A Conspiracy Theorist's Joyride

[JackMoz]

Jack didn't even blink when he saw the sign on the road announcing he was entering the town of Greenville, Population 2139.

Greenville somewhere or another. Bumfuck Egypt. Spot in the road. Hicksville.

All the small towns just started merging with one another. A gas station. A small grocery store. A high school that every farming community for fifty miles around shared. A bar with a dirt floor with beer served out of an ice chest.

Not that Jack had any interest in anything but the grocery store. Stop in, get some supplies, then head to the compound,

And there was the grocery store, Jack thought. Momma Hat's Market and Feed Store. With two gas pumps up front.

The outside lights were just coming on as Jack pulled up to the pump. Jack was a little surprised that there weren't credit/debit card devices on the pumps, but then he supposed there were still probably a few small towns that hadn't joined the country's automated network. Jack couldn't help but smile when he saw the pumps themselves were analog, not digital.

As Jack stepped out of his car, he saw a kid on a bike eyeballing him. All the kid saw was a man in his late thirties wearing military surplus clothing, with long, unkempt dark hair, weathered, tanned skin and three days growth on his face.

The kid didn't see Jack invisibly tensing up, ready to explode if the kid was something other than the kid he looked to be.

Jack watched the kid ride away, then focused on the store. It looked just like any little country store in the middle of nowhere. But you never knew.

His eyes darting in every direction, Jack walked into the store.

 

[marine_biochild]

It was a warm evening, perfect for sitting out with lemonade in the slow blowing breeze of the country. Born and raised in the small little town Rylie was doing her grocery shopping. Twenty and living alone she knew almost everything in the small town. There were always passerbys coming and going through the place she called home. Either going to use the camping grounds or stopping for supplies until the next big city. Rye knew she would probably never leave and that didn't bother her. She had a nice little job working part time as a stable hand on the weekends while working in one of the small stores during the week.

Pulling a pepper from the stack she examined it, her bright green eyes staring over it's red skin to see if it was ripe enough. Her skin was touched with tan and freckles dotted along her cheeks and nose. She looked like the typical country girl, knowing what hard work and dedication were.

"Evening Miss May." She cooed to a passing elderly woman who didn't seem to hear her. Shrugging it off she placed the veggie in her small hand basket before moving on to a few of the fruits. Reaching up she brushed away a rogue piece of blond hair that had escaped from her braid.

Hearing the door ring with a new customer she turned to see who it was. Stopping she arched an eyebrow. Another new face a passerby? Or a camper? His appearance made her hesitate, something telling her to pay attention. Biting her plump lip her stare rested a little to long on the rough man. He seemed aloof, as if he was daring someone to bother him. Holding her basket a little tighter she wiled herself to look away before he noticed.

 

[JackMoz]

Jack caught a young girl in the store eyeballing him. She wasn't the only one of course. Jack supposed that any stranger in a small town would garner attention.

On one hand, there wasn't much to attract anyone's attention to Jack. He was 5'10" and, though he was fit, underneath his slightly over-sized clothes and jacket, he looked like an average, albeit one who hadn't seen a razor or a barber's chair in a while.

Keeping his cold gray eyes down, Jack made his way through the store, picking up basic sundries, and was heading to the front of the store to pay for them and gas for his late model primer gray impala waiting outside when he saw an elderly woman pulling a gun out of her purse.

And then all hell broke loose, with bullets flying everywhere.

 

[marine_biochild]

Finally pulling her eyes from his as he caught sight of her Rye turned back to her fruits. Rye had just manged to pick out the last of her groceries to begin on other needed supplies when the fist bullet rang out. With a small scream her basket fell at her feet. Turning in time to hear another shot sound she fell to the ground. Puling her knees into her chest and covering her ears her eyes widened. Watching another shopper pull a gun from their waist she screamed. Everything was happening so fast and before she could react, to run and hide she watched as one shopper hit the ground cross the isle from her.

Blood was pooling on the ground around the body as more shots rang out. Pushing herself against the veggie stand tears beginning to fall down her cheeks while she closed her eyes tightly so she wouldn't have to look at the man before her. She knew him, he had helped her father on the farm during the winter. Had plowed the fields to earn extra money and while she was growing up had allowed her to ride his horses during the summer so she could learn how to handle the beasts. She hadn't seen him lately, having been so caught up in her own life.

Soon, everything went silent. She sat trembling, fearing to move. She could hear the faint sound of footsteps. They were growing closer. Maybe... if she didn't move, didn't make a sound whoever was still alive wouldn't find her. She held her breath, her fingers grasping at the hem of her shorts. Pulling her knees into her chest she heard the footsteps grow closer and then... they stopped. Slowly she opened her eyes only for her heart to fill her throat at what she saw.

 

[JackMoz]

There was a smell to them. Like sour almonds. Especially when they acted against their host's will.

Like taking guns out of their purses and jackets and opening fire on him.

Fortunately, their slow reaction speed helped him counter their greater numbers.

And there was the fact that he was always expecting an ambush. All the Society was.

In a handful of minutes, everyone in the store was dead. Except for Jack.

And the girl who had been eyeing him earlier. She was curled up on the floor, her eyes closed tightly, obviously trying to avoid all the hell that was breaking loose around her. Jack knelt down, taking a sniff of the girl. There wasn't any tell tale smell about her. That didn't necessarily prove anything, but it meant that Jack ought to give her the benefit of the doubt.

When the girl opened her green eyes, she found gray eyes looking back at her. Along with the barrel of a pistol.

"Two choices," Jack told the girl. "Die right here and now, or," he held up a pair of handcuffs in his other hand, "Come with me."

 

[marine_biochild]

Grey steely eyes stared back at her as well as the cold metal of the pistol, still hot from shooting earlier. Swallowing hard she found her mouth dry and her voice lost. Glancing to the handcuffs and back she tried to bring her mind back into reality. This had to be a dream, had to be fake. After a moment she tried to speak again her voice trembling. "Who are you..."

What choice did she have? What could she possibly do? She was silent for another few moments before she lifted her hands carefully though they were still trembling. "Please... I wont tell I wont say a word. Don't hurt me. I don't have anything to give. " She yelped.

Warm hands against her wrist told her she would be going for a ride and then it was the cold bit of metal. Looking down at the handcuffs that enclosed her wrists she felt her stomach drop. She shifted her legs, placing her feet against the ground lifting her arms for him. "H...help I...can't get up like this.."

 

[JackMoz]

Jack gave a weary sigh as he bent down, placing his hands under the girl's armpits and helping her to her feet. "Trust me, kid, you don't want to stay here. Something's going to come by to clean up this mess, and they're going to have a story that doesn't include grandmothers pulling out revolvers from their shopping bags. And they'll either eliminate anyone that can contradict that story. Or worse."

Jack grabbed his groceries, then looked back at the girl. "You can either follow me under your own power, or not. You won't like the second option," he added in an ominous tone, as he headed out to his Impala.

 

[marine_biochild]

She had so many questions, her head was spinning but she couldn't find the courage to ask. She also couldn't find the courage to go against him. Eliminate anyone..or worse? Slowly she walked behind him, her hands clasped together. She feared what he would do to her, but also feared what he was talking about. Stepping around Miss May she felt tears sting her throat but willed herself not to cry. Stepping out into the open air her stomach flipped as she felt the urge to vomit. Closing her eyes sh wobbled for a moment. No Rye. You can't do this. Not now. Keep moving. The shock will wear off later but if you don't follow... there wont be a later.

Righting herself sh willed herself to follow, her breathing leveling. Stopping at the impala she looked over at him her eyes fearful. "Who are you?" She mentally patted herself on the back when her voice didn't waiver. "And what is going on? You killed them, innocent people." She was finding her courage again and she only hoped she could keep it up.

"Why are you taking me when you killed all of them? A farm girl with no money. I can't do anything for you. Can't give you money or riches but yet you're basically kidnapping me."

 

[JackMoz]

Jack said nothing, but opened the passenger door of the Impala, helping the girl get seated, then strapping her in. He then put his groceries in back before walking around and getting into the driver's seat.

"I'm not kidnapping you," Jack finally told the girl. "I'm taking you somewhere safe. You just have to pass an examination, and then I'll help you relocate."

Jack started the Impala, then pulled out onto the highway.

"And they weren't innocent," he continued. "Innocent people don't pull out guns to fire on a guy for just walking into a store. Infected people do, but not innocent people."

 

[marine_biochild]

"Infected?" She asked eyeing him suspiciously. "They weren't sick. No one has been sick in our town besides a head cold or flu in ages. We are a healthy town. Even the doctor only tends to broken bones and births for the most part." She said softly. "What are you talking about. Who are you?"

Her fingers tangled together out of nerves as she looked out the window. "Where...are you taking me?" Relocate. It kept ringing in her ears. Relocate where? This was her home. She had planned on settling down, maybe a kid or two? Had planned on dying in this little town but now? Relocate.

She rubbed her thighs feeling sick again. Her body was beginning to tremble as what had happened began to hit her fully. So much blood, family friends and acquaintances dead on the floor. And now? She was sitting in an old Impala with a man she didn't know with handcuffs on. Scrubbing her hands over her face she shook her head. She had to be dreaming.

 

[JackMoz]

"Jack," he finally allowed. "My name is Jack. And I don't know if it's an infection. Maybe it's a curse. Or programming chips. Different theories. But it does leave physical signs."

"I'm taking you to...a safe place," Jack continued. "We have them located in different places. To gather and share information. Act as supply depots."

Jack slowed down, pulling off the highway and turning down a county road. For a few minutes, the only noise was gravel crunching under the car's tires.

Jack reached over the girl and opened up the glove compartment, pulling out a smartphone. Jack hit an app on the phone's screen, then placed it on the dashboard in front of the girl.

"I need to know everything about you," Jack said. "Talk into the phone. Full name, last time you cut your hair, if you died your hair, shoe size, underwear size, any moles, last meal you ate...everything. Start talking."

 

[marine_biochild]

Looking over at him she eyed him once more before looking out the window. She was confused. She had no idea what he was talking about. What in the world did he mean?Different theories to what? She was confused and was trying to grasp at any piece of logic she could when he pulled out the smart phone. Looking at it an then to him she looked stunned.

"You want me to what!" She looked disgusting. "Why would I tell you that? Why in the world would you need to know." She growled and then something metal caught the sun and she stopped all together.

"You can either follow me under your own power, or not. You won't like the second option,"

His words rang in her ears as she looked back at the phone. Sighing she spoke slowly obviously uncomfortable. "Rylie Anne Williams. Last cut my hair...six months ago. I've never died my hair. Size..." She looked down at her feet. "Seven shoe, size medium....underwear." She felt like a piece of meat heading for the slab. "No moles but.. I have a birthmark on my left rib cage it's about the size of a quarter."

She glanced at him nervously. What was all of this for? "Last time I ate was around one. After I brought the horses in I had an apple and some peanut butter. I have a tattoo on my hip...it's.. of a lilly." She finished not knowing what else he wanted.

 

[JackMoz]

"Continue," Jack said gruffly. He paused, then asked, "You got a driver's license on you?"

 

[marine_biochild]

"Yes. It's...in my wallet...what is this for?" She asked angrily. "Why do you need to know all of this." She was getting frustrated. "What else is there to know." Sitting back in her seat she looked out the window.

She slipped a piece of hair behind her ear as she stared at the passing scenery. "Where is this safe spot and when will we get there."

 

[JackMoz]

Jack said nothing, but reached over and unlocked Rylie's handcuffs, but left it still secured around her right wrist.

"Dig it out and read everything on it. Everything. Eye color, height, hair color, whether you're an organ donor, everything."

Jack paused a moment, and then asked, "Why a lily tattoo?" just as he turned off the gravel road to a dirt road.

 

[marine_biochild]

Rubbing her wrist she glanced at him once more before pulling out her wallet. Opening it she ran her fingers over the license before reading slowly "Eye color green. Hair color blond... Height five one..." She glanced to him again before continuing. "Weight 150 pounds. I am an organ donor. I also volunteer at the pound some times." She said the last part slightly sarcastically.

Slipping the card back into her wallet she ran her fingers over the cloth as she spoke again. "It was my mothers favorite flower. She would always keep a vase filled on the kitchen table when she was alive. My dad couldn't stand to look at them after she passed but...I keep them in my garden every year." She rubbed her arms looking back out the window. "This little town is my home you know. I planned to live here the rest of my life."

 

[JackMoz]

"Maybe you can," Jack allowed in his gravelly voice. "I don't know. No reason that they've taken over your town. Could be that was a trap for me or somebody like me. After the examination, I'll do a look see. But we'll need to wait a week or so first."

Jack turned the Impala on a dirt track almost obscured by overgrown grass.

"Okay, continue," Jack growled. "Bra size, dress size, favorite color. Toenails painted? You still a virgin?"

 

[marine_biochild]

She stared at him not liking how personal he was getting but the gun on his hip made her think better of being smart. "My favorite color is blue... my toes are painted the same color as my nails...pink. My bra size is.' She paused speaking softer as she looked away. "30C" Her cheeks brighten to a harsh pink not looking at him. "Size..well it depends but usually between a size ten and twelve.." She muttered. She was ignoring the last question. It wasn't his business.

 

[JackMoz]

The car was being jostled around as the woods around the two became thicker and thicker, before suddenly opening up to a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a derelict house with a sheet metal carport next to it. Jack pulled the impala under the carport, then shut off the motor.

Turning to Rylie, he repeated, "Virgin, yes or no?"

 

[marine_biochild]

She stared at the house in silence. This was slowly becoming a horror movie and she feared the worst. His voice made her jump as it broke the silence. She turned to look at him her fingers playing with the bottom of her shirt. "No.." She whispered her voice quivering. 'You never told me why you need all of this information." She finally managed. "And...why here? In the middle of no where... so no one can here me scream? " It was supposed to sound sarcastic....a joke per say but the fear in her voice was real.

 

[JackMoz]

"The infection causes...changes," Jack answered. "You might be infected and not even know it. And I came out here because this is a safe house. Safe for both of us."

Jack got of the car and pulled down camouflage netting from around the carport. He then walked over to Rylie's side of the car, opening her door.

"Follow me, and watch your step on the stairs. They're steep." Not looking back, Jack entered the shack. Once he got into the house, he began banging on the floor with his boots. Finally he heard what he wanted, and lifted a section of the floor up, revealing a steel door with an electronic keypad.

Jack punched the right code into the keypad then open a steel door. A pair of steep stairs were revealed, leading down to a labyrinth of sterile steel tunnels.

Turning back to Rylie, he repeated, "Watch your step" as he headed down the stairs.

 

[marine_biochild]

Stepping out of the car she rubbed her arms, all of a sudden feeling very exposed and very on edge. Infected? And not know? How could she have something and not know. She was fine. She was healthy and well taken care of. She was fit and worked out often. She made sure to eat healthy hell she spent the extra for organic if she couldn't find it on the farm. Following him in silence her mind was racing.

Taking her first step into the house she glanced around for a moment before moving to the hatch. Glancing down she bit her lip nervously. Taking the first step she touched the wall. She nodded at his words but she felt sick with each step. Would this be the last time she walked these steps?

 

[JackMoz]

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Jack hit a switch. Almost simultaneously, the hatch of the entrance closed, sealing shut, while lights went on all over the underground labyrinth.

"I think the Army built these initially," Jack said, by way of explanation, as he led Rylie down one of the corridors. "Right when the infections started. Before they were compromised. One of the original Society founders headed the project. They're scattered all over the country. Other countries as well. If we got stuck, we could ride this out like an ark."

"If you're hungry or something," Jack added, "We'll go down to the cafeteria after your examination." Jack stepped into a room that had a computer station as well as an odd looking collection of colored liquids set up in a complicated glass array. There was also two or three chains hanging from the ceiling.

Pulling out a gun, Jack turned to Rylie and instructed her, "Strip down to your underwear. Now. Or I'll do it for you."

 

[marine_biochild]

Her eyes scanned the small room, her mind flitting from one idea to the next. She was in the process of understanding what he was speaking about when she turned toward him. The color drained from her face and in an instant and thought that she would be safe vanished. Holding up her hands she not her lip. "ok... Ok you don't need to point it at me." She said taking a step back.

Her hands shook as she pulled off her shirt, her body lean and the soft lines of muscles played along her abdomen. Next were her shorts to reveal her matching black lace panties which rode low on her hips and left little to the imagination. Tossing her clothes aside she crossed her arms uncomfortably

 

[JackMoz]

Jack eyed Rylie then turned to the computer. He brought a slideshow up on the screen, showing different photos of different bodies. Each photo showed ridges in strange patterns on the skin.

"This is what a fully infected person looks like," Jack said, turning back to Rylie. "In the early stages of infection, the ridges aren't visible, but can still be easily felt. They usually show up on the small of a person's back, but not always."

Without warning, Jack stepped over to Rylie and handcuffed her wrists together again. Lifting her bound wrists above her head, Jack had Rylie clipped to one of the chains hanging down from the roof before she could react. With her hands above her head, Rylie's scantily clad body was now exposed to Jack's eyes and hands.

Stepping behind Rylie, Jack began running his hands through her hair and over her scalp. "If I hurt you, it's unintentional," Jack told her. "Just let me know."