Post by Max Kameren on Jul 22, 2018 21:22:22 GMT -5
At the precipice of Max’s last trip he was thrown into the beginning of Siberian winter. He’d been cast out into the cold, walking until morning when he could finally return to the UK. When he found the next Empath on the list in America he was relieved to hopefully be escaping to warmer climes. When he thought of America he thought of Texas or California, or at worst the flurry-filled streets of New York City in movies. What he hadn’t expected, to his misfortune, was the knee-high snow that greeted him just outside the apparition point in Lusk, Wyoming. You’re underdressed. A snickering feeling rippled through the back of Max’s mind, grazed by the aura of whom Max could only assume was Barbara. I’m in the parking lot, big truck. Can’t miss me.
The parking lot was entirely big trucks. Max pulled his hoodie tighter to deflect the wind as he stared around confused, and the snickering in his head heightened. Eventually the other Empath relented and honked her horn, revealing herself in a large, dark green pickup truck in the back corner of the parking lot..
“Max, was it?” A tiny Asian-American woman sat behind the wheel of the green behemoth, so short Max was surprised she could see over the dashboard. She grinned up at him. “Surprised?”
Max turned red at the ears, his staring deflected down to the duffel on his lap. Her chuckle was warm despite his rudeness. “Yeah, sorry. You’re Helen?”
“That’s me. You’re a bit of a surprise yourself!” She winked. “Won’t be the first one you find on the ranch, at least. Taller than I thought you’d be, but you’ll do.” With a twist of her keys the truck groaned to life and rolled out onto the dirt road out of town. “Ranch’s a bit of a ways. You’re from the city?”
“Yeah, London.”
She smirked. “Going to be a whole new world for you, then.”
An hour later, when the town of Lusk had long since reversed from the rearview with nothing on the horizon, Barbara finally spoke. “Can you feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“Exactly.” A wide grin lit her round cheeks as she glanced from the road up at Max and it dawned on him. She was right. He couldn’t feel anything but then - no one around. Suddenly the cold air from the cracked window felt a little sweeter. Max hadn’t been alone in his own mind in 15 years. He never thought he’d have the chance again.
“Now you get it.” Barbara smiled, “now you see why we hide.”
