Chapter Fourteen

The Thrill

"Good morning, this is the Nationwide Bank. How can I help you?"

"Hi there… Sorry, this might be kind of a weird call but I found this card in the wallet of my boyfriend. We partied hard last night but I kind of want to get him home. I don't suppose you'd be able to help me at all?"

"Can I ask the name of your friend?"

"Jay Scythe."

"…I thought so…" There was a heavy sigh on the other end phone. "Could you please hold for me?"

With that answer, Ruby saw Tanzi's look. She just shrugged and heard movement on the other side of the phone. A faint voice that sounded like someone shouting to someone else. Then the squeak of wheels and the sound of the phone being picked up.

"This is Maxine Scythe, Jay's sister."

"…Sister? Has this kind of thing happened before?" Ruby was finding it hard to talk in a tone completely different than her usual one but she wanted to do her best to make it seem like she had just been partying all night long. "I mean… He told me he was single."

"Trust me, love, that guy is full of it. If you're looking for a long-term relationship, Jay isn't the one for you."

"…I see…" Ruby faked a crack in her voice and swallowed. "…That bastard… I definitely want to get him back to his house now. Can you help me out?"

"Sure thing. This isn't the first time I've had a girl call me in the morning – it certainly won't be the last." Maxine seemed to sigh on the other side of the phone. "Okay, you'll want to take him to Upland Road. You know the High Street?"

"Yes?"

"You want to go West on the High Street. From St. Mary's Church, you want to take the third left, after the four-way intersection. One you get on Upland, it's—" Maxine's voice suddenly stopped and Ruby could hear a quick conversation, which sounded a little aggressive. There was the noise of moving around again and the first voice came back on the line. "I'm sorry… We cannot hold personal calls. Thank you for your time," after a moment the voice quickly came back. "Though tell Jay to screw himself, okay?"

The phone hung up and Ruby looked to Tanzi. "Perfect. It may not be an exact location, but we need to get to Upland Road. I got the directions from her before she was kicked off. Let's head out."

"I think this is it," Ruby said as she and Tanzi walked down the tree-lined street of Upland Road. The rows of houses extended far down, each of them looking quite expensive with driveways, garages, and gardens. All the houses on the road were red brick and looked well-cleaned. Perhaps there was some kind of neighbourhood gardener or cleaner?

"So, we'd be looking for a closed garage or a tarpaulin, right?" Tanzi asked as they continued to walk. With only a street name to go by, it was going to take a little bit of effort to find Jay. At least they knew what his car looked like.

"Yup," Ruby replied before coming to a quick halt, nearly causing Tanzi to trip. "Unless he is an absolute idiot…" She motioned to a driveway two buildings down where the blue Volkswagen stood, with two legs jutting out from under the smashed bonnet. Various tools were spread around and occasionally a hand would dart out to grab one.

"Hey," Ruby called out, walking onto the driveway.

"Sorry. I'm kind of busy," came the unmistakable voice of Jay Scythe, filled with a combination of cockiness and self-assurance.

"Busy fixing your illegal street car?!"

"…Fuck…" They could barely hear the word before Jay came out from under the Volkswagen. "What in the name of hell do you want? 'Cause you do want something, correct? Otherwise the police would have come already. What is it, then? Money? Because I got it. How much?"

"We just want a moment of your time."

"That all?" Jay snorted and went back under the car. "Then talk and bugger off."

"He's not going to believe us," Tanzi said doubtfully.

"We have to try," Ruby replied, before approaching the Volkswagen. "Jay, you're in danger. Fatal danger."

"Uh-huh," came the reply from under the car.

"You and I and Tanzi here are part of a select group of people – a list, if you will – who are going to die. One person has died already and you are next."

"Uh-huh."

"And we want to prevent that from happening. We're getting the group together in an attempt to stop this list and get out alive."

"Uh-huh…"

"Are you even listening to me!? This is serious."

Jay appeared out from under his Volkswagen again and looked up at the irritated Ruby, an amused expression on his face. "You just sound crazy, Red. If that's all you wanted me to hear then I've heard it. We're done. Politely get the hell away from me."

"Your life is in danger!" Tanzi exclaimed, her face red with anger. Jay was acting like a child and wasn't taking them seriously at all.

"Love, my life is in danger every time I take to the roads. It's called a thrill. I love being on the edge and you know what? Death can kiss my ass. He hasn't got me yet and he never will."

"You would have died yesterday if we didn't stop you!" Tanzi retorted.

"Who the hell knows that? Can you tell the future? I would have been fine!"

"She can tell the future – at least glimpse it." Ruby tried to remain patient with Jay. "That's why we ran you off the road. Otherwise you would have hit that downed sign and caused a chain of events that would have killed nine people."

"And where's your proof, sunshine?!" Jay confronted Tanzi and got in her face. "Prove to me you can see the future and then maybe we'll get somewhere." Tanzi didn't respond, her eyes glassy and staring completely through Jay. "Geez, what kind'a drugs you get her on?"

"No…" Ruby said, concerned. She put her hands on Tanzi's shoulders and tried to see something in her eyes. "…She's having a vision. You want proof? Here it is."

He stood – a child – in a crowd of shadows. All pointing – all laughing soundless laughs, their mouths twisting in ugly shapes. Despite their laughs, He stood as straight as He could as He puffed out His chest. He wouldn't let their laughs define who He was. Then two shadows stood prominent – taller, grander than the rest. A sense of familiarity… someone close to Him. Parents, perhaps? They were laughing the hardest, taunting the cruellest… They never wanted Him, all they wanted was her… He was a mistake.

He was older, stronger, more firm in His convictions. He stood next to a bright blue Volkswagen and it was clearly defined, from the headlights to the spoiler. He was proud of the car, not only proud… but He loved the car. It was a friend who wouldn't laugh, a friend He could rely on, who would never disappoint him. A true friend. His partner.

The Volkswagen was moving, a blur of blue in the shadows. This feeling, exhilarating, making Him grin ear to ear. This was how life should be lived – at high speeds and defying death. And it wasn't just a thrill… it was something He was excellent at. Nothing made him feel as happy, as satisfied, as this. But another feeling far down in the deepest part of Him sought to break free… The faster he went the more the blur increased and the more the thrill rose. Closer and closer, His heart jumping in his chest but his smile never disappearing. This was it – this is what life was all about – and He was content.

Tanzi gasped and found herself face to face with Ruby. It took a moment for her brain to adjust itself back to reality but she could still feel that thrill on her shoulders.

"What did you see?" Ruby asked gently but Tanzi looked past her and towards Jay, whose face was twisted in amusement.

"Why this?" Tanzi asked quietly, retaining that feeling from her vision.

"Excuse me? Why what?"

"They may have laughed at you… taunted you… ridiculed you…" Tanzi shook her head slowly. "You shouldered the burden and you could have done what you liked."

Jay's eyes narrowed at Tanzi's words. "What?"

"You race for the thrill, I understand that. I feel that. The faster you go the happier you are but… It's not that you are good at it." Tanzi stepped past the silent Ruby to get in front of Jay. "You want to die… you just can't do it by yourself. You want it to happen because you made a mistake. You want it to happen without you doing it deliberately. But you don't know what it's like… when I saw you before in the first vision… in the accident… you were scared, you didn't want to face it. You don't need this, Jay. You don't need to race. You don't need to die for this."

For the first time it seemed like Jay was lost for words. He didn't seem quite like the angry man that he was before but somebody else. Someone who was conflicted with his status.

"Maxine… your sister…" Tanzi continued, her voice strange. "You always felt like you were second to her. She was the one your parents wanted. You were just an accident – a night neither of them wanted to remember. They thought you stunted, they thought you pathetic… Not like Maxine. She was the smart one and now she's a banker. You never had that. You weren't smart or athletic and they disagreed with the racing." Tanzi's eyes widened as if realising something. "That's why you do this. That's why you think you want to die. You believed your parents words when you were a child. You believe that you shouldn't be here. Maxine—"

"Quiet!" Jay suddenly snapped. His eyes were red and he stepped back, shaking – though with rage or sadness, Tanzi couldn't quite tell. "You-You don't know me! You c-can't know me!"

"Is that proof enough?" Ruby asked carefully.

Jay looked to her, his nostrils flaring. He opened his mouth as if to yell at her but suddenly shook his head. Quickly he opened the driver's door of the Volkswagen and climbed inside, shutting and locking the doors. Ruby moved to the window.

"You can't run from this, Jay! Please, we've shown you the proof that we're not talking out of our asses. Come with us."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Jay turned the engine on and it roared to life. "You guys are freaks, true and simple. You don't know what my future holds – I do! And it isn't death, I don't care what your little vision freak thinks! I don't care about Maxine, I don't care!" Jay breathed hard, repeating, "I don't care," as if trying to persuade himself of the fact.

Tanzi took Ruby's place by the window and put her hand on the open window frame. "Jay… I understand you now. I can help you work through this. I don't want any more bloodshed. Let me help you." Jay looked to her, biting his bottom lip, as if considering her proposal. "You don't want to die. I've seen what you did when it happened and I know that's not what you truly want. Please."

Jabbing the button on the side of the door, the window rolled up, cutting Tanzi's voice off. Jay shook his head and quickly pulled out of the driveway, turning and driving off, leaving the two women behind.

"Tanzi, are you okay?" Ruby immediately asked after the Volkswagen disappeared down the road. The girl was pale and shaky on her feet.

"I-I think so…" Tanzi nodded and grabbed Ruby's proffered arm to support herself. "These visions they… I'm not prepared for them. This is only the third one but I feel like… like those things I feel stay… For a while there I almost felt like I-I was Jay… that I shared his thoughts…" Tanzi looked to Ruby with wide eyes. "Just what are these visions, Ruby?"

"I…" Ruby shook her head. "I don't know." It was the honest answer. Sabrina never showed any signs like this and back at the construction site Meagan Thompson had described the vision as if it were a series of images. It was clear that Tanzi's visions were different. It frustrated Ruby that she didn't have any idea. She absolutely hated not knowing, wishing she could help Tanzi. Pushing these feelings aside, Ruby started quickly walking down the sidewalk, still holding Tanzi. "We need to get to the car and try to find him. We need to save him."