Knave of Heaven and Earth

Chapter Five: Road Trip

Sunday morning.

Aitken is nervously standing on their front yard with a luggage and two large bags containing his necessities like clothes, toiletries, food, and the likes. Standing there waiting makes him anxious. His father is fortunately fast asleep in his room but who damn knows when he'll wake up, that what makes Aitken fidgety. He didn't want his father to see him leaving the house for he knows too well that his father will not be pleased. But of course he don't want his father to go around the town asking where the hell is his son this coming week, so he wrote a letter about this vacation they will be having. A letter of absence, you can call it that.

Finally, a white van came into view. Aitken was sure it's Alex's and he's also very sure that Margaux is already in it as he could see the frantic woman waving at him from it's window. Aitken let go his breathe he didn't know he was holding and waved back with a smile.

The van pulled to a stop infront of Aitken. The door slide opens to see a very excited looking and ready to go Margaux.

"Good morning Aitken." Greetings from the woman. He dutifully replied his greetings and asks for help, "Can you help me with my things? They're quite heavy."

"I'll help you with that."

He turned his gaze to where the driver's seat should be and saw Alex stepping down with a smile on his clean face. Aitken muttered his "Thank you." as they carried his belongings at the back of the van.

"Don't sweat it, it's nothing compare to Margaux's." Alex replied chuckling then lifting the van's back storage. There sits three big luggage and two large bags placed organized on the right side. "Wow. That's a lot." Aitken said, clearly in awe. Alex chuckled before gently placing Aitken's things between Margaux's and his two luggage.

"I see you've prepared your gift." Aitken added as he points to the now framed 'Of Beauty and Radiant' painting by himself, placed carefully behind Alex's luggages and wrapped on a double layer of clear bubble wrapper. It has a big red ribbon tied on the upper left corner to signify it as a gift. Alex just scratched the back of his neck using his right hand then smiled. Then he pulled down the door and closed it before they turned and got into the van.

"What took you so long?" Margaux said but her question was turned down by Alex with a wave of his hand. Aitken sat down by the door as he can see the chair next to Margaux is occupied by loads of junk foods.

"I'm still not happy that no one wants to accompany me here in front." Alex pouted as he looked to his passengers. The two giggled like excited teens.

"Well you are just promoted from a friend to a driver." Margaux snickered then laughed making Alex pout more. Aitken thought that Alex is really charming with that pout as he laughed together with Margaux. Alex sighed then turned back to the steering wheel and started the vehicle.

"To Winsom City!" Margaux shouted in glee and their trip started.

~|§|~

It was now dark. The night sky glowed a little of golden color as the full moon sits proud high in the dark cloudless skies while the stars illuminate dimly but everything made a pleasant view. The road is dark with none of any thing that can light up the way except their lone van. They're passing through a thick dense forest on a full moon, with that thought alone feels creepy. Everyone on the car seems to feels the same. The three of them are tense as they scan their surroundings warily through the tinted windows of the van, ready to act if some maniac tried to spook them. All thanks to Margaux.

For the past 12 hours of travelling, they haven't even reached city of Winsom. They entered the border a while ago but still, the busy city is no where to be seen. That's because Margaux always wanted to stop every now and then to take a not-definitely-short sightseeing. They even took detours from the main road to Winsom City. They also stop multiple times to go to the bathroom, stretch sore muscles and eat outside even though they brought foods with them. Alex isn't even bothered that it'll take more time to go to the city. He just simply complied with Margaux's pleases like he's purposely doing it to not come to the city early. And Aitken? He's on his 'bored', as he calls it, side today! All the time, he just get himself dragged by the very adventurous and very active Margaux. Aitken took naps in-between the trip, he stare off in a distance thinking about this and that, he just listens to all the talk Margaux gave them. Did I already said he took naps? Oh well, most of the time he's sleeping or dozing off. All he wanted to do was sleep and rest and sleep again.