It’s freezing in the room. It was 74 degrees when I last checked the thermostat before going to bed. There must have been a huge temperature drop during the night or maybe the air conditioner stopped working. It probably hasn’t had a maintenance check for a long time. Or maybe I am shivering because I only have my boxers on.
I get off the bed to check the temperature scale again. It shows 76 degrees. It must be a fever that makes me feel like I’m freezing. I touch my forehead, and it feels like my head is about to explode from a fire inside.
It’s getting even more difficult to breathe. I cough several times again. It’s a dry and deep cough coming straight from my lungs. My chest continues to hurt every time I cough or breathe in.
I need some fresh air. I think my lungs will function better outside. I open the door and leave the room. I run a few feet into the parking lot. My breaths get faster, but they are still short and painful as if I can’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. It’s a weird feeling not being able to breathe in clean air from outside.
I look at the roof, hoping that the biker in the watch can help me some way, but I don’t see anybody on this side of the hotel. I try to scream, but my voice cuts short due to another series of coughing fits.
My coughs get even more persistent and frequent. I get on my knees. I clutch my chest while I cover my mouth with my other hand.
Kathleen’s door swings open, and she runs to me. “Matt!” She must have heard me coughing. I turn my head to her.
“Stop! Don’t get closer. I’m…infected,” I yell at her while panting.
She stops a few steps from me. Her hands clasp over her mouth and tears build up in her eyes. I didn’t want her to see me on my knees and struggling to keep myself together. I didn’t want her to witness another friend fading away before her eyes. I am sorry, Kathleen.
I can at least prevent her from getting infected. I crawl in the opposite direction to get away from her.
“Matt,” she says. I straighten up on my knees and turn my head to her.
She is pointing the gun to me. “I am sorry…” she says with dull eyes. She pulls the trigger without hesitation. I feel the burning feeling the bullet creates when it cracks my forehead and flows through my skull.
I wake up sweating from head to toe.
My pillow cover and top side of the blanket are wet. I sit up on the bed and take a deep breath. I feel the air flowing in every corner of my lungs. I take another breath in and touch my throat. It doesn’t hurt. I take my head between my hands. I realize what a big gift it is to be able to breathe.
I turn my head to the window for a first glimpse of the morning light. I get off the bed and take off my boxers. I go to the bathroom to check myself in the mirror. Nothing seems off. Splashing cold water on my face, I feel relieved for still being alive and healthy.
I put my clothes on and lift my backpack. I slide out the briefcase under the bed, then scan the room one more time before heading out to the truck.
I go to the truck and put the stuff in the backseat. A different biker is on the roof. He waves his hand to me. I do the same.
Kathleen opens her door. She must have been waiting to hear me leave my room.
“Good morning,” she says with a smile. Seeing a good friend’s face fills me with unexplainable happiness. This is what I needed after a frightening nightmare.
“Good morning, my friend! Ready for a trip?” I ask.
She chuckles. “Hell yeah!”
I can feel the biker’s eyes on us. She walks closer to me, and I hug her.
“Crypto is waiting for us at the Chinese place,” I whisper to her while hugging, and I step back. She raises her eyebrows and stiffens with confusion before she nods. I know she has questions.
I go to the couple’s room and knock on the door.
“Hi guys, we are leaving,” I say. They don’t respond. I wait for a moment and knock on the door again.
Carlson opens it. “Hey. We’ll be right there,” he says before closing the door back.
The bikers start getting out of their rooms. Some of them take bites from their snacks while stretching their legs and arms. Others start loading their motorcycles with their stuff before hitting the road.
Carlson and his wife finally come out of their room. They walk toward me. “My pleasure meeting you… You are a good person,” Carlson says, giving me an elbow bump.
“Thank you for the ride. We will make this town our home. Come visit us!” his wife says while inspecting the streets.
We exchange best wishes to each other before and Kathleen and I walk to the truck.
I get behind the wheel of our beloved Humvee. Kathleen gets into the passenger seat. I pull the gear to reverse. I hear Gus’s voice right before I start backing up.
“Not saying bye?” Gus yells while walking toward us.
I roll down the window. “We didn’t want to wake you up.” I try to smile as much as possible. The truth is that I didn’t want to talk to him again.
“Ah, you guys are very kind. We will be right behind you. We drive together to make sure we all leave the town safely,” he says. The last thing we need this morning is the bikers to tail us. However, I know that I don’t have an option. Saying no would make them suspicious and we also can’t force
