"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on." — Irving Berlin, 1927
CAJON JUNCTION, CALIFORNIA
RISEN
Seventeen years since Andy Rutledge's life was taken for him due to a terrible car accident. The world around his death site changed for better or worse. Several fires broke out throughout the years around the area, while the freeway received much-needed work to improve traffic flow. But, Cajon Junction remained the same as the years passed. The gas station received more people as they were eager to take a break or refill their car. There were now two fast-food restaurants instead of one competing against each other. And the local inn recently received minor touchups to attract more costumers. Today, though, it was a quiet one with only a few cars at the parking lot.
In the distance, though, there was a faint song playing nearby the railing. Suddenly, a hand appeared as it desperately tried to muster all of its strength to pull itself up. Eventually, the person successfully got themselves onto the asphalt. That person was Andy Rutledge in the fresh as he kept on coughing up a mixture of sand and blood. His glassy eyes were still dilated as the song faded. Then, his eyes changed back to normal. Still wearing the same outfit that he died in, Andy was left dazed and confused for a minute until he noticed his car was gone.
The first thing that Andy did was raced over to the inn and asked one of the employees if they saw his car. Unfortunately, they haven't seen that kind of car in awhile. So, he went over to the nearby gas station to see if it was still there. Again, no luck. Naturally, he tried to contact his folk but found out his phone wasn't working. In the act of desperation, he decided to hitchhike. There were people at the station, but none of the owners were willing to give him a lift. Until he reached a young man who just got done refilling.
Andy waved him down and attempted to plead for a lift to Blanco. Fortunately, the man planned on passing there and agreed to drive him there. The two men got in the car and exchanged names before driving off. Dustin, the driver, turned the radio on, and it began playing a rather unknown song. Andy was taken back by the strange sounds and the vocals but in a good way. He kept on listening to several similar songs and wondering how he never heard of them before.
Abruptly, Dustin got his attention and told him that they had arrived. Andy was surprised how quickly time flew but thanked him for the ride. Now that he was back in Blanco, he had a second thought about going to the police immediately since he couldn't remember what happened. And it would have been rude to not tell his family first. So, he started making his way home. Thankfully, it wasn't far for the freeway exit—just a few minutes of walking until he made it to the apartment lot. Immediately, Andy realized that the buildings were a completely different color. They were a dark tan instead of the light blue, which he didn't like the choice. But, he wondered how it was painted that fast.
He made it to his door and tried to open it, but it was locked. Luckily, he still had his keys in his pockets (along with his wallet) and unlocked it. Upon entering, he saw some beer bottles on the table and knew that his dad was home. Andy shouted out loud as he closed the door, "Dad, I am back!"
Andy was going to look for dad in the master bedroom, but he heard his stomach growling and looked at the kitchen. So, he went to the kitchen and began looking around for something to eat. That was when he started to talk about his car loud enough that his dad was able to hear. "I... I think that I was robbed at the junction. I don't know where the car went. I asked everyone in the area, but nobody saw anything!"
He paused for a moment to prepare the stove to make some grilled cheese sandwich and then resumed telling his day. "I tried to contact you and mom, but my phone wasn't working. Said it had "no service" even though I paid a lot of money. What kind of crap is that?! Anyway, I had no choice but to get a lift for a stranger..."
In the distance, though, there was a faint song playing nearby the railing. Suddenly, a hand appeared as it desperately tried to muster all of its strength to pull itself up. Eventually, the person successfully got themselves onto the asphalt. That person was Andy Rutledge in the fresh as he kept on coughing up a mixture of sand and blood. His glassy eyes were still dilated as the song faded. Then, his eyes changed back to normal. Still wearing the same outfit that he died in, Andy was left dazed and confused for a minute until he noticed his car was gone.
The first thing that Andy did was raced over to the inn and asked one of the employees if they saw his car. Unfortunately, they haven't seen that kind of car in awhile. So, he went over to the nearby gas station to see if it was still there. Again, no luck. Naturally, he tried to contact his folk but found out his phone wasn't working. In the act of desperation, he decided to hitchhike. There were people at the station, but none of the owners were willing to give him a lift. Until he reached a young man who just got done refilling.
Andy waved him down and attempted to plead for a lift to Blanco. Fortunately, the man planned on passing there and agreed to drive him there. The two men got in the car and exchanged names before driving off. Dustin, the driver, turned the radio on, and it began playing a rather unknown song. Andy was taken back by the strange sounds and the vocals but in a good way. He kept on listening to several similar songs and wondering how he never heard of them before.
Abruptly, Dustin got his attention and told him that they had arrived. Andy was surprised how quickly time flew but thanked him for the ride. Now that he was back in Blanco, he had a second thought about going to the police immediately since he couldn't remember what happened. And it would have been rude to not tell his family first. So, he started making his way home. Thankfully, it wasn't far for the freeway exit—just a few minutes of walking until he made it to the apartment lot. Immediately, Andy realized that the buildings were a completely different color. They were a dark tan instead of the light blue, which he didn't like the choice. But, he wondered how it was painted that fast.
He made it to his door and tried to open it, but it was locked. Luckily, he still had his keys in his pockets (along with his wallet) and unlocked it. Upon entering, he saw some beer bottles on the table and knew that his dad was home. Andy shouted out loud as he closed the door, "Dad, I am back!"
Andy was going to look for dad in the master bedroom, but he heard his stomach growling and looked at the kitchen. So, he went to the kitchen and began looking around for something to eat. That was when he started to talk about his car loud enough that his dad was able to hear. "I... I think that I was robbed at the junction. I don't know where the car went. I asked everyone in the area, but nobody saw anything!"
He paused for a moment to prepare the stove to make some grilled cheese sandwich and then resumed telling his day. "I tried to contact you and mom, but my phone wasn't working. Said it had "no service" even though I paid a lot of money. What kind of crap is that?! Anyway, I had no choice but to get a lift for a stranger..."
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