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“Why? This morning, you wanted to get rid of me.”
“This morning, I was a different person. That person was at the end of his rope. And now …” He slaps his chest, proud. “That person found more rope! You’re the rope. Kinda.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
“Sometimes, people need protecting from themselves, too. Hey, let’s get back on track. Back at the house, you said you were tired of hiding. Started opening up before we got chased out.” He glances at Kyle. “Did you mean hiding what you are?”
Kyle stares at him, stunned. “You are acting … suspiciously calm about what I am and what happened this morning.”
“Just going with the flow here, don’t mind me. What’s the big deal? So you combust into flames under sunlight. I have a friend whose bowels combust when he eats dairy.”
Kyle stops. “Did I really … combust …?”
They’re under a streetlamp by a back road, a trailer home across the street, a dirt patch at their back overrun by weeds. Elias rubs his head. “Well, at first, your feet were red, super red, like they already endured hours of sun tanning after just a few seconds. I smelled burning. Your legs began to smoke like a barbecue, and—Do you really want me to describe it?”
Headlights turn the corner right then. By instinct, both Kyle and Elias duck behind a nearby fence. The car drifts by slowly, oblivious to them, and continues down the street, on the hunt. After an excruciating twenty seconds of suspense, the car finally turns onto another back road, then gone.
Kyle turns to Elias. “Is it a crazy ex?”
Elias frowns. “What?”
“Is your family affiliated with the mob or something? Do you owe someone money? You running from a drug kingpin?”
“No, none of that. You’re limping. Should I carry you?”
“Who’s looking for you?”
“Didn’t I say not to worry about it? Seriously, I can carry you. Your feet got the worst of the burns, and—”
“Not to mention you apparently own a house here. I know everyone in this town, and the first time I see you, you’re sitting in the police station with a bleeding face.”
“Good points, all very valid, A+ detective work. I must be a frustrating conundrum for you. Can we maybe go somewhere to chat that isn’t out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“Everywhere out here is in the middle of Nowhere.”
Elias scowls, then nods. “Fair, I walked into that one.”
“And no, I don’t need to be carried.” Kyle sighs. “What I need is to text my boss. I’m gonna be late to work.”
“Work? Wait a sec.” Elias faces him. “You’re still going in to work? After … After this morning? After everything?”
“Of course,” mutters Kyle. “Drinks don’t serve themselves. Let’s go. I left my phone at my house. Didn’t think I’d need it again.” He heads off. Elias soon follows, hands in his pockets, frowning in thought.
The outskirts of town are lifeless as they make their way down the silent paths, even the wind and bugs seeming absent. Only the noise of their feet crunching along the dirt can be heard. Kyle’s steps are quiet, even with a limp, but Elias moves heavily, each step shattering the peace of the town. Vehicles are spotted, though they prove harmless, just a man heading off to the store and someone else coming home. The faintest hint of blue still hangs in the sky along with the rising moon, the last remnant of this wicked day finally being put to rest.
They come to a stop in front of Kyle’s house at last. “Oh, this is your place?” Elias peers around as they approach. “Uh, it looks abandoned. You sure it’s safe? Door is wide open.”
“Why bother closing it? I own nothing of value and wasn’t planning to come back. Besides, Little Lion needs access.”
“Little who?”
Kyle heads inside, then stops in the living room near the couch. He wasn’t expecting to see any of this again, and for a moment, he finds himself struck by the sight of everything. The piano. The archway leading to the dining room and kitchen. The thick curtains over the front window. The silence in the house is nearly suffocating.
Kyle notes the absence of the cat. Again.
Elias follows him inside, his noisy footsteps shattering the silence. “You alright?”
Kyle flinches from his thoughts. “Of course.” He goes for his phone, which he left on the piano bench, of all places. He picks it up and thumbs through his contacts, lands on Cade, and sends her a quick text, explaining he’ll be late.
Meanwhile, Elias paces around the room, glancing here and there, curious, the floorboards creaking. He stops at the curtains, touches them, nods. “Smart, keeps the sunlight out.” He peers up at a spot in the ceiling, points at it with a frown. “You realize you’ve got a leak here? Maybe get that looked at. I know a guy.” Then he circles around to the piano where he comes to a full stop right by Kyle. “You play?”
