Dots and Zeros [Completed]

19. Sam

I told Eugene to not make any noise when he got to my house. Luckily, he remembered. No honk of his car, no ring of our doorbell. Completely silent. He didn't even park his car on our driveway. Instead, it's on the side of the road with the headlights and engine turned off.

After seeing his text I grab the backpack from my desk. I prepared it yesterday. It only holds my charger, wallet, and a bottle of water. Eugene promised to take care of the snacks. I also packed the diary.

The stairs don't creak when I go downstairs. I retrieve my keys from the bowl in the kitchen and open the front door. I slowly close it behind me. Under the lampposts I see the red pick-up truck waiting for me in the otherwise dark surroundings.

I walk towards it. I only glance back to the house once. It's as dark, empty, and quiet as it usually is at five AM. Nothing to indicate something out of the ordinary is going on. I open the door to the passenger's seat and get in.

'Good morning,' Eugene says.

'Good morning.'

'Here we are. Excited?'

'Very much.'

'Me too.'

I put my bag on the ground next to my feet while he continues talking.

'Tell me,' he says. 'Why am I picking you up at five AM? It's less than two hours driving.'

'I know. But I want to get there early. So we can do as much as possible.'

'I guess so.'

'Great. So why aren't we driving yet? We're losing precious time, Eugene.'

I playfully wink at him, and he bursts out laughing.

'Never do that again, please.'

'Wow, okay. That hurts.'

'Just put your seatbelt on and we'll go.'

'Oh, right.'

I put the belt on while he starts the engine again. The headlights turn on.

'Ready for an adventure?' he asks me.

'Yes!'

The car starts moving and we leave my street. Every lamppost we pass shines its light into the car briefly. It's a yellow light, almost amber. The sun hasn't shown herself yet. The first dark red hues start to appear in the distance, however.

'Did you sleep enough?' I ask.

'I went to sleep at nine PM yesterday.'