Joyride

Be Not Afraid

     "I'll return," the mutant gestured for his jacket, which I handed over swiftly, immediately missing the warmth. "Please, stay safe here," his permanent smile seemed to falter.

     "I will," I reassured him. "As long as you do, too," a hand reached down to ruffle my hair lightly.

     "Of course, my little human," he slithered out of the small room to track down the group of prisoners that had been sent down to retrieve the crystal I had failed to.

     I couldn't leave Sebastian on his own; there was so much about him that I found interesting, and he was much better company than the prisoners above head.

     The silence was almost maddening, and I found myself pacing the small room just for something to do with myself. I spun the ring that Sebastian gave me gingerly.

     I had a small smile remembering what he called me. "Something so precious," I muttered as I examined the ring, being able to see my reflection in the surprisingly shiny gold.

     If I was some young teen living a normal life, I would be laying in my bed squealing into a pillow. I couldn't remember the last time I had a semblance of a compliment, or someone who adored me.

     In college, I was more wrapped up in my studies than in trying to find a partner, and obviously in jail that last thing you would do is look for a partner. But, now I wasn't in college, and I wasn't technically a prisoner anymore, but in some weird limbo.

     I finally stopped my pacing, settling in the corner Sebastian usually sat to sell his goods. I held my legs close, trying to keep myself warm in the cool facility.

     "Maybe I should ask Sebastian if he can find any clothes left behind so I can get out of this diving outfit," I mumbled. "It isn't really of any use to me anymore."

     The vents clattered and I saw the light from Sebastian's bulb. He looked slightly annoyed, stains covering the sleeves of his brown jacket and white shirt.

     "Y/n," his hands clasped together, a small smile. "Please, ignore that I'm a bit of a mess. Men always put up a fight," I cringed at the words. "Apologies, I'm sure that was not. . . appropriate to say to you."

     "It's alright. Say, do you know if there's any old clothes laying around? This gear is kinda," I didn't have to finish my sentence.

     "I can check through the lockers to see what I can find," Sebastian hummed. "I'll leave you with my jacket so you can wear that instead while I find something," he dropped the heavy jacket over my head as he left me alone once more.

     I. . . I could not just wear his jacket over my undergarments. Not that I could take off my diving gear to begin with. Any tampering would result in it being detonated. I was lucky that I hadn't met that fate when I first met Sebastian.

     "Oh! Sebastian!" I called out, hoping he hadn't gone too far. "I need. . . a scrambler. . ." my words died out. Despite his size, Sebastian moved quite fast. And so I sat on the ground, holding the jacket tightly around myself as I once again waited for Sebastian's return.

     It was hard to ignore the stench of blood that was left on the jacket from the last group the mutant had "taken care of," but I wasn't left with much choice in the cold facility.

     I tensed up at the sound of heavy footsteps, knowing they weren't from Sebastian, obviously. I pushed myself further into a corner, listening out for any speaking or a sign that they would enter the vent.

     I could make out quiet radio chatter, but none of what was actually being said. It was then that an awful stench hit my nose coming from the filing cabinets behind me. I wasn't one to snoop, but something in me wanted to know what the cause of it was.

     My fingers looped around the knob of a drawer, debating if I really wanted to find out what was creating such a rotten smell. I couldn't help but wonder how I never noticed it before.

     Before I could pull the drawer open, gunshots rang out in a deafening volume that made me shout and whip around to face the vent. One by one, the screams and shots stopped.

     "Get! Out!" Sebastian sounded pissed. And to be honest, that scared me. His large body entered the small room, collecting his goodies and anything else he deemed important.

     "Sebastian?" my voice was quiet, still cowering in the corner as I watched him.

     "Come, my little human," he gestured for me to exit the vent with him. "I'm going to move my shop. It seems Urbanshade is getting bold again."

     "But, the monsters?" I peered around nervously as I exited the small room I had spent the past day in.

     "I can protect you from them," the mutant assured me in a soft voice. "I'm far more worried about what Urbanshade will do if they find you alive. . . with me."