Lee Argus's Blog, page 2

Happy Father's Day

I hope all the Dads out there have had an enjoyable day ツ

Growing up, and even entering my early 20's I couldn't picture myself ever as a Dad. I actually thought the opposite, that I wouldn't be that guy. I didn't want to bring anyone in to this world for reasons that I believed at the time. Things changed when I got a little older, met the woman of my dreams-- and next thing I knew, our precious daughter came in to this world.

I couldn't imagine my life without my family. My wife and daughter always fill our home with their laughter and giggles. Each day with them is truly amazing. 


Throughout the years, I've watched my daughter grow, learn, and develop in to the 8 year she's become. She'll be 9 this December. 

Anyways, I hope you guys have a great night! Be safe.

#feelingblessed

Take Care!

Another Day Blogging

My wife and I decided to take our daughter to the San Bernardino County Fair last week. We walked around and played a few games, let my daughter go on a few rides, watched a concert, ate, and pet some of the animals that were there. My daughter enjoyed seeing the animals the most. We'd taken her to the Sand Diego zoo when she was younger, but it was too long ago for her to recall any of the animals. I'll have to take her to the LA zoo sometime soon. 

For my wife and I, our daughter is everything. We'll more than likely be extending our little family in the near future, and I can't wait. It's been beautiful life since my wife stepped in. My wife has stood by me, and it's something I'm thankful for.

 Life is too short to not love your family with all your heart and Time slows for no one. 

I wanted to post something on Memorial Day, but I found that, I didn't really have the words. My heart goes out to all the soldiers currently serving overseas and elsewhere, to those who are no longer with us, and to the families of those who have known loss of their loved one. Our country is strong and beautiful because of our military  and those selfless people who serve and have served. ♥♥♥❢
With love, great respect, and gratitude--
-Lee



San Bernardino County Fair ☺

















We watched a pig race. My daughter giggled and thought it was cute.  I thought they were adorable as well ヅ ♥
 The Funnel Cake was good lol, I split it with my wife and daughter for my cheat day.
♥


 


♥Have a great evening and night everyone♥ ツ✌✌❣

Old Yearbook Photos

My wife and I were beginning to pack some stuff away today, for our move in June. She ran into some of my year book photos, so we took a moment to sit down. She hadn't seen some of them, even though we've been together for nine years ㋡. I thought I'd share some of them with you guys. 

I went to Darrington High School in Washington State. I was the guy who sat in the hallways during my lunch. I was always lost in a book, and after school I'd go the the park and shoot some hoops. ヅ I was in the Drama Club and when I wasn't out hanging with my best friends, I was back to reading novels like; Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Weave-World, The Puppet Masters and comics. #ProudNerd ;) 
Thor, Deathlok, The Fly, Quasar, and The Avengers, were among my favorite comic series. I'd kept some of them over the years. My wife was surprised to see that Hawkeye in the comics looked nothing like his character in the new Marvel movies. lol.

Anyways, hope you guys have an amazing night! ✌♡

-Lee Argus

Fun with the Family

I hope Everyone has a great Easter. My wife and I have kept the tradition in telling my daughter the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the tooth fairy are in fact real. Although I'm sure once she begins to attend her new school this year, she will begin to catch on to us. (We can't help it. We love the joy it brings her.) ♥ My wife has been home schooling her for some time, so that's how we managed to keep the tradition alive. We'll more than likely be leaving eggs out tonight, trailing into the hallway and random places... to convince her that the Easter Bunny paid her a visit while she slept. She's eight years old now, but she took after me, and looks big for her age.
Hope you enjoy the pictures. ツ
SAN FRANCISCO 4/13/2017  

RIPLEY'S

HANA ZEN (They have awesome sashimi)

HOT SPUD 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
♥MY WIFE ♥ AND DAUGHTER
Take care everyone! Have a good night!-Lee  

The Road to Nowhere, Book 3 Update

I hope everyone has been enjoying their new year so far, as much as I have been. I have exciting news for fan’s of the Road to Nowhere. The official publishing date for the last book in the series is Friday October 13, 2017.  I don’t intend for it to be rescheduled for a later date. This year, I’ve made some last minute changes in the novel, and introduced a new character that will have their own stand-alone book.

As many of you know, my wife helped construct various plot points, created the character “Michael” and helped with re-writes in book 1 of the Road to Nowhere, during book 2 she was less involved, as her school schedule interfered with helping with the project, however she didn’t want to take credit for any involvement. I’d like to put her down as a co-author for book 3, if she’ll let me. Book 1 remains highly rated and I’ve received more positive feedback for it than book 2. Thank you to everyone who has placed a review, as I learn and develop from what seems to work. 
In this final book of The Road to Nowhere, I’ve made sure to close open ends and answer the questions that John had about his past.  Although the Road to Nowhere series ends and delivers closure for John, I felt that the apocalyptic world that he lived in was still unfinished. This is where the new character comes in. The story about her will close up the some of the loose ends, and will be placed in the same apocalyptic world, with the Kurus, but will take off where John’s series ends.
---I’ve been extremely busy lately and haven’t been able to blog. I might be creating an Instagram soon, only because it will be easier to just upload a photo and show what’s going on in my life. I’ll post a link once it’s up later next month. 
I’m getting back into Firefighting. It’s something I’ve missed doing, and the time feels right for me to enter that career path once again. One of the reasons why I chose Fire Dispatching instead, was because I didn’t want to be away from home during my 24 hour shifts. My daughter is older (8, can you believe it?), and with my wife’s encouragement, I believe our marriage will survive through those times when I’m away and can’t be with her. We’re opening a new chapter of our own in our life and we’re closer than ever. I feel lucky to have married my best friend who has stood by my side throughout all these years. We’ll be celebrating our 9th anniversary this coming April. 
We both have a hectic month ahead. She has a trip she has to take early in April, and I have one I have to take around April 28th-31st in Washington state for the (CPAT)—a firefighting physical test as well as the written test. 
I’ve released chapter 1 & 2 of book 3 on this blog, and will release chapter 3 next week. I’ll try to keep the chapters coming at least once a month on this blog, until The Road to Nowhere: Paths taken is fully and officially released in October.
Have a beautiful day everyone. Thank you for all the love the Road to Nowhere has received so far! 
-Lee Argus

Life

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Everything has sort of been placed on hold, as far as my writing goes. I was recently hired as a Fire Dispatcher. This is something I’ve been wanting to do—since I left my job as a fire-fighter with the military. Over the past several years, my wife and I have lived at various places, enjoying nature, and sight-seeing. We were fortunate enough to not have to go to work. I took a few side jobs just for the heck of it here and there, but that was about it. We slept in and stood up late, laughed, and had a wonderful time raising our daughter, who is now eight years old. You could call it retirement at a young age. We went on hikes, trips to lakes, enjoyed cabin living, long scenic walks for hours in the woods and loved every minute of it. I couldn’t imagine us doing this when we reach 60 years old lol, as I’m already beginning to feel worn. For now I’ve returned back to the workforce. We’re going to be purchasing a new house for Christmas, and will be visiting Thailand sometime next year, during my two week vacation. I’m currently working four ten hour shifts, and then I have three days off a week. I’m loving what I’m doing. It almost feels odd putting on a uniform for work. I suppose I’m feeling nostalgic this morning, and grateful. When you put things into perspective, life is beautiful.I met my  current wife (Jenny) eight years ago, while in the military. We were both going through difficulties. My ex-wife had cheated on me, I was in the process of getting divorced, and couldn’t have felt more broken. Jenny was having issues with her co-workers, and was depressed. Two of the females she worked with were constantly harassing her—throwing chairs- screaming. When my wife threatened to take it to IG, her sergeant threatened her, since he knew he was wrong for not stopping what had been going on at the office. Military life is sometimes-- much like being imprisoned and stuck in situations you have no control of. My wife tried to transfer to another unit, but she was told she couldn’t. (She was also going through other things at the same time.) I can’t say my experience in the military was anything like that. I loved everything about the military. I met so many amazing people who I have much respect for. My wife was just given a bad hand of cards. I met her at a hospital outside of Ft. Polk, while I was picking up my medication for my depression as well as getting bloodwork for out processing. She was there, in a gown. She had overdosed and attempted suicide through another method, which is probably too graphic to discuss. One word, one smile—I was drawn. We kept in touch and I visited her while she was in recovery at a clinic. She left a voicemail on my cell the day she began her long drive back home, from Louisiana to California. I thought I’d never see her again. Two months later, when I was on my way home to Washington, I decided to drop by. Her family was very welcoming. They allowed me to stay until I found somewhere to rent. I knew I would never find anyone like the woman I’d fallen for, so I rented a place a few blocks away from where she was staying, deciding to stay in California. We barely knew each other but we got married within a few months, and have been together since. All relationships have up and downs, but I’ve never wanted to be a better person. Jenny sort of brings that out in people. She’s fun, crazy, has a free spirit, she's kind, and if I did believe in fate, I’d say we went through what we did in order for us to meet. As many of you know, writing has always been a hobby of mine. She’s the woman who found my writings tucked away. She’s more computer savvy than I am, so she launched and designed this blog for me (I know quite a few of you were asking me who did the html and scripting for my blog), she uploaded my books, and then Permuted Press picked me up as one of their authors. I’m hoping to get back to writing later this year.I don’t usually share much about my personal life. My wife and I like to keep things very private. Having to take 911 calls on the job, and dispatch help, has me feeling grateful that our family is still here.  I don’t know how many confirmed deaths I have dealt with this month, but its been quite a few. We each have our own journey. We don’t know if we’ll be alive tomorrow or if today is the last day you’ll see the ones you love. Be safe. Be smart. Love hard. I’ve gone off topic JOnce The Road to Nowhere 3 is published, I’ll probably take a break from writing. Thank you to all the loyal fans that have patiently waited for book three. I promise you the wait will be worth it. Take care.“Paths meet for a reason. Our journeys aren’t always easy, but when you get to where you’re supposed to be, it all makes sense.”-Lee Argus

CHAPTER 2- LOST AND FOUND (The Road to Nowhere: Vanishing)

CHAPTER 2- LOST AND FOUND

My first impulse is to run. What makes me hesitate is the fact that if a Kuru saw me, I would be hearing it by now. Trying to move as little as possible, I stare hard into the building. The small storefront’s window is smashed inward, leaving an opening big enough for two or three Kurus.The wind suddenly drops to nothing. In the sudden quiet, I hear several cans falling off a shelf. I quickly grab my pistol, struggling to stay still.Adrenaline pumping and heart racing, my hand shakes. Nothing else moves. I hear only the heartbeat thrumming in my chest. I take a tentative step to one side. The motion startled what had been hiding in the store. Despite the impossible distance, the shape leaps at me through the open window.The first sign of movement causes me to stumble backwards, nearly dropping me onto the sidewalk.One arm instinctively covers my face as a black shadow flashes over me. Before I can squeeze off a shot, my head turns to follow the crow. It caws angrily before banking once and disappears over a building.I look from the gun to where the crow disappeared, and feel a rush of blood reach my cheeks. Putting the safety back on, I pocket the pistol to keep it dry.Taking in a deep breath and shaking my head, I continue forward.It’s bad enough being on edge all the time, but I can deal with being startled by a crow easier than being attacked by Kurus.  A few blocks pass before I regain composure. Paranoia is now another tool of survival. It has saved my life more than once.Hurrying down the sidewalk, I try to remain unnoticed. I focus on walking quietly, and keeping as far from the buildings as possible.The last thing I want is to be seen. A general outcry could bring dozens, if not hundreds out to hunt or protect their territory.Passing an old bakery, my eyes are drawn to the window display. What might have once been a cake is now covered in mold. Its shape is sunken inward, in a disturbing mess of colors that I’d grown to associate with spoiled food.The thought brought a bitter taste forming on the back of my throat. My stomach feels sour and empty. Focusing on getting to the nearest hospital, I grit my teeth and hope I’m on the right track. It seems as though there are more streets blocked by abandoned vehicles than clear. If there is a faster way to get through, I’d have taken it, but I still haven’t found one. Necessity forces me to walk through several ankle high pools of stagnant water in between each city block. Hood pulled low, my jacket is the only thing keeping rain from soaking into my hair. It’s another five minutes before I finally catch sight of the nearest hospital. The building is over a block away, but I can still make out its exterior. The sight makes me string together several random curses under my breath. The building in front of me is too small to be the right hospital. Instead of the high-rise structure I expect, this building is only two stories.I do my best to shrug off the setback, and continue forward. Little seemed to be going right during this trip. It would be irrational to assume finding the right hospital would be any different. Only thinking about moving forward, I search for a dry place to pull out my map.A bus stop ahead is the closest spot I could see that would work. It’s roofed, and would give me enough protection from the weather.The solid steel benches look less than inviting, but it would be comfortable enough for what I had in mind.I did a light jog to close the remaining distance. When I finally sit on the hard seats, they make me realize how much weight pressed down on my aching legs and feet.  The relief makes me want to find someplace to rest for the night. I hadn’t been sleeping well and the drive had only exhausted me further. Only my promise to Simon and Tara, that I would return in a few days, keeps me on track.Unfolding the map, I try to remember the name of the street where Rachael and Stephanie’s house had been. It would be a good place to try and back track from.It had been nearly two years since we’d left the city. Trying to recall the names of old places I’d been to was harder than I thought. I hadn’t been thinking about street names, only trying to survive. I keep my attention focused on the hospitals directly adjacent to the strip. Pouring over the small details of the map, it becomes clear that there are only two hospitals that are close enough to be possibilities. One’s several miles away to the East, while the other was only a few blocks opposite from my position. I fold up the worn paper and slipped it into its Ziploc bag before standing back up on my sore feet. Going around the hospital would add more time to my trip, so I decide to cut through its sprawling parking lot. Unlike most of the parking lots I’d seen, almost every parking spot was taken. It took a moment before I understood what had happened.Anyone who actually made it to the hospital after the initial infection wouldn’t have left. Many had been parked haphazardly in their owner’s frantic attempt to reach medical aid.As with everywhere else, I saw obvious signs of struggle and looting. A few of the cars had been set on fire, leaving only a charred blackened shell remaining. Walking past the vehicles, I glance into the interior of a white Ford Torus. It didn’t appear vandalized, which might have something to do with the large amount of religious icons I could see.A large cross on a beaded necklace hung on the rear view mirror. Below were several small figurines. Their colors had sun faded away from anything bright or warm to washed-out pastels.
A small Virgin Mary seemed to forlornly stare out from where it stood on dark colored vinyl.
Past the statuary were several suitcases and a small cardboard box. I was curious as to what was inside, but satisfying my curiosity wasn’t worth the noise braking a window would make.
I walk past a conversion van, when something on the ground catches my attention. Stepping back, I see a nightstick lying on the pavement, just past the rear bumper. The black ABS plastic clearly showed against the light gray pavement.
I have my pistol and sword, but a police baton might come in handy. It would be easier to break a window or skull, and less awkward than pulling out a sword. More than that, something about the nightstick jogs my memory.
The space between the conversion van and the black convertible next to it is narrow, but I should be able to squeeze past, even with my backpack.
Almost past the van, a sound makes me freeze in place. Heart constricting in my chest, my head quickly turns back and forth, in search of where it came from. The sound echoed on nearby buildings, which making it impossible to pinpoint.
When no further sounds came, I dismiss it as my imagination, or maybe another bird. It wouldn’t be the first time I imagined hearing something.
Just as I was about to turn back, I hear it repeat twice more.
It sounds like a dog barking, but I haven’t seen a dog roaming alone in months. There’d been several feral packs I’d come across, but those were only in smaller towns. Places with a high pre-epidemic population meant too many hungry Kurus for them to survive.
The sound came again, this time much closer, almost like it’s behind me. Turning sharply, my backpack hits a sports car’s passenger mirror.
Before I can register what had happened, the Acura’s alarm goes off.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is a rough draft of Chapter two. The final version of book three is currently going through edits.

Chapter 1-- The Road to Nowhere: Vanishing (Book 3)

1- NOW A drizzle of heavy rain begins to fall on the windshield. In less than a minute, the dry road darkened under the steady downpour of water. The further I drove down the interstate, the more difficult it was to see.  The car’s worn windshield wipers rubbed fitfully against the window. Each stroke smeared the water as much as it cleared my view of the way ahead.  Visibility of the road worsened, causing me to slow the car. When I’d first left Barstow, the sky was clear. Weather had grown steadily worse in the two days since. A few scattered clouds grew until the horizon was covered by thick storm fronts. My attempt at planning the route beforehand was based on a map I’d found. What it couldn’t have taken into account were sections of freeway blocked by abandoned cars. Neither of my previous traveling companions had been familiar with the route I planned on taking. Tara had come from the opposite direction, and Simon had driven East, from somewhere near Los Angeles.  With nothing else to go on, my only choice was to go blindly, hoping for the best. After I’d first woken up at the hospital in Las Vegas, I drove from there to California. My route was hundreds of miles farther north. Backtracking the same way would have added days, if not weeks on the road. The way I took was littered with abandoned cars, but there was always enough room to weave the compact Toyota Yaris through the lanes. The closer I came to reaching Las Vegas, the more difficult it was to squeeze around the congestion.  Another few miles, the curtain of rain recedes, leaving only gray skies and wet roads.  After I pass Calico Road, which detoured to parallel the interstate, the windows start fogging over. Cranking up the heater all the way and setting it to defrost doesn’t do much.  Leaning forward, I rub my jacket sleeve against the glass. Distracted, I nearly crash into a black sedan blocking the freeway ahead of me.  As slow as I was driving, my wheels still slide five or ten feet along the wet pavement before bringing me to a halt. Another few moments and I would have broadsided the car ahead of me.
My hands shake slightly as they let go of the wheel. It wasn’t like me to make mistakes like this. I wouldn’t have survived so long being reckless. I sit back in the car’s seat before rolling the window down and looking outside. Past the sedan, more vehicles blocked the road, their doors left open. I notice that a few trunks were left partly open as well, with their contents lying scattered on the surface of the ground. I could make out the remains of suitcases and soiled clothing. Weather had taken a heavy toll on the unprotected items, and any dust that had still clung to the vehicles was now a thin layer of mud. It was obvious that there would be no way through, but a sense of almost morbid curiosity drew me nearer.  Pulling forward and round, I stop the Yaris just short of the last car. Common sense told me to turn around and keep driving, but I’d been crammed into the tiny car for hours. My back and legs feel stiff and painful. Putting the car into park, I turn off the ignition and climb out to stretch. The muscles in my back ache appreciatively, despite the chill morning air. Purposefully, I make my way toward the abandoned cars to see if there’s anything useful to take. There’s still food and water in my backseat, but you never know what you can come across. Walking closer, one vehicle in particular catches my attention. There’s several holes in its windshield. Getting right up to the glass, I can see that the driver had been left to decay in the car.  The body still sat in the seat, but its head lulled unnaturally to one side. I couldn’t see much more than the long tangles of auburn hair draped downwards, obscuring its face.  I’d seen bodies before, but never this well preserved. Kurus would have striped most of the meat from its bones. The thought of Kurus made me start looking around more closely, focusing on any shadowed places they could be hiding from the light. They were more desperate for food, and more dangerous than ever.  Kurus had been people, before becoming infected. They were now as close to being people as cats were to tigers. Their ferocity, heightened senses and instincts only fueled my constant paranoia. Forcing my eyes away, the other cars seemed to stretch out for a mile into the distance, if not farther. A few of the more daring drivers had attempted to drive around the road. Their wheels were dug into deep ruts, trapped in the earth. The uneven terrain was unforgiving to anything with less than four-wheel drive. My small car wouldn’t have a chance. I went to peer inside several more cars, but none had anything worth taking. Clothes, shoes, and sentimental items were the predominate objects to be found. I must have come across thousands of photo albums by now. Aware of the time I was wasting, I turn back to head towards the car. Rain had soaked into my jeans, but the Jacket was keeping most of me dry. For a brief moment, my eyes drift up to sky. The gray clouds overhead were noticeably thinner. With any luck, the sky would fully clear by this afternoon. Quickly walking around puddles and trash, I climb back into the warm car. Drops of water cling to the waterproof jacket. This unexpected weather was going to slow me down. After starting the vehicle’s engine, I backtrack my way to the off-ramp. It was surprisingly clear of cars, considering its close proximity to the interstate.  There might have been few cars, but the condition of the road had severely deteriorated. Cracks ran long furrows down the faded asphalt. My wheels shook each time I drove over one, but it was more bearable than the random potholes that threatened to pop a tire.  Pulling onto Yermo road, I take a left. According to the map, the thin line representing Yermo would parallel the interstate before merging back. I hope it would get me past the blocked road. If not, I’d have to try driving another way or continuing on foot. Caution made me glance at the vehicle’s gas gauge, even though I’d checked it less than half an hour ago. It was enough to get to Vegas, but I would need to re-fuel for the ride back. If I did make it back. Traveling alone was more hard than I’d expected. The silence got on my nerves. There was no more broadcast radio, and the car I chose had a broken CD player. The noise might’ve helped, but was no substitute for other people in the car. Simon, Tara, and Katie had accompanied me nearly everywhere since Michael and Rachael had left. Tara had offered to join me, but I’d turned her down. Driving back was something I had to do on my own.  When the location of my pre-amnesia home had returned to me, it had been just over two months ago. My first impulse had been to tell the others, but once my initial excitement faded, it was clear that traveling to Vegas as a group would be impossible. Traveling with an infant was one of the main reasons why we decided to settle in Barstow. It was safer than staying in a large city. Keeping her quiet, especially when we didn’t know where we could stop or where was safe, had been too much of a risk. A cry at the wrong moment could bring a whole pack of Kurus down on us.  For now, I was alone, but that was only temporary. I wasn’t sure what I’d find in the house I used to live in, but I hoped to return to Barstow within a week. I figured Simon and Tara would be able to take care of themselves for that long.  Driving through the intermittent rain, I kept thinking of Stephanie, my wife, daughter, Rosie, and Phil and Bernice. The memories of those who died had often crossed my mind. It was hard not to think about those I’d come to know as close friends and family, but it seemed a feeling of regret always made itself known when I was alone.  I continued forward until I was able to merge back onto the interstate. It looked as though I’d be able to continue without much delay. As far as I could see, the road was bare, other than a small stream of water that swiftly rushed along the emergency lane. I kept the drive to a slow crawl in case a situation arose where I’d need to come to a fast stop.  For the remainder of the drive on the highway, there had only been a few cars that were left abandoned. These appeared just as weathered as any of the others, but I wondered if they had belonged to fellow survivors. They might’ve attempted to enter or leave Las Vegas, only to have had the misfortune to break down or run out of gas at the wrong moment. When I approached closer to Nevada, communities far off the freeway seemed in almost in pristine condition. It could have been a different story up close, but I didn’t have the time to spend sight-seeing. A few large casinos sat alone, a few dozen miles past the city limits. I could see cars left in the large parking lots, but they were too far away to make out any details.  It wasn’t until Las Vegas was in sight that a mild feeling of relief came over me. Even if I wouldn’t be able to find my house right away, there was still time. Things appeared different enough to make me wonder if my memories would even help to lead me home. The vehicles I could see were layered with the same mud that covered the roads. From my view on the Freeway, trash and debris had blown down the streets, only to be pilling against buildings. Weeds forcing their way up between the cracks on the pavement and sidewalks added to its abandoned feel.  If anything, Las Vegas had lost what little luster that had clung to it.               At the edge of the city, a tour bus and semi-trailer had overturned, leaving no room for the Yaris to squeeze through. Broken glass and parts of the twisted wreckage littered the wide expanse of the road.  From there, I saw no end to the vehicles that stretched out before me. Putting off getting out of the comfortable car, I twist in my seat to grab the well-worn sword behind me. There hadn’t been a sheath when I’d taken the katana from the wall of Las Vegas’s Planet Hollywood.  I’d had to put something together on the fly. It was a black PVC plastic tube that I’d capped on one end and fitted with a strap that slung across my body from shoulder to hip. It only rattled if I was running, and by then any noise I made didn’t matter.  After grabbing the sword, I reach for my supplies. I had fit a small amount of survival gear, food, and water into a small hiking backpack. Its frame loosely pressed into the sheath, but it was more aggravating than uncomfortable. The pistol sat within easy reach on the passenger seat. Picking the weapon up, I habitually check that the rounds in the gun and two spare clips were still fully loaded. Twenty-five bullets against the vast, empty city. A few loose rounds sat at the bottom of my backpack, but they would take too long to get to if I really needed them.  I take a moment to make sure that I wasn’t forgetting anything, grab the map out of the glove box, and put it into my jacket’s inside pocket. It was too late to turn back, so I pressed forward through the drizzle. I was being careful, quietly walking between row upon row of congested cars. The city was soundless. Nothing, aside from occasional drops of rain could be heard.  Overhead, a layer of thin and patchy light-gray clouds block the sky. The horizon was much darker.  I wonder if the weather will clear up, or if the distant storm front is pushing its way in. Looking both left and right, I take in my surroundings. Old planters, where flowers once grew, are now only showing a few shriveled twigs. The red clay pots had filled with mud, overflowing onto the sidewalk. My eyes follow the water that gently rushed off the curb and into the gutters. After hesitating, I continue walking until passing a small, unfamiliar pawnshop. Unsure if I was going in the right direction, I take shelter from the drizzle under an awning, looking over the map I’d brought. The small lines and words are difficult to decipher. What’s worse is that there are no landmarks visible from where I stood. From my few memories, I didn’t live too far from a hospital. On my morning pit stop, just before work, I remember sitting in traffic and always passing nearby the front entrance. The memory of the building was clear enough, but I couldn’t remember the words written across it. Every minute spent here was one I couldn’t afford. The sun would set in a few hours, and cities are one of the most dangerous places to be, after dark.  I need to avoid the strip, and detour more towards the outskirts. My last on foot trip through the heart of the city taught me to leave the dark buildings full of Kurus well enough alone. The hospitals marked on the map were scattered across the city. I would need to find transportation if I didn’t want to spend hours on foot, slowly searching the areas around each marked location. I figure if I can locate the right one, maybe I’d be able to find my way home. If Rachael hadn’t left with Michael, I would have more answers than questions. She would be able to tell me, more or less, where the hospital was, or at least where we had crossed paths. Being from Las Vegas, she could have helped me narrow down my search.  The memory of her leaving with Michael made me grit my teeth and seethe before I could push it away. They were idiots to leave on their own, but it was their decision. Focusing on what was important, I continue down the abandoned street. Work boots kept my feet from being completely soaked, but my jeans let the drizzle trickle down into my socks. Tempted as I was to put on another pair, they would only keep me dry for a few minutes. I’d have to wait until I found someplace to hole up for the night. A distant rumble of thunder didn’t bode well. Wanting to get out of the rain, I hurry towards a neighboring street. The road is more compact, and there’s several residential motels, ranging from cheap to decrepit.  The Motel Six appeared to have been less maintained and more vandalized in comparison to the two others budget chains. Its exterior paint was weathered, and several of the windows were missing panes of glass. Most of the doors to the first-floor rooms stood ajar. Many had been smashed inwards, some completely knocked down, others hanging by a single hinge.  A few of the upper level doors still stood, but the whole place gave me an uneasy feeling. The two vending machines near the front office had been tilted over. Black steel cages had kept the soda and junk food from being taken by looters.  The front office had been boarded up. Over the wooden boards, large bold graffiti spray-painted in black read, “KEEP OUT!” Only a few vehicles remained within each parking lot, making me think that both tourists and travelers decided not to stay. Unlike most of the streets I passed, the road in front of the motels is left surprisingly bare, with the exception of a few abandoned cars. I wonder if the street would remain clear farther down, or if road congestion blocked this area in. I second guess each decision I make. A single mistake could cost me my life. Reaching the end of the road, I see that the intersecting streets are choked with vehicles, but if I could find something comparable to a Yaris or Mini, I’d be able to weave through on sidewalks and alleyways. Since my chances of finding something small, containing fuel, a working battery, and the keys already in the ignition was just over nonexistent, I didn’t bother searching. Instead, I continued on foot. As I walk, several of the street names seem familiar, as though I should know where I am. After spending a few seconds thinking, it was clear that as much as I wanted them to, none of my memories told me where I was. If it hadn’t been for the map reference, I might’ve wandered aimlessly for days without finding anything. There are over a dozen locations marked as hospitals.   Assuming I’m reading the map correctly, I wasn’t too far from the nearest one. There’s a few city blocks between where I stood and my destination.  Carefully folding the map up and putting it back into a plastic bag, I slip it securely back into my jacket pocket.  I pass various shops, as well as a dental clinic. Most had closed their steel shutters, but almost every other store had windows either damaged or missing. Crossing the storefront of a 7-Eleven, I see a indistinct shape twitch from the corner of my eye.

 NOTES: Hope you enjoy this week's chapter. I've brought my writing's tensing to present, which hopefully didn't throw anyone off. Book 1 and 2 were more reflection, this is as it happens. I find it more tense and compelling of a read.

The Road to Nowhere: Vanishing- 1st week's Teaser

THE ROAD TO NOWHERE:VANISHINGTHE BEGINNING CHAPTER 1- NOW
Beginnings are strange things. Memories shift and change over time. Looking back, I can make more sense of what happened.
  
THE BEGINNING
A dry, coppery taste, like old pennies, fills my mouth. That was the first sensation to come back. Next came pain. It begins as a dull ache spreading from the top of my shoulders down to the soles of my feet. The feeling throbs and flares with each breath, making it difficult to make sense of anything. My eyes refuse to open. Their lids, heavy and weak, strain before cracking enough to start seeing. Vague blurry shapes surround me, refusing to come into focus. After what felt like hours, I begin to make out the more obvious details. Several large banks of medical equipment sit to one side the bed. The bed itself is stiff. It feels like I’m lying on a pallet of cinder blocks. Confusion aside, everything is like a surreal dream. Silence only adds to the unreality around me. No machines beeped. There was an absence of footsteps or even muffled voices.My thoughts tried to piece together where I was, and how I had gotten here.I knew I was in a hospital, but why? No memories answered my question. My mind was as empty as the hollow feeling in my stomach. The only thing I could remember was waking up in this bed.The silence was telling me that there was no one around. Shouldn’t a doctor or nurse be checking on me? I should be hearing something. Only the sound of my breathing let me know my ears were still working. I parted my lips, but the surface of my mouth and throat was painfully dry and rough. Trying to call for help wasn’t going to get me anywhere. The noise I could make was closer to a croak than what a human voice should sound like. It wouldn’t carry across the silent room, so I doubted anyone in hallway would be hearing me. The effort brought on a fit of weak coughing that left me panting for breath. Despite the flaring pain in my lungs the coughing caused, I tried forcing myself to sit up. It was no good. My head lifted a few inches before collapsing back down onto the bed.Anger filled me at the thought of the hospital staff’s negligence. Even if I’d been unconscious or in a coma, shouldn’t someone be monitoring my condition? What kind of place was this? Frustrated, I manage to work my way down to the edge of the bed. The blanket that had been covering me spills over to the floor. Moving a little farther, my bare feet touch the cold tiles. The first instinct was to stand, but my legs collapsed under the strain. Gray wires I hadn’t noticed, trailing from under my gown to the machine, popped off my chest and came free. I hit the floor hard. My hands grabbed weakly at the bed, but couldn’t hold onto anything. The force struck my head enough to send it ringing. Crawling, I inch my way towards the door. It hurt, it was slow, but its best I could do.I had to stop once to rest, before finally reaching the door. My hands struggled to hold onto the handle. Propping myself against the frame, I manage to turn it far enough to hear the catch click.The door swings open easier than I expected, sending me spilling into the hallway. My head turns left and right, but I don’t see anyone on either end of the corridor. Paper and debris is scattered along the ground. More disturbing are dark splotches of what looks like blood trailing over the floor and across some of the walls. Only one of the overhead lights still work, its florescent tubes flickering weakly.What the hell happened here?The trembling in my arms worsen, but I don’t fall from a kneeling position. Half-dragging, half-crawling, I make my way along the ground. It is hard to avoid some of the larger pools that still look wet. Trembling, my hand reaches towards the sticky red stain, and I drag my finger lightly across its surface. The outer layer parts like the skin that forms over gravy. Bringing it close to my face, It smells foul and rotten.Hastily, I rub the finger against my gown to try cleaning it off.  Someone left a wheelchair abandoned a few doors farther down. It takes me a few tries before managing to pull myself onto its seat. Settling in, I put my feet onto the metal footrests. A few hard pushes on the wheels are all it takes to start moving.A dozen yards farther down, I see where the hallway ends. There are two exits, an elevator and a nearby stairwell.The elevator call button doesn’t light up, leaving the stairwell my only option.It was unlocked, but any emergency light inside had failed. The hallway’s flickering light reached a few feet down the stairs, but everything beyond that was dark.I made my way forward, to the edge of the stairs. The door swung shut behind me, cutting what little light remained down to a thin sliver. Every noise I make echoes in the small space. After nearly tumbling down an entire flight of stairs and abandoning the wheelchair, I manage to reach the ground floor. The small wired-glass door window doesn’t show anything beyond. The exit door leads to a large open area. I see a reception desk, and a waiting room. Most of chairs had been scattered around, with only four or five still in neat rows. Like what I’d seen upstairs, there’s debris and even more blood.Next to the waiting room is a set of large glass doors. They’re open a few feet, letting in occasional gusts of cold air. I manage a limping hobble towards them, eager to see what’s outside. Past the shadowed building’s interior, indirect light pierces my eyes. My eyes force themselves shut against the sudden glare. It takes a good minute or two before I can squeeze them open far enough to see.  There isn’t much to look at, even with my hand shielding against the light.Above me, an awning keeps rain from soaking my hospital gown. It looks as though the downpour has been going for a while. The gutters are filled with two or three inches of standing water. The sight makes me remember how thirsty I feel. Moving to where runoff is pouring down the awning, I tilt my head back, letting it trickle into my mouth. It’s cold, and I can only think about quenching my thirst. The only problem is telling that to my stomach. It feels sour after a few swallows, making me almost throw up.  Ignoring the nausea, I force myself to look around. There isn’t anyone on the street or in sight. Cars were left parked along the sidewalk, but they were as empty as the street.It was a full minute before I noticed the two figures sprawled out on the far side of the road. Neither moved, even though they laid in a few inches of standing water.I shuffle towards them, trying to get a better look. Water splashes over my feet, and rain starts soaking into my gown. I halt about five feet away from the nearest figure. My eyes starred hard, but it wasn’t moving at all. Edging around the closest one, I get a good look at its face. Or, I should say, what was left of his face. He was male, I could tell that much, and he was dead.His suit and coat were covered in dozens of different tears. The skin below each tear showed vicious cuts. Rain hadn’t done much to wash clean the bloodstained white undershirt. Jagged tears went through the layers of cloth and tore deeply into the skin beneath.My eyes trail back up to his head. It was pulled unnaturally far back, almost to the point where it rested against his shoulder blades. His throat was a ragged mess of torn meat.I began to gag and dry heave. This close, the cloying smell of rotten and decayed meat is enough to force me stumbling away. I’m down on my knees before the roiling in my stomach finally subsides.That was the first body I saw, but there have been so many since then.
1- NOW
A drizzle of heavy rain begins to fall on the windshield. In less than a minute, the dry road darkened under the steady downpour of water. The further I drove down the interstate, the more difficult it was to see. The car’s worn windshield wipers rubbed fitfully against the window. Each stroke smeared the water as much as it cleared my view of the way ahead. Visibility of the road worsened, causing me to slow the car.When I’d first left Barstow, the sky was clear. Weather had grown steadily worse in the two days since. A few scattered clouds grew until the horizon was covered by thick storm fronts.My attempt at planning the route beforehand was based on a map I’d found. What it couldn’t have taken into account were sections of freeway blocked by abandoned cars.   

AUTHOR'S NOTES:   This touches on the events at the beginning of book one. I wanted new readers who pick this book up to have an idea as to where the series started. I retold it in a new way, keeping in mind how the character has changed. Book two ended in Barstow. We begin several months later, John once again starting out alone. The answers John seeks for closure lead him into more dangerous situations than he might be able to handle. Chapter one will be released next week. -Lee 

The Road to Nowhere: Book 3

The Road to Nowhere: Vanishing, which is book three in the series, will be published this year. Each week, a new chapter will be released on this blog, until the final book is made available for purchase.


I wanted to post about the general construction of the series, as well as some of the lesser known facts regarding the ideas that led up to the book.



MAKING THE ROAD TO NOWHERE 
I knew I wanted to write something within the post-apocalyptic genre. I began with an outline, and tossed some ideas around. One of my main concerns was, well, if I decided to do a zombie themed book, how could I capture the reader's "suspension of disbelief". If I was going to spend time working on it, I wanted it to be plausible. I always thought it should be detailed, almost as though you yourself were there with the main character. I did some research, before deciding on where I was going to take this book. In the end, I settled on making the creatures zombie-like, but not quite. They should be more dangerous than hordes of slow moving dead bodies. It becomes clear in book 1, what exactly the protagonist is dealing with.
Character Building-- When constructing the characters, I had given each specifics traits, talents, flaws, backgrounds, and modeled them after what I imagined them to be. Just like the locations, many of the character's attributes are based on people I knew or met at one time or other.
The tone of the book--Some of my favorite books are written through the first person perspective. It always makes me feel as though I am there, as opposed to watching the scene unfold. I've tried writing a few third party perspective short stories, which I might release at a later date, but they just didn't feel right for a full novel.  I chose first- person; past tense narration, because, at the time, It flowed more naturally for me. I put myself into the protagonist's shoes, feeling out how they would react and putting it down in words.
The Concept--I've spent an unnatural amount of time reading books and watching movies/television shows. My favorites are sci-fi, horror, thriller, and urban fantasy. Often, I see a scene that seems unrealistic. How many times to people split up, only to get picked off one by one? How often will someone press their weight into a door to keep out something horrible, not looking for weapons or a way out? I wanted to make my books more real, with reactions that people would normally have. Sure, there is the suspension of disbelief, but that only goes so far.    The people behind the writing--With book one, my wife and I went back and forth line by line. She highlighted anything that she felt needed adjusting, left notes on what I should elaborate on, and kicked it back to me. Advice from someone willing to give you an honest opinion, helps you see what potential readers might point out. We're currently going line by line with book three. 
End Notes--I hope you guys will enjoy the weekly chapter releases.
For now,
Take care!-Lee