Sebastian could feel the lingering warmth of the heavy body against his arms. Sebastian closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, his lungs constricted in his chest, breathless and panting.
In the darkest corner of his mind, he wants to sink his teeth into the warm flesh that would satisfy his craving. The blood from the shape-shifter's wound calls out to him like a mouthwatering wine.
With every ounce of strength, he pushed the lifeless body away as it fell upon the murky water like a discarded doll. It made a splashing noise as the water became a bloodbath.
Sebastian twisted his soaked ankles, so he pivoted around to face Atlas, whose face had gone cold. His eyes were empty and dazed like he couldn't understand what transpired.
His lifeless eyes were fixated on one spot—the dead shapeshifter's body that looked so lifeless and listless as her dark yellowish eyes stared at the ceiling like it was fascinating. Her entire body and face look like they have come straight from a horror movie.
Her eyes were a dark yellow, layers of dark cracks beneath her skin were like broken concrete, and her nails were razor-sharp like a falcon.
Sebastian slowly crawled closer to Atlas, tugged on his soaked, bloody shirt, and ordered, raspy and rough. "Stop looking at it. Look at me."
Atlas shook his head as his eyes turned from the lifeless body to Sebastian; his eyes were heavy and dark, like he was stuck in a nightmare.
Sebastian saw that his lips clenched tightly as if he was trying to hold something back. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, yet there were no words.
Sebastian knew they needed to get out of here. If anyone sees them with a dead body, he doesn't know how he would explain it to the authorities. Why would the supposed human from their standard have abnormal features on her body?
They would think she is on narcotic drugs, wearing a costume, or whatever the human mind comes up with to fit their inability to understand the reality before them. They would try to grasp each straw to explain the incomprehensible and unfathomable that should not be possible.
"Get up now." He said with authority in his voice, rough and calm.
He jerks Atlas's shirt, who remains motionless and immobile until he stumbles forward against his hard chest after the third tug from Sebastian.
Sebastian exhaled deeply as the intoxicating blood on Atlas's shirt called out to him like a drug.
Fuck me! Why do I have to deal with this?!
He sent a harsh glare toward Atlas, who remained in a stupor. He raised his hand to slap Atlas's cheek, which was cold to the touch. He made sure he didn't use full strength, but enough to shake him out of his stupor.
Atlas lets out a grunt from the painful slap across his cheeks, and he raises his eyes toward Sebastian in shock. He raised his hand to his cheeks and asked with confusion, listless and sluggish. "W—Why did you s—slap me?"
Sebastian raises an arched brow. "Listen to what I have to say. We need to leave."
Atlas swallowed hard as he jerked his head. His black hair scattered across his face. His purple double pupils stared back at him. It was strange. It was like seeing the same person, yet not the same. The purple double pupils give him a mysterious aura around him, desolate and bleak.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes in curiosity and intrigue. From a human's point of view, it would scare them shitless to see a boy with purple double pupils and a bloody handprint on his pale cheek. A bloody shirt as well would make them believe the boy had survived a horror that no one can comprehend.
Regardless, Sebastian didn't let the sight before him distract him, although a part of his heart skipped a beat.
Sebastian gripped Atlas's shirt with another harsh pull. He needs to be certain that Atlas is still with him, not stuck somewhere in his mind. "Say it. What are we doing?"
Atlas sucked in a quick breath, and self-awareness flashed across his eyes. "We—We're leaving now."
Sebastian nods with a grunt. That would have to be enough for now. He tugged at Atlas's wrist as he went to the door. His fingers went to his lips as he whispered, "Be quiet."
After that, he pulled the door slowly to see if anyone was in the clear. He couldn't see anyone in the distance, except for two people down the hall at their table with their headphones on. Sebastian could hear them playing blasting music. It sounded like hip-hop music.
He decided to look in the other direction where the hallway was darker and quieter. It was silent. There was no mirror, except for an old painting of a chef cooking some kind of pizza. A smirk tugged at his lips when he saw there was a red door with a sign that read 'exit' at the end of the hallway.
He tugged on Atlas's wrist as he headed toward the exit door, anticipating getting out of there unseen.
Out of nowhere, a large black dog came out from his left side. The large black dog had excessive saliva trickling out between his teeth. The dog wagged his tail in excitement, although his nose sniffed the air as if he caught something.
He ran forward and lifted his nose to lick Sebastian's hand. He was licking the blood off his knuckles. Sebastian was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. Regardless, he let out a snort as he pushed the dog away gently with his gray military boots. He didn't want the dog to have blood on his nose as it would leave evidence behind.
After pushing away the dog, he pushed the door open. Sunlight filters in through the darkened hallway. A couple of empty cars were parked in the parking lot. A small sigh of relief was exhaled from his lips.
This must be the place where the employees come to park before working.
Sebastian tugged Atlas's wrist once again. Something else that Sebastian didn't anticipate. His heart started racing.
The fire alarm has gone off. It was loud enough for Sebastian's head to ring. Sebastian pushed Atlas in front of him and grabbed his neck.
Sebastian lets out a quiet hiss to the silent Atlas. "Hurry. We need to leave now."