The Hidden City

Chapter 3: The Truth

Confusion clouded Matt's features as he struggled to process his father's revelation. "Stories?" he echoed, brow furrowing in confusion. "About monsters and battles?"

"Yes," Vince affirmed, his eyes meeting Matt's in the rearview mirror. He detected the swirling turmoil within his son, a mix of curiosity and apprehension that mirrored his own conflicted emotions. Vince understood that Matt thirsted for more information, yet he also sensed a wariness, a fear of what truths lay hidden beneath the surface. With each passing moment of silence, the weight of Vince's unspoken truths pressed down upon him, a burden he had borne alone for far too long.

"In ancient times, when civilizations were still in their infancy, humanity was not the dominant force it is today. Other beings, fewer in number but far more powerful than us, preyed upon our kind. For generations, we lived in constant fear of them until we finally learned to fight back. Those who dared to confront these monsters were known as Hunters, and our family is descended from a long line of them."

Matt's jaw dropped at the revelation. Vince watched him closely through the rearview mirror, waiting for a response. Even Rocky turned to check on him, sensing his surprise. It wasn't the answer Matt had been expecting, but then again, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting in the first place.

"So that creature..." Matt began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words to articulate the jumble of thoughts racing through his mind.

"That was a Lycan," Rocky interjected, her tone grave yet strangely calm, as if she had expected this revelation to come sooner or later. "But you might be more familiar with the term werewolf."

___________

The car sped along the deserted highway, the monotony of the road stretching out endlessly before them. Matt sat in the backseat, his body still trembling from the ordeal he had just endured. He stared out the window, the passing landscape a blur of trees and darkness, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The steady hum of the engine served as a backdrop to his tumultuous thoughts, offering no comfort in the silence.

Vincent's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the dark leather, his jaw set in a determined line. Rocky sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. Matt watched her profile, searching for some sign of reassurance, but her expression remained unreadable. He tried to remember how long ago Vince and Rocky had switched places, but everything blurred together. They had found an abandoned car at a gas station, and Vince had carried Matt into it, leaving a note and some cash in the old car's glove compartment. Matt assumed it was some kind of apology for taking the vehicle. He was both amazed and confused at how smoothly they had done it, as if they had known exactly what they were doing, like this wasn't the first time they'd dealt with a situation like this.

The tension in the car was palpable, hanging heavy between them. Matt glanced at his dad and aunt from time to time, but both seemed lost in their own thoughts, their faces hard and distant.

The minutes stretched into hours, and Matt's mind buzzed with questions—each one more insistent than the last. What was that thing? Where did it come from? And why had it come after him? Every time he looked at Vince or Rocky, he opened his mouth to ask, but the words wouldn't come. He wasn't sure if it was fear or the overwhelming strangeness of the night that kept him silent.

Finally, Matt mustered the courage to break the quiet. "Where are we going?" he asked the same question they ignored, his voice barely above a whisper.

Vincent glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with concern. "We're going to Evershade," he said, his tone somber and heavy with meaning.

"Evershade?" Matt repeated, the name foreign on his tongue. "What's that? Where is it?"

"It's a... special place," Rocky said softly, her voice carrying a note of mystery. "A hidden city."