Chemicals

3

Time isn't on my side anymore.. Everyone else is sleeping, but I can only see Carmen and Frank. "Where's Ethan?" I murmur to myself, a knot of worry tightening in my stomach. I step outside the mini-store, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I search the dimly lit area. The moon hangs high in the sky, casting a silvery glow that illuminates the shadows around me, and I find myself lost in its gaze.

I glance up, momentarily mesmerized by its bright presence, but the peacefulness of the scene feels unsettling. I don't even know what time it is, but something feels off, an inexplicable tension hanging in the air. My instincts tell me to be alert, to look deeper, and as I scan the surroundings, a sense of foreboding creeps in, amplifying my unease. Where could Ethan possibly be?

I hear footsteps approaching and instinctively step back, spotting a tall figure emerging from the shadows. "What are you doing awake?" it says, and my heart leaps as I recognize Ethan. "Phew," I exhale quietly to myself, relieved to see him. I raise my brows, curious. "I could ask you the same..."

He glances at the wrench in his hand, a look of concentration etched on his face. "Fixing the car," he replies, but I can't shake the feeling that something's off. I cross my arms and scrutinize him. "Are you lying to me?"

He doesn't meet my eyes, instead staring blankly at the car's engine. "No."

"Then why do you look so tense?" I ask, my concern growing.

"Obviously because the engine won't budge," he mutters, frustration creeping into his voice.

"I can help if you want," I offer, hoping to ease some of the tension.

"No... it's fine, I got it," he replies, dismissing me as he walks back to the car, placing the wrench on the ground. He opens the hood and peers into the engine.

Rolling my eyes at his stubbornness, I step closer and grab the wrench from where he left it. "What are you—" he starts, but I cut him off. "You're so stubborn; you clearly need help."

He sighs, rubbing his temple as if I'm giving him a headache. "Fine. But don't touch the engine block. It's very fragile since it's the main part of the car engine."

I peek into the engine bay, noticing how rusty it looks despite the car being new. "Kiya," Ethan calls, breaking my focus. I look up at him. "Hmm?"

He hands me a heavy metal block, and I notice five holes on top. "Hold this for me." He reaches into the engine for another part. I squint at the odd-looking object in my hands. "What is it?"

He doesn't look back at me, too focused on his work. "Cylinder block," he says absentmindedly.

"Doesn't look like a cylinder to me," I respond, puzzled.

He shoots me a glare, clearly irritated. "Well, no one asked for your opinion."

I scoff, looking back at him. When he turns away, I mutter a curse under my breath, feeling the weight of the moment and the task ahead.

This is going to take a long time.

***

My back hurts-When will I get a blanket? My eyes are red, But I can feel the hot air hitting my face hard. I see no one around me-Only the food stockings. "Your Awake..." Frank looks at me. I look back at him and nod. Then my eyes gaze somewhere else, behind him. I stare at what he's holding. Something blue-liquid type. "What's that?" He looks at it as well and clears his throat. "I've been trying to find a cure...On what's happening."

"You know you don't have to figure that..."

"But I want to-I have too-I stayed up since 5 AM..." He replies with a heavy sigh.

let out a sigh, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. It's beneficial that he's working on the car, but right now, I'd rather he focus on me—not after everything that's happened. I step outside, inhaling the warm, fresh air as if I'm trying to capture the moment, breathing it in like it's the last bit of freedom I'll ever have.

"Well, you're finally awake," Ethan says, breaking the quiet, his voice smooth and teasing. I nod, shoving my hands into my pockets, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "Any more snarky jokes for me?"

Ethan chuckles, sauntering over to lean against the wall beside me, the casual confidence in his stance making my heart race. "Nah, just a question. Is it Kiya with a K-I-Y-A or just K-I-A?"

I turn to him, a grin spreading across my face as I playfully bite my lip. "Y."

His brows furrow in confusion for a moment before realization dawns on him, and he shakes his head with an amused smile, a hint of admiration sparkling in his eyes. "You're something else, you know that?"

I look around, feeling the warm breeze swirl around me, but a nagging sense that something isn't right lingers in the back of my mind. I choose to ignore it, pushing the thought aside.

"Good afternoon!" A squeaky voice calls out from the mini-store, drawing my attention. I glance over, and Ethan does the same. It's Carmen, looking more joyful than she did yesterday. I can't help but smile back at her. "Afternoon!"

Carmen giggles, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "C'mon! I have something to show you!" Before I can respond, she grabs my hand and starts running toward the road. "Whoa, whoa! Slow down!"

"Alright, but close your eyes!" she insists, and I oblige, squeezing them shut for a few seconds.