Full Tilt

63

Somewhere in the United States

Vanessa rocked gently in and out of consciousness, lost in a black chasm of dull, lethargic awareness.

She was on the floor of a moving vehicle, feeling the drone of its wheels, the rhythmic sway of its suspension. She was under a tarp.

No longer in the box-the casket.

I’m groggy. Carl drugged me. He drugs me whenever he’s transferring me-or preparing something bad-so I can’t resist.

Where are we? What’s he doing?

The vehicle jerked, triggering a sudden heavy clank of metal. Like tools and equipment.

Oh, God, this is it!

Vanessa’s mind swirled with fear and emotion. She had no sense of direction, no sense of time. How many days has it been since she’d escaped and was recaptured? Maybe she was sleeping, dreaming?

Why did he take me out of the casket? Where’s the casket?

Fear swelled inside her until she forced herself to become calm, to relax, to find her favorite memories and hang on to them.

I’m in a park on a swing with my big sister. Mom and Dad are pushing us and my tummy tickles like I’m flying-it feels so good I scream.

The vehicle slowed to a crawl.

The road under the wheels had become soft, silent, like well-kept grass.

Where are we?

Calm washed over her in waves-the drugs-she wanted to sleep. No, don’t sleep. Be aware. Try to escape. But her head was so heavy.

They stopped.

The transmission shifted, the motor switched off.

A slight sway and a door opened, then air rushed in as other doors were opened. Tools knocked together. He’s moving things, equipment, grunting as he lifts things, then humming as he works nearby.

In the quiet she heard crickets and nothing else.

“Okay,” Carl said. “I think we’re ready.”

A moment later the tarp was pulled away and Carl’s hands slipped under her as he lifted her, and in an instant she saw what awaited her. A steel casket, its lid yawning, was positioned atop an open grave on a casket-lowering device. As Carl carried her to it, her screams were stifled by tape he’d put around her mouth. She struggled in vain as he placed her in the coffin and secured her inside with chains. He taped her wrists, fastened clips to her fingers and something to her body.

“Listen to me-shh-shh-listen. I’m going to remove the tape from your mouth so you can breathe easier, okay? No more noise or the tape goes back. Nod if you agree.”

She nodded. He removed the tape and she drank in fresh air.

“Please, Carl,” she whispered. “Don’t do this, please!”

“Shh-shh. I’ve customized this. I’ve installed an oxygen tank with a meter, a ventilator to keep your carbon dioxide level low. You’ll have a light and instructions. Once I set things in motion, you’ll have a little more than four hours, if you don’t struggle and use up oxygen quickly. Do you understand?”

No, she didn’t understand. How could she understand his cruelty?

“Do you understand?”

She gave him a weak, terrified nod.

“Good. I’m sorry but it’s all for the best. You really were my favorite.” He looked at her, absorbing her. “I chose this specific spot because of its history. In a few hours you and I will be the most famous people on earth. You’ll be immortalized. People will realize who I really am and they will revere me.”

Carl shut the lid and darkness swallowed Vanessa.

She felt the scrape of the chains as he locked them. She heard him turn the crank handle, release the brake, then the gears began clicking on the device as the casket descended slowly into the grave.

Several moments later it ceased with a soft thud.

Then came the sound of dirt raining on the lid. It was steady before it faded, grew muffled, then died away.