As a New Yorker I spend a lot of time on the bus. Less now than when I was younger. When I was in high school I spent hours on the bus everyday. I never liked the train. It felt closed off. I like to be able to see where I am going.
Spending so much time on the bus I had a lot of opurtunities to people watch. I could be sitting very near to a person and never know anything about them. I could guess and surmise but nothing more. I thought about how I might get to know these people or have an effect on them. As a writer that is the ultimate goal.
That thought lead to this story.
Enjoy.
There are those who ride the train and those who ride the bus. For the train riders the noise, smells and cramped conditions are the worst part of their commute. Bus rider have to deal with similar problems and one more. Potholes. A bust ride can be a rather bumpy affair. This one was no different. It was only a matter of time and when it happened things would become very strange indeed.
The bus hit a bump. The force of its shocks bottoming out sent it upward. The light went out and there was complete darkness. Everything went quiet. For an agonizingly long moment there was nothing. Just the empty presence of silence.
When the lights came back to life they shone on four strangers. These four people were lightly bathed in a red light that seemed to have engulfed the city. Where there had been dozens of commuters now there where only these four. Sitting towards the front was a young Hispanic man with a messenger bag. A few seats back was a middle aged white man in jeans and dirty sneakers. Standing close the rear exit was a 20 something black man dressed in a business suit. Behind him sat a Spanish woman her hair pulled in a tight pony tail.
The four strangers eyed each other nervously while never making eye contact, for fear of what that would bring. No one dared to broach the unasked questions. What had happened? Where were the other commuters? And most importantly what were they to do now?
Slowly the young Hispanic man stood and moved forward. He peered out of the front windshield at the crimson city. Everything was strangely quit yet foreboding. A fear like nothing he had ever imagined struck him like the first spray of a cold shower. He shook his head and regained what little courage he had. As he turned toward the door and pleading call escaped the woman's lips.
Her body shook with every word but her voice was steady. She spoke words of caution measured with the responsibility of a mother. Something had happened and they shouldn't tempt fate. The black man agreed. It was reasonable. Whatever had happened had left them unscathed. The best thing to do would be to sit and wait for help.
The Hispanic man pointed towards a few windows. They were open to let fresh air in. The bus was not sealed. If there was something to be kept out, of which they were unsure, it had not been. The bus was not safe. If it was then they wouldn't be alone. He looked at the black man with sharp eyes as he continued. There would be no help. The city had gone quit. There were no signs of life. And besides what if whatever had happened had happened to them and them alone.
The woman gasped at that. A thought she had not allowed to grow in her mind spoken so nonchalantly. The young man continued still. He would leave the bus and venture into the dead city and find the truth. With that he pushed the front door open and stepped into the street.
The air was still but light. There was no movement in the sky. It was as if the entire world had just stopped. There was no warmth nor cold. The air was devoid of temperature. His eyes strained to see movement but failed. He felt as if he was drowning in the silence. Each step he took bringing with it a fleeting but much welcomed sound.
He was strikingly aware of his existence and how fleeting it was. A small yet powerful fire burned in his mind. Dieing was one thing. Losing everything even his dreams to an unknown incident was repugnant. He breathed the still air allowing his body and mind to calm.
The others watched him with fear filled eyes. Each knowing that they would eventually have to join him. But the fear that crawled over them was too great to overcome.
The young man turned on his heels looking into the bus at his fellow survivors and forced his mouth into a smile. He called to them reassuring them that it was safe. After all what else could happen? He motioned for them to follow him. They were hesitant but he convinced them to join him.
When all four were together again the young man introduced himself. His name was Jason. The other's followed suit. The man in the dirty sneakers was Shawn, the black business was Russell, and the woman was Beth.
There was something powerful about sharing their names. A sense of knowing each other, even if it was on a superficial level was comforting. Jason began to think aloud. Spinning different possibilities of what could have happened to them. Eventually He asked the question that had been hanging above them all.
Why us? What about them had brought them there? There were no obvious connections. Different ages, races, sexes and social circles. But they were all riding the same bus. Sitting separately but riding together. As he spoke those words an idea took shape as a question before the thought had even registered. Where were they going?
He answered first, 14th street was his stop. As it turned out it was a shared destination and the only common bond between the four strangers. It was a frightening realization. Each had harbored the thought that maybe just maybe something had happened to everyone else and they had just survived. But now they knew that this was not a random event, or at least not as random as they had thought.
Jason sighed as his mind wandered to 14th street. Or more precisely the comic book store there. He pulled his messenger bag closer at the thoughts of would be. Beth noticing his change of emotion asked what was wrong.
He turned to face her and the rest of the group a sad smile creeping over her face. He began to tell them about his dreams. He was a writer and artist who worked in graphic novels. He had spent the past few years doing anything he could to push himself forward working as many jobs as he could just to afford publishing fees. But it had started to pay off. His first complete work had arrived just days earlier. Now he was trying to get it into as many stores as possible. Most had passed but a handful had agreed to carry his book. There was one place left. On 14th street sat a very large and well known comic shop the kind that had connections in the business. If they carried his book he would be a step closer to his dream. He was riding to bus to make his dreams come true.
After telling his story Jason felt a weight rise off his chest. He looked closely at his companions and noticed that they each had a surprised look on there faces. After and endless moment of silence Beth spoke.
She knew the comic store that was where she was going. He son lived with her mother in one of the apartments above the store. Beth crossed her hands over her heart as the face of her son smiled at her from her memories. She began to speak her voice barely above a whisper yet clear and powerful. Years ago she had followed a man into the streets of the city. Followed him down a road filled with drugs and waste. The sidewalks paved with broken hearts and lost lives. She got lost and spent years wondering those black streets. A couple of time she came close to leaving that place, once because of the baby that she was carrying. But she ended up lost again. Until finally she awoke to the nightmare her life had become. She walked forward leaving her past behind with a new found strength, the strength that only a child could instill in a mother. That was five years ago. Her son would turn seven in a few months and she was finally ready to take him home. Today she was going to finalize everything with her mother and tell her son he was going to live with her. That was her dream and she was going to make it a reality.
Russell spoke next. He was heading to the same building to a little basement dive bar in the back of the building. He had walked past that place a hundred times. Five months ago he had a sudden urge to go in and have a drink. It was the kind of place people go to drink talk and forget. He spent a few minutes staring into a shot of whiskey until a hand caressed his back. He turned and saw a beautiful wisp of a figure glide pas him and out of the bar. He downed the shot and chased after her finding nothing but an empty street. he ran back into the bar to find out what he could about her. All the bartender knew was that her name was Savannah. She would show up every now and then have a glass of Bourbon and then leave. Ever since then Russell had spent every spare moment in that bar waiting for her. Today was going to be the last day he did that. How long could he spend on a barstool waiting for a mystery woman. Life was full of chance meetings and missed opportunities and he had decided that after today he would move on to the next, ending the dream of Savannah and her soft caress.
Shawn stood quietly as the others waited for him to tell his story. He avoided there eyes and turned his back to them. They watched him as he cleared his throat just a bit too long. After a moment he turned back towards the group and smiled. He too had been on his way to the aforementioned build. It was just a simple business deal for him though nothing life changing. He was meeting an acquaintance to purchase some inventory. Shawn was on the verge of starting a new business. The way he spoke caught Jason’s attention.
Jason approached Shawn starring into his evasive eyes questioning the man. The question were asked with force but not with disrespect. Jason was not accusing Shawn just asking for more. He knew not to push Shawn to hard.
Shawn sighed, as his shoulders slumped lower than normal. His mother had died recently and left him some money. The money was great but he had been living with her all his life. Shawn had never moved out and relied on his mom for just about everything. Then she died and still in death she looked out for him. But was he going to do. he had no real skills little job history and no college diploma. The one thing he had was a network of slacker friends most of whom used drugs. It was that realization that gave him his great idea. Buy some meth with his inheritance then use his connection to sell it for a profit. A little over ten grand of meth would be a good way to start. It was sad that he had no other options his life up to that point had been one long series of dreams. He dreamt of what ifs and maybes. This action would end those dreams and begin an actual life.
Jason tried as he might could not stifle his laughter. A quite snicker soon grew into an all out laughing fit. Shawn grew angry and shouted at the young Hispanic man. Why would he laugh? What was funny about what he had said? Jason tried to catch his breath but failed and fell to the ground laughing harder then he had ever laughed in his life. After a moment of concentration he regained his composure.
He looked to Shawn a happy smile playing at he corners of his mouth. Jason looked at the three people standing around him and explained his laughter. Shawn hadn't wanted to tell them his story. He was afraid of being caught. Jason laughed again but forced himself to go on. But who would he caught by? As he said this Jason motioned to the empty streets. Russell and Beth soon fell into laughing fits of there own. Shawn couldn’t help but laugh along.
As the four of them enjoyed a much needed laugh the sight of their shared destination grew in the back of their minds, a building just like any other in lower Manhattan. Except that it had meaning to all four of them. The only people under that crimson kissed sky and they had nothing in common except that building.
Jason rose to his feet dusting his legs of all the while still chuckling. He said what his new friends had been thinking. They had to go to that building. Something kept him from looking at the three still sitting on the ground. For a moment he looked upon the bus and toyed with the idea of getting back on and waiting. He didn't know what he would wait for but the thought was more comforting then a journey that would have a definite end.
Three pairs of anxiously frightened eyes were locked on Jason's face. The young Hispanic man looked at his compatriots and spoke through spoke without speaking. The look of resolution willed the three other people to their feet.
When Jason spoke he said only two words. Let's go. With that the four people began timidly walking towards their goal. Slowly excruciatingly slowly they moved onward. One block followed by another, always hesitantly moving forward. During this time no one spoke. Each person lost in their own thoughts.
Jason's mind bounced from one thing to another never settling long enough for any one thought to materialize. Beth thought only of her son. While images of Savannah danced through Russell’s mind. Shawn's thoughts continued to go from his mother to his future.
As they traveled those perversely normal streets their bodies moved closer. As if they were unconsciously seeking shelter with each other, trying to hide from the red sky as best they could.
They found comfort in their shared silence at first. But as time went on the air grew heavy from the lack of sound. The city was dead and they could not hide from that fact. The only sounds where there own. As the tension began to engulf them Jason spoke.
He told them how close they were to there destination. Jason spoke of nothing of any importance after he made those assurances, but his three friends hung on his every word. His voice became like a harbor in a violent storm.
His word gave them comfort. For some reason his voice soothed them. It was as if he was able to distract them from horror that crept around the edges of their minds. This young man, for whatever reason, was able to instill a soothing calmness. It was something they were thankful for. They knew however that it could not last.
As they approached their destination Jason’s voice began to lose it’s effect. His words became hollow and the comfort they gave waned. It was not his fault. There was only so much one could do. He did all he could.
However once there journey ended, and they saw the smoldering ruin of what had once been their destination he could do no more. There would be no more calmness. Only fearful discovery. The smoke that rose from the ruble carried the sent of lost dreams and cauterized the wounds in their hearts. As they regained what little composure was to be had, electricity filled the air.
The group felt the hairs on their necks stand on end. Jason began to take a step forward when he was blown back. A bolt of lighting had erupted forth hitting the rubble. As Jason rose from the street he was almost bowled over by a speeding ambulance. It shot through the streets with naught the slightest sound.
The four companions followed the ambulance as is if in a trance they ran with an urgency that they had never experienced. Their hearts beat in unison creating a rhythmic pounding that enveloped the entire city. It became like the pounding or war drums pushing all thoughts from their minds.
Ba-Bum!
Ba-Bum!
Ba-Bum!
Ba-Bum!
The sound echoed on itself growing ever louder clouding their hearts and their minds as they ran forward.
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
The mindless fervor cause by the sound drove them harder than before. They pushed as hard as they could receiving nothing but a frigid chill for their efforts. They ran for minutes that were so long entire lives could be lived within them.
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
BA-BUM!
The sound grew until finally it collapsed onto itself.
BOOOOOM!
The four companions had arrived. They stood in front of a hospital in the middle of an emergency. They were surrounded by people by life by death. Suddenly they became aware of the city. The sky was a slightly dark shade of blue and the city was alive again. But they were faded around the edges, feeling themselves being pulled into the hospital.
As they stood in front of the hospital a light slowly spread out into the city. It was joined by a low rumble. A low rumble that would slowly grow into the cacophony of a living city as the shadows of life began to criss cross the streets.
As energy flowed back into the city each of our four travelers felt themselves begin to fade more. Beth moved forward towards the now bustling hospital pushing past her own fears. She looked at her three new friends and smiled briefly. Her eyes said all that was necessary and with out a word she ran into the fray disappearing in the mass of humanity.
Shawn stepped back away from the chaos. He was frightened and not keeping it a secret. Jason moved towards the frightened man. He placed his hand on Shawn's shoulder and spoke in a whisper that cut through the noise that engulfed them. It’s time for you to move forward. Shawn shuddered as the words passed through his mind. He swallowed his fear and took a step forward. Followed by another and another until he too had disappeared into he hospital.
Russell stood with his back to Shawn and began to speak. He led them there. He had kept them together as group and as individuals. The longer Russell stood there the thinner he felt. But he continued to speak. Jason had known what to do. How was that possible?
Jason said simply he was a writer and this was his story. He had written a story about four strangers who banded together when they became lost during a bus ride. They stood together and found their way home, all arriving safely except for one. He knew immediately that this was his chance to live his dream. Not only to tell a story but for it to be important to someone. He knew this would be his only chance to use his words to entertain and comfort people. It was not how he had imagined it but it was more than he expected.
Russell knew as he stepped forward and Jason's voice was lost in the fog of his mind. He knew as he lost consciousness. He knew as he awoke in a hospital bed with a broken arm, busted ribs and a concussion. He knew as he saw Shawn limp by his hospital room on crutches. He knew as he saw a young boy run into his mother's arms and saw the look on Beth's face as she embraced her son. He knew as he made his way down to the morgue and saw what was left of Jason's body. He knew as he smiled at the pretty nurse that had caught his eye. He knew the last thing Jason had said was true.
"My dream is for my story to live on past me. You and Shawn and Beth you are my story. And so long as you live past this than it was worth it."
The end.
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