Lazarus, Matthew and Grace crowded into Bob's small office. The room was furnished with a desk and several metal drawers. Everything was neat and clean. It was as if Bob could come back to work and have business as usual, but they all knew that was not going to happen. Lawrence wanted to come to this meeting, but Lazarus told him they needed to talk alone about grown up things. The boy was unperturbed and still wanted to come. He was waiting outside in the hallway, patting Sammy. The dog loved being around Lawrence and they never left each other's side.

Lazarus sat behind the oak desk and they sat across from him. The room was small and Matthew's body seem to overtake the whole room. He squirmed in his small chair.

Lazarus began, "I think we should have Lawrence and Sammy go with Bob to Utah."

He stared at Grace. Her eyes widened and her mouth quivered for a brief second, but she nodded. "Yes, I believe that is the best for him."

"Sammy will be his protection and when all this is over we could all go to Utah."

Lazarus didn't believe they would survive whatever trials that were waiting for them, but the future was not set in stone.

Grace said, "Yes." Her eyes betrayed her. She didn't look sure about leaving Lawrence,but knew she couldn't let him go with them.

"Matthew, where are we supposed to go?"

The big man looked at them. He said, "We are missing the last person. The power of four."

"What did you say?"

Matthew had said his last statement as if he was in a trance. "Oh, what did I say? We are missing the last person." Matthew looked to the side. "She is coming to us."

Lazarus’s left wrist felt warm and he looked at his hand. The stone attached to the bracelet on his wrist glowed a bright hot white. Grace held up her arm and also Matthew. They both had rings with glowing stones. They sat transfixed, looking at the stones.

He instantly knew where they had to go and he knew by looking at each other what faced him. He saw a pyramid. It looked like a Mayan temple but it was underground. He didn't know about Mexico and the pyramids there, but thought all the structures were above ground.

Matthew growled, "We need to wait for the last person. She will come to us."

"Where should we go?"

"You already know."

"So, we will go to Mexico."

"The pyramid is not in Mexico."

"What? Where is it?"

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Matthew shook his head. "I’m not sure." Matthew blinked several times.

Grace said, "I think it is somewhere in Texas or somewhere. I believe that is where we should go."

The stones winked out and were normal again. Lazarus felt the rightness of all this. It was their destiny.

He said, "Cindy."

Shaking his head, Lazarus didn't know why he said his old friend's name. It was eerie but he instantly knew who the last person of their party was.

"Who did you say?" Grace said.

"Cindy," he said again. "She’s the last person we need to find. But the last I heard Cindy was back east somewhere. New York, I think."

The big man, Matthew, said, "Yes, that is correct. She is the last person."

Grace said, "Should we find her?"

"No, Matthew is right. She will find us. Let's ask Bob if there is a car we can take."

***

They all left the office and Lawrence jumped up from the ground. Sammy waved his tail and panted. Lazarus patted the large dog's head and Grace knelt on one knee facing Lawrence.

"We have something to talk about," she said.

Lawrence said, "I have something to tell you."

Grace nodded.

The boy said, "Sammy and I were talking." He looked down at his feet. "We knew you wanted us to go with Bob and the others to Utah.”

Grace sucked in her breathe. Lazarus was about to say something but he stayed silent.

Lawrence continued, "We will go with Bob. Right, Sammy?"

The dog looked at Lazarus for confirmation. It was an odd look for a dog.

"Yes, Sammy. It’s fine. I want you to watch and protect Lawrence. He will need your help."

The dog's eyes almost pooled with tears and Lazarus had to look away. It was odd he should feel this way toward this large mongrel. He patted the dog's head, wishing he could take Sammy, but he had a sneaky suspicion that he couldn't go where they were going. They walked back toward the front of the casino.

Bob and his group were readying supplies. Each of them carried several sacks and backpacks. Bob held a bag filled with water and food stuff. He stared at them as they came up to him.

"So, you decided," Bob said.

"Yes, we are headed toward Texas. Do you have a car we can use?"

"Well, yes. It’s a jeep and it’s all gassed up. It was mine," he said. Bob held up his hands. "Don't worry. We have another car we can use."

Lazarus nodded and a thought came to him. He knew exactly where they were heading and would tell his group when they were leaving.

Bob helped them gather supplies and place them into the jeep. Lazarus and Matthew transferred the other things they collected from the car they had arrived in.

When everything was packed they gathered once again at the front of the casino. Bob and a group of two men sprinted to them, puffing from the exertion.

Bob said, "Something is coming."

He pointed toward Whisky Pete's Casino. Lazarus saw the man-spider creature scrambling up the street and behind this creature were hundreds of spiders.

"Get to your cars!" Bob shouted.

Everybody ran to their vehicles. Lazarus and Matthew were already at their jeep and looked for Grace. She was hugging Lawrence. Sammy padded behind the small boy. Lazarus realized they couldn't leave without helping the others escape.

He said, "Grace, hurry, we need you to drive the car!"

Matthew said, "They’re coming."

"Matthew, help me fight this creature. I will help you fly."

"I don't like heights."

"Don't worry."

Grace came running up to them. The other cars started up and they moved onto the desert, heading south. The spiders advanced faster than he thought.

"Grace, I want you to drive south from here. We will catch up to you later."

Grace understood and jumped into the driver’s seat, started the car, and sped off.

Lazarus focused and flew upwards with Matthew close behind.

The large man yelped a little but steadied himself, looking up at him.