Page 27 of Before We Burn

Idid it. The universe finally picked me to find a stray animal that now thinks it’s found itself a home. This animal has no name as of now, but he’s very curious and already unbearable.

If I could, I would pull over this car right now and leave him stranded, but I can’t deny that he has potential to help me figure this out. If Bunny found him, maybe she would find him again. Then I can dispose of him.

“My name's Everett, by the way.” His voice snaps me out of a daydream about leaving him behind.

“If I didn’t ask, that means I didn’t care. Still don’t, actually.” That was harsh, but I need clear boundaries set. I don’t want him thinking we are anything more than associates—colleagues in a sense. He has information I want and need, so in exchange I will try to get answers about his family. I doubt he will get any, though, which is something he has to be aware of.

I sigh in frustration. Again, I have to be the bigger person. “You know, you might not get answers about your family by the end of this. Vampires are…” I search for the right word without condemning my entire species, but there’s no way around it. “Vampires are sadists. The sheer knowledge that you’ll never know will give many vampires the satisfaction of dying rather than telling you.”

I look over to the human and am surprised to find his eyes trained on me in total concentration. My brows furrow, immediately becoming defensive. “Why are you looking at me like that? Are you okay?”

His lips turn up in a half smile, accompanied by a subtle shrug of his shoulders as he leans back in the seat. “You were talking to me. I was paying attention.”

I awkwardly shift, heavy with the realization I’ve never had anyone actually listen to me. I can’t say anything but, “Oh.”

The car falls silent, the sound of the engine and the broken road beneath us lulling me into tranquility. There is something very calming about driving, especially on an open road like this one.

We have driven about twenty miles from my home, heading south. The snow isn’t as thick the farther we go, but that also means it isn’t as cold. Snow melts during the day then freezes at night, leaving slick ice coating the road. Since not many people drive this way, and there isn’t a budget for it, preventative measures haven’t been taken.

“Do you think we can pull over so I can go to the bathroom? I’ve been holding it for a while, and it’s starting to hurt.”

As soon as I start to think this human isn’t that bad, he finds a way to prove me wrong.

“Bathroom? You realize we are on a schedule, correct?” I try to keep my tone even, but I hear the hum of annoyance about to peer through.

“Listen, I know you haven’t been a human for however long, but I have to use the bathroom, eat, and sleep. I can’t travel to wherever we are going in one day. I need breaks. I’m going to have to stretch, and I can’t do that cooped up in this car.”

I look at him, then my gas indicator. You would think the first thing researchers and developers would do is find a way to replace gas cars, but the wealthy took their funds from all the start ups back in 2100, leaving the world stagnant. Over time as knowledge began to fade, the Premier Leader began privatizing schooling, and as poverty rose and jobs became scarce, the billionaires decided to put their money in the one person they thought had an answer for the madness—the Premier Leader, who doesn’t even allow his people to know his name.

He’s law and order. Whatever he says goes, and there was never a question about it. He could’ve taken their money and done something good with it. Instead, he decided it would be better to start experiments on vampires and witches to control the world. Nice.

Defeat’s written on this one for me. “Fine. I’ll refill the tank, you’ll go to the bathroom, stretch, whatever you have to do. But this is the last time for at least four hours. So I suggest you don’t eat or drink anything.”

I turn to look at him again. I hoped he would be agreeable and just follow orders like a typical soldier, but he isn’t so typical. I mean, he was bred to hate me, and he has every reason to, to be honest. They don’t teach anything redeeming about vampires in his world, and I understand why. I should be trying to win him over, show him we aren’t that bad, but I have reason to hate him, too.

“That’s not going to work,” he starts, pulling a granola bar from his pocket. “This is the only thing I’ve eaten since I’ve gotten together with you. I haven’t had any water, either, and I can die of dehydration faster than I can hunger. So, I will need to stop every two hours to at least attempt to use the bathroom.”

I look to the granola bar, then back at him. I hate when people I don’t like have a point.

“Fine. Every two hours. Pick up light snacks. Coins are in the armrest.”

He smiles at me, opening the armrest compartment to see my array of gold, silver, and bronze coins. After the war, the world shifted to a universal currency. This was the government's way of trying to eliminate the wealth of vampires around the globe to stifle their advancements. There are only a few people allowed to transfer their United States dollars into the new currency, and they are all people who would back the Premier Leader without hesitation. There’s only one thing they didn’t think of—vampires have always hoarded precious metals. We see the value in everything, even when the Collective sees it as dispensable.

We are vain creatures. Our years on this earth allow us to garner knowledge, forge hierarchy, and brag about all the things we have. The more we have to brag about, the happier we are. “Did you steal all of this?” Everett whispers, like someone can hear him.

“No.” My voice squeaks at the accusation. “I’m not a thief; those are mine.”

He raises a brow, a smile on his face that doesn’t deserve to be there, and grabs two bronze coins. He rubs them together, and his eyes connect with mine.

I turn away quickly, my cheeks warm from the look he just gave me, and I concentrate on the road. He’s smart, smarter than I’ve given him credit for. Bronze coins are less suspicious. People don’t have funds like that right now. Government aid is at an all time low, businesses are failing, and people have limited to no work available. Most people left to work jobs on oil rigs and mechanic shops to try to get the industry booming again. But you can feel the hope is gone.

I pull into the first gas station we come across. It’s old and a bit run down, but it has a full store and a way-too-smiley cashier. The sun has begun to peek from behind a cloud, and I shudder at the thought of stepping into it. I haven’t had time to feed properly, and that sun has the potential to sear me like a well done steak.

Everett looks out the window, his face lost in thought as he tries to find a way for me to get

out of the car so I didn’t look suspicious. Him even thinking about helping me should increase my faith in him, but honestly it just makes me worry more.

“Go to the bathroom. I’ll pretend I’m looking for money, but you’ll just use the extra bronze coin to pay for the gas with your food,” I say in an authoritative tone. I don’t want any questions or arguments, but I guess it’s difficult for Everett to be quiet and listen.