Byte Back | 6 Underground

9. The Children of the Moon

May 19th, 7:51 p.m.
Nowhere, California Desert

"You're sick," Four said as I appeared out of the cloud of dust. "Like probably the sickest girl I've ever met."

"Two sick or Tony Hawk sick?"

He thought about it for a second. "A little bit of both."

I laughed. "I can't believe you do parkour and don't puke, but the minute I do donuts, you do."

"Life is strange," he unapologetically said. "Why are we here?"

"Well, you like colors, don't you?" He smiled and nodded. "The sunset is coming and the moon is the grand finale."

He looked at me thoughtfully. "For how long have you planned this?"

"Honestly, I didn't plan this at all."

We sat on the slightly warm sand. The sky slowly became purple, then orange, then yellow. All the colors blended together somehow. The sun seemed bigger than normal and it was fully orange. It was a huge fireball.

It was wonderful. From my peripheral view, I saw him looking at me.

"Do I have something on my face?" I asked him.

"No," Four calmly answered. "I'm looking at the moon."

I turned my head. There she was. Beautiful as ever. "You know how you said I was obsessed with crime-fighting billionaires?" He nodded, remembering that night. "I think you're obsessed with the sky."

Four laughed. It was a deep, heartfelt laugh. "I guess I am." He put a mint in his mouth. I looked at him weirdly. "I knew I was gonna vomit. I don't like the taste in my mouth."

I grinned. "You're so weird."

"You like it though," he slyly said.

"I don't think I do," I said, remembering Five's worry.

"We're not together, Five and I. If that's what you're wondering. I never properly asked her."

"She likes you, though. And I shouldn't do that to her. It's not right."

He looked at me deeply. The moon started to become more prominent. "Are you aware of the fact that I can't be with her forever?"

"Yes. That's like the fourth time I heard that for the past month."

"Really? Who have you been talking to?"

I hit his shoulder softly. "Now, don't be cocky. You're handsome, but not enough to be talked about."

Four put his hand on his chest. "You think I'm handsome?"

I looked at him. "You need to stand in front of a mirror from time to time."

He laughed and suddenly got serious. "Do you trust me?"

"Yeah, I don't have another option."

"No. I mean, do you trust me? As a person, not an accomplice."

Somehow I understood what he meant. It wasn't like the trust Five was looking for in Four. It wasn't like the trust One had in all of us. It was a deeper trust, more authentic.

"I do."

We stayed silent. I put my head on his shoulder and he put his head on mine. It was perfect.

May 20th, 3:13 a.m.
Nowhere, California Desert  

Snores woke me up. I was laying down in the backseat of my car. Four was sitting on the co-pilot seat, snoring. I sat up.

Slowly and quietly, I opened the door and got out of the car. Stars shined bright in the sky. The craters in the moon were clear and defined. I opened the driver's door and got in.

Four's mouth was slightly open. He looked so peaceful. I tried to turn on the engine without making any loud noise, but the tiger rose. I turned to look at Four, but he was sound asleep.

I drove without making much noise. The turning of wheels and Four's snores were the only sounds that were perceptible.

I followed the tire tracks that I left from before. He woke up and seemed confused. I put my hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, I'm here."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

"Stop the car."

I stopped. "What? You okay?"

"Yeah. Go to the back."

I climbed over the console as he got out of the car and got into the driver's seat.

"What are you doing?"

He started driving. Four opened the sunroof and played a song on the console. "Stand up."

I smiled at him. He drove faster and turned the volume up. I let the wind blow in my hair. I raised my hands and let myself be free from everything. I loved that moment. It was absolutely perfect. The sky, the moon, the car, the wind, Four.

I whooped as loud as I could. Freedom is the best thing I could ever ask for. Once I got enough of it, I sat down and got into the co-pilot's seat.

He smiled. "How was that?"

I widely smiled. "Amazing!"

Four smiled. "Good."

I looked at him. "You did plan this, didn't you?"

He squinted his eyes at me. "What do you mean? Of course, I didn't."

"You totally did! How do you explain the song?"

"I don't know. I guess it was just there."

I realized something. "Oh, my God! The day I got the car, you were late."

"Yeah, so?"

"So, you were preparing the car and putting the song into the car's software or whatever."

"I thought you were not that smart," he muttered.

I pointed my finger at him. "Excuse you."

Four laughed. "What? I'm just being honest."

"Aren't I supposed to be the smart one?"

"Just because you're a nerd doesn't mean you're street smart."

I rolled my eyes at him. "I am not a nerd."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Dork."

I laughed and he did too.

May 20th, 3:39 a.m.
Eight's Trailer, California Desert

I was sleeping when I felt Four starting to carry me. He was slightly grunting with every step. I wrapped my arms around his neck and nuzzled into it, still half asleep.

He chuckled. "You're such a baby," he whispered.

Four managed to open my trailer's door and went inside. He laid me down on my bed and covered me with my sheets. He softly brushed a lock of hair away from my eyes. I heard him sit down on my desk chair and sigh.

I opened my eyes. "You should be with Five," I whispered.

"Why?"

"Because you're sending her mixed messages. No girl likes that."

"I don't want to be what she expects me to be, though. I want to be free."

"Then tell her that, but stop messing with her feelings."

Four stood up and approached the door. "You should sleep."

I closed my eyes and dreamed of freedom.