Standpoint

1

The sun began to set up on the horizon when I looked across from the beach noticing the most beautiful scene I have never imagined.  The edge of the cliff was amazing, even with the clouds scattered in the background.  From the car on the way over, it seemed like I never thought I would ever see the sun settle in the distance ever again.  Heck, from my standpoint, just knowing I have few more hours left tells me that maybe I have just enough time to change my path.2

3

I ended up driving sixty more miles in the beat up Corolla to a small town out in central Tennessee.  I know I was making a terrible decision heading out so far; however, I did not have a choice in the matter.  I pulled off the exit to a town called Rochester.  From the highway passing through the Rockies, this town should be able to give me enough space to finish what they started.  Of course, I would have been done with this stupid assignment if they had just given me a few more hours.  With the luck not on my side, the plan changed not in my favor.  4

5

I pulled up to a Shell gas station just right off the main road.  I know my limits, and I trust well-known reputable gas stations when I am at unfamiliar territories.  To be on the safe side however, I felt my side pocket to confirm that my berretta is still present from the last scuffle which by the way since I am here I need to find a first aid kit to tend to wounds.  6

7

I walked into the service convenient store hearing the usual chimes.  I think I may have struck gold with this stop when a pair of the most beautiful eyes greeted me when I walked in.  For a brief second, I felt comfortable thinking that I may be in a safe environment for once, but that is the trouble with silver linings; you always get clouds in them.  I moved to the back of the store to grab the first soda I can find.  I did not have much time, every step is wasted time I could be trying to achieve my mission.8

9

Near the counter, I glanced down at the local papers; one of them struck my curiosity.  On the front page of one of the stacks, there was a headline in bold letters ‘Power Corruption at War'.  I was right; it was not long before they caught up to me, to finish what I started.  10

11

I tossed the soda on the counter along with a candy bar.  "Hey, how ya doin'," I said to the woman.  She gave me a look then over out into the window.  "I also need twenty on five."12

13

She tapped at the cash register to input the transactions, but for some reason, she never took her eyes off the window.  I must have not noticed it then, but now that I am recording this, I should have seen it coming.  "Is there anything else for you?"  She asked.14

15

"No, that will be all," I replied.  I laid some money on the counter when I took my stuff and headed out the store.  16

17

After fueling, I turned to look back at the store.  The woman at the register continued to look outside the window.  I do not remember her ever turning her head even for a second at any other direction.  18

19

"Now as not the time to be noticing the weird locals," I thought to myself.  Just then, a smell of sulfur pierced my nostrils.  I knew then that I spent too long at this stop.  I sped away managing to get back onto the highway and picking up as much speed as possible weaving in and out of traffic.  20

21

My thoughts jumped back to when this all came about.  You see, I work for the largest Nuclear Waste Corporation in America.  Of course, that was just a front to cover for the better-known elusive dealings under the table that the Corporation was involved.  Organized Crime... no problem; coke and heroin smuggling... no problem; Human trafficking, too easy for these people.  My job was rather simple, to keep the crap from spilling out into the public.  Which the job did not require a whole lot of talent, I was damn good at keeping things under wrap.22

23

Well, the reason why I am running is that eighteen hours ago, the Corporation involved themselves into so high explosive chemicals.  Much as I would like to go into details, the factory they manufactured it in went haywire releasing the chemicals into the air.  To this day, I still do not know why they wanted an airborne virus, heck it seems like the staple for any terrorist attack.  Which is why when this ‘mishap' got loose, they turned to me to keep it concealed before mass panic ensued.   24

25

I knew from the moment I started witnessing the atrocities that it would be easier to hide an elephant behind a scrap of confetti.  This ‘virus' first infected the processing plant and the city surrounding it.  The first sign is the sulfur odor that preempts the spread of the virus.  From that moment, you have maybe two minutes to out run the infection before your insides catch on fire and you implode like an egg in a microwave.  26

27

The lucky ones who found they were immune to the symptoms panicked.  Most of them became guinea pigs to the Corporation while others chose to take a darker road to society.  This is the reason why I am on the lamb now.  It was not until a few hours ago when my contacts turned against me.  I was foolish to think that they contracted the virus but then I knew nothing about the sulfur.  I learned the hard way that prolonged exposure leads to madness in the brain that as I can say for that particular time and moment was one unlucky night. 28

29

My mind refocused back onto the road.  Already the virus encompassed half the nation, He knows about how many people are either dead or crazy.  Before my contacts died (rather from my hand then the hand of other people mind you), they did clue me in on this laboratory in East Texas working on an anti-toxin to this virus.  What was also interesting was the Corporation realized how big their folly has been and now for some odd reason they chose to eliminate everyone who knew of this existence.  They were ‘wiping their hands clean' of the accident.  30

31

The hairs on the back of my head started to crawl.  I felt like someone was watching me.  I turned my head to the right to see the same woman that was behind the gas station counter staring at me from another car.  Those eyes turned cold and sent shivers through my spine.  The weird part was that she never looked at the road ahead of her; she continued to stare right at me.32

33

My instincts told me to speed the car up.  Pressing forward with everything I had, the crazy woman in the opposite car matched my speed along side of me.  I took out my berretta and shot a few rounds through the window.  She broke pursuit speeding faster down the road.  The woman then plowed through the barrier, causing the car to flip over it, spinning a good two rotations before colliding with an Oil truck blaring down the side of the freeway going in the opposite direction.  The impact caused the rig to lose its cargo tank, and with my dumb luck, it was heading right in my direction.34

35

It was then, at the very last moment, someone moved the goalposts.  Two cars in front of me also saw the oil tank however, before they could react in time they were the first to collide throwing the fiasco into a huge explosion.  The shock wave because my erratic steering to lose control when I side railed the edge of the freeway saving me from the cliffs and instant death below.  What I did not count on was a giant pothole my tire failed to miss flipping my car through the barriers.36

37

I almost lost conciseness.  My car was teetering half way between the edge and the road.  I was not any fool; it was time to get out of the car.  I unfastened the seat belt and pushed the car door open.  I stepped one foot out when I realized my Beretta was on the floorboard.  I reached down to grab it when I saw a car barreling right for me.  It was real apparent now that somebody wanted me dead so I jumped out of the car just as the guy collided taking him and my car down into the cliff causing another explosion.  38

39

Kneeling down I felt nauseous and dizzy.  I puked what contents left in my gut and looked back out into the darkness.  All it took was a hint of sulfur to fill my lungs once again to pressure my intent on reaching that laboratory.  40

41

Looks like I am going to need a faster car.42