Werewolf Infection [3]

They headed toward the truck while Miles cradled the large water jug that he carried in his arms. Sebastian could see a perspiration of sweat on the side of his forehead.

Sebastian ignores the sight of his condition. It's not that grave. He might be a little lightheaded, but he'll survive. He tells him lightly. "I'll be in the truck."

Miles smiled lightly in response, "Ok. I'll be right there."

Sebastain swung open the door of the red truck and slid into the seat casually as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened—like the moment he had bitten into Mile's neck.

Atlas turned to him with scowling eyes. "What took so long?"

Sebastian chuckled lightly and reached out to tug on his cheeks playfully. "Don't worry about it. We're here."

Atlas's forehead scrunched further with annoyance. He swatted his hand away lightly while huffing with crossed arms. "You're acting weird. Why do you seem to be in a good mood all of a sudden?"

Sebastian's lip curved into a smile. "Just had a sip of something that helped a little."

–Blood, he thought in the end.

The cold, biting chill of the wind burst into the truck as the front door opened, then a head of thick, straight hair with a simple bowl haircut popped up in their vision.

Miles turned in their direction with a wry grin. "Hey. I think the truck should be good."

Miles climbed into the truck, his fingers crossed in the air in a hopeful plea. "Please… Please let it work."

Miles placed his hand on the wheels and turned on the engine. The truck begins to vibrate to life, a low hum emanating from beneath the tires.

Miles burst into a cheerful, joyful laughter, "Yes! It's working!"

The truck jolted forward, their bodies beginning to tremor due to the uneven, lumpy road before them.

The trees pass by the truck. The sun penetrates through the dark glass window, shining on their figures and ridding the darkness that hovers over them.

Sebastian closed his eyes, nestled his head against the backseat, and started to enjoy the silent ride, unaware of Atlas's inner thoughts.

Atlas was relaxing in his seat, ready to get out of here. A few seconds ago, when the bright light of the sun had shone on Mile's neck, allowing him to see two small, red puncture bite marks on the bottom of his neck, which is nestled above his shirt

 He wasn't certain…

He's quite confident that they weren't there a while ago…

Atlas turned to look at the profile of Sebastian, who had his eyes closed, his dark, thick eyelashes fluttering due to the movement of the wind.

Sebastian was acting a little weird a while ago. He seemed quite cheerful or content.

Now he understands the reason behind it. He must have fed from Miles, drinking his blood. He doesn't know why, but he can feel simmering irritation building up beneath his skin he can't shake. He started to resent the fact that Sebastian took blood from someone else. Why didn't he ask him instead?

For a moment, his eyes had a depth of wild, neurotic madness that flashed briefly before it disappeared like a wind.

The truck drove all the way out of the forest, where Atlas could see a hint of more buildings ahead of them.

The truck jumped slightly along with them as soon as it crossed the even, stable road.

Sebastian opened his eyes and observed the homes out of his view; some of them had children running across their front yards.

Sebastian was about to close his eyes, but the silence from Atlas's side brought a tinge of worry to his mind. He turned in his direction and saw that Atls was staring out of the window, just like him.

He must be tired, he thought carelessly.

Without thinking, he tugged Atlas's wrist and pulled him over, startling Atlas from his musing. Atlas had a confused expression on his face that brought a weary grin to his face. "Come here."

He said lightly, and Atlas shifted over to his side, a pondering look on his face. "What is it?"

Sebastian casually threw his arm over his shoulder and ran his fingers through his black, curly hair that grew to his neck.

He pushed Atlas into his side and told him lightly, "Take a nap. It'll be a long drive—

He jolted forward while coughing afterwards, his chest shaking slightly. His chest rose up and down to take a deep breath from within.

Atlas's eyes widened in worry. "Are you okay?"

Atlas had started to shift upwards while patting his back lightly, "I want to try something."

Sebastian waves his hand casually to dismiss his frantic worries. He wiped his mouth with his clenched fist. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Atlas lets out a sharp hiss beneath his breath, "You're not fine. The worst part of it is that it's my fault. Let me help you."

Sebastian cocked his head in his direction. "It's not your fault. This is on me since I'm the one who got near you. I'll hear you out after you take a nap."

Atlas was about to protest with frustration, but he was unable to say any more words since Sebastian gripped his neck, which demonstrated his refusal.

Sebastian shakes his head with hard eyes. "No. I don't want to hear it right now. Go to sleep. Then I'll hear you out."

Sebastian was firm in his stance, and Atlas knew that he couldn't change his mind. He whispered just to be certain, "After I take a nap, you'll hear me out?"

Sebastian chuckles lightly, wondering why the little fool is stubborn. It's true he's dying, but there's nothing he can do about this matter.

Sebastian watches him shift slightly in his seat before lying down on the seat, and his head settles on his lap.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes lightly. "What do you think you're doing?"

Atlas scowled under his breath, "Taking a nap. What do you think I'm doing?"

Sebastian's eyebrows twitched a couple of times in frustration. This little, insolent fool has no amount of respect for me. Who does he think he is?!

Sebastian took a deep breath to calm the irritation that ran through him before it went away.

At the same time, he watched Atlas's face that seemed to be placid and tranquil in the moment. He was slightly relieved that he wasn't haunted by a nightmare, which seems to be a current thing for him.

While he was musing in his head, the thought of dying did scare him a little, despite living over five hundred years. Shouldn't he be satisfied after seeing everything the world has to offer? Seeing the rise and fall of civilization. Watching babies slowly growing into their adulthood before they pass away from old age, disease, famine, war, and other terrible things that exist in this awful, dreadful world.

He looked down at Atlas, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully in his lap, unaware of the thoughts that flit through the dark abyss of his mind.

He'll ask his father or mother to watch over Atlas as his last, dying request. Atlas can live with the humans, but one of his parents can observe him while he slowly grows into a young man, living the most normal life he possibly can.

Also, he needs to consider Atlas's mysterious background. If anyone has an inkling of where he came from, they won't hesitate to kill him for just being a werewolf. Some vampires hold prejudices toward werewolves' race due to the historical event that nobody knows if it's true in the first place. Whatever happened in the past had integrated so deeply into the present that werewolves and vampires lived side by side in peace due to a peace treaty.

The werewolves live in the Northern territories while vampires live in the Southern territories.

If anyone possibly finds out that a werewolf is living in a vampire's territory. Atlas would be in danger. I really hope he doesn't have a wolf; otherwise, it would be severely bad. Nevertheless, I need to consider the fact he was born to two enemy tribes that originated from the werewolf's lines, which doesn't make sense at all. He should have been born with a wolf. If his biological mother had cheated on his father, it's possible he's part human and werewolf.

As he was lost in his heavy thoughts, he ran his fingers through Atlas's soft, curly hair, which calmed down his heavy heart slightly.

The truck made a sharp turn before it pulled into a slow stop. Sebastian looked out of the window and realized they pulled before the gas station. The gas station was nearly empty and barren. The gray, gloomy clouds seemed to emit over the gas station a feeling of a depressive and bleak atmosphere. A couple of cars were in the parking lot. He noticed a red telephone booth next to the gas station.

Sebastian started to shake the sleeping boy awake, who awoke from his short nap, his teeth biting his bottom lip with annoyance. "What is it?"

Sebastian chuckles and notified him, "We're here. Get up."

Atlas slowly used his hand to push himself up from lying down and sat up slouched against him.

Sebastian was about to head out of the truck until Mile's question stopped his sudden movement. "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off?"

Sebastian waves his hand dismissively. "No thanks. I appreciate the ride."

After that, they climbed out of the truck with the sound of the door shutting behind them.

They walked a short distance before Sebastian started to feel dizzy in his head. His vision begins to blur—everything in his sight becomes hazy. He almost stumbled forward, but his arm was caught in time.