Between Worlds

Chapter 28

Adin had Ryan and Kimber sitting across from each other at the table, playing Connect Four. It kept Kimber at arm's length, so Ryan went along with it.

At some point, Adin had stopped giving Ryan shit for snapping at Kimber and started to realise that maybe Ryan had a point and wasn't just being a dick for no reason. Not that they really saw the situation the same way. Adin had apologised to Ryan and tried to talk to him about consent and bodily autonomy, but Ryan got the impression he hadn't actually talked to Kimber about it at all. He seemed to think Kimber was acting out sexually, maybe because he'd been abused or something, which Ryan thought was way off. He'd even given up on his incubus theory.

Of course, he wasn't going to tell Adin any of this, because the reason he knew it wasn't sexual was because he'd let that one play out. He and Kimber had been alone in the back of the bus with the curtains drawn, and Kimber had been getting in his space again, and a man could only be so strong. When Kimber had pressed up against him, Ryan had stood his ground, and then he'd reached up and touched Kimber's arm in a way that pretty clearly said he was interested.

And then they'd just fucking stood there for two goddamn minutes, Ryan's breathing tense in the dark space with a hot young man pressed up against him, and Kimber hadn't done a single damn thing. He hadn't even seemed like he'd wanted to. He'd just been content with finally being allowed into Ryan's personal space.

What the fuck any of that was about was still a mystery, but Ryan didn't want any part of it. Too confusing, too embarrassing.

Kimber was absolute garbage at Connect Four. Adin had tried to explain how the game was played to him a few times, but Kimber had about two brain cells rattling around in his ditsy little head, and it just wasn't clicking. Half the time he wouldn't even fall into the traps Ryan set for him because he wouldn't see them. He'd just put his piece in some other random spot that helped neither of them. Ryan even let him win once, and he didn't even notice until Adin pointed it out.

Honestly, it was a relief. If Kimber couldn't spot four neon pink pieces lined up right in front of his face, then he probably hadn't clocked Ryan's pathetic attempt at flirting in the back of the bus either.

Outside the bus, a sharp bark pierced the night, freezing everyone in place. Ryan yanked the curtain aside, squinting into the inky darkness outside. He couldn't see shit. The dog's urgent barking rang out again, closer this time.

"Sounds pretty freaked out about something," Ryan muttered, eyes straining for any movement.

"Yes," Adin agreed. "Close the curtain. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves. That might be something far nastier than a dog. Or it could be barking at something that is."

Ryan hummed his agreement and pulled the curtain shut, but frowned as the dog's frantic barking continued. It sounded fucking terrified. He didn't fancy himself some kind of hero, but leaving someone—even a dog—in trouble didn't sit right with him.

With a resigned sigh, Ryan fished his light out of his bag and stood, aiming for casual. He turned to Adin, keeping his voice level. "Don't open the door unless I say so, okay?"

He kept his tone so casual that Adin's face didn't register alarm until Ryan was halfway through the floor. Adin lunged, but Ryan had already slipped into the nothingness, propelling himself towards the source of the barking.

Ryan burst from the ground, his light already set to a wide angle beam. Across the lot, a dog—maybe once white, now a grimy mess—froze mid-bark, staring at him. Then it erupted into fresh barking, all focused on Ryan now.

"Hey, buddy," Ryan called, voice low and soothing. "You lost?"

The dog paused, head lowering warily. Ryan inched closer, taking in the animal's sorry state. It was skin and bones, caked in filth. As it half-turned, considering bolting, Ryan caught sight of deep, bloody gashes along its side.