(24)-Taxi.

5:30 AM

As the driver drove the taxi through the night city of Arvada, all was quiet inside the cab. Even the radio wasn't on. Kyle sat in silence in the back seat on the right-his seatbelt on, looking out the right back window-with his arms folded, viewing all of the buildings the cab passed, the majority of them still without power, except for the gas stations, hotels and motels. The restaurants and grocery stores were all closed at the moment, so their lights were off because the staff had turned them off, not because they had lost power. They had most likely closed up due to all the riots, lootings and other crimes that had occurred last night. So far, there had been no criminal activity, but that didn't mean it was safe to be out walking the streets. Especially at this hour.

Kyle hadn't spoken a word since he'd left the hotel, for he was too into his thoughts about last night's events. Like the dream about the woman in white named Locasta, the glowing green clouds covering the night sky, the glowing twister coming down from the clouds and taking Cobey-disappearing with him afterwards, the rogue cops kidnapping Kyle and Megan, him fleeing the police station and running around the city in search of Cobey, the rogue cops tasing him and beating him unconscious and the continuing dream of Locasta, who talked about the land of Oz. How did he know her? More importantly, how did she know him? And why did it seem like he had to Oz before?

The driver looked at Kyle in the rearview mirror. "So...what's your take on what happened last night?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"I just got out of jail. I don't know, i have no idea." Kyle said. Although, he wished he'd worded that differently, as it made him sound like a criminal who just got sprung.

"Well, what i'm hearin' is some people say it was the clouds that caused the blackout. Others say it was the tornado. The rest of us? We don't know. I guess a lot of people went crazy when the blackout happened. There are buildings without power all over the city. Homes, apartments, malls, theaters, etc. Seems like everyone is tryin' to get answers fast." The driver explained.

"Aren't there at least some buildings with power in Arvada?" Kyle said, focusing on the driver. "I mean, the police station and the Savanah Suites hotel had their lights on due to back-up generators. I'm assuming your taxi service has one as well, if Megan was able to get ahold of you."

"Sure. Don't matta though. You can't expect people to act rational when most of the city is without electricity. All the rules go right out the window. And one guy wanted me to drive him all the way to Vegas." The driver said.

"You should've taken him, you could've made a lot of money." Kyle said.

"Guy didn't have a lot of money, trust me. He wasn't carryin' a wad of millions and billions, like the rich people around here are." The driver said.

"I doubt their money'll do them any good now that most of the city is without power." Kyle said.

"Hey, you'll parden me for noticing there, kid, but this ride didn't exactly dry up the wad." The driver said.

"Lucky me." Kyle said sarcastically, giving a brief fake smile.

"Yeah, well...i wouldn't jump to any conclusions. Cash may not be what it use to be. Like i said: All the rules have gone out the window." The driver said.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Kyle said.

"No, i'm not, i'm from New York. Brooklyn-New York, to be exact." The driver said.

"I can tell. You have the accent." Kyle said.

"Yeah, well, with all due respect, you don't sound like you're from around these parts neitha." The driver said.

"I'm not." Kyle said.

"Oh? Where ya from?" The driver asked.

"Kansas. Prairie Grove." Kyle answered.

"Prairie Grove? Neva heard of it." The driver said.

"Yeah, well, most people outside of Kansas haven't. It's not exactly famous." Kyle said.

"I can believe that. So what's it like there?" The driver said.

"Blended culture. 1800s/2000s, To be percise." Kyle said.

"Ah, a blended culture, huh? Sounds like quite a place. Maybe i'll swing by there someday and check it out for myself." The driver said.

"Be my guest." Kyle said.

"If ya don't mind my askin'...what's a kid like you doin' here in Colorado so far away from home?" The driver asked.

"I'm on a journey, looking for my long lost older brother, who i haven't seen or heard from since 2022. And the only reason i saw him then was because he had finished college and my Mom and i had gone to his graduation in Oregon." Kyle explained.

"Why didn't he stay in touch with you? I mean, the two of are brothas, right?" The driver asked.

"Yeah, well...he didn't like me much when we were growing up, so...we didn't exactly get along. That's why i'm on this journey to find him. So we can patch things up." Kyle said.

"Good luck with that." The driver said.

"Yeah." Kyle stated. All was quiet in the cab once again. "Can you pull over at the next gas station? I wanna get some snacks for the road.

"There's a truck-stop comin' up a mile from here. We can stop there, if ya want." The driver said.

"Sure. Why not?" Kyle said.

The taxi drove down the street, now heading for a new destination.

Please review.