Thaddeus

Chapter 28

                (Two days after last chapter)

Thaddeus kept a steady hand on the wheel as he drove through the city. From the way his nerves were slowly growing, he felt a little surprised at how calm he was being on the outside.

In the passenger seat, Ashur had his eyes fixed on one of Thaddeus's journals, he seemed focused, which Thaddeus liked. It meant Ashur wouldn't talk much about where they were headed, that was his hope anyway.

The other night, Thaddeus had told Ashur to pack whatever he had and load it in the back of their truck, simply telling him they needed to move again. Now, in the middle of the day, they were finally headed out of that motel.

After at least twenty minutes of silence, Ashur spoke up. "So, you keep a journal on Alastor, huh?" He says as he lifted the journal in his hand for emphasis before looking back at the pages. "Stalker much?" Ashur says with a light sarcasm as he raises a brow.

"Don't judge me, I needed to know information about him. And my grandpa. If you haven't noticed, I'm kinda outnumbered by those two plus all the people who work for them." Thaddeus says as swipes the journal from Ashur and tosses it in the backseat onto a duffel bag.

"Hey! I was reading that." Ashur sarcastically pouts as he thwacks Thaddeus's shoulder.

"You don't need to be reading everything in there," Thaddeus says with a light grin.

"Bitch." Ashur huffs as he looks out the window, this earning a chuckle from Thaddeus.

It took almost a forty minute drive, but Thaddeus finally pulled into a small street leading to the first of several apartment complexes. Each building looked identical to the other, all painted in lighter colors that was chipping a little. All of them definitely looked a bit worn down, but at least it didn't look completely decrepit.

Thaddeus pulled into the parking lot of the first of those complexes, stopping the car as he scanned each of the apartments. More specifically, he was looking for the right number on the doors.

Ashur stepped out of the car, looking at the building as a small, teasing grin crept onto his face. "So this is where your friend lives? One of these?" He asked as his gaze fell on Thaddeus, who nodded as he stared at the apartments.

"Which one is it?" Ashur asks as he leans against the truck.

"Thirty-two," Thaddeus answers, his voice quivers in the very slightest as he begins to fidget with his fingers. Luckily for him, Ashur didn't catch Thaddeus's tone. All the younger boy does is nod, then take initiative by beginning to walk up to the apartment door with the correct number on it.

Thaddeus's eyes widened a little as he watched Ashur be the one to move first and he quickly followed after him. Thaddeus stared at the door when he arrived by Ashur's side, his breathing picking up a tiny bit as his fidgeting got a little worse.

Ashur glanced between Thaddeus and the door, he was already stifling a small smile. "You really are nervous, aren't ya?" Ashur couldn't hold back a smirk as Thaddeus took in a breath.

"No, I'm not," Thaddeus directly and quickly replied as he continued staring at the door.

"Then knock." Ashur teasingly challenged, motioning to the door.

Thaddeus gave him a small side-eye glance, his expression becoming more annoyed now, but it only lasted a moment when he looked back to the door.

"Okay, fine, I'll help you out." Ashur's words cause Thaddeus to look over at him, his eyes widening when Ashur suddenly knocks on the door.

Thaddeus glared at Ashur for a brief moment, who returned it with a grin. Thaddeus practically held his breath for the next few moments, looking at the door with anticipation.