The silence only lasted until we got onto the freeway. Mostly because I wanted to use this time to get to know him. "I'm sorry you were forced to come with me and miss the hunt," I said.
He glanced at me then went back to looking at the road. "I didn't really want to go anyway," he said.
I blinked. "You didn't? Why?"
"A FleshEater was the first monster I've ever seen and I wasn't looking forward to seeing it again."
"I know what you mean." I shuddered at the thought of seeing that thing again.
His eyes flicked toward me and then back to the road. "You've seen it?"
"Yes. It killed my parents when I was five. The second time I saw it was today at the park. Didn't Lizzy tell you?"
"No, we became busy discussing details and stuff."
I looked out the window. "Understandable. Mary saw it with me at the park so we're kind of responsible for the change of plans."
"I see."
We fell silent. I racked my brain for something to say. "Um, how old were you when you saw the FleshEater?" I asked and then wanted to smack myself. Think of something other than monsters, Hemlock, I scolded myself.
"Six," he said quietly.
"Oh." Silence. I watched the trees fly by and tried to find something else to say.
"Scott told me about you when I met him six years ago. He told me he'd been searching for five years and was still looking. When I heard Eve had brought you to her house, I told Jordon to give Scott your number. They're roommates so I thought it would be better for him to do it," Vincent said.
I looked at him. "Does Morgan live with them?"
"Yes, and that kid is our researcher. He fins the sightings and we go."
"Wow." Silence again. Damn. "Are you good friends with Scott?" I asked. There. Something that had nothing to do with monsters.
His mouth twitched. "Yes. Do you know how old he is?"
That's an odd question. "Um, no."
"He's nineteen. Your parents sent him to an orphanage when he was three."
I stared at him. Shocked. Didn't Scott say he regretted losing contact with them? Did he just say that so I wouldn't get upset? Why did they send him away? Why did they keep me? "Did he say why they sent him away?"
"It was because they only wanted girls."
That answers one question. "And he doesn't hate me for that? Our mother had to have been pregnant with me at the time they shipped him away."
"She had been and why would he hat you? It wasn't your fault they only wanted girls."
It probably wasn't even that, I thought. Dad probably found out Scott had seen what was inside the barn. "That's why mom didn't tell me she was pregnant. It was because she was planning to give Morgan away."
"Possibly."
"Is Theodore the same age as Morgan?"
"Yes, and they're best friends."
"Does Theodore actually go out and hunt with you guys?"
He nodded. "Morgan comes too sometimes."
I looked back out the window. I wanted a normal life but it doesn't seem like that's possible. Monsters are always going to be part of my life and I might as well get used to it. I closed my eyes. I might end up becoming a Dark Saver and I'm starting to think it won't be that bad. Instead of being the hunted, I'll be the hunter. I opened my eyes. "Do you think Everest's offer to join your group is still open?" I asked without looking at him.
But I could tell he glanced at me. "Probably. Why?"
I looked at him. "I'm still thinking about it but I might join."
"It depends on what we find in your dad's barn, doesn't it?"
I nodded. "It does."
"What's your favorite color?" He asked changing the subject.
"Green. What about you?"
"Gray."
After a minute I asked, "What's your favorite TV show?"
"Hmm, Naruto. You?"
"Ninjago."
He glanced at me. "That's a good one too. Who's your favorite ninja?"
"I don't have one. I like them all. Do you have one?"
"Nya, Zane, and Pixal. But that's only because they build things like I do."
I blinked. "You do?"
"Yeah, I'm always making new equipment or fixing the ones we bought."
"I see." I thought for a minute. "In Naruto, I like Gaara. Who do you like?"
He thought for a minute too. "Naruto."
I giggled. "Sure, choose the main character. What are your hobbies?"
"Other than hunting monsters and building?"
"Yes."
"Collecting old stuff. You?"
"Drawing."
He glanced at me again. "You draw?"
"Yes. I'm pretty good at it too."
"What do you draw the most?"
"It depends on my mood. If I'm happy I draw flowers, people, animals, and some landscapes."
"And if you're mad?"
"I draw bloody scenes that I throw away once I've calmed down."
"Morgan and Scott like drawing too."
I smiled. "Guess that's one thing my siblings and I have in common."
"Yeah, and you might find more."
"True. Is Theodore your only sibling?"
"Yes." He sighed. "My dad died when Theo was one. I was five."
"How did you die?"
"He got sick with something and died. His last words to me were 'Look after your mom and brother. They need you.' He died two hours after telling me that."
"I'm sorry, Vincent."
"It's fine. It was a long time ago," he said calmly.
"It still bothers you though," I said gently. I could tell he was trying to hide the pain that memory brings up.
He shrugged. "It does but I can talk about it."
"My mom's last words to me were 'I'll go get him.' We'd been eating dinner and Dad hadn't come out of the barn yet. So she went to get him and ended up dead."
"I'm still trying to figure out how Morgan survived," Vincent muttered.
I nodded. "I wish I knew. The thing was eating my mom's heart when I saw it. Maybe it didn't touch her stomach."
"He's lucky."
"He is." It was hard to believe I had two brothers. "Is your mom still alive?"
He sighed. "Yes. Though she's busy working most of the time."
"What does she do?"
"She's a lawyer."
"Ah." I looked out the front window and blinked. My old home was in front of us. He parked next to a red ram.
"We're here and so is Scott," Vincent said and got out.
After a moment, I got out too. It was time for me to face my fears. Let's just hope I don't get eaten in the process.