”

“Are you serious?” The taller girl said.

“Ah, Cara,” Paul turned his phone toward her. “Yup, serious, come on, say a few words.”

“I'm fine.”

“Come on, just need a few words for the viewers.”

“Alright. For the record, I don’t go to your little school I go to Coumbia. I’m pre-law and an army brat, you need anything else?”

“Nope, good to go.”

He ‘interviewed’ the others in similar fashion.

Alice was a freshman lit major, with an interest in European folklore, while Phil was a business major who wanted to do something with buying and selling money for rich people? Levi didn’t quite get it.

Finally, Paul was satisfied so they hit the road.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

###

Things were quiet for several hours while most of them slept or kept busy with their phones. Levi was stuck in the middle seat, but even he managed to get some sleep, though he woke up with Phil snoring in his ear. Literally. Phil was all snuggled up with his head resting on Levi’s shoulder.

He tried gently moving him over, but the big guy just wouldn’t budge. He heard a snicker from his other side. Alice was watching them from over her phone, a half grin on her face. She didn’t say anything, just went back to whatever she’d been doing. Levi felt a flush creeping over his face. Why’d he get into these sort of situations?

Finally, he managed to pry Phil off long enough to prop a pillow between them, just in time for the car to hit a pothole and jolt Phil awake.

“Huh, where are we?”

“You’re snuggling with another man, go back to sleep.” Alice said.

That got him up. He sat bolt upright, rubbing his eyes. “What? No, I wasn’t.”

“Yeah, yeah you were.” Said Paul, looking at them through the mirror. “I don’t think Levi liked it much though.”

That’s when the news came on the radio.

In national news, Transit Authority just released a statement regarding yesterday's crash of flight 768. While it is still unclear what caused this tragic event, voice logs from just prior to the crash reported a significant instrument malfunction while preparing to land at the Lincoln airport in Nebraska. Shear forces from, what meteorologists are calling a ‘sudden and unusually intense microburst,’ forced the plane into a nearby warehouse. Meteorologists report that a surprising spike in temperature preceded this occurrence. The cause of both the instrument malfunction temperature fluctuations are unknown, though they are being investigated Now to sports.

"Crazy, huh?" Said Cara, "I'm glad I'm not flying right now."

"Yeah," Levi said, with a nervous laugh, "me too."

"You know,” said Phil. “That flight was from New York to Denver right? If we'd tried flying, any one of us could have been on it. Good thing I wanted to drive. I figured it could be fun, y’know. How about you Levi? That was kind of a last minute decision. Why the road trip? You don’t strike me as the road trip sort of guy."

Levi became suddenly self conscious. "Well, I uh," he started, stammering, but Alice jumped in.

"Like you chose to drive for the adventure Phil, I bet you're scared of flying."

Levi sighed with relief.

Everyone laughed and Alice gave Levi a wink.

At a gas station Alice cornered Levi, dark eyes staring through him.

"So, what's the big secret?"

"What do you mean?"

"You got way nervous when Phil asked you about flying, so why?

"Oh, er, well, it was nothing really."

"Liar."

"What, it was nothing really."

"Then why are you turning red? Just like when Phil asked you. Look, I helped you out there, is it that bad? What'd you do, crash the plane?"

"No, it's nothing like that,"

"I was kidding. But seriously, what's it like?"

"Fine, I was supposed to be on that flight. I got held up at school but if I hadn't I'd be dead with everyone else. See, no big of a deal. But it freaked me out."

"Woah, that's pretty insane," she said, looking even more intrigued. "So you're like supposed to be dead. Like you totally cheated death. Watch out though, cause who knows, maybe now he'll come to claim you."

"What are you talking about? That's the creepiest thing I've ever heard."

She looks like a half starved stray, he thought, as she stared at him. Just like he’d seen in an alley cat once. The image surprised him, and he dismissed it with a shake of his head. Still, the way she looked at him when she said that...

"It's not that crazy,” she persisted. “There are tons of stories like that, it’s the same each time. Death always wants his due."

"What's that about death?" asked Cara, coming around the corner with an armful of snacks.

"Oh nothing," said Alice. "Just explaining one of the common themes in folktales."

"Whatever. You ready to get going?"

"Yep, yes we are," Levi said, louder than he meant, earning him a funny look from Cara.

"Alright then. Well, let's get going."

Alice gave him a look, but shrugged, thankfully dropping it.

The weather was clear and they made good time, and soon were dropping passengers off.

First was Cara, in a little nowhere town in Western Kansas, where she was visiting her grandparents.

"It's about time.” She said as she hauled herself out of the car. “You guys smell rank. I doubt even a shower is going to help."

“That’s not us,” said Phil. “That’s all you. It'll smell like roses once you leave.”

She stuck out her tongue.

They waved their goodbyes and were off. Levi stretched out, finally able to move.

Phil was next, then Alice, both just outside of Denver, and finally they were pulling up in Levi's drive, where he was met with smiling happy faces and familiar sights and smells.

Funny, he thought, it’s almost the same as when I left.