Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Sixty Three

      The guy didn't look like he worked there. In fact, he was one of the guys that had walked in moments before. His vivid blue eyes moved between the two of them for several seconds, and Mike was reminded of a younger Link. He also had glasses and short black hair. Recognition flooded the guy's face and he began pointing excitedly at the two of them. "I know who you guys are! You're part of the Good Mythical Morning crew!" 

     Alex's shoulders slumped with relief and he grinned broadly. "That we are." 

     The guy grinned while beckoning his friend to join him. The other guy was a lot more fair skinned in comparison and dotted with freckles, his hair short and copper red. He smiled too, revealing a slight gap between his teeth. "Mike and Alex! Funny running into you guys here." 

     Alex scratched his head and Mike looked about awkwardly. Alex couldn't see what was so funny about it but he laughed anyway.

     "Hungry?" The dark haired one asked, peering over Mike's shoulder at the mountain of snacks on the counter. 

     Alex started chuckling, and it faded to a rush of embarrassment creeping into his neck and cheeks. "Yeah... you know how road trips are and such. Gotta fuel up on unhealthy snacks to keep our peepers open." 

     Mike busted out laughing, his cheeks turning red also. He brought his hand up to the back of his head and pinched the back of his beanie. 

     Confusion came over both of the strangers faces as they quickly casted a glance at one another. "Where's your car, then?" The red haired one asked. 

     Mike stopped laughing abruptly, and he looked to Alex. 

     Alex clenched his jaw.  "We're road tripping on foot. You know, walking... on foot. With our feet." 

     Mike felt like somehow they were digging themselves in a grave. He looked between the two guys in front of them, a wave of uneasiness crashing over him. He wanted to reach for Alex's arm and drag him out the door, but they were given strict instructions by Rhett to stay in the gas station. 

     The dark haired guy shrugged. "Are you guys headed to Mythical Entertainment?"

     "Yeah," Alex said, and Mike slapped Alex on the chest. Alex brought his hand up to his chest with an offended look on his face. "Dude, what was that for?"

     "We can give you guys a ride there! It isn't out of our way and we would be honored," the red haired guy chimed in excitedly. Mike eyed Alex warily hoping he would catch on. 

     Mike stepped forward. It was his hope that he looked brave as he tucked his shoulders back, but his legs wobbled beneath him. "It's very nice of you to offer, but our ride is on its way and if we moved from this spot he would probably kill us." 

     Just as Mike had said that, he wondered if Rhett and Link were going to be there soon. Given the unnerved feeling he had tingling in his belly, he wasn't about to tell the two of them that Rhett and Link themselves were on their way to pick them up. 

     He watched as the both of them exchanged glances once again. He suspected that were reading each other's minds. 

     "We had a feeling you might say that," the dark haired guy said rather broodingly, seemingly reaching into his jacket pockets for something. Alex's eyes widened and he took a step back, feeling the edge of the counter wedging into his back. Mike inhaled sharply, nearly backing up right into Alex as he half stepped in front of him.

     "He warned us that the two of you weren't going to go easily. Which is unfortunate because we thought this was going to be easy," he continued.

     "Don't worry about it, Josh. We'll take one or both of them and hopefully it'll draw Link away from his little guard dog. We've seen enough GMM to know that he does nothing but control Rhett and the crew like they're his minions." 

     Alex's eyebrows furrowed like thunderclouds over his eyes and he all but shoved Mike to the side. "Dude, you didn't just call Rhett a dog!" His face burned red as the fading sun. 

     The red haired guy only smirked. "What's worse? Calling Rhett a dog, or implying that Link is a little pansy? What do you think, Josh?" He turned to the dark haired man and he grinned, revealing a set of pearly whites. 

     Mike's nostrils flared. "Alright, you guys are really starting to get out of hand. I thought you were fans," Mike said dangerously, lowering his head so that his eyes seemed to darken. 

     The boys laughed. "And what are you chumps gonna do about it, huh?" Their simultaneous mockery sent a shiver down Mike and Alex's spine.

     Alex crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head away from them. "Don't listen to them Mike. They're trying to taunt us into going with them, like a predator luring somebody with candy. I'm sure if we ignore them, they'll kinda go away."

     "Or we can kinda tear your throats out." 

     Mike and Alex's eyes widened when they heard a flicking sound. They slowly turned their heads and lowered their eyes to Josh's hands. Long, sharp claws protruded from the tips of his fingers.

     "Holy-," Mike breathed, his chest heaving. "Oh my God. Alex. Alex they're werewolves!" 

     Alex took Mike by the sleeve and pulled him back, the both of them practically sitting on the counter.

     "Congratulations Einstein, your eyeballs actually do work! Now you have two options. Come with us, or die." 

     The other one brought a hand up to his face and flicked out a set of claws, grinning from ear to ear. Mike and Alex slowly turned their heads to look at one another. Their hearts raced a mile a minute in their chests as they carefully weighed their options. There was absolute validity to their threats as they had lethal weapons coming out of their fingertips.

     Their only option that would keep them alive was to relent and go with them. If it would save Rhett and Link, they would do it. It spoke volumes in their eyes as they gazed at each other. Alex's burned with tears.

     "So what will it be, boys?" Josh looked at the two of them expectantly. 

     Alex heaved a heavy breath, feeling his heart beat up into his throat. "We'll go," he choked. 

     Mike swallowed noisily.

     "Good choice," Josh said, taking Mike by the arm as he was his height. The other took Alex's and they looked at each other with terror stricken on their faces. There was no telling what these two killers were going to do to them, and the fear made them sick to their stomachs. 

     Alex and Mike followed with what felt like led in their feet as the werewolves led them out of the station. The air had suddenly gripped them with ice cold tension, their bellies prickling like they were being punctured with a million needles.

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