Sinners [4] Far From Home

Ten

Chapter Ten:

Hazel said nothing else for the remainder of the ride, not even when Peter fell asleep and his flopped onto her shoulder. She only laughed, watching as drool pooled from his mouth. He'd hear about that later.

Hazel had no idea what time it was, just that when they drove down a narrow street smushed between buildings that it was dark. There was commotion on the streets, and people hollered and danced with bright flashing lights.

They pulled up to the hotel next, this one ten times more elegant than the last. They walked in, after being told someone would collect their bags and place them in their corresponding rooms. Two men opened two large doors as they filed through, gawking a just about everything.

"What can I say?" Mr Harrington beamed looking at all their faces. "The squeaky wheel gets all the upgrade grease. Now, everyone get settled in, rest up because tonight... big surprise, is Prague's annual Carnival of Lights!"

Peter's phone rang and he pulled it out, mumbling at the unknown number. He walked away from the group, leaving Hazel to hear about all the fun things Mr Harrington had planned for the next day.

MJ walked over to Hazel, nudging her with her arm. "You wanna go explore?"

Hazel pursed her lips, "Um... maybe not tonight. I'm pretty tired and it's been a long day. We have all day tomorrow, and then the carnival."

"Hazel." Peter was behind her, giving MJ a little wave. "Um, turns out your bunking with me and Ned."

"What?" Both MJ and Hazel exclaimed, staring at him.

He pointed at his phone, then mouthed Mission.

"Oh, yah." Hazel nodded taking a step beside him, "Just for tonight."

MJ only raised an eyebrow before shrugging, turning on her heels and walking away. Peter grabbed ahold of a piece of fabric on her shirt and yanked her away, not letting go until they were out of the building.

"What are you doing?"

"That call was from Maria Hill. We're supposed to meet them somewhere—" he stopped on the curb, looking around. "Come on. You see that black van? That's the one they've sent for us."

"We're supposed to get into a stranger's van?"

"Mhmm." He nodded, frowning when she failed to follow. "What are you waiting for?"

Hazel sighed, rushing after him. They both got in and shut the doors, and within seconds the car sped off.

"This is how people die, Peter."

"W-we'll be fine."

She glanced at him, "You sound real confident."

Peter sighed, staring out the window. "I'm sorry."

She shifted in her seat, falling silent. The only sound that could be heard was the car's engine as they drove down the roads, despite the people flooding the streets all dancing and cheering along to whatever music played.

"For what?" She looked at him.

"I promised you a trip without any of this. We were supposed to have fun—"

"I didn't want to come because I thought something bad would happen in New York and we wouldn't be there, or that something would follow us here. Turns out, it was already here and we followed it ourselves." Hazel shrugged, giving him a smile. "So yes you promised a trip without any of this, without us finding someone and something to stop, but it happened to find us."