Ezekiel stood under the hot stream of water, feeling the heat penetrate his skin and soothe his weary body. The sound of the rushing water drowned out his thoughts, and for a few moments, he could forget about the weight of his worries.
The steam filled the bathroom, and he closed his eyes, relishing in the sensation of the hot water running over his face and down his back.
The warmth enveloped him, and he felt like he was in a cocoon, protected from the harshness of the world outside, even when the shower door was half opened
But even as he stood there, letting the water wash away his troubles, he couldn't completely shake off the fear that still lingered in his mind. The memory of losing his little brother was still fresh, like an open wound that refused to heal.
He knew he had to be vigilant, to keep an eye on his little brother, no matter what. And so, as much as he wanted to stay under the shower for a little longer, he knew he couldn't delay any longer.
He reluctantly turned off the water, feeling the cold air rush in and prick at his damp skin.
With a sigh, he stepped out of the shower and reached for the towel, wrapping it around his body to keep warm. He quickly dried himself off, rubbing the towel against his skin until he was dry.
But even as he went through the motions of drying himself off, his mind was already focused on his little brother and the need to keep him safe.
Once he was done, he quickly made his way back to the room, his thoughts consumed with worry and fear. He knew he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a moment, if he wanted to keep his little brother safe.
Ezekiel sat next to his little brother, watching him sleep with a mixture of love and fear in his heart. Nathan's little chest rose and fell with each breath, and his face looked so peaceful and innocent.
But every time Ezekiel looked at him, the memory of the last time he saw his little brother flooded his mind. He could still see him lying there, lifeless, his skin blue and his eyes wide open.
He could still feel the weight of his guilt, the crushing weight of his failure to protect him.
"I messed up," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had failed his little brother, that he had let him down when he needed him the most.
He studied his little brother's features, trying to distract himself from his dark thoughts. Nathan didn't look like him at all; he had his mother's light hair and fair skin, and his eyes were a beautiful shade of blue.
But even though they didn't look alike, Ezekiel loved his little brother more than anything in the world.
As he sat there, watching his little brother sleep, Ezekiel couldn't help but wonder how long they had left. In a world as uncertain and dangerous as theirs, nothing was guaranteed.
Ezekiel couldn't help but compare the past to the present. Back then, being around Nathan was easy and natural. The little boy adored him, and he loved spending time with him. Ezekiel was always gentle with him, taking care of him in a way that his parents never did.
But now, everything was different. They were in a different world, in a different time, and everything that had once been familiar had been turned upside down. Ezekiel wasn't sure how Nathan would react to him now, whether he would still trust him or be afraid of him.
The memory of the day he took Nathan away from his parents still haunted him. He remembered the fear and confusion in his little brother's eyes, unwilling to leave her side. It had taken all of Ezekiel's courage and patience to calm him down, to convince him that he was safe with him.
The darkness outside was all-consuming as Ezekiel parted the curtains to peer out into the night. No street lights illuminated the empty road, casting the motel in a gloomy atmosphere.
Ezekiel couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, wondering if there was any power at all in this forsaken place. The owner of the motel had made no effort to put up even a single sign outside, as if he didn't want anyone to find him.
Despite his misgivings, Ezekiel knew that he had to venture out to get some food for himself and his little brother. He made his way down to the lobby, but the woman he had seen earlier was nowhere to be found.
He tried ringing the bell on the counter, but she didn't answer. It seemed as though he was completely alone in this desolate place.
As he turned to leave, he caught sight of a man and woman standing in front of the vending machine. The man was well-dressed and appeared to be in his mid-forties, with an air of sophistication about him that suggested he worked in the world of commerce.
The woman, on the other hand, was young and dressed in revealing clothing that left little to the imagination.
"That crazy woman just told me that food is not a part of her program," the man exclaimed, frustration and anger lacing his words. "What kind of place is this? And then she had the nerve to ask me not to bother her while she slept!
She's partially deaf and wears a device in her ear, but she removed it in front of me so that I wouldn't disturb her anymore."
The man's girlfriend leaned into him, attempting to placate his anger, but Ezekiel had already made his purchase and was ready to leave.
"Are you not a little young to be in a place like this?" the man asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Ezekiel just nodded, keeping his eyes downcast.
"Hmmm, George, stop it, stop it!" the girlfriend interjected, trying to diffuse any potential conflict. "Don't pay him any attention, kid."
Ezekiel made his way back to the stairs, but not before throwing a barb at the man.
"Hmmm, says a married guy with kids who is cheating on his wife with a girl half her age," he quipped before continuing up the stairs.
The man's reaction was immediate and heated. "How did you know? How did you know? Do you know me?" he shouted after Ezekiel.
The girlfriend attempted to calm him down, but Ezekiel was already out of earshot. As he climbed the stairs to his room, he couldn't help but feel disgusted with the whole situation.
'This is a truly wretched place," he thought to himself. 'I cannot stay here for even a moment longer. The people here may not have electricity or basic amenities, but they are more than willing to cooperate with the authorities at a moment's notice. I cannot risk being caught by them.' he thought .
Ezekiel gently stroked Nathan's golden hair and cheeks, taking in the sight of his little brother. He then turned to the candy he had bought and smiled sadly.
"It's your favorite, Nathan, remember?" he said softly, his emotions weighing heavily on his heart. He began eating a few bars, needing to raise his blood sugar.
The sound of the candy wrappers caught Nathan's attention, causing him to wake suddenly.
He rubbed his eyes and slowly opened them, looking around confusedly. Suddenly, a hand appeared, holding out a pile of candy bars. Nathan took them, his face lighting up with joy.
Ezekiel didn't want Nathan to see him in this state, but he couldn't resist the opportunity to make his little brother happy. He handed over the candy quickly, offering a strange smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.