THE RIDE part II

IT WAS GETTING LATE ...

...in the day and the lack of shelter, wide open fields and fast approaching
Darkening Clouds warned it was going to be a challenging night. He looked up.
His hand w through his thick hair as he stared at the clouds encroaching on the retreating sun.
He stared curiously at the lone highway dust encrusted sign that read
Rte 59 HEAVENER Oklahoma 12 miles

He didn't notice the late model car as it silently, pulled up in back of him
He turned, startled to see the shadowed image, stealthily glide up along the gravel path.
THAT didn't take long ! Yet Something jarred him.
Instincts hinting, Suggesting Something was not quite right.
He brushed it aside. his thoughts, partially residing with an old man he had just met
Maybe he just wasn't focused and sentiment was clouding his awareness.
No.. That wasn't it ! The Sound of this new arrival. ...There hadn't been any. Nothing.
On this almost deserted off-the-beaten-track highway, He SHOULD have heard or seen it.

He shrugged, Worry later Right now, Any wariness he had was short lived.
He was being rescued from a Night spent in the Wilderness
He turned, and nodded appreciation to the Driver whose identity was mysteriously hidden
behind the intense glare of reflected glistened glass. For an eerie moment, the car's opaque glass
appeared to be hiding all life within. Driverless as if on an ominous Mission of its own

As he moved towards the passenger side of the custom Lexus, the glare receded.
If he was surprised, it didn't show as he stared at a Vision.
late 20's, sandy blond, a face bordering on surreal perfection.
Still, he couldn't help but think Pretty Gutsy of her
Not too many would have stopped to pick up a Stranger in the middle of 'No Where'.
He smiled warmly. Grateful. Somewhat self conscious and aware his presence
might have intimidated most and wanting to re-assure her she would have nothing to fear.

The window glided down and a lyrical voice that seemed to linger in the Country setting
"Not too many Buses run this way. ...Want a lift ?' She laughed.
He smiled, nodded Yes Ma'm and tipped his hat as he opened the rear door
and loaded his duffle bag and satchel into the luxurious leather confines.
He glided easily into the front seat placing the hat carefully on his lap.
"Thank you Ma'm, Very nice of you." He smiled warmly at the attractive driver
but remained focus, his thoughts seemingly on the road ahead.
He gave no other sign other than being grateful, and only that once looking in her direction.

"You're not from around here. Where you headed ?' She asked as the car glided onto the highway.
"As far as you're going, or even Heavener up the road is fine" He added as an after thought.
'HEAVENER ?' She seemed surprise. "Thats pretty remote." She said, more in derision.
They rode in silence for several moments then...
"I'm curious, Forgive me for asking, but What's in Heavener ?" She asked.
He laughed and didn't say anything.
"Girlfriend ?" She teased.
'No, ...I don't know. Temporary Refuge, I guess. Maybe I just like the name." He smiled.
'Seems as nice a place as any " He added shyly.
'Yeah...O...K....' She said, The words lingered in playful mockery
"Well, It IS an Interesting Name, You got me there.... HEAVENER"
Her voice taking on the Stern Pulpit Preacher
"WHERE we're all suppose to end UP ONE DAY...RIGHT ?" She asked in amusement,
"Well, Some of us, anyway" She added, with derision.
"Hey, just a warning," Her voice returning.
"I know the Town, There are more exciting places."
" They named it right. I'll say THAT ! Can't get into too much trouble there." A mischievous wink added.

'You know a lot about the place" He asked amused.
'Enough, to steer around.' She looked at him. His expression read OK, tell me more
"Let's see. Population 3,207...1757 Males, 1450 Females.
Medium Cap income as of 2011 31,000 plus... You want the Smokers Non Smoker breakdown ?"
"No, that's enough. The Census people must call you for updates." He said. She laughed.
"You a Real Estate Broker ?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, Something like that" She answered cooly.
Her eyes directed straight ahead. He waited for more. Probing.
"That's it ? Any Book Clubs" He quipped. "So I'll know what to do if I stay "
"I'd rather talk about the Crime Rate." She looked at him cryptically
"THAT would be more interesting. The types of crime tells you all you want to know about a town. "
He stared straight ahead and shifted slightly in the seat.
"Just trying to give you insight" She smiled warmly sensing his unease.
She felt an impasse beginning time to shift
"You been out there long ?" She asked adjusting the music lower to better hear any conversation.
"Since early this morning" His voice subdued, She sensed his distance, almost Withdrawn

They rode in silence her eyes fixed on the station locator.
"You seem like you're on a Journey, a Mission of some sort." She asked dryly.
He remained silent at the loaded comment
"Life's a Journey ... A Test Is it not ?" He said looking off into the fields.
"HEYYY ... Ain't THAT the truth ! Just as you say it."
She seemed intrigued by in his mood. Challenged.
Not trying anymore to direct but going where it might take her.
He wasn't being rude, just maybe distracted , as if trying to resolve something unsettled.
Still, She was expecting More . She was used to getting a different Response.
and couldn't suppress a slight irritation.
"A TEST !" She repeated, as She tapped the steering wheel,
absorbed as the music, an Oldie from the 70's played
"Yeah, you got that Right, URI... Life can be One Fucking Test."
She knew what she had done even before his response.
"You know my name" He said softly.

There was a flash of awareness as she suddenly took off her vest
revealing a white nylon T shirt that strained against firm full Breasts.
'Hot,' She said coyly, tossing her vest unceremoniously into the back seat.
He nodded slightly but stared straight ahead.
His looks and presence were a draw. The Son of a Bitch had that going for him.
Hell, it Shouldn't take THIS long... She thought.
After a few moments she turned towards him in growing impatience.
'Look, A friend of mine owns a bar up the road, Want to share a drink with me ?'
He looked down. No Offer accepted... No Counter Offers given
Hell, it Shouldn't take THIS long... She thought.
He stared out the window at the barren landscape devoid of activity.
"It's not going to work" He said brusquely
"Excuse me ?' She said unsure what she heard, what he meant.
'What isn't going to work ? The Drink ? Or me taking you away from where you're headed ?'
This was Insane. The normal red blooded result should have been "A Given" ...But THIS ?
Whatever worked in the past, wasn't going to today.
"I'll Pass." He said softly.
'Well...I'll Be ... " Her words coming more in capitulation.
'THEY TOLD ME you'd be tough.' She laughed. A coarse loud laughter.
He continued to stare out the tinted glass in silence.
'YOU'RE GOOD ! ' She shook her head in reluctant approval, Slowing the Lexus down ...Game Over

He reached over to open the door and felt A light sensual touch on his arm. Then a Voice... Different.
'Wait... URI, STAY". He looked back into the face of red rouged, early 40's, whorish, caressing his arm.
"Both of us need someone tonight" She nuzzled her face onto his muscular forearm
He pulled his arm gently away and turned towards the door again as yet another voiceinterceded
"TELL ME, WHAT YOU WANT... I CAN'T GO BACK"
The plaintiff voice and face this time of a beautiful girl, no older than 17.
Uriel pulled away. A Sadness this time etched on his face as he gripped the door handle as
The LEXUS pulled over suddenly coming to a halt.

THEN, What he had been expecting. A NEW VOICE AND PRESENCE. Guttural. Fierce. ...Crazed
He KNEW even before he turned back; The Familiar Enemy from the Past.
In what seemed suspension of time, he slowly turned and gazed into unflinching Malevolence.
Different then in the Past...But still the same.
This time, Camouflaged as heavily Tattooed Male, late 40's.
A 1% Outlaw Biker badge, the most violent kind, encased on his denim chest.
Uriel stared at the ensigna that blared Dangerous
"THAT'S RIGHT, MOTHER FUCKER," He hissed "I AM TOO DANGEROUS FOR WORDS"
Emotionless Black pools for eyes that just glared Hate..
He could read His Thoughts ! How could you do battle with an Enemy
that knew what you were going to do ?

"YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO LOOSE. THERE'S NO FUCKING WAY" It snarled,
His powerful hand forcibly holding Uriel. His cruel hardened Face, Jaw tightened.
Uriel now suddenly, meeting the threat with a threat of his own.
The Grip slowly loosened, The Ogre's eyes conveyed THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER TIME.
Uriel reached into back seat and tossed the duffle bag forcibly out onto the gravel dirt.
There wouldn't be any Further exchange. Both knowing what it would mean in the days ahead.

'...THIS TIME IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT' The Drivers words spat out in a last
torrent of anger as he drove off, The wheels furiously spinning in place
As tiny stones in a rapid assualt pelted his face in a final defiant scorn.
Uriel, Eyes fixated as the car soared ahead, already barely visible against the highway heat waves.
Racing over the contoured horizon into a gradual dip as the waning heat blurred the fading image,
His tired mind playing havoc on his senses as he fought to make semblance of this new Reality.
He carefully replaced the Stetson hat. Shading his eyes against highway glare that wasn't there,
His footsteps the only sound in the now eerily deserted Highway.
His thoughts roamed over what this meant.... THEY KNEW OF HIS PRESENCE
Were they aware of what his mission might be ? When even he didnt'.
Where he would be going ?
He had READ his thoughts. In Human Form, he HAD assumed all of the weaknesses
and none of the strengths of his former Spiritual Being.
He was sent to warn and to help Man in what now appeared to be impossible odds.
He was one of them. Vulnerable just like all of Humanity.
Susceptible to their follies, Their Failures. Their taunts, Idiocies, Weaknesses and Temptations.
In this State, what could he do ?
He could only hope that when the time, and the Trials came.. "Life is a Test... is it Not ?"
He would prove his worthiness and wouldn't be Abandoned.
The Darkening Clouds were already signaling their intent. he clutched his shirt.
The fast approaching night looked like it was going to offer little relief

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