World Without End | Sitkolson [C]

FOURTEEN

Ricky trudged through the woods, pulling his coat tighter around his body.

The closer he got to the house the closer he got to Ryan. Ricky just didn't know he was there yet.

As Ricky raised his head, his eyes falling upon the house, he sniffed, then frowned.

He hadn't smelt that scent in years. Years. Whether it was his mind playing tricks on him or not, he didn't know. But he wanted to.

Ricky started off in a light jog, then used his full speed to run to the second story of the house and the last room on the right where the scent was strongest.

As he opened the door, his eyes fell on a passed out Ryan, his body spread out on the bed.

"Rick..."

Ricky quickly spun around to face Chris, Angelo and a man he hadn't seen before, Josh.

"Who's that?" He asked, pointing to Josh, "And is he... is he really in there?"

"This is Josh." Chris said, his voice soft and calm, "And, yes, Ryan is there. If I-"

Ricky cut Chris off by spinning around, making his way into the room and to the foot of the bed, his eyes filled with tears as they stayed on Ryan.

The relief he felt whilst seeing Ryan clashed with the anger.

Ricky wanted to shoot Ryan in the chest for what he did but hug him after. He was confused. Just like he was every other time the name 'Ryan' was mentioned.

As Ryan shifted, letting out a small groan, Chris' breath hitched, his worry for Ricky growing.

"Ricky, I'll explain everything later, but I think you should leave before he wakes up."

Confused, Ricky turned to the taller one, "Why? I just-"

"Ricky, right?" Josh spoke up and Ricky nodded his head, his eyes slightly narrowing, "I'm just going to give it to you straight up because you don't deserve to be fed half lies. No offence Chris. Ryan isn't the same as he was when you knew him or when any of us knew him. Ronnie, a higher classed demon, took him from my wife and I in eighty-one. Since then, he has lost his ability to feel. His soul has been taken."

Ricky frowned, slowly shaking his head, "What does that mean? Does he still know who we are?"

Josh nodded his head, "Inside, yes. But, he can't control what he does. So, just remember, if he says anything to you, it most likely isn't what he wanted to say."

Ricky ignored the rest of Chris' warnings to leave and silently thanked Josh, turning back to Ryan.

He took in his features, every single one of them. Ryan had no scars visible, his skin slightly tanner and slight stubble on his neck and jaw. Not to mention a nose ring in his right nostril.

Ricky imagined that he didn't look too different, but if Ryan were to wake up and see, he would be.

Ricky had two lip rings, spider bites, on the right side of his lip and dark make up around his eyes. His black hair had been untouched for just over two years, making it an inch or so past his shoulders. Both of his arms were covered in ink, same with Ryan and everyone else, really. Well, apart from the hunters. Everyone of them had a few tattoos here and there apart from Vinny. Angelo, as far as Ricky knew, had the most tattoos out of all of them. He had yet to even see Josh's wife's ink. She'd give them all a run for their money.

As Ryan let out another groan, all eyes were on him, watching as he lifted a hand to his head.

"What the-" He cut himself off as his eyes landed on Chris, then Angelo, then Josh, then Ricky.