Running Red: Lost Moon

Chapter 6: Autoshop

Levi stood under the awning, watching the rainfall. He was done with this week, and it was only Monday. His mom had texted him, letting him know that Michael would be in town today. A week after, he said he'd be here. Which means his mom would try to get them together alone to talk. He sighed and made his way slowly to a bench when someone bumped into his shoulder. Levi let out a swear as he stumbled. He dropped his crutch to catch himself on his good leg. With a grumble, he glanced over his shoulder to find who bumped into him and saw the group of people further ahead laughing and shoving each other.

With a huff, he limped over to the bench, letting his bag drop onto the cold metal before flopping down. Levi reached out with his other crutch to try and pull the one he dropped closer. It was on his third try that someone walked over, an umbrella dripping rainwater. He looked up to watch as a short man with short blond hair stooped down and picked up the crutch. When he held the crutch out, he asked, "Levi?"

Levi gave him a suspicious look. "Who's asking?"

The man's mouth gave a slight twitch as if he wanted to smile. "Michael asked me to get you."

"You must think I'm stupid if I'm going to go anywhere with you."

"Fair. We can wait. I walked here anyway." The man sat down on the bench next to Levi. Levi side-eyed him and moved to the opposite side of the bench. "I met you once. Just once, you were smaller."

"Couldn't have been that much smaller compared to you."

The man turned and looked at him. His gray eyes, like his face, held no emotion, and Levi felt his back tense up. Then, when the blond man let out a huff of a laugh, Levi felt himself relax. "You were a kid back then." The man hummed as he leaned back. "It needs to rain more."

Levi looked out at the falling rain.

"You know Michael didn't want to keep everything from you."

He shot the man a dark look. "I'm not talking about it."

The man shrugged his shoulders, "Fair."

"Who are you anyways? And how do you know Michael?"

When gray eyes landed on him again, Levi was still put off by how closed off they were. "Cain. I'm stuck working with him. Mostly against my will." Levi looked away and out to the main school road. There was a sound from Cain's direction. "Michael is on his way."

Levi frowned and gave an aggravated sigh. "What made you guys so late anyways?"

Cain stood up from the bench. "Work, we had to look into something before leaving." He stood by as Levi pulled himself up off the bench.

"And why should I trust you?" Levi went to snag his bag, but Cain grabbed it. "In the past year, I've been jumped and nearly killed and now chased through the woods."

Cain looked at Levi with narrowed eyes. "And what chased you?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

"Try me." Cain's attention was pulled from Levi. "Michael is here." Levi looked over to find Michael standing next to a car waving. His bag was pressed against his chest. "I find lying exhausting."

"And how do I know you're not lying?" Levi took his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

Cain shrugged, "Up to you." He started to walk away before pausing and holding out the umbrella. "You need this?"

Levi motioned to his crutches, and Cain shrugged his shoulders.

Michael watched as Cain and Levi headed towards him. Cain reached him first to mutter under his breath. "He said he was chased."