II. Gods and Monsters

9. The Truth Will Out

Once Oliver and Charlotte had managed to navigate their way up the excessive amount of stairs, they'd jumped into the Charger and drove away before anything could chase after them.

That had been over an hour ago.

Since then, Oli had remained in stony silence, not looking over at Charlotte once. She could tell something was bothering him, he'd been acting strange ever since they'd left. Yes, they had just escaped from a secret prison run by some random guy in leather armour and a flaming skeleton, but even considering the circumstances, something was off.

"Oli," she asked eventually, "Why do you have a chain around your right arm?"

"Because the voice in my head made me get it." How insane would that make you sound?

"Because it.... uh... seemed like a good idea at the time. I dunno... as a weapon or something? In case I got jumped while looking for you," Oli replied awkwardly.

Pahahaha, you've managed to get even worse at this! You really need to up your game. Especially if you intend to eventually get married to her. The amount of lies some married men have to tell... You'd get caught all the time. I mean, imagine what happens when the mistress turns up! "Who's this?" "Ummmmm... She seemed like a good idea to get at the time..."

"Please shut up," Oli told him in his head. This Oli had not missed at all. In fact, he seemed to have gotten more annoying since Oli blocked him out.

You know how we could get there faster? If we did the whole ignite-the-car-and-drive-faster thing.

Oli just ignored him. They were only a minute away from Carter's chapel now. Zarathos was just trying to wind him up.

Trying, and succeeding.

Oli pulled up to the graveyard and saw Carter's horse wondering around.

"Well, your dad made it," Oli said to Charlotte.

She turned and gave Oli a worried glance. Not that he saw, he'd already gotten out of the car. Whatever it was that was bugging him, it was really getting to him. He was never this cold with her. He opened the door for her, helping her out before shutting it behind her.

He tried to let go of her hand, but she held on tight. He looked down at their hands as if he was... sad? Guilty? It didn't make sense. He had been so happy to see her, yet now all he could do was try and distance himself as much as possible.

"Let's go inside," she suggested in a hushed voice.

Oli gave her a weak smile before they carried on. The wooden door creaked open to show Carter back to his normal self, with Andrew lying on the bed furthest away from him.

"He's refused to say a word since I brought him in, stubborn jackass..." Carter informed them.

"Dad, he just saved your life, a little thanks would go a long way..." Charlotte reprimanded him softly, "How are you feeling?"

"Just a couple of bumps and bruises. I'll live sweetheart," he told her.

"Carter, can I have a word?" Oli asked him.

"Sure kid," he grunted.

The two men left the chapel, letting father and daughter have some un-threatened time together.

"I need to talk to him," Oli told Carter.

"Talk to who?" he replied, "Oh. You mean... it..."

Listening, asshole. I am not an 'it'.

"I had no choice, I was going to die otherwise...," Carter gave him a disapproving look. "Look, it doesn't matter, I just need you to do that thing again."