the boy king.

            “I honestly think I’m going to be sick --- or pass out --- or both---” Frozen in that moment as if the other would decide to kill him off too, he could only star wild eyed at the scene, of more dead bodies added to his sight seeing list of Red Creek. “----I guess this is a common occurrence ?” The male muttered this in a sense of disgust, actually moving to sit down in awe and overwhelming feelings at it all.

          “Wait, what? Give me that---” Brows knit in surprise as the other wielded the phone in her hands, scrolling through bouts of conversations that could seem more than boring to the average eye. Most of them discussions of work between colleagues and other scientists. “Those are actually far more important than you’d believe.”

         “I guess I should be happy that you don’t sugarcoat.” Finally feeling as if he could move, he ran a distressed hand through his hair, pacing away from the spectacle. “My first thought as a normal member of society would be to report it but you long since threw that suggestion out the window. Isn’t there some supernatural council in town, why hide it?” 

          There had been a long pan of silence, soon being broken by her misplaced cough, disjointed throughout everything. It was an out of place moment, he’d admit, one that was clearly fake; though he had learned from the moment arriving to Red Creek to no longer question anything out of the ordinary; less he wanted to be involved in something involving death or the like. “Should be the --- end of town, I’m ninety nine percent sure on that.” He gave a meek shrug of his shoulders as if it was the best he could offer. “I could walk with you, I know it’s getting late.”

           “Guess you’re all known for telling it like it is, too. Got it. Well, unless they’re superheroes, I’m sure they’re on everybody’s list to hate right about now. Unless everybody here is just comfortable with murder, too. I’m Zane.”

          “You know, you seem far more surprised at seeing me, than I expected. Guess I was a little fearful of seeing you again, too.” He mentioned this lightly, for truly he had no idea if that was a mutual feeling on the matter in the first place. Zane nodding his head, giving a half smile on the situation. Over all the years, losing Vee had caused a big gap within his life. After everything they had been through to have woken up one day to know she was truly gone; was shocking and even if he could say he was understanding and believe it himself; he truly had no idea. “I think you’ll help on that matter,” any awkward tension that could arise practically melted slowly as things continued, slipping into a full blown grin even if it was just for a moment. “Uh, no actually. Got in a couple of days ago. Like I said, job opportunity, so I can only hope it goes well.” For a long time, Zane had blamed her departure on his own dedication to his career.

          “When it’s my time to go, I’d like to plan on staying dead. To each their own? --- I think? --- She better not catch you on an off day. And I’d say what’s the harm in telling somebody the truth, but this seems pretty complicated if you ask me.”

           There was a chuckle that left his lips, holding no resentment towards the girl he once spent a good portion of his life with. “I... can’t answer that honestly. I’m not mad, but sometimes, I guess it just still stings, you know?” There’s a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, as if everything that had happened was surely out of his control. Briefing her with a smile, Zane was just glad for the ability to talk to her after so long. In a dramatic sense, a large piece of him felt missing with her departure. It was almost like deja vu after all that had happened within his life. To have somebody else disappear all over again just dug that figurative knife that much deeper. “---Coffee, then?” He swayed in his place, hands stuffed in his pockets as if trying to be ever so calm within the situation at hand, “I can’t say I know a place just yet,” Zane gave a genuine half grin, “But as long as you point me to a place, I promise it’ll be worthwhile.”

          “I’ve since stumbled upon a dead body since I arrived if that answers your question.” Though not naive to the supernatural, death was not something he’d likely ever get used to.

          “Clearly something much of this town suffers from. For a place that’s hellbent of reminding me of some ominous curfew, it seems there are plenty breaking it.” He could nod in understanding, “Never any good advice on that topic. Insomnia is more of a curse than anything else out there.”

         A low whistle left the humans lips, shrugging his shoulders as he swiveled around to face the other, “I mean... I’m hardly familiar with the area yet. Haven’t been here long enough to know the ins and the outs of this town; sorry. But isn’t there that one hotel...” Snapping his fingers as if it’d help him recall the memory, he piped up as it came to him, “Strange Magic hotel? Something like that.”

          “I’m sure I would have believed that a couple of drinks ago, but you reek.” The stench of liquor filled the air, Zane allowing her space despite how much she clearly stumbled. “I just want to make sure you get to a safe place in one piece, okay?”

          “I guess there’s goes my hope of possibly pretending it could.” Like witnessing a car wreck, Zane found it hard to keep his eyes off the deceased, despite whatever sick feeling it left within him. “You -- you’re going to burn the body? What the hell ---? This isn’t about a twist in my stomach now, this is generally wondering if you’re well being is intact, at this point...”

         “I’m trying not to act surprised at how casually you talk about being dead --- I’ve learned that since moving here --- yet, I’m definitely not the best actor out there.”

         There had been many times over the years where Zane had truly believed he would never see her again. It was a sickened feeling, one that reminded him quite like the abandonment he had face with his own mother. He had trusted Vera, and yet even throughout his own hurt, he could understand. There was a soft laugh, yet it held nothing but a sense of genuine confusion. “Vee---” Zane exasperated, shaking his head, “I’m not... mad. I had all this time to be mad, to be upset and angry. And all of these terrible fucking things. But I can’t just... be like that anymore. No matter what, I trusted you and even if I don’t understand still, I hope one day I’m able to.” Truly, there was no judgement held in his tone, stuck on the firm believe that she had only done it for the sake of their child. How even if it had taken him so long to find out about their child in the first place, that it was only her fear that had overridden any regard to tell him. Gnawing at his lips at her own soft confession, he inhaled a breath. Of course, he missed her too, more than anything, yet for some reason, he couldn’t bring it to reciprocate those words. “Look, do you want to grab coffee right now? We can... sit down and catch up, on everything..”

          “Tried to stay inside, but I guess my own rebellious nature got the best of me or something---” Merely joking on his statement, Zane shoved his hands in his pockets with a shrug of his shoulders, “Guess I should ask the obvious exchange; why are you out here, too?”