Sebastian held down the basic urge to scoff. Ironically, the man guessed correctly. He corrected his expression with an abashed smile and said with the slightest embarrassment, "We got lost. We're new in this area. My little brother and I were driving on the road and ended up taking a wrong turn. Worst of all, my car had broken down, and I didn't have a cell phone with me."
Sebastian could see his words had eliminated some of his mistrust, but some of the skepticism remained in his blue eyes. He asked with a hint of doubt, "Where were you planning to go?"
Sebastian responded lightly, "To the park on the Avenue, 30th Street."
The man's gaze headed toward Atlas, who remained silent. "What's your name, buddy?"
Atlas looked at the man with a deadpan expression. His dark eyes unsettled the man for unknown reasons. The man could see an intensity that didn't suit the boy for his age. The boy, who had dark, deep, black eyes, had made the man squirm in his seat. He couldn't help but feel like the boy could see through the darkest parts of his soul.
He scoffed to himself. He must be getting tired and overthinking things. No one can read people's minds, so he pushed the instinctive urge to leave immediately.
Sebastian said to grab the man's attention. He didn't want the man's eyes to linger on Atlas, who was silent. "He's a little shy. You can call him Mateo and call me Lucas."
He didn't want the man to know their real names. It's bad enough that man knows their real faces, but the fake names are necessary just in case anyone's looking for them.
He hoped that Atlas wouldn't say anything. He sighed in relief when Atlas remained silent. He tilted his head and asked with a smirk, "Will you give us that ride?"
The man pursed his lips as if he's trying to make up his mind about letting these two people into his car. He doesn't know anything about them.
He looks at them, and he can see they are exhausted by the look on their faces, a little bit of dirt on their cheeks, and their clothes are frayed on the edges.
The man scratches his cheek lightly. "Alright. I'm willing to take you, but I don't have much gas in my tank. I'll have to go to the gas station first before taking you there."
Sebastian nods his head in gratitude, "Thanks, man. I really do appreciate it."
The man shakes his head while waving his hand casually, "Don't thank me yet. I have a problem right now. You can see my trunk is stuck in the mud."
"Every time I press on the gas, the trunk gets further stuck in the mud."
Sebastian walks to the end of the truck, where the mud clings to the tires like blood-sucking leeches found in lakes, ponds, or shallow waters.
Sebastian calls out to the man, "Hey. Try to press on the pedal. I'll push the truck."
The man calls out hesitantly, "Are you certain? The truck is really heavy; I don't think you can push it."
Sebastian didn't reveal that with his strength, he's capable of punching through the wall with one hand or snapping bricks in half.
Sebastian propped one hand against the truck before gazing through the dark rear windshield that allows him to see the mirror in front of the car.
He dipped his head in agreement, instructing the man to start the car. Sebastian turned to Atlas and warned him sternly, "Get back."
Atlas walked back a couple of distances from the truck to prevent obstructing the road. Most of all, he doesn't want to get muddy on his clothes.
Just thinking about it makes him shiver with aversion. He doesn't want to wear mud throughout the entire day.
Sebastian watches the man's hands grasp the wheels and shift the car into gear. The car made a grinding noise as the tires turned onwards.
At the same time, Sebastian pushed against the steel metal with each vein pulsing from his hand, popping out like green worms slithering under his skin.
The large truck, bigger than Sebastian, went forward at a snail-like pace, leaving muddy tracks behind in the dirt path.
Sebastian had moved backward swiftly to avoid the mud shower that flew in an arc, heading in Sebastian's direction.
The truck moved forward enough before it stopped; the dark windows were rolled down before the man's face poked out the window.
The man waved his hand in excitement, and a smile bloomed across his face. "You did it! Thank you so much!"
Sebastian's lips twitch into a forced smile. "Are we ready to get out of here?"
The man calmed down, a slight embarrassment on his face. "Yeah. Come on. I'll take you."
Sebastian sauntered toward the back seat and opened the door. He could see a sandwich wrapper on the end of the seats. He lowered his eyes and saw an empty liquor bottle on the floorboard.
It can't be any worse.
He turned his head and waved at Atlas to come over. He watches Atas come closer and tells him to get in the car.
Both of them had to leap on the black sideboard as they climbed into the backseat. Sebastian closes the door with a quiet thud.
The truck was bathed in darkness, except for the warm, bright sunlight coming through the windows.
Atlas looked around the truck before his hand reached to grab the black cushion without thinking to prevent his fall. The car starts to vibrate due to the lumpy dirt path before them.
Sebastian watches everything passing through the dark glass.
Thick, large trees grew about the height of the sky. Behind those dense trees, there was a large waterfall that was in view.
The waterfall was a stunning sight for any viewers. The water was clear, and it seemed to dazzle people's eyes.
The water seemed to shimmer through the reflection of the glass, and he watched it disappear from his view.
The manwho was driving behind the wheels started to speak casually, "You can call me Miles. I came here for fishing, but there weren't many fish in the waters. I was completely disappointed when I had gotten nothing."
He sighed. Sebastian could see a hint of dismay across his eyes and replied lightly, "Maybe next time."
Miles's lips curve into a grin. "Yeah. Hopefully."
Sebastian was about to shut his eyes to take a light nap. Throughout the entire time since he woke up, he had started to feel weak and faint.
His body feels unsteady and woozy as if he was stuck in a dream. Not the good kind. The feeling as if he's teetering on the edge.
He opened his eyes as he raised his hand to massage between his nose. He internally wonders. What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so light-headed?
He raises his hand to feel his head. It felt damp and moist. Most of all, he feels feverish.
That doesn't make sense. Vampires can't get sick unless they have vervain in their system.
Sebastian asks Miles. "How many hours do we have left?"
Miles looked in the mirror, a concern appearing on his face. "Are you okay? You look oddly pale."
Sebastian cocked his head with a weary grin, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I had nothing to eat all day."
Miles looks uncertain, but bobbed his head before he replied. "It might take around three to four hours. I need to get some gases first."
Sebastian waved his hand dismissively before he could feel a burning stare on the side of his face.
He turned toward Atlas, who was still silent. He was tugging on his bottom lip with a worried expression.
Sebastian grabs his hand on the black passenger seat. Sebastian asked curiously, "What's wrong with you?"
Atlas looked down at his hand, which was clasping his, the white large hand over his smaller one.
Sebastian tried to get his attention, but something in his eyes tells him something is wrong. Very wrong.
He asked lightly. "What is it?"
Atlas's eyes widen with dread as he whispered, "Your neck. It doesn't look good."
Sebastian reaches to touch his neck where the bitemark was.
His face winced due to the flaring pain in his neck. He could feel the bumpy parts and something else. What the hell?
He internally wondered. He asked Miles. "Do you have a phone I can use?"
Miles reaches out with his phone and gives it to him. "Sure."
Sebastian turned on the black screen, and there was a code of PIN to log in.
He asked. "What's the pin?"
His cheeks blushed lightly where he took back the phone to put in the password before giving it to him.
Sebastian clicked on the camera, which took a while. He rolled his eyes after finding too many app games.
The camera screen activated and zoned in on the area where the location of the bite mark was.
The bitemark looks swollen and utterly black. Around the bitemark looks like large, thick veins popping beneath the surface. The veins display different colors—red, purple, and black.