The Degenerate (Mythics Book One)

5

 I woke up with my face pressed into Theo's shoulder. One of his arms rested around my waist, a heavy presence that made my stomach dip. Cheeks flushing, I carefully pulled away. I tried not to stare at him, I really did. The way the light spilled from the cracked curtains, highlighted his cheekbones, the angles and graceful dips of his lips and eyebrows. He was as enrapturing as one of his own paintings, like he was created with an artist's deft touch. Strands of his hair gleamed hues of the darkest red, a surprisingly beautiful addition to his inky waves.

And here I was. Staring.

If possible, my cheeks grew ten times hotter. I cursed at myself, stumbling out of bed and into the bathroom. Maybe I should splash myself with some cold water. That sounded like a good plan. The pain would surely shock me out of it.

I padded closer to the vanity, glaring at my reflection. No matter what I did, no matter how I tried, it remained...well, pretty. A light flush swept across my cheekbones and my skin was the color of porcelain, freckled but spotless whether I washed my face or not. With lips the color of blood--- a freaky, unnatural color--- and long lashes that looked to be constantly coated in mascara, I was always attracting some kind of attention.

That was the last thing I ever wanted. When the government wanted to turn you into a human lab rat, you tended to lean more toward the inconspicuous side of things. I took this opportunity to dress for comfort, because I could honestly say I didn't care about how anyone else saw me.

...Almost honestly.

I left the bathroom, dressed in a soft gray hoodie a few sizes too big so I could tuck my hands into the sleeves. Light blue jeans hung over the tops of my battered converse. I glanced up and noticed Theo was awake and already dressed in a black shirt that proclaimed I'LL BE BACH in bold letters. The TV was on, broadcasting the local news, and he sat cross-legged on the bed, listening to it intently.

"Members of a local apartment complex have reported supernatural disturbances in the building," intoned one broadcaster, a man with slicked gray hair and a crisp blue suit. "Strange sightings of glowing images, loud noises at night, and even what some describe as 'pale-skinned imposters.' While the landlord refuses to comment on the given situation, we've interviewed families in the area for their input."

I sat beside Theo, watching the screen.

A pudgy woman with a child balanced on her hip faced the camera and began speaking. "Sometimes when I put Jake down for bedtime he starts crying because he doesn't want to be left alone with the---" Her voice choked off and her lips trembled. "Ghosts," she said in a whisper. "They haunt my son's bedroom!"

The screen flashed back to the news anchor, who sat straight-faced in his chair. "You heard that correctly," he said. "The infestation of phantoms that started in the more poverty-stricken towns has spread to urban cities. We advise you to lock your doors, line your baseboards with salt, and consider burning sage at least once a day. Only you can keep this town safe."

Theo scoffed and the TV clicked off. He sent the remote tumbling across the bed. "This is ridiculous," he muttered.

I crossed my arms. "Is there really an infestation?" Saying the last word aloud nearly made me cringe. These beings weren't rodents.

"I doubt it," he said. "And all that stuff about salt and sage was crap, too."

Together, we began to pack up our mess. I stuffed my blanket into my duffle and took care of the toiletries while he folded the tarp and fixed the bed. Honestly, we would probably ace a packing contest if there were such a thing. We were done in under five minutes. Someone should give us a medal.

Draped in luggage, we made our way outside to the Suburban after giving the receptionist our thanks. The gorgon receptionist. The thought still made me feel uneasy.

I popped the massive trunk and threw my stuff inside with a thud. Theo followed suit and soon our bags were situated among the towels and restaurant debris. He was already around to the driver's side and turning the engine when I jumped into my seat on the passenger's side.

Immediately my seat vibrated with the bass of Beverly Hills by Weezer. I grinned a little.

"Fitting, right?" He slid a smile in my direction.

We peeled out of the parking lot, pulling onto a highway. The wind roared through the cracked windows, so I rolled mine all the way down, letting the rushing gusts tease my hair. Theo turned up the music.