House Of Wax : Nick Jones FF ✅

Thirteen. 13

Inside the truck, Lilian clutched her phone tightly, finding solace in the familiar voices on the other end as she updated Nick on every detail of their journey. Unbeknownst to her, Wade observed with a tinge of jealousy, his gaze lingering on the closeness shared between Lilian and Nick. He couldn't help but wish for a relationship with Carly that mirrored the warmth and camaraderie he witnessed between the two, or even the close bond Lilian shared with Dalton.

Letting out a wistful sigh, Wade's attention shifted to Carly, who seemed engrossed in scrolling on her phone, disinterested in engaging in conversation. His eyes, however, were drawn to the driver, noticing the frequent glances he took towards Lilian. Growing uncomfortable, Wade carefully maneuvered to see what had captured the driver's attention, only to realize that Lilian's cleavage was inadvertently on display, courtesy of Nick's tank top.

Releasing a held breath, Wade leaned forward to shield Lilian's figure from the driver's prying eyes, sharing heated eye contact with him in a silent warning that echoed Nick's earlier threats. As the driver reluctantly averted his gaze and focused on the road, Wade discreetly moved to Lilian. In a gentle tone, he attempted to explain without causing discomfort, "Hey, Lily. Could you zip up the jacket? Um, it's just..." Lilian, looking up at him with wide eyes, quickly grasped the situation and complied. She gave Wade a grateful squeeze on his arms, silently acknowledging the warning, to which Wade responded with a gentle smile.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Carly had observed the entire interaction. Late to notice the driver's inappropriate glances, Carly misinterpreted the situation, perceiving Lilian and Wade's exchange as something more than a protective gesture. Glaring quietly at Lilian, Carly's thoughts spun a narrative that added a layer of tension to the atmosphere within the truck.

Carly's frustration bubbled beneath the surface, seeking an outlet as she snapped, "Do you mind rolling down your window, then?" Her sharp tone reflected an attempt to redirect her anger, aiming to release the tension that lingered in the confined space of the truck. The driver responded with a skeptical smile, a nonchalant gesture that hinted at a degree of indifference. Eventually, he acquiesced, rolling down the window with the remark, "Sorry. I kind of get used to the smell."

Wade, choosing to overlook the driver's nonchalant attitude, remained steadfastly focused on the road with care to ensure the safety of their journey. Meanwhile, Lilian, multitasking between her call with Nick and the truck's conversation, decided to engage, breaking the silence with a light-hearted comment, "Really? I don't think I will ever get used to it." Her words hung in the air, a subtle acknowledgment of the peculiar smell that permeated the vehicle.

Lilian's gaze wandered around the truck, taking note of the odd hanging decorations that swung with the truck's movements. The unmistakable scent of decay emanated from the back, intensified by the unsettling noise of rotten flesh squeezing together whenever they hit a bump in the road. The atmosphere grew increasingly eerie as the truck forged ahead on the desolate path.

The driver, seemingly unfazed by the grim details, offered a peculiar insight, "Well, you can get used to anything if you're around it long enough. If you get them in the early morning..." His gaze lingered on Lilian and Carly, an unsettling intensity in his eyes. "...before the sun bakes them up, they're not so bad." Lilian's discomfort intensified, an inexplicable sense of unease settling within her. Fortunately, Dalton's voice broke through her unease as he shared a story about losing his camera, providing a welcome distraction.

With Dalton's narrative filling the airwaves of Lilian's phone, Carly found herself tasked with entertaining the driver. Wade, disinterested in the conversation, muttered sporadically, his attention still fixated on the road ahead.

Lilian found herself engrossed in Dalton's animated narration, his whining serving as a peculiar distraction from the eerie atmosphere within the truck. Startled out of her absorption, she jerked in shock as the driver abruptly stabbed a knife into the space before them, leaving it suspended in the air. The suddenness of the action prompted Lilian to instinctively search for someone to anchor herself to, and without a second thought, she reached for Wade. His surprise mirrored hers, and he snapped at Carly, demanding an explanation for the unsettling introduction of the knife.

With an air of nonchalance, the driver clarified, "It's a bowie. It's a good knife... That'll cut through anything." Wade, sporting a skeptical frown, observed the conversation unfold. Just as he prepared to voice his concerns, particularly in light of Lilian's visible unease, his attention abruptly shifted to the road. Confused, he questioned, "What's going on? You said there was a town up here." Their progress was halted abruptly by a massive log blocking the road, the truck came to an uneasy stop, forcing everyone to carefully navigate the vehicle.

The driver nonchalantly acknowledged the obstruction, explaining, "Well, yeah, there is. It's just around that bend. I gotta flip my hubs into four-wheel. You mind giving me a hand?" The skepticism etched across the faces of the college students intensified, their worry palpable. Wade, the first to voice his concerns, questioned the driver about the last time he traversed this path, earning a scoff in response. "What, you don't believe me?" he retorted, sighing before continuing, "I forgot this way in's washed out, that's all."

Feeling a sense of urgency, Lilian discreetly leaned closer to Carly and Wade. Covering her phone with one hand to ensure Dalton couldn't hear her voice, she squeezed herself between them and whispered, "I think it's better to walk the rest of the way. Please." Sensing the need to keep things diplomatic and avoid confrontation, Lilian, unlike her confrontational boyfriend Nick, opted for a subtle approach.

Wade took immediate action, expressing, "We'll walk the rest of the way. You've done enough." Lilian sighed in relief at his decision, swiftly explaining to Dalton through the phone that she would need to hang up, not wanting her audible breathing to be heard, to her it's embarrassing how weak in stamina she was. Dalton agreed, instructing her to call them back once they reached their destination.

Hanging up, Lilian was late to see the slight agreement Wade and Carly had with the driver about their desire to walk instead. "Try and do something nice for someone..." Lilian had a confused expression at this but Wade pulled her forward in front of him to walk, while he replied back, slightly sorry, "Look, it's not like that. We appreciate it."

" Yeah, I can tell."