"Sounds rhyme!" exclaimed Kieran.
Malron and Mariel looked at the silver-haired youth, who was now clapping in delight. Somehow, Kieran's behavior had become even more absurd.
"Malron and Mariel. Rhymes, doesn't it?" Kieran looked alternately at the two figures in front of him.
"Nooo!!!" Malron and Mariel shouted at the same time.
Mariel even stood up and took a few steps back. "Absolutely not!"
"What do you mean rhyme, idiot?" Malron gritted his teeth and looked at Kieran in annoyance. "Can't you be a little more normal as a human being?"
Kieran fell silent, crouched down and just looked at Malron anxiously. The demon sensed that their conversation would not end there. So Malron quickly got back into the car and exhaled deeply.
"Get in the car!" the demon ordered.
"But Mariel can come, right?" Kieran asked, half pouting.
"Yes, of course!" Malron's eyes widened exaggeratedly. "It would be my pleasure if she came with us!"
Mariel snorted, "I know it's sarcasm."
"Well, get used to it, young lady," Malron retorted.
Mariel had no choice but to go with Malron, even though she was half mad at the black-haired man.
What puzzled Mariel even more was that Malron was traveling with a young man whose personality was the complete opposite. She couldn't tell if they were a couple or not.
Mariel quickly got into the car and sat parallel to Kieran's seat. The car began to move again, traversing the rather deserted highway. Not a word was spoken the whole way.
"Why did you run away?" Kieran suddenly broke the silence.
"I had to leave. That's all," Mariel replied.
Malron raised an eyebrow. "Feels like déjà vu, doesn't it? Someone who ran away said that to me once."
"And Lord said it wasn't a reason," Kieran added.
"Right," Malron nodded.
Then Mariel crossed her arms. "Are you judging me now?"
Malron and Kieran shook their heads at the same time.
"We're not judging," Kieran shrugged.
"Actually, we're fugitives," Malron added casually.
Mariel blinked, and then a sudden silence fell between the three of them.
"You're just car thieves, right?" Mariel asked cautiously.
"Just look at the news. His face is shown as a terrorist," Malron pointed at Kieran. "Kieran Reymond. Innocent but deadly."
Kieran's face suddenly darkened and he looked at Malron with teary eyes. "This is not funny, Lord."
But Malron seemed to turn a deaf ear and began to speak freely to Mariel. Both Malron and Kieran were suspects in a mass murder at the Albuquerque chapel.
Offhandedly, Malron said it was a pretty cool accomplishment, since humans would surely tremble at the sight of them.
Mariel just gaped, her face turning pale with disbelief at what she had just heard. Her expression alone showed that she was very frightened.
And Malron could hear Mariel's heart cursing, 'Why did I run away with the wrong person? Why is this my fate? They're both murderers. Oh God, help me.'
Malron was about to burst out laughing at Mariel's sudden panic.
"Please stop," whispered Kieran, who had kept his head down.
"Hey, you're going to be famous, Kieran. Although the definition of famous is pretty broad," Malron chuckled.
"STOP IT!!" Kieran snapped.
And Malron swore he saw a flicker of Kieran's eyes turn black, just like what happened in the alley next to the chapel.
"Do you have anger issues?" Malron snorted.
Kieran blinked quickly, then took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."
Seeing the two figures arguing in front of her, Mariel could only remain silent and wipe the sweat from her temples. She had to get out of the car as soon as they entered the nearest city.
"Where are you going?" Mariel tried to lighten the mood.
"None of your business," Malron replied curtly.
Mariel swallowed nervously. "I'm stopping at the next city."
"Lexington, thirty minutes," Malron added.
Mariel nodded. "Okay, thanks."
"Where do you plan to escape to, Miss Mariel?" Kieran asked.
Mariel didn't know what to answer, since she didn't know where she could evade pursuit and find a safe place to hide.
But if Mariel answered honestly, would it be safe? What if Malron and Kieran were truly evil people and would end her life in one place and then bury her body? Only to be found years or decades later.
"Before you run, you should get some money so you won't get into trouble," Malron interjected.
The demon, who had been reading Mariel's thoughts all along, was offended to be suspected of being a murderer.
No, demons like Malron had their own standards for collecting human souls that would later become their slaves. It was an exclusive rule among the highest demons.
Humans who surrendered and obeyed the wishes of the demons were the key to success. Not to take the lives of humans who, at the brink of death, sought justice from a higher power.
"So you're not paranoid when you hitchhike, assuming they'll take advantage of you," the demon continued lightly.
Mariel felt offended. "Sorry, I just don't know where to go. My escape was spontaneous."
"Aren't we all just running away here?" Malron replied.
Mariel felt like choking Malron from behind until he ran out of breath. Somehow Malron was so sarcastic and very annoying. But Mariel tried to control herself.
"Why are you called Lord?" Mariel asked, trying to change the subject.
Malron looked out of the rearview mirror. "That's what I'm called."
"Are you of noble descent?"
"Something like that, I suppose."
As one of the highest demons of the Stygian Lords, perhaps his perception was almost the same.
"Is your family from Europe?"
For some reason, the sudden barrage of questions from a woman named Mariel annoyed Malron. It was very clear that Mariel was trying to avoid being questioned, so she asked questions to divert attention.
Malron shook his head. "No, my family is from another nation."
"What nation?" Mariel inquired.
"Imagination."
Mariel sighed in frustration as she looked out the window and heard the demon's flippant answer. Mariel should have known that Malron would never give an honest answer. Malron was too cunning.
Suddenly, Kieran burst out laughing. "That's so hilarious."
Malron's eyes glanced only briefly, and a sardonic smile played on his lips. Somehow, Malron felt pleased to be able to make someone laugh with a joke.
Malron began to feel an uncontrollable strangeness within himself. He couldn't lose control or he wouldn't be able to return to his world.
Suddenly, Mariel pointed to the dark sky ahead. "That's not going to be a tornado, is it?"