Sebastian hauls Atlas to go forward with a firm grip on his neck. Atlas walks forward with urgency in his steps as he asks with unease. "What are we going to do? How are we going to get out of here with all the people here?"
Atlas knows he should be concerned about how to get out of there, but all he can focus on is the cold, large hand on his neck.
It feels weird. His neck feels tingly. He could feel the anxiety poking at the surface, but the larger person beside him is what keeps his anxiety at bay, not allowing his thoughts filled with terror and agitation to take control over his mind.
At that moment, he didn't realize that his purple double pupils had turned to a normal color. They returned to obsidian color.
Sebastian let out a snort and replied, "I don't know yet. I'll figure out something."
Sebastian told Atlas to stop walking at the end of the corner of the building where the cars are located in front of the building with the other cars parked as well. Sebastian tilted his head in a gesture for Atlas to get back and wait for him.
Sebastian gets closer to the corner where he can hear voices of conversation filled with alarm and distress fill the air.
One of the voices, which sounded like an older man, said, "What happened? Why did the alarm go off?"
Another voice said, "I don't know, but one of the workers found a dead body in the bathroom, and the person fainted at the sight of the condition of the body."
It was silent for a while. The other older man said with intrigue. "Really? I wonder what happened."
"Hmm. I don't know either. Stop asking me too many questions. The cops will be coming soon. We should leave now."
Sebastian moves his head backward from the corner. He shouldn't go out there with the people knowing something is off. He looked down at his hand and shirt, which were covered in blood. Hmm, what should he do?
Sebastian clicked his tongue as frustration boiled beneath the surface. He looked around and saw the woods in the distance. The woods were filled with branches of different sizes that extended everywhere.
Sebastian asks Atlas with playful teasing in his words. "I hope you like hiking?"
Atlas's lips turn into a frown. His eyebrow furrows into confusion. "Uhh? What do you mean?"
The color in Atlas's eyes caught Sebastian's attention and stunned him. They returned to their original color—black eyes—as if the purple double pupils were an illusion. It was just like when they first met when Atlas woke up from a nightmare on his bed. The only difference is that he didn't get a headache this time.
Atlas wasn't aware that his eyes had drawn Sebastian's attention when he followed in the direction where Sebastian's eyes zoned in. He saw a bunch of trees surrounded by each other. Some of the trees have intertwined branches, and they go over smaller trees.
Sebastian pretends not to notice the whole matter and lets out a smirk. "Come on. We don't have much time."
They proceeded to the area where the woods are the most dense and shadowy. In that way, the woods would cover their form, making it harder for observers to see them.
Sebastian watches for any movement around. There were only a few chirping birds nestled in their nest. He assumed it was the babies since he saw the mother feeding them some kind of insect captured inside her small, black beak.
Sebastian was intrigued by the scene before them. Until the back of his shirt was yanked. A twitch curled on his face as he turned around. He asked with amusement and frustration. "What is it?"
Atlas raises his fingers to his lips. A gesture to be silent.
"Shh!" His eyes tried to communicate with Sebastian.
He didn't know why, but seeing the same gesture he used earlier toward Atlas now being used toward him brought a glimpse of a smirk across his lips.
He heard a sound behind him. It sounded like leaves being crunched, then a light footstep headed down their way. Sebastian felt his entire body tense due to the proximity of another presence nearby. He doesn't know if the person is a threat to them.
If he finds them a threat, he won't hesitate to kill them. His only concern is Atlas. He could tell the boy didn't do well with murder. Atlas isn't like him, where he, deep inside, doesn't experience the conflict of taking another life.
He doesn't sense a threat or a malicious gaze toward them.
He turned around to see who was approaching. His eyes widened in surprise; it was a deer and a fawn.
They were passing them a couple of distances away. Their disinterested gazes took a casual, yet wary glance at them before turning their heads. They must have decided they weren't a threat to them. The fawn was bathed in sunlight as though the body was illuminated by divinity.
They were just strolling through the meadow field, surrounded by shrubs, golden leaves, and fallen branches. It was peaceful and undisturbed. It was like they were in their world, remote from the world of civilization and humanity.
Sebastian and Atlas were silent, just watching them saunter off into the distance until massive trunks and branches covered them like it was their mission to protect them from prying eyes.
Sebastian turned to look at Atlas, who had a rare warm smile across his face. It was strange seeing that smile. He was used to seeing his sassy and cocky side. He also saw a side where he was consumed by fear and anxiety. This is the first time where he genuinely seems happy, not carrying a heavy burden no youth should carry.
His brow raised in a high arc at him, "What are you looking at?"
Sebastian felt the side of his face curve into a light-hearted smirk. "Hmm. None of your business, little fool. Come on. We need to continue walking."