The things we left behind.

[Celentrion]

"Awwwww!" Jared called from the back seat of the mini van, digging through his bag. His friend Ryder leaned over curious as to what the problem is.

"I think I left my charger at home."

"No worries, I think my mom has the same phone you do, you can borrow hers when we get to the hotel." Ryder teased back.

"Yeah, thanks. That'll be great." Jared said in a deadpan voice.

Ryder and Jared went way back, to be fair their faimlies went way back ever since Jared's parents had moved in 3 houses down around 17 years ago. So when Ryder announced his plans for spring break, Jared didn't have to twist his parents arm too much to come along. 30 Seconds to Mars had a concert in Vegas the very week of spring break, and the Pingry's were taking a family vacation that had just enough overlap to include it in their intinerary.

"What is the name of this town again? Are we sure it has a hotel?" Jared asked.

Ryders dad turned back "Well its actually more of a motel and Duckwater."

"Wait, what?"

"Duckwater, the towns name is duckwater."

The two boys half groaned in unison, but Ryder's dad only let out a chuckle. "Relax, you don't have to tell your friends when you get back that you spent part of your spring break in Duckwater Nevada."

Jared mumbled to Ryder "In a seedy motel where crazy truckers probably off families"

Ryder's younger sister, Sophie, a year younger than Dana called out "Moooom, they are saying crazy truckers are going to off us at motel we are staying at tonight."

Mr. Pingry turned around again, smiling to his daughter "Its okay sweetheart, that kind of thing hasn't happened since the 1900's"

Ryder chimed in "Yeah back in the time of dinosaurs and black and white television."

Jared added "Before the internet was invented and men drew on cave walls."

Ryder's mother kept her eyes on the road as she added "I think we need to have a talk with your history teacher when we get back."

Ryder winced, shriking down into his seat as he knew what that really meant. The conversation quieting back down as everyone went back to their respective conversations. Jared bumped his shoulder "Relax dude, I bet you in Duckwater, you'll be like the smartest person there."

The punch to his arm was swift, and just hard enough to sting. "Why are you coming again?"

"Because you love my company? Speaking of which, can I borrow one of your buds, I think I left those too."

[Celentrion]

The sun had long since set, the moon was nothing but a slender sliver and the stars were mostly clouded out for the night. That left the drive along a deserted desert road all the more quiet. The only light was the two headlights shining a narrow field of vision in front of the van. Sophie had dozed off sprawling across the back bench, Ryder's mom, now in the passenger seat had joined her. Jared and Ryder sat quietly sharing a set of ear buds, listening and bobbing their head along with the tracks that came up.

"Are we there yet?" Ryder asked.

His dad chuckled "We're getting close, another hour, but there is a gas station a few miles ahead, going to stop and fill up."

Jared perked up "Can we get snacks? I mean not that your moms granola bars aren't... very granola-y but real snacks?"

Ryder snickered "She's on this huge health food kick, thanks mostly to your mom. Thanks by the way for that."

Jared rubbed his shoulder from the light punch. "Yeah sorry about that, I know how she gets. If this was my family's trip? We'd have granola too."

Ryder's dad grinned "If I slip you a twenty can you grab me a few things while you are in there. Just keep it hush hush."

The "I heard that" that came from the seat next to him caused him to shrink into the seat.

"Oh, you're up dear. I was just saying the boys could go get some snacks at the gas station. It is vacation and all. And you know how they love moon pies."

She laughs quietly "I know how *you* love them Robert, but it will be good to get out of this van and stretch our legs."

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The gas station was small, but well lit on the outskirts of what had to be a very small town. One could see several lights in the distance, but the small blips were scattered across the desert landscape. After pulling up to the pump everyone but Sophie, who still slept, made their way out to stretch their legs. Jared and Ryder made their way inside to look for less than healthy snacks while his parents stayed with the van.

A man sat behind the counter reading a magazine that covered his face, he only looked for a moment to see who entered his store before going back to reading.

Ryder was the first come up to the counter, knowing exactly what he wanted while Jared still window shopped at all the horribly sugary possibilities. "Hey... uh, do you guys have a bathroom here or something?"

The man looked down at the pile of snacks, back to Ryder, reached under the counter and pulled out a key strapped to a big piece of wood. "Round back." were his only words.

"Thanks man, he's paying." he thumbed over his shoulder to Jared who still had a quizzical look on his face trying to decide which snack was the right one for him. With that Ryder darted outside, leaving his pile of snacks behind.

[Celentrion]

Hour 1 - Outbreak

Jared had narrowed his selection down to two candy bars, then he realized his mom was in fact not here to tell him "You can't have any" so he took them both up to the counter.

The man lowered his magazine again, looking at the counter. "That everything?"

Jared nodded, then rolled his eyes realizing what the man meant as he started to ring everything up on the counter. "Perfect timing as always" he muttered under his breath, digging out his wallet.

The door opened again and a man dressed in military fatigues entered, looking more than a little pale and clammy. Just then Jared's phone went off as he dug it out of his pocket, seeing a text. "my dad wants moon pies, can you get sum?" He half laugh, half groaned.

"Uh, hey sorry, one sec. Last minute request." The man kept an indifferent look as Jared dashed back to the snack section to find moon pies.

Near him the guy in military fatigues leaned up against the cooler door downing a large bottle of water as fast as he could. Jared eyed him carefully, going to say something, then stopping.

He started up again as the man fumbled into the cooler for a second bottle of water "Are you okay man, you look like you should... uh, see a doctor or something. My friends dad, he's out in the car and he's..."

Jared didn't get to finish the next statement as the main violently coughed and wretched, blood coming out of his mouth spraying onto the floor. With a yelp he jumped back "Jesus! Dude!"

The man at the counter looked up to see what the commotion was, Jared called to him "You need to call like 911 or something, do you guys even have 911, this guy is like... dying." Jared had already started to put space between him and the sick looking man, running back up to the counter.

"More, there's so many more..." the man in fatigues managed to gurgle as he slumped against the cooler door, resting his head against it going limp.

Jared went pale as he backed away further and further not sure what to do, starting to panic at whatever was happening "You.. you gotta call someone, call someone!" He had nearly made it to the door to the small shop when a loud crash against the glass startled him.

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Ryder had made his way to the restroom making a face, knowing what he was in for. He took a long look around at the open desert and decided rather than subject himself to the horrors inside, opted to use the side of the building out of sight.

There was a low groan just about as he was finishing his business making him jump and look around. "Oh very funny dick, what are you doing out here?" His eyes squinted trying to search for Jared through the darkness.

Ryder backed up slowly into the light "Jokes over, I owe you one" he laughed a little, trying to sound mad.

The figure that stepped in the light caused him to pause, whoever it was, whatever it was, it wasn't quite human. Like something that stepped out of a horror movie. It only took one more step before Ryder took off back towards his family, his dad quickly trying to cut through the hysteria that came out of his mouth.

"It.. I don't know, what... we have to. Jared we need to get Jared he's still inside!"

Sophies scream from the back seat cut through the night air as the disfigured man slammed up against the back window of the Van, sending her father into action.

"What the hell are you doing back there, trying to scare..." he made his half way through the lecturing sentence before his own eyes found what his son had been talking about. His wife screamed as something hulking on all fours came running from the darkness barreling towards their van.

Ryders dad was quick to act running back to the car, dragging his son in with him "Nu...no Jared is still in there, we can't leave him! The doors slammed close just in time for the Van to be hit by what looked like some sort of hell hound out of a horror movie only rather than fur, torn flesh covered its body. The van rocked as it was struck causing everyone inside to scream. It nearly tipped as Ryders mother struggled to start the engine through her shaking fingers.

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Jared turned around holding the door closed as he saw what Ryder had seen, pressed up against the door, watching as the silver van squeeled off into the night. His eyes widened, shocked over what he saw between him and the van and that they left him behind. The man in the store shoved him away from the door onto the ground as he locked it up.

"Git back, behind the counter" he called out in a gruff voice, but Jared only sat there, skin pale white in horror.

It wasn't until the creature struck up against the glass again clawing at it that Jared backed away his eyes still fixed outside at the where the tail lights had disappeared.

In the van Ryder called out "What are you doing! Stop! We need to go back!" but his mother, hand still quivering just drove going faster and faster.

"We can't leave him back there..." Ryder offered with a quiet plea.