The Disillusionists cont'd...

"Wha'd'ya say we stay here?" said Jay, "She'll go to the cops and we just claim she freaked out and took off when her loser boyfriend got out of hand."

"Get the car." Mike repeated.

"I uh, don't know where it is."

"You parked it!" claimed Alexis.

"Yeah..."

"Did you leave it where we said?" added Mike.

"Yeah..."

"Then it should be a mile that way." Mike pointed towards the east.

"But we passed it way before that."

"And we drove back this way..."

"Oh." Jay stood still. "But it's dark out there."

He barely had time to duck out of the way of the bottle. MIke swung it into the bushes and then pulled the keys out of his pocket. He held them out for Jay, "Take these and go get the fucking car. Then come back and pick us up. We will clean this shit up while you do that. Okay?"

Jay decided that the best thing to do was just to get the hell out of there. He reached for the keys which Mike pulled back at the last second.

"Don't forget to come back and pick us up."

It was as though he had read Jay's mind. Jay knew he had to. Mike would make him pay for it if he didn't. Guaranteed. He took the keys this time and turned and ran towards the road. Gunther had to stop himself from tackling him - better to take him on his own. He stayed low, letting Jay get a little ahead of him and lead him to the car.

Alexis started to gather up whatever she could find in the dark. The moon had gone behind a cloud and it must have been close to dawn because it seemed darker now than it had ever been. Mike made his way over to her and she stopped him dead in his tracks, "Just... Don't."

* * *

May walked along the same road several miles ahead. Exhausted and wanting only to lie down, she was afraid if she did she would never get up again. She made a lot of promises to herself that night. If she ever got out of there she would finish her degree. Get a real job. Spend more time with her family. Donate. Eat properly. Quit drinking. Go to the opera. Learn to drive a bulldozer... A bulldozer! She stood in front of a large Caterpiller. It's smooth yellow paint seemed to pulsate in the dark. It was so new! Like a giant toy. She wanted to hug it and breath in it's diesel and gear-oil perfume.