After the Bite Read Online Free Page A

calling. He would write volumes, and he would set them beneath the stain on the wall, and then he would leave. The world had finally gotten to him, and he would leave home, leave his paraphernalia and collectibles and everything else behind. But the story would be there, so anyone passing by could read it and know more than just a stain on a bedroom wall. They would know that somewhere in time, two brothers played in a river, and the world could never catch them.

 
    On the Road
     
    It was very hot in the abandoned filling station on the outskirts of Chicago, where Larry Ellington had pulled over to take a shit and scavenge for useful items.
    He stood up from the porcelain throne and went to wash his hands. His eyes fell over a quarter-operated condom dispenser mounted on the wall by the sink. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw some of the flavor choices, although his voice had a hollowness to it. When Larry finished cleaning up, he realized there were no paper towels. He chose to use the front of his pants as he exited the bathroom.
    A good ten feet away from the bathroom door was the register counter. All sorts of goodies lay on it, begging to be purchased, but Larry was more interested in what was behind it.
    As he walked around the counter, he saw the mutilated body of the clerk and a cardboard box hanging partially out from a cubby under the counter. Inside was a clump of brand new plastic sacks, inscribed with brick letter s: KUM & GO . He opened one and inched toward the cigarette rack. Larry grabbed a carton of Winston Lights and dropped it into the bag. He thought for a second and then grabbed another. He wasn’t a chain smoker, but things had become very stressful lately, so he grabbed a third carton.
    A small display of metal flip-top lighters sat in a little plastic tray on the counter. Larry snatched one up and inspected it. The top made a metallic click as he flipped it up. The flame shot up brilliantly, dancing about. He took the last cigarette from the pack in his breast pocket, lifted it to his mouth, and inhaled generously as he lit the cigarette. The end glowed brightly, and it burned a half inch toward Larry’s mouth, then he took it out. He closed his eyes, enjoyed the taste. He opened his mouth and watched the smoke swirl out past his lips into the air around him. One more drag, and he was able to form two near-perfect smoke rings. The third was a little ragged, but still a ring in Larry’s book.
    With the cigarette in his mouth, Larry moved around the store, gathering items for his voyage. He took a collapsible cooler, filled it with ice, and grabbed some sandwich meat from a deli cooler. He passed the beer cooler, but decided against taking any. He really wanted some beer to help get him through this, but it just wasn’t smart to be inebriated. Some chips, cookies, and granola bars made it into the plastic bags. Larry stood near the drink coolers, leaning partially on the ice cold door, taking the final drag of his cigarette. He dropped the butt on the tiled floor. It landed in the filthy grout, followed by Larry’s foot, crushing the heat out.
    In the cooler behind Larry, a variety of Sobe flavors sat in wait on the bottom two shelves. He opened the door, bent, and grabbed a Strawberry Banana drink. Then he took his things and headed for the door.
    His car was parked out front, and he tossed his loot into the passenger ’s seat, set the drink in the cup holder, and went to the back seat. He opened the door, retrieved the nearly empty gas can, and headed toward the closest pump. The machine beeped as he slid his debit card through the reader. Larry set the can on the ground and filled it to the neck. He closed the lid tightly, then placed the can in the back seat of his car. The gas sloshed around inside, and Larry shut the door and then sat down in the driver’s seat. He turned the key, the engine rumbled, and then Larry tapped the gas and headed down the disarrayed street.
    Some