▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Neon Moon
chapter fourteen

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

❛ somebody help me through this
nightmare. i can't control myself.
somebody wake me from this
nightmare. i can't escape this hell. ❜
— Animal I Have Become, Three Days Grace

                    "SO DOES THE DEAN OF THE ARCHEOLOGY DEPARTMENT APPROVE OF THAT GETUP?"

          Marisol drew in a breath, wiping her hands over the front of her shirt. Seth kept her close, only a few steps behind him as he rounded the corner. Tanner took to her other side, not much of a leader but working on it. He chuckled, seemingly amused with Seth's question.

          "Not a problem," he replied sarcastically, "long as I turn in the right peer-reviewed journal now and again." She spared him a short glance, brows puckered in confusion. "You know how it is: publish or perish." Seth only nodded, though Marisol would bet money that he did not know how it was.

          "So why "Sex Machine"?" His questions continued. They were a nice breach to the silence. They were better than the sound of scraping shoes as Jacob and Kate trailed behind them at a slow pace. "Ain't it obvious?" Tanner flashed him a grin, his eyes cutting toward Marisol in expectancy. She rebutted his glance with an eye roll. "It's a pun from my boys' school Latin days. Deus "sex" machina, or, uh, the god in the sex machine."

          "An all boys school, huh?" Marisol asked, surprising Tanner with her question. He nodded his head, a smile catching his lips. The corner of her own mouth curled slightly as she nodded, too. "Explains a lot."

          Seth snorted. Tanner's smile fell. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, though he wasn't too sure he really wanted an answer. Seth stopped suddenly, looked firmly at the professor, and shook his head. It was a quick and serious shake; one that meant business. Marisol nudged him forward with a slight grin. "Nothing," she sighed. "It just explains your terrible game, s'all."

His face began to change color. His once pale complexion grew exceedingly red, exceedingly fast. Marisol almost felt a little guilty for embarrassing the man. "I've got game," he argued. "I was almost married once." Her brows lifted in surprise. Taking that action to heart, the professor decided to turn the conversation around.

          He exhaled, staring at her in thought. "How did you end up here, officer?" She grimaced, a snort leaving her throat. "Um, kidnapping," she replied without hesitance. "He shot me, and then kidnapped me from a motel."

Tanner's eyes bulged in surprise. His steps faltered for a moment, a stuttered gasp leaving his opened mouth. "Who shot you?" Marisol pointed toward Seth, the man turning to face her. That cocky smirk found his lips again. The professor looked between the two, absolutely amazed. "Where? Have you been shot before?"

"A few times," she answered. "Usually, though, the bullets him me in the vest." Seth turned once more, brows furrowed. "You've been shot before?" Her head bounced into a nod. Was it truly that strange? Most criminals would rather shoot first and ask questions later, especially when their freedom hung in the balance. "He hit me in the arm, though. It was a graze, but it hurt like hell."

She ran her fingers over the bandage on her arm unconsciously. Seth cringed. He should have side stepped a bit to avoid her. Tanner noticed the dirty cloth, stained with blood and ichor. Gently, his hand came to press against her bicep, eliciting a hiss from the woman. Her opposite hand shoved him into the wall, her brows frowned, mouth open to speak. "Are you fucking crazy?" she asked.

"Sorry," he quickly replied. His hands lifted in mock surrender, a stupid smile plastered on his face. "Maybe I shoulda asked, huh?" She stepped back, eyes dropped into a glare, and turned away from the professor. "Have you ever shot anybody?" he continued his interrogation. Apparently she had became the peak of his interest, regardless of the mythological creatures hunting them down.

          "Yeah," Seth spoke up. "I've been wondering that, too." Her shoulders lifted slightly. It comes with the job. When dealing with psychopaths and evil people, the results are not always what you expect. She swallowed, ignoring the discomfort that crept along her shoulders like a parasite. It's talons dug into the flesh of her back with iron vice. "Yeah," she exhaled, body growing stiff.

          "Have you ever killed anybody?" She turned sharply toward Tanner, heat radiating from her glare. His step faltered, surprise evident on his face. The smile he wore disappeared like cotton candy in water. "Wow," he chuckled, now staring more intensely at Marisol. He leaned forward, coming eye level with her. "You have. Haven't you?"

Noticing her silence, Seth turned back around to face the two. Though he had been quite curious about that very same thing, he had never asked. He knew that something like that to someone like her was a traumatic thing. The circumstances alone could be a tough subject for her to touch. He noticed the rigidness in her shoulders, the ferocity in her eyes. Taking a step forward, he pressed Tanner into the wall with a hand against his shoulder.

          Everyone stopped in surprise. Seth, his jaw tense, stared at Tanner with a hatred that burned like a wildfire. His name rolled off the tip of her tongue with ease, her voice soft. He didn't understand why he had gotten angry. His fingers twisted into Tanner's shirt, the vein in his neck pulsing. Red colored his skin like blush. "It's okay," she blurted out. Both Seth and Tanner glanced toward the woman. "Can we just find the way out of here, please?"

Seth was hesitant to let go. Once he did, he slowly backed away. "Any boys' school I ever went to didn't teach dead languages," he stated, changing the subject. Marisol's fingertips grazed his hand, a grateful smile ghosting over her face. Tanner fixed his shirt, diving right into the topic change head first. "There's plenty of them on the walls in here."

Seth grabbed Marisol's hand, pulling her in the direction of what he hoped was the exit. Tanner followed after her, Jacob limping after them with Kate's help. "These stories were just ancient history to most people... but I always believed the power they spoke of was true."

"What power?" Seth asked. Tanner snorted. "Their blood sacrifices summoned the vision serpent, giving them access to a higher plane of consciousness." When a contemplative silence fell over the group, Tanner took that as silent questioning. "Yeah, they could see things that don't exist in our temporal reality."

          "Like psychics," Marisol said. Seth scoffed. "Well, not exactly," Tanner argued. "What do you mean by "temporal reality"?" Seth asked. Marisol's brows furrowed. "Like the fates in Greek mythology?"

"I mean, the past, the future— things you and I can't see," Tanner finished. "Not at all like the fates." Her arms crossed for a moment. Seth, who's hand was still buried with hers, tugged them apart. "Their ancestors mapped the stars. They understood the cosmic movements of the galaxies. Some even say that... they could communicate with alien races."

"Stop, stop, stop," Seth spluttered. "Don't make this any weirder than it already is." Marisol shuddered. A cool breeze travelled through the rocky halls. Her head snapped behind them, her fingers tightening around Seth's hand unconsciously. "I can do Temple of Doom, man. But Crystal Skull? I'm out."

          Something felt off. Sure, most things this night has felt off. If anything, nothing seemed to go right for them. However, something was making the hairs on the back of her neck stand. "This place is filled with Chanan markings," Tanner commented on the scratches in the walls.

"Watch your step," Seth suddenly whispered, his head snapping toward Marisol. His grip on her hand didn't falter as he lead her down another long, narrow path. "Now, what do you mean?" — "Chanan. It means "snake," but it also means "guard"," Tanner replied.

"But what are they guarding?" Marisol asked. She was tired of being in the center of their conversation. If she could have, she'd have left Tanner behind back at the grinder. "Duh. The underworld." She blinked. This isn't some fantasy novel. This isn't some vampire romance book she'd keep on her nightstand. She turned back to Seth, mouth opening to speak, but no words formed.

With that, it seemed like silence had finally chosen to prevail. All she could hear was her heart beating in her ears. They swiped at spiderwebs hanging from the ceiling and Seth navigated through the tight passageway. Kate and Jacob were whispering behind them, having their own conversation. A little bit of jealousy arose inside Marisol. If only she hadn't been apart of Tanner and Seth's conversation, she wouldn't be so terrified of what could be waiting for them.

Her legs were aching. The adrenaline that filled every inch of her body felt like it was washing away. Marisol tugged gently on Seth's hand, stumbling closer to him by accident. "You okay?" he asked her, brows pinched, face torn with worry. She nodded despite the uneasiness trembling in her system. "Wish we had a shopping cart or something for me to ride in. My legs are killing me."

"If I would have thought about it, I would have smuggled you one," he replied, his tone light and joking. She smiled despite the fact he would so easily commit a crime if it satiated her needs. Perhaps she'd have to get over it in the end. If they made it out alive.

Suddenly a ear splitting roar echoed behind them. Everyone turned back in unison, fear freezing their blood. Seth's grip on her hand tightened to a bone breaking hold. Silently, he began to run. Marisol stumbled behind him, struggling to match his speed. "Wait!" Kate shouted behind them.

Her head whipped around, bile rising in her throat. Her free hand grabbed Seth's in an attempt to free herself. "Wait! Don't leave us!" Seth pulled on Marisol's arm. "What are you doing?!" he asked her. Her eyes met his. They were red, shot, and glossy. He knew exactly what was running through her mind. "We can't leave them," Marisol cried out.

"There's a door!" Tanner shouted, pointing in front of them. "Seth, please!" Without a second thought, he let go. Marisol slid to a stop, surprise etched across her face. Seth turned toward her, one hand pressed to the door. "Hurry," was all he said. She nodded, immediately turning back to the remaining Fullers.

Her steps echoed, mixing in with the hellacious growls and hissing bouncing off the walls. Kate called her name, her voice laced with worry and dread, and an impenetrable fear that Marisol knew all too well. "Come on, Jacob," Marisol breathed out, forcing his other arm over her shoulder. "It's not your time yet, right? You can't give up now."

"Go," Jacob demanded, struggling to keep up with the two girls. His breath came out in puffs, hot and wet against her neck. "Shut up," she snapped. Her arm gripped his waist tight, forcing him into her side. "C'mon, Kate. You've got this."

"Marisol!" Seth called. Her palms were growing even more sweaty. Her heart rate skyrocketed. She forced her legs to move faster and faster, ignoring the pain and the agony that pierced her bones like icepicks. Her eyes remained forward, searching for Seth, searching for their chance at a possible freedom. Their own Garden of Eden.

"Seth!" she exclaimed upon seeing him. A bout of happy tears sprung to her tired eyes. They were there. They were going to make it. They were safe—!

A strong tug sent Marisol's body crashing to the floor. She barely caught herself before her face hit the stone. "Mari!" She looked back to see Jacob, his face pale, his breathing erratic. "Come on, Jacob," she breathed out. She forced herself to her knees, struggling to lift his weight along with her. "Come on, Jacob. It's right there. Please—"

Kate's body was trembling. Soft prayers flooded her lips as they finally got Jacob to his feet. The hissing grew louder, impossibly closer. Ever hair on her body stood to attention. "Seth," she cried out. Right there. We're right there.

A few more steps were taken before her knees began to give out. His weight, the fear, it all was finally taking a toll on her. Marisol looked behind her in fear. Seth sprinted toward the three. "Kate, go," he demanded, taking Jacob's shoulder she possessed and forcing the old man to move. "A few more steps. Come on."

His words weren't directed to anyone in particular, though Marisol liked to think they were directed toward her. Kate ran in front of them and through the door, holding them open for her father and the other two. Marisol chanced another look, a scream bubbling in her throat. "Go, go, go– Go!"

The trio slipped through the heavy doors, the chanan inches from them. Her life flashed before her very eyes as the monster reached for them, the door blocking it from succeeding. "Find something to block the door!" Tanner yelled, eyes crazed. Kate had found a long wooden plank, forcing it in Tanner's hand. They easily slipped it between whatever kept the doors closed. Marisol couldn't tell, not from the blurriness in her vision.

Seth moved to her side, encasing her face between his hands. "It's okay," he breathed out. Those words were starting to grate her nerves. Hearing them over and over again was pissing her off. She pushed his hands away with a frown. "Yeah," she exhaled. "For now."

═══════ ❃ ═══════

          "Suspect has gone out the back door. Follow with precaution."

          Sweat collected at her eyebrow. She peered over the windowsill, her breath puffing out in harsh exhales. Among the foliage she could vaguely see the suspect. His tangle hair was golden among the emerald leaves.

          She moved away from the window and grabbed the walkie on her shoulder. "I see him. He's breaking the forest line." After updating the others, she pushed herself off of the floor and hurried toward the open patio doors.

The air was dry and hot. The scent of decay was all around. Her boots crunched over the dead grass, over the trash left in the yard by the inhabitant, the suspect. She raced after him, her hands tightly gripping her gun. She prayed she wouldn't have to us. Please, don't make me use it.

There he was. He knelt at the bottom of a tree, fingers digging through the soft dirt. She hesitated behind the foliage. Raising her gun, she stepped out. "Lee Michael," she called out, her voice stern. "Move away from the tree and put you hands on your head."

A red face turned toward her. Piercing black eyes stared back at her behind his large, thin rimmed glasses. He didn't make an effort to move. His hands were still buried in the dirt. Marisol took a calculative step forward, her finger only touching the trigger. "Back away now. Put your hands on your head."

She should call this in. Back up would be smart, right? One hand moved from the gun's grip to the radio sitting on her shoulder. "I've got him. Back up is requested," she breathed out. He stood suddenly, startling the officer. In his hand, from deep within the dirt, was a hunting knife. It was still sheathed in a dirty, leather sheath.

"Put it down, Lee," she demanded. Her voice remained strong despite the acceleration of her her heart rate. "Why?" he asked. "So you can take me back to prison?... No. No, I'm not going back there." He ripped off the sheath and threw it to the ground. The blade was filthy, covered in a reddish orange crust. "One of us is going to die today, Officer."

The tip of the blade was pointed toward her. A sick, maniacal smile crossed his sunburnt face. "And it's not going to be me."

═══════ ❃ ═══════

          Marisol wiped the sweat dampening her hairline with the back of her hand. The skin around the gash in her forehead was still really tender. Seth pushed through another door, opening up a room full of things. "Preacher, check this out," he exclaimed in astonishment. "It's cargo. Probably from all the truckers and travelers these buzzards have been snacking on for years."

"A first aid kit!" she chirped. "No one ever travels without a first aid kit." Jacob hobbled over toward the shelves full of items, memorabilia. "Maybe centuries..." Seth wiggled a gold looking vase, brows furrowed. The room was like the hideout of a serial killer. They were trophies, taken from their victims with no remorse. What would a bunch of blood sucking demons need with this stuff, anyway?

"Jesus, they got... they got stuff here that goes back who knows how long." Marisol grabbed Kate's arm. "We could maybe find something to make a splint for your dad." There had to be something strong enough to keep his ankle in place. The younger girl nodded, dropping to her knees to search the lower shelves.

"Seth—" Her head picked up just in time to see the butt of a gun slam down into his face. Instantly, her body tensed. Her eyes dropped into a ferocious glare. A man stepped out into the life, his gun now pointing toward the survivors. "Welcome to the party, baby."

rumi says . . .
if i thought the last chapter was short...
this one just made me feel worse. 💀

i'm bringing up a lot more of marisol's
past after the gecko brothers bc her character
doesn't revolve around seth!!! she also has
things she needs to work on and acknowledge
instead of ignore and run away from!!!

but yeah. we got a deeper peek in marisol's
character. every time seth sticks up for mari,
i get super soft. and marisol being self sacrificial
shouldn't be surprising at this point. 💀

how was the chapter?
what was your favorite part?

i hope you guys enjoyed it!
feedback is seriously appreciated!