"I THINK WE ARE!" KEVIN REPLIES, BRUSHING THE GLASS OFF OF HIS SHIRT. LAURA PULLS HERSELF UP FROM THE FLOORBOARD, SHAKING PIECES OF GLASS FROM HER HAIR. "LAURA, ARE YOU OKAY?"
THE GROUP SCREAMS AGAIN AS ANOTHER BULLET GOES WHIZZING PAST THEIR HEADS AND INTO THE FLOORBOARD.
"MY GOD! HE'S SHOOTING A RIFLE AT US!" DIANA YELLS, CLUTCHING ON TO THE SEAT AS A.J. SWERVES IN AND OUT OF THE TRAFFIC. SHE DUCKS BEHIND THE SEAT TO AVOID BEING HIT AS YET ANOTHER BULLET SOARS PAST. "HE'S GONNA KILL US ALL!"
KEVIN SHOVES LAURA BACK DOWN INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND TOPPLES DOWN ON TOP OF HER JUST AS A BULLET NARROWLY MISSES HIS HEAD. LAURA CRIES UNCONTROLLABLY IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND FEAR AND KEVIN LOOPS HIS ARMS AROUND HER TO COMFORT HER. "A.J.?! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE NOW!!"
"I HEAR YOU, KEV! I HEAR YOU!" A.J. YELLS IN RETURN, DODGING THE BULLETS THAT WHIZ PAST HIS OWN HEAD. HE LOOKS BEHIND HIM IN FEAR AT THE TRUCK THAT HAS YET TO SLOW UP IN IT'S PURSUIT OF THEM. TURNING BACK AROUND, HE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND FLOORS THE GAS PEDAL ONCE MORE JUST AS THEY SPEED UNDER A SIGN BEARING THE MESSAGE: NOW ENTERING CHICAGO CITY LIMITS.
"AND STAY PUT!" JOE WARNS, STEPPING OUT THE CAR DOOR. HE SLAMS IT AND GLARES COLDLY THROUGH THE WINDOW AT HOWIE, WHO STILL STRUGGLES TO PRY THE DIRTY SOCK FROM HIS MOUTH. "DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE LIKE THIS?" HE ASKS, TURNING TO MARTY, WHO MAKES HIS WAY AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR.
"HE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE TIED UP." MARTY ASSURES, PATTING JOE ON THE BACK. "C'MON, LET'S GET SOME GRUB." THE TWO SLOWLY TRUDGE FROM THE PARKING LOT AND THROUGH THE OPEN DOORS OF A SMALL CONVIENENCE STORE, LEAVING HOWIE IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE STOLEN CAR.
HOWIE GRUNTS AND GRUMBLES AS HE TRIES IN VAIN TO REMOVE THE OLD SOCK FROM HIS MOUTH. FINALLY GIVING UP ON THAT, HE BEGINS ONCE MORE TO TRY TO LOOSEN THE ROPES THAT REMAIN FASTENED AROUND HIS WRISTS, WHEN HE SUDDENLY HEARS A SMALL, MUFFLED VOICE COMING FROM BEHIND HIM.
"HMMM!" HE SQUEAKS AND TURNS TO EYE THE SEAT WARILY. HE HEARS THE MUFFLED CRIES AGAIN, AND KNOWS FOR SURE HE IS DEFINITALY HEARING A CRY OF DISTRESS. SOMEHOW, HE PULLS HIMSELF OVER THE RANSACKED LUGGAGE AND USES HIS CHIN TO PULL THE SEAT DOWN, REVEALING AN OPENING INTO THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THERE, STARING BACK AT HIM WITH BIG, BROWN EYES, IS A YOUNG WOMAN WITH TOSSLED BROWN HAIR. "WHMM MMM HMMM!" HE EXCLAIMS GIVING HER A QUIZZICAL LOOK.
"THANK GAWD, CAN YA HELP ME OUTTA HERE?" THE GIRL PLEADS, EXTENDING HER HAND TOWARDS HIM.
"NMM-MM, MM HMMDS MMM TMMD." HOWIE EXPLAINS, HOLDING HIS BOUND HANDS UP TO SEE.
"HERE, LEMME UNTIE YA." THE GIRL SUGGESTS, MOTIONING FOR HOWIE TO SCOOT CLOSER. ONCE WITHIN REACHING DISTANCE, THE GIRL QUICKLY YANKS THE ROPE FROM AROUND HIS HANDS AND THROWS IT DOWN ON TO THE LUGGAGE.
HOWIE QUICKLY REMOVES THE SOCK FROM HIS MOUTH AND SPITS AGGRESSIVELY. "WHO ARE YOU?!"
"MY NAME IS ELIZABETH JANE, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME LIZZIE." THE GIRL EXTENDS HER HAND OUT IN GREETING AND HOWIE LATCHES ON TO IT AND PULLS HER THROUGH THE SMALL OPENING INTO THE BACKSEAT. "GAWD, THANK YA FOR HELPIN' ME OUTTA THERE." SHE TURNS OVER AND STRETCHES HER ARMS AND LEGS OUT AT FULL LENGTH. "I'VA BEEN COOPED UP IN THAT 'LIL BOX FOR HOURS!" SHE SMILES AT HOWIE AND COCKS HER HEAD. "FOR SUMONE THAT CAN BELT OUT "NINTY-NINE BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL" THREE TIMES STRAIGHT, YA SURE DON'T TALK MUCH."
HOWIE SMILES SHEEPISHLY WHILE RUBBING HIS PAINED WRISTS. "MY NAME IS HOWIE D." SHE SMILES WARMLY IN RETURN. "A QUESTION." HE BEGINS, SCRATCHING HIS HEAD. "HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TRUNK?"
SHE SCOWLS AND GLARES COLDLY OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE SERVICE STATION. "THEM DAD-BURN BOYS PLUM PICKED ME UP AND THREW ME IN THIS HERE TRUNK, THAT'S HOW!" SHE FLIPS HER LONG BROWN HAIR OVER HER SHOULDER BEFORE GROWLING, "I DIDN'T EVEN DO NUTHIN' TO 'EM."
HOWIE LISTENS TO HER DISTINCT COUNTRY DRAWL AND PONDERS, "NOW WHY DOES THIS GIRL REMIND ME OF SOMEONE?" HE SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS AND TURNS HIS ATTENTION BACK TO THE GIRL.
"YOU WAS ASLEEP AND SPRAWLED ALL OUT ACROSS THE SEAT, SO THEY JUST THREW ME IN THAT THERE TRUNK LIKE I WAS A SACK OF TATERS." SHE GLOWERS BACK AT THE CONVIENENCE STORE AND SHAKES HER HEAD IN DISGUST. "SPEAKIN' OF THE DEVIL, THEM TWO ARE COMIN' BACK." HOWIE FOLLOWS HER GAZE AND SEES THE TWO THUGS COMING OUT OF THE CONVIENENCE STORE, LAUGHING AND THROWING CHEESE PUFFS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AT EACH OTHER. "WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?"
"DON'T WORRY! I'VE GOT AN IDEA!" ACTING RAPIDLY, HE SCALES THE SEAT AND FLOPS OVER IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. GRABBING THE KEYS THE MEN HAD SO GRACIOUSLY LEFT IN THE IGNITION, HE FIRES UP THE ENGINE AND FLOORS THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE THE TWO MEN OR LIZZIE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. "BUCKLE UP!" HOWIE WARNS AS HE PEELS OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. LIZZIE HAS NO WHERE TO GO BUT DOWN, AND TUMBLES INTO THE FLOORBOARD, HER FEET STICKING UP VERTICALLY ABOVE HER.
"WHATTAYA DOIN'?!" SHE EXCLAIMS, GRABBING ON TO THE SEAT AND HOISTING HERSELF FROM THE FLOOR. HOWIE SKIDS OUT ON TO THE STREET, ONLY TO SEND LIZZIE SLAMMING LIKE A RAG DOLL UP AGAINST THE INTERIOR OF THE SEAT.
"I'M GETTING US OUT OF HERE!"
"WELL, YA THANK YOU COULD DRIVE JUSTA 'LIL SLOWER?!"
"AND LET THOSE HOOLIGANS CATCH UP?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!" THE CAR SWERVES OUT OF CONTROL AS HE TRIES TO STEADY IT'S COURSE ON THE FREEWAY. LIZZIE IS MERCIOUSLY TOSSED TO AND FRO ACROSS THE BACKSEAT, YELLING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.
"YER GONNA KILL US!" LIZZIE SHREIKS, GRABBING HOLD OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND CLINGING ON TO IT FOR DEAR LIFE. SHE ATTEMPTS TO PULL HERSELF OVER INTO THE SEAT BESIDE HIM, AND CRIES OUT WHEN HALF-WAY OVER WHEN HE HITS A SPEED BUMP, SENDING LIZZIE AIR-BORN BACK INTO THE LUGGAGE.
"WHY WON'T THIS THING TURN!" HE COMPLAINS, FIDDLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR SWINGS BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE STREET, AS A HELPLESS LIZZIE SWINGS WITH IT. ONCE HE GETS THE CAR RIGHTED, HE LAUGHS AND PEERS INTO THE BACKSEAT. "HEY LIZZIE, WHERE'D YOU GO?"
LIZZIE GRUNTS AND STICKS HER HEAD OVER THE BACKSEAT. "AN' YER ASKIN' ME WHO'S CRAZY?!" SHE GAZES OUT THE REAR WINDOW AT MARTY AND JOE, WHO SLOWLY DISAPPEAR FROM THEIR VIEW. TURNING BACK AROUND, SHE EXTENDS HER LEG OVER THE FRONT SEAT AND BEGINS ONCE AGAIN TO PULL HERSELF OVER. THIS TIME SHE IS SUCCESSFUL AND VICTORIOUSLY FLOPS INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN A RECKLESS HEAP. "TELL ME, DO YA DRIVE OFTEN?"
"OH, ALL THE TIME." HOWIE CHIMES IN REPLY, LOOKING DOWN AT THE SPEEDOMETER. "WHY DO YOU ASK?"
"OH, NO REASUN." LIZZIE SNORTS, RUBBING HER FOREHEAD.
"ESTHER?"
"HUH?"
"CAN YOU SLEEP?"
ESTHER SITS UP AND LEANS OVER THE BACKSEAT. BRIAN LOOKS BACK AT HER WITH A GOOFY GRIN. "NO. CAN YOU?" SHE LAUGHS.
"NU-UH." HE SITS UP IN THE SEAT AND STRETCHES HIS ARMS. "WANNA GO DOWN TO THE GAS STATION AND PICK UP A LITTLE SOMETHING TO EAT?" ESTHER NODS IN REPLY AND BRIAN KICKS OPEN HIS DOOR. "MIND IF WE WALK?"
"NOT AT ALL." ESTHER AGREES, STEPPING OUT HER DOOR. LINKING HANDS, THEY BEGIN ON ROUTE TO THE GAS STATION IN COMPLETE SILENCE.
"BRIAN? DO YOU THINK THE OTHERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT US?"
BRIAN LOOKS UP AT ESTHER AND SIGHS. THE THOUGHT HAD PASSED HIS MIND MORE THAN ONCE EVER SINCE THEY'D LEFT THE DAY BEFORE. NODDING HIS HEAD, HE MUTTERS, "YEAH, THEY PROBABLY ARE."
ESTHER LOOKS SOLEMNLY AT EACH LITTLE HOUSE WITH IT'S OWN PORCH AND PRESSES, "YOU THINK WE SHOULD CALL THEM AND TELL THEM WHERE WE ARE?"
BRIAN EXHALES HEAVILY AND ADJUSTS HIS WILDCATS HAT WITH HIS FREE HAND. "I......." HE STOPS SHORT AND SIGHS. HE THOUGHT HE WANTED FREEDOM FROM THE PERILS OF BEING A BACKSTREET BOY WHEN HE HAD LEFT, BUT DEEP INSIDE, HE HAD ALWAYS KNOWN HE WANTED TO BE FOUND.
"MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR US."
BRIAN AND ESTHER LAUGH AT THE THOUGHT OF THE WHOLE GANG OUT IN SEARCH OF THEM.
"YEAH, ESTHER." BRIAN LAUGHS IN REPLY. "AND WE'RE JUST GONNA FIND THE GANG WAITING UP FOR US DOWN AT THE GAS STATION!"
"A.J.! TURN THERE!" DIANA DIRECTS, POINTING AT THE BUSY STREET UP AHEAD. A.J. HUNCHES DOWN AND SWERVES INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE, JUST AS MERLE FIRES HIS GUN AT THEM ONCE MORE.
"GOD, WE GOTTA SHAKE THIS GUY!" A.J. YELLS TO KEVIN, WHO FLOPS OVER INTO THE SEAT NEXT TO HIM. THE ACTION PROVOKES ANOTHER GUNSHOT AT THEIR VEHICLE, WHICH NARROWLY MISSES DIANA'S LEG. SHE SCREAMS IN FRIGHT AND CLUTCHES ON TO THE DASH BOARD.
"DIANA, GET DOWN!!!" A.J. COMMANDS, PUSHING HER BODY DOWN INTO THE FLOORBOARD. HE CLAMBORS OVER KEVIN AND POUNCES DOWN BESIDE HER AS KEVIN TAKES THE WHEEL FROM HIM AND SKIDS ON TO THE NEXT STREET.
"KEVIN?! WHERE ARE WE GOING?!" LAURA CRIES PANICK-STRIKEN FROM THE BACKSEAT.
"LAURA, YOU JUST STAY DOWN AND DON'T GET UP!"
"KEV MAN, WE GOTTA GET HIM OFF OUR TAIL!"
"YES A.J., I KNOW THAT!"
"KEVIN, FOR GOD SAKES THE MAN'S GOT A GUN! DO SOMETHING!"
"DIANA, KEVIN'S DOING THE BEST HE CAN! JUST CALM DOWN!"
"A.J.?! HOW CAN YOU TELL HER TO CALM DOWN?! KEVIN'S HAVING TO DRIVE LIKE A MANIAC JUST SO WE CAN AVOID BEING SHOT AT! CALM IS NOT AN EMOTIONAL OPTION!"
"HOLD ON EVERYBODY!" KEVIN WARNS AS HE JUMPS THE CURB AND PULLS ON TO ANOTHER STREET THROUGH AN ALLEYWAY. MERLE SPEEDS PAST IN HIS TRUCK, GIVING THE GROUP THE BREAK THEY'D BEEN NEEDING FOR SO LONG. KEVIN QUICKLY FLIES THROUGH THE ALLEY AND BOUNCES ON TO THE NEXT STREET, NARROWLY AVOIDING A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. THEIR CAR TEETERS AND BEGINS TO ROCK UNSTEADILY AS KEVIN MAKES ANOTHER WIDE TURN. THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AND WHINES IN PROTEST BUT CONTINUES TO EGDE IT'S WAY ALONG THE STREET. CHECKING THE FUEL GUAGE, KEVIN BECOMES AWARE OF THE CURRENT PROBLEM. "WE'RE OUT OF GAS!" TURNING TO LOOK BEHIND THEM, HE CRINGES. "NOW WE'LL HAVE TO STOP."
A.J. LOOKS UP AT KEVIN IN DISBEBIEF. "KEVIN?! IF WE STOP THAT GUY AND HIS GUN ARE SURE TO CATCH UP WITH US!"
"WE'LL JUST HAVE TO RISK IT!" KEVIN FIRES BACK, PUSHING DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL. "I DON'T SEE HIM BEHIND US ANYMORE, BUT I'M SURE HE'S NOT TO FAR BEHIND. THERE'S A STATION UP AHEAD. WE'LL HAVE TO STOP THERE."
