Zeus, Socrates and Allen all barged into a small motel lobby out in the middle of nowhere. There were only trees for miles, covering the entire landscape for as far as the eye can see and this was the only place they could find.
Pushing through the creaking glass doors with the ambience of ringing bells, they barely squeezed there luggage inside, where an old hunched lady sat behind the counter on a chair. The place was littered with cigarette burns, a few neon signs and mostly cluttered trash, like beer cans and cigarettes.
Zeus looked around in disgust, making sure not to step on any cigarettes before approaching the front counter.
"What do ya want?" The lady said in a scratchy New-Yorker voice. She had big old lady curls and looked around 80.
"Uh- two rooms. One single, one double." Zeus said, awkwardly smiling and looking at the other two.
"I thought we were getting separate rooms?" Socrates spoke nervously fiddling with his fingers.
"I am. You guys are sharing." Zeus turned back to the old lady, who was typing there order of two rooms into her computer slowly.
"Hold there." She called sourly, scanning the board for the right keys and typing at slo-mo speeds.
"Ms. Winnie," Zeus referenced from the plaque. "Can you please hurry up. We need to hit the hay as soon as we can." He checked his watch as she gave him an angry looking, groaning. She reached into some drawers and revealed two keys, which she laid onto the counter as Zeus handed her a wad of 20's.
"Keep the change." He grabbed the keys and pushed the two boys along to the left, where they stepped up the stairs, decorated in holes, spills and more cigarettes.
Zeus looked at all the rooms and almost skipped over there room due to all the dust and spider webs covering to number on the door. He took a few tries with the key, finally able to get inside. Tired from driving all day, they dropped there stuff onto the ground and laid onto the bed, while Zeus went to the other room.
Socrates felt the comfort of the bed and sighed. He took off his shirt, throwing it onto the ground and tucked himself under the covers.
"I have to go to the bathroom." Allen informed, placing his wallet and emptying his pockets onto the desk. As Allen left, a picture drew Socrates close. He unfolded it to reveal a picture of Ms. Crainer.
For a second, Socrates felt regret. But he realized it was his job, it was what the Department had raised him for. And his job was important, very important. It kept everything in line, things safe and what they should be like.
But Socrates also imagined what it would be like sometimes if he was never raised here. If he was a regular kid, never facing the consequences of being forced to follow the rules. Socrates brushed it off, and went to sleep. It was all just a fantasy in the end.
*
Hannah drove in the night, the moon shining on the car as she tore through open New Jersey landscape. It felt very peaceful compared to what happened earlier.
As she cut into a forested area, the road cut into two; one road was a gravel trail, the other option was the main road.
Hannah checked the GPS, and it revealed nothing about the gravel road even existing. She thought for a second then grabbed a map from her purse and laid it out flat.
The gravel road was a shortcut, while the main road took longer according to the map. It only had one note, 'Beware of Fangooks!' Brushing it off, she decided to take the shortcut, putting the car onto the gravel road as it bumped furiously against the rocks.
Fangooks cawed in the distance while Hannah tried to keep her sanity. Rob and William were passed out in back, and they had been for a few hours. Today was a long day, and Hannah had to keep them together, like a disoriented family.
The book sat in the passenger seat, and every once in a while, Hannah checked to make sure the book was still there, resting carefree.
"You've got it lucky really- not having to do anything. Not having the cops after you, being free to do what you want. No pressure of school." Hannah sagged in her seat, trying to stay awake. At the same time she was trying to keep her sanity too, but it seemed like she was losing it.
"You know it's rude when you don't respond, have some m-" suddenly the car jolted, and Hannah let go of the wheel. She turned to the back where William was now awake.
"What was that?" William spoke, looking around at the car.
"It's probably nothing." Hannah was about to drive again when a large, winged, bat-like creature sunk its talons into the glass windows, gripping the roof of the car from the inside with its feet. William flew back, awaking Rob.
"AGH! Help me! I'm gonna die! I hate heights." Rob screamed frantically, trying to find the shotgun on the ground.
"Get down!" William yelled, ducking as another creature swung in and break the back window, glass spilling onto there suitcases.
Hannah's instinct was to grab the book and hide, keeping her head low. "It's Fangooks! There like huge bats!"
"Back up!" Robert squealed like a girl. He had the shotgun gripped in his hands, cocking it back and trying to figure out how to use it. Suddenly from behind him, another winged creature smashed into the window, and it's talons scratched Rob's clothing.
The Fangook caused him to misfire, shooting at the passenger seat, which the bullets passed through and broke the passenger window.
"Help! Please help!" Robert whined while William punched talons off. The car began to lift due to the strength of the Fangooks.
"Get out! Get out the car!" Hannah warned, kicking the car door open before a massive Fangook came through the front window and gripped onto her jacket, causing her to drop the book onto the car floor. It slid around while Hannah tried to push the creature off.
William pushed the door open, and Robert fell out, hurting his back. William jumped after, grabbing the gun.
"Hannah!" Robert panicked, seeing his friend suspended by a large bat. Hannah was now reaching for the purse, slamming it face first into the Fangook.
It dropped her, causing her and the purse to fall onto the ground. Robert pulled her from the ground immediately, to be out of the cars way as the front came crashing down, ruining there chances of escape. The other Fangooks let go of the car, causing it to drop upside down and make a crushing sound, shaking the surrounding area.
"No, no, no, no, no! No!" Hannah tried to push the car over on its side, using her hands. It didn't budge. "The book!"
"Come on Rob!" William motioned as they tried to push it over on its side, making it tilt a bit.
"Ok I'm here." Rob pushed against it, but it barely moved.
"Are you joking? We need the book!" Angrily, Hannah slapped the car like it would do something, sighing and falling onto the ground with her hair all messy and clothes dirty.
"It's really late Hannah, let's just go to sleep." William said, slumping over on the ground.
"I second him." Robert was out in a few minutes. Hannah just laid on the ground, staring at the stars. She was too tired to argue and sleeping sounded nice.
YOU ARE READING
The Eight Amulets, Vol. 1
General FictionEvery since William had arrived in Springfield, things had gone haywire. Car crashes, bullies, and trouble following him everywhere. But then there was a final straw when his mom became incredibly sick. It all leads to one curse, and it's down to Wi...
