House Of Wax : Nick Jones FF ✅

Twelve. 12

Nick's eyes widened in disbelief as Lilian suggested her idea. His head snapped towards her, and the intensity in his gaze reflected the skepticism he felt. The stranger before them was an enigma, and the notion of Wade and Carly, the twin siblings, joining them only heightened Nick's unease. Dalton, catching up with Lilian's proposal, quickly sided with Nick, affirming, "No, definitely not."

Lilian, feeling defeated, released a heavy sigh. She glanced down at her cluttered state, clad in Dalton's jacket and Nick's tank top, remnants of a narrow escape from a pit of decomposing carcasses. Desperation filled her voice as she pleaded, "Please, I need something to cleanse myself of all this filth. I feel dirty, Nick—disgusting. Please."

Nick remained resolute, refusing to meet her eyes. Unbeknownst to him, Dalton, however, misread the cues and cast a fleeting glance in her direction. He immediately regretted it, for Lilian's imploring eyes, pouty lips, and disheveled appearance tugged at his conscience. The guilt began to gnaw at him, making it difficult to deny her request.

With a resigned sigh, Dalton muttered, "... Wade, keep an eye on her." Nick, seething with anger, couldn't comprehend Dalton's sudden change of heart. He shot a fierce glare at Dalton, who, in turn, silenced Nick with a stern look—an authoritative gaze reminiscent of a parent compelling their child to comply with a challenging situation. The tension in the air thickened as the group reluctantly agreed to Lilian's plea, each member grappling with their own reservations.

Nick acknowledged the futility of winning over both Dalton and Lilian from his perspective, recognizing that their unanimity posed an impenetrable front. He redirected his frustration and focused on Wade, unleashing his discontent in a discreet confrontation. Shielded from the prying ears of the others, he confronted Wade with a mixture of warning words and subtle blackmail, emphasizing the consequences if anything were to transpire for his girlfriend. The air crackled with tension as Nick made his stance clear.

Meanwhile, Dalton took on the responsibility of aiding Lilian in descending into the pit, driven by a desire to ensure her safety and, more crucially, to inspect the truck that would carry his friend. Paige trailed behind, accompanied by the incessant whining of Blake, eager to set the road trip in motion lest they miss an important game. Dalton, his worries palpable, issued a stern warning to Lilian, "You better answer all my messages the second they reach you." His voice conveyed his displeasure with the unfolding plan.

Lilian readily agreed, reaching out to embrace Dalton in gratitude. Nick, having concluded his confrontation with Wade, joined them, insistent in his own demands, "And answer my calls in seconds. I'm ready to run back here barefoot. I don't care, Lily." Lilian chuckled, extending her arms for Nick's embrace, and they shared a tender kiss, seemingly oblivious to the watchful gaze of the enigmatic man observing their interaction.

"I'll be fine. I promise. Wade just needs his fan belt, and we're off," Lilian assured, her gaze shifting between Dalton and Nick, acknowledging their concerns. "I'll answer both your calls and messages. You know I will." She then turned her attention to Paige, embracing her friend, who whispered reassuringly, "I'll keep an eye on your boys." Lilian's laughter echoed, a sense of relief washing over her as she left behind her boyfriend and best friend in the capable hands of her vigilant confidante.

"Lily?" Wade's voice called out, interrupting the idyllic scene, his hand holding the truck door open for her. The strange driver was already seated, accompanied uncomfortably by Carly. Nick's expression darkened as he observed the situation, reluctant to subject his girlfriend to potential discomfort. His frown deepened when he noticed the back of the truck filled with a macabre collection of dead roadkill animals, leaving Lilian with no option but to join the front.

Striding purposefully, Nick took charge and urged Wade into the truck first, strategically placing Lilian closest to the door and farther from the mysterious driver. As he assisted Lilian in climbing up the tall truck, he held her hand, a protective gesture that conveyed both care and concern. Before closing the door, Nick pressed a tender kiss to Lilian's hand, eliciting a smile from her. Grateful, she thanked him and waved goodbye to the others as the truck began to pull away.

As the truck vanished from the sight of their concerned group of friends, an immediate sense of unease settled over the remaining individuals. In a split second, Nick's hand darted to his pants, retrieving his phone with a determined expression etched across his face. Paige, puzzled and growing anxious, couldn't help but voice her inquiry, "What are you doing?" Without a moment's hesitation, Nick responded assertively, "I'm going to call her."

An attentive audience formed around Nick as he frantically sifted through his phone, navigating to his contacts with practiced urgency. The first name to grace the screen, as always, was Lilian's. Blake, attempting to inject a light-hearted comment, scoffed, "I never knew you were so clingy, dude. You're looking too desperate—"

Before Blake could complete his sentence, Dalton shot him a stern glare accompanied by a subtle push. The unexpected intervention surprised everyone, as Nick seemed more likely to respond with aggression. However, Nick remained entirely focused on getting his phone to his ear, waiting anxiously for Lilian to answer. Paige couldn't help but chuckle, finding the display of concern from the boys endearing and sweet. Alongside Blake, she observed how Nick's eyes lit up as Lilian picked up the call, and Dalton immediately positioned his ear on the other side of the phone to catch every word.

"Lily, try to stay on the call until you get there," Dalton urged the desperation in his voice underscored by the genuine worry etched on his face. Lilian's voice crackled through the phone, a lifeline of reassurance in the midst of the unknown. "I'll stay on the call, Dal. Don't worry. We're on our way, and everything seems fine so far," she soothingly replied, attempting to placate the evident anxiety in the boy's voice.

The connection provided a thin thread of comfort to the friends left behind, each hanging on to Lilian's updates.