He heard a pair of footfalls scurried at the back, trying to catch up with his strides. Another footfalls followed suit, same urgency was heard. The silent tension that had followed them out in the open was broken by the much older man's yelling.
“You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Nick! Don't make it seem like you're forced to!” Kevin yelled. His voice still as authoritative as it used to be. But lately, it had no effect on him anymore. It didn't scare him as much as when he was twelve. He knew what he was doing now, he had grown up and could think on his own. Unfortunately, he was given very little credit for that. Perhaps everyone was just too busy to see that he had change.
He decided to continue walking, his long strides never halted. “I said I don't care, whatever it is, I'm going with!” He returned the yell, not bothered to turn back.
“He doesn't care about anything anymore Kevin, don't waste your breath.”
This however, made him stopped. He turned and stared at the man who used to be his best friend. It felt weird, but there he stood, in that split second just facing Brian and flashes of those days when they could hardly be separated crossed in front of him. Even as he stood there, this unseen energy surrounding his body seemed to be dragging him to get closer to the Southerne, to stand next to him. That should be the right thing to do. Frick and Frack were never far away from each other for too long. They were inseparable! A voice in his head however was screaming; are you nuts? Stand next to him? HIM? Haven't you learnt enough?
“Don't start what you can't finish Brian, you want to be home with your wife and kid rather than do this!” Nick yelled and without waiting for a response, continued walking again. Did that just happen, he wondered.
“At least I'm home with my family! I didn't run away and start a solo album and ruin everything!” Brian bit his tongue as soon as the words left him. That was uncalled for, Brian! The voice inside him hissed. Well I'm tired of sugar coating my words to the baby. He's a grown up, he could handle some biting! He saw Nick stopped for the second time.
Nick turned back again, staring down at Brian. When did things change between them? That had hurt, much so when it came from Brian. So this was what he really thinks huh? So he was supposed to be the downfall of Backstreet boys? The lawsuit, the hiatus, all pointed to his solo album?
“I'm sure you're glad that it flopped too. Well, congratulations Brian, your little brother just showed the entire world he's really a nobody without his brothers. I'll always be the stupid, dependable blonde one. I got that, lets move on and get this over and done with.”
“Will you two cut it out? We've not even started and you're already biting each others' heads off!” Howie yelled, appearing from behind the door together with AJ. That had looked wrong too. Howie and AJ walking out together. When was the last time that happened? Well, they did go watch Nick's gig in LA but that was before everything was laid on the table. It had always been cool between them, their relationship had never been as turbulent as Frick and Fack. Howie understood AJ and AJ understood Howie. Their understanding came in forms of silence. There was no need for words, they understood each other just by being there. Now they were there next to each other, but there was nothing to be understood.
“It started long ago Howie, maybe you need some reminding of.” Brian pointed out.
Howie glared, something that he rarely did, and said, “I remember very clearly what happened Brian. In fact, I remember you and AJ storming out of the office in the middle of the meeting. Maybe if you had stayed, we might get something cleared and done.”
“So it's our fault now?” AJ yelled as he stood next to Brian. “Cause we walked out of that meeting? I don't remember any of us complaining when we decided on hiatus, BEFORE we stormed off.”
“And much good it did to you!” Howie yelled. AJ shot his head up to Howie, he couldn't believe the things that had came out of that mouth. Howie, the guy he had considered bestfriend and confidante. The guy who always look at things positively and always had nothing but sweet things to say. That had hurt.
“Well D, you and your many properties can go running back to your mom and family and enjoy your home cook dinner. Go back to your perfect life!” AJ yelled.
“JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Kevin yelled. Silent fell around them and hung in the mist. Kevin let out another loud sigh. “Look, we're all mad at each other, but this trip will help us all. We deserve to have a second chance at this.”
Nick had already turned and walked away, moving quickly, as if running from the savage emotions that were starting to churn inside him. He wasn't ready to start listening to Kevin's speech. He had even took the liberty to lean against the big car, letting them know that they were taking Kevin's ride.
“Oh look, Kevin has spoken and suddenly everything is final.” AJ spat. “It's always your way or no way, right Kevin?”
Kevin shook his head in disbelief and even managed a soft giggle. “I'm not putting a leash on you AJ, you're a free man. Join the ride or take a hike, it's your choice.”
AJ stared at him thoughtfully and then looked over at Nick, who was standing there with his arms crossed over his chests. Nick was staring back at them, even with the distance, he could imagine those deep set eyes of piercing blue that blazed out to the world, as if issuing a permanent challenge. When did Nick, the epitome of the word innocence, became this hard? “We deserve a second chance, you say?”
Kevin nodded. “But it's up to you.” Kevin paused and glanced over at Brian and Howie. “Same goes to both of you. Seems like Nick's gonna give himself a second chance. I'm with him. You guys make your decision quick, we don't have all day.”
“If we decided not to go, there's no use giving yourself a second chance Kevin. This is about the five of us.” Brian pointed out.
Kevin nodded and closed his eyes for a moment before looking back at them. “I know.”
“In another word, you're saying that we're making a decision that concerns all of us.” Howie said.
“I said nothing. It's up to you. We make this together, we break this together. Whatever the outcome, we're not pointing fingers at anybody.” Kevin explained.
Brian looked over at Nick, still leaning against the car. This time however, Nick didn't look angry, just tired and waiting.
“I guess it's too late for that.” Brian whispered.
Kevin shrugged and cracked his knuckles. “Yeah well, you guys make up your mind, we'll be in the car.”
Kevin turned and started heading for the car. Nick had conveniently lowered his head and was gazing at his shoes as he approached nearer. Kevin pressed the unlock button on his automatic keypad and the car made one shrieking cry. Nick was already pulling the back door open. Kevin opened the driver's door and they got in at the same time. Nick pushed himself to the end of the corner and settled himself quickly, dismissing the safety belt. Kevin strapped on his and by the time he had turned the ignition to the car, he knew Brian and AJ had crowd on the backseat while Howie slumped himself down next to him on the shotgun.
Suddenly, it had felt wrong to have Brian seated in between Nick and AJ. It couldn't have been any wrong than that. The two bestfriends that just wasn't anymore. And the church boy next to the 'sinner'. And it couldn't be any much worse for him and Howie. The once calmed one and the control freak, still.
It felt awkward to associate them five with the term 'brotherhood' because they were nowhere near being that and Kevin had doubts of his own if they will ever come anywhere close to becoming that ever again.
~*~
Inspector David Marlon was looking forward to an early night in and if he was lucky enough, catch the Yankees on TV. He might be from Orlando, a true blue Floridian, but he thought the Yankees was worth his time. Forget the disturbing images of that seventeen year old kid who just got wasted in some joint earlier that day. Forget the cries of his mother when he had went there for questionings. He was getting too old for this, he needed his downtime.
But ten years of working in the police force also gave him ample warnings that things didn't normally go out as planned. Another traffic accident which involved one of the boys who was under his supervision. He swore that if it had anything to do with the boy himself, he was going to send him straight to the court and let them send him to one of those juvenile detentions.
It was a major road accident. Three cars piled up right in the middle of the road. He approached the scene, pulling his raincoat closer to his shivering body. Well, what do you know, it had to rain too.
The first car up front was crushed at the rear, as far as he could see from where he was, there was no one in there. It means the victims had either been taken out or they escaped with no scratch at all. The car in the middle was the worst. Crushed on both sides, it's roof caved in. He couldn't see if there were people trapped inside, but years of experience told him there was no way for anyone to escape that. The third car was half way on top of the car in the middle, threatening to topple and overturn at any time now. Firemen were giving out orders to clear the right side of the road.
He approached a police officer on duty and showed his badge. The man nodded and started filling him in on the scene.
“It seems like the car in the middle was caught in a car chase, Sir.”
“And where is Steven caught in all these?” He asked, referring to the delinquent he was responsible for.
“He was in the first car, with two of his friends. From what they said, Ramon and his friends found them in some club and gave chase. They ended up here.”
“What about the victims, do we have casualties?” Marlon asked as he approached the car pile up.
“Steven and two of his friends escaped unscathed. Ramon and two others are trap in the car since the firemen are still figuring out ways to get to them without having the car topple.”
Marlon hunched and tried to look into the black car crushed in the middle. He saw someone, probably with head injury. His head lolled on window screen. He thought he saw someone else next to him but couldn't be too sure.
“How many are in there?” Marlon asked as he moved back a few steps. The firemen weren't about to take chances.
“Five Sir. Status unsure…no one has been able to get anywhere close. Paramedics are held back by a fallen tree from the other route and firemen are on hand to settle that.”
Marlon nodded and thanked the officer before heading straight for Chief Laxon, the firemen 'big boss' as he was well known for. Laxon and Marlon were friends since high school and neither was surprised at the career they ended up with.
“I came up here for my boy and looks like he's gonna be okay. You on the other hand seems to have one serious matter in your hands.” Marlon said.
The fireman wiped his wet face and nodded. “Why is it that the good guys are always the one losing? They don't deserve to be in there.”
“No one deserves to be in there James.” Marlon replied. “Do you have any idea if they're still alive?”
Laxon nodded. “Yeah. I heard one of them crying out for help but I couldn't get to him cause he's on the other side, where the car might fall. But after that, just silence.”
“Is the paramedic gonna take much longer?Tree removed yet?” Marlon asked he watched a group of firemen trying to secure the other side of the road.
“They're on their way. And our truck's coming to lift this car off. We have to do this quick before the media get a hang of this.”
Marlon squinted in the rain, feeling his shoes starting to get soggy from the inside. “It's not like you're not use to this James. I'll call back up to handle the media, you go save some lives.”
“It's not as easy this time Inspector,” Laxon said. Marlon knew that tone. When he called him Inspector, something is definitely troubling him.
“What's not as easy?”
“The kid who was yelling for help, his name is Nick Carter. Those are the Backstreet Boys in there.”
~*~
Nick woke up and found that the car was no longer moving. In fact, none of the guys were in the car to begin with. He stretched his limbs and let out a stifled yawn, his fingers combing back his sleep tousled hair. Why were they stopping in the middle of the road and where the hell are the guys?
He opened the door and climbed out, deciding to get some fresh air. What he saw instead, was Kevin, Brian, Howie and AJ standing on a straight line, their backs facing him. They were looking ahead, at something, but no one said anything.
This better be good, he had whispered to himself as he approached them. Just for the heck of it, he had stood next to AJ, joining in the line.
“What are we looking at?”
“No idea.” Brian replied.
Nick thought that was strange but decided to keep his mouth shut and joined in the staring into nothingness game. It was just a stretch of road that they had passed through. Both sides of the road are just thick undergrowths that would probably stretch deep. What was there to see really? The clouds were gathering, the sky was gloom and he knew that if they didn't get moving soon, they would be drenched in rain.
“I think I got lost somewhere.” Kevin blurted out. AJ sniggered and peered over to see the older man.
“Kevin actually got us lost, that's new.” He then turned to Howie and said, “This is fucking Orlando, how can we get lost in Orlando?”
“Maybe I should try driving it.” Howie suggested. “And this time, nobody sleeps.”
“No use D, the car won't start.” Kevin replied, still looking ahead.
Brian frowned and turned to look at his cousin. “How would you know that? You haven't even given it a try.”
“It won't work.” Nick said suddenly. He didn't know where that came from but something in him told him to say it out.
Brian snickered and turned to Nick. “What? You're reading Kevin's mind now?”
“Why are you always getting on my nerve?” Nick spat.
“I was getting on your nerve? You did just that for ten fucking long years and did you hear me whining like you?” Brian retorted.
Nick wanted to yell back at him. He had a good reply to that one, but something in him said that there are more important issues to press than the pathetic argument. It had been that for quite awhile now- pathetic arguments. They never seemed to be lacking of those.
“It's going to rain soon, we better get back in the car.” Nick said instead.
“Oh, you're a weather forecast now Nicky?” AJ asked. Nick couldn't decide if that should be sarcasm or a joke.
“Don't be so stupid J, the sky is grey, the clouds are heavy, what does that tell you? Sunny day ahead?”
“We can't go back in the car.” Howie said. Nick frowned. He wanted to ask why not? But somewhere in him, he knew that Howie was right. Why? He wasn't sure. It just seemed wrong to get back in the car and yet they had nowhere else to go but there.
“Hey look, I see a truck heading our way, maybe we can ask for help.” Kevin suggested. No one said anything and he took it that everyone had no better idea to offer. The truck slowed down on the road and was soon parked by the side, about a meter away from where they are. The man got out of the truck and took off his hat as in greet.
Why does it feels like Kentucky suddenly? Brian wondered.
“Car trouble?” The man asked. He seemed to be in his 30s and had kept a goatee and his overalls was stained with crude oil.
“Yeah, we were wondering if you could help us.” Kevin started.
“Of course. The weather forecast just predicted a storm and by the looks of it, your car won't be able to make it through that. Why don't I give you guys a ride and I'll radio someone to get your car for you?”
“You'd do that?” Howie asked, sounding grateful.
The man nodded. “Of course. I'll drop you at the garage store, the boss also owns a small inn there, so you can be well rested while we get your car ready.”
Nice people do exist, Nick thought.
“Thank you so much, you have no idea what we've been through.” AJ replied.
The man just shrug and showed them to his truck. It was big enough to get them all at the back. Fortunately, it has a roof. Nick watched as they climbed up one by one and suddenly remembered that one time when they had climbed up such a truck. They were still starting out and their van had stalled in the middle of nowhere and a couple had offered them a ride to the next hotel. He remembered Lou struggling to get up that truck. The wife of the driver finally gave in and let him ride at the front while she joined them at back.
He was about to climb up when the sign on the truck caught his attention. “Hey Brian, I didn't know you own a tow truck company.”
Brian frowned. “What? Of course I don't.”
“Well, this is the Littrell's tow truck service we're riding on.” Nick smiled as he climbed on up. “How many Littrells do we know? And here in Florida? I'd say none.”
Brian stretched his legs and yawned. “Yeah well, I don't own one, you know that.”
“Well, maybe they're distant relatives, who knows. Some ancestors you don't even know about.” AJ suggested.
“You sure think a lot J.” Howie remarked.
Kevin held on to a bar railing when the truck began to move. This was going to be one bumpy ride. “Yeah well, this has been a weird journey so far. I can't even remember what happen to us out there. I say staying in an inn sounds great. We can even start talking about this entire thing that got us on the road in the first place.”
Howie groaned. He wasn't looking forward to the 'talk'. Talk meant yelling and shouting at each other like they had been long time enemies. Was that what they had become?
“Don't you find it weird that we haven't seen any single vehicle all the time we're out there?” AJ asked. “I mean, if I do remember correctly, this is that stretch of road that is always hauled in traffic jams right?”
“I guess we're the only morons who would want to drive when a storm is about to get in.” Brian shrugged.
“Maybe…but don't you feel strange?” AJ pestered. “I mean, we didn't even know the guy's name. We always ask strangers their name. Check their background and make sure they're not some psycho stalker. We're not doing any of that. Doesn't that feel strange at all?” Or was he going crazy? Why does it feel like there is a voice inside of him that wants to take over?
Nobody answered but he didn't need them to. The voice inside him was saying yes, they felt it.
-
Kevin figured that he had been more tired than he was ready to admit, because he found himself waking up not at the back of the truck, suffering from back pains due to the bumpy ride. He was asleep sitting up on a sofa, in an air-conditioned office he wasn't familiar with. AJ to his left and Howie to his right. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his palms and blinked a few times to get that hazy vision out of the way. Brian and Nick were on a loveseat facing them.
How strange.
He heard Howie yawned, probably just waking up himself. Brian and Nick looked confused and lost, probably the same look painted on his face now. AJ, amidst the confusion, decided to break the silence.
“Did you two just volunteer or someone forced you to sit next to each other?”
They received deathly stares, rightfully so.
“Did one of you actually carry me in here cause I didn't recall waking up and walking myself into this place.” Kevin asked, looking around. The office was decorated with everything cream coloured. He admitted, even when it feels strange, it also comforts him. One of the walls is made up of nothing but glass and so he could see what it looks like beyond this closed office.
It was a garage.
He looked back in the office and noticed the framed signboard splashing the italic words, 'Littrell's Tow Truck Service Co.'. So it hadn't been a dream at all.
“The hell we'd be carrying you anywhere!” AJ scoffed. “I'm sure we walked here, cause I can't remember it myself. Hey, you don't think that man who drove us here carried us all, do you?”
This time, Brian scoffed.
“Like he'd actually carry us one by one instead of just scream in our ears to wake the hell up.”
“You were asleep too?” Nick asked Brian. The first thing he had said to Brian that didn't sound cold or distant.
“I guess so, I don't remember walking in here.” Brian replied, his attention now focused on the things that were in the office.
“Me too.” Howie gasped. “Damn, this is weird.” He stood up and started to walk over to the desk situated just next to the sofa. Replicas of rows after rows of mansions surrounded by the ocean caught his attention. The plantation were nothing but palm trees, the roads are wide, the houses itself designed to perfection. “Wow, I'd like to have me one of those.”
AJ groaned. “How many properties have you got now D? I lost count.”
If Howie had heard him, he acted like he hadn't.
“You know, I remember telling myself once, if this Backstreet Boys didn't happen, I'd open up a garage and stain myself silly with oil and repairing cars and stuff.” Brian said as he too stood up and neared the framed signboard. He lifted his hand and started to finger the words Littrell.
Kevin smiled and nodded his head, losing himself in some distant memories where he had heard his cousin saying just that. You know Kev, I really love this idea of being in a band and all, but if it didn't work out for us, I think I'd just go back home and start and tow-truck company of some sort. Get some oil on my overalls. Kevin remembered laughing at him then and assured his cousin that Backstreet is definitely going to work for them.
AJ had been lost in his own world the moment he had grabbed for the magazine lying around on the table in front of them. Kevin wished he had something to do other than just sit around. He could try for the door and see if he could find someone out there but even that seemed like a chore. Like he had thought, he was more tired than he was ready to admit.
He turned to see Howie was still admiring the replicas on the desk. He couldn't really understand Howie's sudden obsession of properties and wondered why he had never asked the Latino that before. Perhaps it wasn't his business; a man should be able to do what he wants and not be questioned about it. He knew how irritating that could be. His eyes caught something else on the desk. It amused him that it hadn't caught his attention before.
It was a musical box with a man and a woman waltzing. He stood up, a small smile already played at the corner of his lips. He picked the box up and started winding the turner. The moment he let go, the room was filled with the soft instrumental of the song 'Anywhere for you'.
“I didn't know they have our songs in one of this.” He said to no one in particular. Howie blurted out an amused 'yeah'. “I told my brother once that I wanna be a ballroom dance instructor as my career. He told me not to be so gay.”
AJ actually chuckled and a small grin appeared on Nick's face. Brian actually stopped admiring the signboard and turned, a mocking grin on his face. Howie down right laughed out loud.
“This magazine actually has a ten page cover story on Pinocchio, I think the creator died or something and they're making a tribute.” AJ blurted out.
“My mom used to scare me with that wood boy so that I won't lie to her.” Nick said, eyes closed and head leaning back on the sofa. “Said my nose will grow longer and I'm not going to skip school just because of that.”
“I dig this Pinocchio guy. It's because of this story that I decided to learn how to be a ventriloquist.”
Nick chuckled, eyes still closed. “You're good at it AJ, I remember how I used to laugh until I cried so much just watching you talking to a wood.”
“Yeah, you were our very own entertainer back then when our hotel rooms are just four walls. I swear they just got smaller and smaller, like they were crushing on us.” Brian said, frowning at the memory.
AJ's grin only grew wider with that comment. “Yeah. I'd be a great Ventriloquist if Backstreet didn't work out, wouldn't I?”
Nick opened his eyes and groaned loudly. His frown was so intense that both his eyebrows actually touched in the middle. That confused look was back on his face.
“I've had enough of this!” He cried out. “First we got lost on a road that we had travelled on so many times before. Then a guy whom we didn't even have the decency to ask his name offered a ride. And then we woke up in this very cosy office and you guys started telling me what you'd be if there is no 'Backstreet'! What the hell is this place? I swear we're in some kind of a twisted twilight zone!”
“You are.”
Nick wasn't quite sure how long he had been there, staring at his own hands clasped together in front of him. The voice of the stranger drifted in and out of his concentration, like as if he was half asleep. He heard the occasional gasps that came from his brothers when more was revealed by the stranger. He found it almost comical why he, the one who was often associated with the word 'gullible', sat there still doubting this stranger while someone like Kevin readily accepted that such a thing like being trapped in a twilight zone did exist.
So far, the stranger had spoken nothing but the truth. It felt like listening to a die hard fan, they always seem to know more about each Backstreet Boy than they themselves. But while the other guys were keen to know more, Nick was beginning to loose focus; the sensible part of him was ridiculing the whole idea. Twilight zone? Come on, get real!
"...know why are we here in the first place?" He heard Kevin asking. Nick found himself paying attention for once, because he was interested to know too. Why weren't they in the car, where they rightly belonged?
"Yeah, we were suppose to be in the car driving." AJ said, voicing out his thoughts.
The stranger looked just like them, another human. He introduced himself as Vinhorian Alni. Dressed simply in a white sweater and white cargo pants, he was tall and lean with slightly curly brown hair, blue eyes, soft voice and had one hell of a cool tattoo on his left wrist that Nick would kill to have.
Yet every time he tried to read the expression on his face or penetrate deep into those blue eyes, he found nothing. He couldn't read anything from the way he talked or by the constant waving of his hands or just the way he sat. But the warmth that seemed to radiate from him told Nick that he was a friend.
"Do you recall why you were in the car, driving, in the first place?" Nick nodded because he remembered. He could never forget it even if he wanted to because he dreaded it so much. It was the ride they had christened ' nowhere' and for the last ten years of Backstreet's existence, they had taken three such rides and if they never had been trapped in that 'room' then, it would be their fourth.
"We were going nowhere." AJ said, more to himself than to anybody else. Vinhorian nodded, as if he knew what AJ had said. Nick had the suspicion that the man did know what 'nowhere' meant even though it was a well guarded secret between the five of them.
"You were trying to salvage something that seemed almost lost. Nowhere brought you here. Twilight is nowhere. Except here, you're given a little helping hand." It was something about Vinhorian's voice that made Nick want to trust him. The feeling felt familiar and close but he couldn't seem to place exactly where it all fit.
"See Nick, this is almost like believing aliens do exist and we found a spaceship." Brian smiled. Taken aback by the sudden friendliness that had seemed lost between them, he nodded and smiled.
Those were good memories. Tired and worn out after a concert, forcing the guys to follow him, to venture out into the unknown in search of a spaceship. He still wondered why they had entertained his silly antics.
"You can help us on what?" Howie asked. "We're in a tow-truck garage of some sort, how can this help?"
"This is just a stop over my friends. We're not going to spend the rest of your nowhere ride in this room. This is just a hub where we all meet. I'm sure you've all noticed how this room is made up by all of your dreams." Vinhorian explained, a little smile playing on his lips.
"Like how I always thought I'd end up owning a tow-truck company?" Brian grinned.
"Yes. Just like Howie's obsession with buying properties." Vinhorian replied, receiving chuckles from everyone except Howie.
Kevin nodded, his eyebrows almost touching in the middle as he considered the idea thoughtfully. "So...mine has got to do with ballroom dancing?"
"Yes, you enjoyed doing it tremendously." Vinhorian replied. "Just like AJ did whenever he put his ventriloquist ability to good use."
Nick's eyes darted around the room, where does he fit into all this? He couldn't find anything that he could connect with, that IS him. "So...where's mine?"
Vinhorian locked his gaze on him and the grin on his face grew wider. "Your dream is the guys."
He was thankful the room had no mirror because he bet he would have hated how he looked then. The guys? "Actually, my dream is a damn beautiful girl and a hut by the beach and no one else. But them?"
"Yes, them." Vinhorian replied simply. "You were twelve when you met them Nick, before that, all you ever knew was to sing and be on stage where you are right at home. The guys came into your life and everything just fell into place, am I right? You had no back up Nick, you always only had your music and now the five of you are at a very important junction in the road, the group's decision will affect all of you, but it would especially affect you Nick, because this is the only thing you know, nothing else."
"So you're trying to help us to stay together, is that it?" Brian asked.
"No, I'm here to guide you to make the right decision as a group. I will show you some things that will help you in your decision but there is one catch."
-
Kevin's eyes darted from one brother to the other, all looking back at him with the same question burning to be answered. What catch?
"What catch?" Kevin asked, wondering if he even wanted to know in the first place. Vinhorian seemed sincere enough to help, and considering that they were stuck in a world not earth, he felt that the only way to go was to trust him.
"If you choose to go through with what I will show you, you have to go through with it right to the end. No backing out. You will find all that I showed you valuable lessons that will aid you through the rest of your life and make you a better person. However, if you choose not to accept what I'm offering you right now, you will find yourself back in the car, taking your normal nowhere ride, where the arguments will arise and a decision will be made that will either make or break you as an individual or a group. That decision is unknown to me too."
"Hold a sec...right now, on earth, are we still driving or did you like snap us, car and all, into your spaceship?" AJ asked.
Nick laughed. AJ frowned, not finding what he said amusing at all. "What's so funny?"
"Spaceship J? God...did you even hear what you're saying?"
"You speak like that too Nicky, well, at least you used to." Howie said.
"Like when I was twelve." Nick grinned. "Who's regressing now?"
AJ shrugged. "So for lack of a better word, get off my case Mr. I resign in Florida."
Everyone laughed, including Vinhorian and that in itself was weird. "You laugh as if you know what AJ meant by that Vin. Can I call you Vin? Your name's too...unique." Nick said, not wanting to hurt the man's feelings by saying that his name was just too weird for someone like Nick.
"That's okay, I know it sounds kinda weird."
"I like it." AJ said.
"Cause J's weird by nature." Kevin joked.
"And Kevin is the pain in my ass." AJ smiled.
"Keep talking and I'll have your butt meet my foot."
Nick couldn't help the wide smile he was wearing. "I believe they've met lots of times before."
Howie sighed. "And all this because of your name. I apologize on their behalf."
"You do have a strange name Vin. Are there more of your...er...kind...around here?" Brian asked.
Vinhorian stifled his laughter, obviously amused by their remarks. "There are more of my kind but you won't see them. We only appear to you if the need be. And as for answering your question AJ, if you do agree to follow me, on earth right now, you're still in your car. But, you were involved in a car wreck."
Loud gasps filled the room and Vinhorian Alni was expecting it. "For every favour that we will do, there is a side effect. Your accident on earth caused you to enter this world of the in between, and that's the only way for us to reach you. If the accident had not occurred, we would have never met. It is however, our choice to either reach out for you or just let you be."
Brian scratched his head. "So why did you reach for us?"
"Because you're worth saving. There was a lot of tension going on between the five of you and if you die in that car wreck, it would be tragic that you parted ways in anger. We're offering you this help because the love and respect you have for each other outweighs the anger that you have been experiencing lately. All you need is some soul searching to find that love and respect again."
"You're saying that we could die right now on earth?" AJ exclaimed.
"All I know is you were involved in a car wreck, that is God's will, not something that we do. I have to stress though that if you chose to follow me, you're going to drift further away from reality, which could prove fatal. But we chose those we want to help carefully. My people say that you're strong enough to do this and that's why I'm here."
"What's the point of knowing everything when we could end up dead and waste all that we know?" Brian asked.
"That's the decision you have to make Brian." Vinhorian pointed out.
"What is it exactly that you're going to show us?" Howie asked.
"Not everything, but enough that you would need to know. Consider this as soul searching." Vinhorian replied.
Nick shrugged and slumped deeper in his seat. "Well, I'm up to a change, so I'm saying let's do this."
AJ raised an eyebrow. "Wow, that was quick Nick. You could die in the wreck, you know that right?"
"Yes I know." Nick replied.
"I don't want to die. As much as this is tempting, I want to live long to be with my family." Brian claimed sadly. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be selfish-"
"You don't have to be sorry for wanting to be with your family Brian." Nick cut in. "And if it means anything to you, I just want to tell you that you won't die in that wreck."
"You won't know that for real Nick." AJ reasoned.
"He won't take Brian so soon cause if he wants to, he would have taken him away a long time ago when he was dying from that heart defect AJ. And he would have taken him when he had that surgery. He lost most of his childhood being sick, and God is fair, he'll let him live for Baylee's sake."
Howie stared at Nick in disbelief. How could he be so sure?
"That's the kind of strength I was talking about earlier. If you have faith that you will live for each other, that is all that you need to survive. But like I said, it's your decision." Vinhorian pointed out.
"What if one of us chose not to go but the rest want to?" Kevin asked. "I'm afraid you have to make a universal decision guys. Meaning, you have to all agree on the same thing; otherwise, it won't work."
"Well then, I'm going to go with Nick this time. I mean, whatever happens to us in that car wreck is God's will, we have no say in it. Rather than get back there right now and most probably suffer some pain, I'd like to take this walk." Kevin replied.
"Me too." Howie said.
"Count me in." AJ sighed. "This is like Beyond Belief"
Brian pried his eyes away to keep on staring at his shoes. He had to make a decision now, a decision that would pull him away from his wife and son, a decision that might end up leaving Baylee an orphan before he even reached his first birthday.
He found himself looking up to the expecting eyes of Nick, his supposedly best friend. When did things change, he often asked himself. Perhaps the age gap finally did show it's ugly head somewhere along the line.
"I'm not gonna die Nick?" He heard himself asking.
Nick smiled. "You won't."
They might have been at each other's throat lately, but deep inside, Brian knew he could count on Nick. Sometimes, it's the ego that was in the way. "Okay, I'm coming."
