We Are Monsters 🌕 Book 1 || gxg

Richardson Farm

This drive was worse than the last. For one thing, her spine was still aching. What had started to fade in the past few days was coming back with a vengeance. They were only halfway there, another eighteen hours to go, and Sam was starting to think she couldn't handle it.

The weather came and went, keeping an interesting view overhead, at the very least. Sam had heard a dozen different metal albums, which she enjoyed to varying degrees, and three different podcasts as Ada tried to keep things interesting. Neither of them tried to force conversation. They were both content in silence. From time to time, when the road was straight and flat, and there were no other cars around besides their own, she would let one hand drop to the gear shift, and Ada would cover it with her own for a moment and they would share a smile.

It was Cain's turn to drive, and Sam could see Aidan's messy head resting on the passenger window. They were the only other car for ages. They stuck mostly to small highways, and the further north they went, they saw others less and less frequently.

Their passenger was still silent. He hadn't so much as snored since Aidan lugged him into the back seat with Cain's assistance and buckled him in. His tightly bound wrists were hidden underneath a thick quilt. He appeared to be merely in a deep sleep. They were driving with the utmost care—much to Aidan's annoyance, she was sure—to avoid being pulled over. Wouldn't that be hard to explain?

The greenery here was so different from what she was used to. Trees reached higher than she had ever seen for the sun above, leaving more space for the brush to grow in. It was both dense and open. And wildlife was everywhere! Sam saw more moose on that single drive than her whole life combined. Her heart was in her throat the entire time they crept past a pair grazing at the side of the road who hadn't moved in fifteen minutes. They were both around two metres high to the shoulder, both with enormous antlers. One was definitely older, with antlers nearly as long as its body was tall. They let them pass, to her great relief, and she watched them in the rear-view for a long time.

Her phone was docked on the dashboard, and just as she was considering calling them to request a pit stop, there came a soft snuffle from the back seat. Sam started, eyes flying to the mirror. Noah was completely still. She nudged Ada's leg to rouse her.

"What is it? My turn?" she asked thickly.

"No," she gasped, "I need you to keep an eye on Noah. I thought I heard something."

She sat up straight, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she swivelled to survey him. For a while she was silent, and Sam had to urge for an update. "His eyes are moving, that's it."

Her eyes darted to the mirror; sure enough, they were flicking from side to side erratically. "Should I call them?"

"Let's wait a minute, I think he's just dreaming."

"He hasn't done that yet. Do you think it's a good thing?" Her voice was strained.

"Probably. Hold on, he's moving a bit."

Sam couldn't wait. She flashed her high beams a few times and pulled over, not bothering to see if they noticed. As soon as she had the e-brake on she was removing her seatbelt and twisting entirely in her seat. Thoughts of calling them left her mind. She was fixated on the subtle twitching of his arms and fingers. There was the faint crunching of gravel under feet, and she heard Ada get out quickly.

"I think he's waking up," she explained.

Her door opened, and Sam was helped out with hands on both her arms and guided away from the vehicle as Aidan took her place and Noah's spasms increased. Cain released her and opened the adjacent door to check Noah's vitals.

She didn't have to wait long with her heart in her throat. His eyes opened wide, pupils contracting in an instant, and he raised his head like it was a boulder. His eyes sought them out one by one, confusion growing as he progressed from family, to her, to someone he knew only by face. His eyes returned to her for a long three heartbeats before he focused on his elder brother with great contempt.