Chapter 3: The Road Trip To Maine
The next morning at dawn around 5:25, the brothers have just arrived at their destination: a dark red house with a chicken house.
Riley's car had just driven up to the right side of the driveway. Then they got out and took their bags with them.
Then a very old woman came over to them. She has white hair, wrinkled body, glasses, red shirt, white shorts, and white shoes. This was the brothers grandmother Jean Momaney.
"Hi Riley and Logan!" Jean greeted her grandsons happily as they came over and hugged her, which she did the same.
"How are you boys doing? Are you excited to have fun in Maine with Terran and Ambrea?" She asked them, excitedly.
"We sure are, Mimi!" Riley replied back.
Then suddenly a black truck came in as they turned their attention to it.
"Well, speak of the devil." Jean said happily.
The truck pulled in as they see two young adults coming out of the truck.
One was a male, as he was wearing a white t-shirt with an american flag picture on it, black shoes, brown khaki shorts, and spiked hair. This was their cousin, Terran Momaney.
The other was a girl, as she wore a black sweatshirt, white shorts, green sneakers, and brown hair. This was Terrans sister and the brother's cousin, Ambrea Momaney.
"Hey guys." Terran and Ambrea greeted them happily, as they all shared a group hug.
"Hey Terran and Ambrea." Riley greeted them as they broke apart.
"So you guys ready to do this thing?" Logan asked, eagerly.
"Yeah!" Riley and Terran answered back with their own smiles, while Ambrea just had a disappointed look on her face.
"Hey Ambrea, you alright?" Logan asked noticing her look.
"I'm alright, Logan. And I'm glad to see you and Riley. It's just that, I can't believe you guys dragged me out of the house for this." Ambrea answered miserably.
"Maybe we should leave her here with Grammy, she could use the extra company." Terran teased her with a smirk.
"I agree with Terran, I was happy with my boyfriend at home." Ambrea said.
"Well, you're not gonna be sitting at home with him, Ambrea. This is gonna be an adventure ahead of us." Logan replied back with a smile.
Ambrea groaned. "Tell that to my stomach."
Jean chuckled at her grandchildren before saying. "Okay kiddo's! Grab your bags and get ready! The truck is all set and ready to go for you four."
They agreed and got the bags ready as they placed them in the red truck. As soon as they were done, they got in the truck in the respective seats: Riley in the driver's seat, Logan in the front seat, Terran and Ambrea in the back seats.
Jean came to the door of the driver's seat as Riley started the truck before he rolled down the window and Jean gave her grandchildren a warm smile.
"Have a great time, guys! And remember, whatever happens in Maine, I wanna hear all about it when you get back." She said.
"Will do, Grammy!" Logan nodded to her.
"You guys ready for this?" Riley asked Terran and Ambria.
"We're ready, dude." Terran responded.
Then Jean backed away as truck backed out of the driveway and the four teenagers waved her goodbye, which she did the same.
(Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts)
Soon the four were on the highway heading to Maine.
Man:
Woo! Umm yeah…
Life's like the road on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside ev'ry darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
We won't hesitate
To break down the garden gate
There's not much time left today
Crew:
Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
Man:
Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I love you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights
Knock me down get back up again
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man
There's no load I can hold
The roads are rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors
Crew: "Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
Man:
Gimme gimme gimme gimme yeah
Crew:
Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
As they drove all the way to Maine, they made it passed through New Hampshire from going through a couple of stops to go to the bathroom and get food for the trip
Eventually they made it across the giant green iron bridge that leads to Maine. The sun's rays shone through Logan's black shirt.
Soon they came up to a gas station as they pulled in to one of the gas pumpers. The four got out and stretched their aching bodies.
"Well, guys. We're almost to the cabin." Logan said to his cousins and brother as Riley pressed the pumper button and started filling up the trucks fuel.
As that was happening the four family members went inside to go to the bathroom and get a few essentials. After going to the bathroom, Logan was the last to come out. Then he saw a newspaper article next to the cashier.
Then he takes one of the newspapers out and begins to read it. Suddenly he noticed something strange on the third page.
It shows a black and white image of scientists reported missing from a laboratory.
"Four scientists missing in the public eye?" Logan asked, confused.
"They say something happened in the part of Maine, a few of the scientists were reported missing from the private authorities." A female voice came from behind Logan, which made him turn to see the lady cashier with a grim expression.
"My advice to you, my boy. You and your family stay well clear inside your house no matter what happens." She said firmly to him.
Logan looked at her blankly before giving a slight nervous chuckle as he placed the article back and said. "You got it, ma'am."
Before he went to the door, the lady said warningly. "And another thing, sonny." Logan turns to her with a little confused.
"If you ever see the building, named 'T.G.R.I.', you best not to go near that."
"T.G.R.I.?" Logan asked, confusingly as he turned to her. "What does that mean?"
"It stands for 'Techno Global Research Industries'." The lady answered.
"Right, well, um… have a good day." Logan said, awkwardly before heading out.
Soon he climbed into the front seat and buckled up.
"What took you so long, buddy?" Terran asked his cousin.
"Oh, just a little hold up." Logan answered.
Soon the three forgot it and went on their way. But just as they made it to the top of the hill getting close to their cabin, a strange man is seen running up to the other side before collapsing on the side of the road.
"RILEY, STOP!" Logan shouted urgently.
Riley did just that as he stopped the truck and soon the four got out quickly.
Logan and Terran went over to the man who was breathing heavily.
Terran straightens the man as Ambrea asked worriedly. "Are you okay?"
The man looked at them and said. "You four should head back now."
"Why?" Riley asked, confused.
"T.G.R.I. has gone down and is ruining the environment around the forests! If you don't get out of here next month, you'll be next for the smorgasbord." The man answered before running off.
"What was all that about?" Terran asked, weird by this sudden outburst.
"I don't know, but whatever it was, he sure sounded very horrified by what he said." Ambrea said, concerned for the man.
"We better get to the cabin." Logan said to them as they went inside the truck.