On a particularly vacant country road, several hours later, the car sputtered before coming to a complete stop, refusing to move another inch.
Ashton grunted, turning the key multiple times. It was no use. They were stranded on the edge of a forest. Not a house in sight, nor anyone to ask for help. Faith sighed and rested her head against the window, suddenly interested in the soft craters of the moon.
"Get comfy," Ashton said with an unenthusiastic chuckle, "Looks like we're sleeping here tonight."
Luke tensed at the thought of being out in the open with her on the loose. He refused to fall asleep, standing guard while the siblings drifted off. Eventually, though, it was out of his control. His eyelids became heavy and before he knew it, Luke was entering a deep sleep.
~~~
The Surgeon pulled herself up from the floor, grinning at the pain in her arm and leg. She pressed a piece of her handmade rope onto the bullet hole in her calf. Her arm wasn't bleeding so bad; she let it be. The children had taken the knife, but the gun was left behind on the floor. She smiled, picking it up.
A strong urge to kill tugged at her heart, but she settled it, promising that she'd have fun soon. The Surgeon limped to the lobby and out the door to the parking lot, where the burly man was waiting.
He nodded politely as she approached him, dark sunglasses covering his eyes.
"Are they in sight?" She asked, her patience growing thin.
Again, the man nodded, glancing down at the smartphone held in his gloved hands.
"Yes, ma'am. Mark is on their trail. At the moment, they are headed down I85."
He watched as a small arrow traced a thin green line across the screen.
"Marvellous. Tell Mark to hang back. Trick them into thinking they're safe. We can wait."
The two stepped into a car and began to head in the same direction as Ashton's car had travelled only minutes earlier.
After a few moments of coasting down the highway, the man in the driver's seat took a quick peek at his phone.
"Update. They have come to a stop on Camarillo road. Mark has eyes on them from across a cornfield."
The woman nodded, her tongue brushing against her lips in deep thought.
"Let's join him. I'll approach the children at dawn."
~~~
A full night's sleep felt like a luxury for Faith. Ever since she began working for the Surgeon, she'd given up all leisure.
Sweet dreams drifted through her mind now and again. Eventually, she awoke, contented, to a slight jostle of the car.
Morning light seeped through the windows, so bright a pair of sunglasses would've been beneficial. Anyhow, she welcomed the warmth, happily stretching her limbs, oblivious of the situation at hand.
Faith's glance shifted to the front of the small car where the two boys were still asleep, though Luke began to turn in his seat. His eyes slowly opened and he broke into a smile, which Faith returned. She nudged her brother, who awoke startled, but relaxed once he took in his surroundings.
"Good Morning," Faith sang.
Her smile dropped as she saw what rested on the hood of their car. A bloody pink lump, on top of which a note laid, written in red liquid. The note, scrawled in shaky handwriting, read:
Thought you might want this back.
-T.S.
Faith gagged as though she might throw up. Luke traced her stare, blue eyes widening suddenly.
"My-my-" he stuttered, unable to take in the sick display before him.
"Oh my God," Ashton said, "She followed us."
xxxxx
devil boy
