May 24th, 3030
The road stretched endlessly before Itus, a ribbon of uncertainty leading away from the only place he'd felt safe in years. Cliff and Anise's house was now just a memory, growing fainter with each step he took. The weight of his backpack seemed to increase with every mile, a constant reminder of the kindness he'd left behind.
How am I going to find the Heralds of Vignus? Itus wondered, his mind racing. I'm on my own again, just like before. But this time... this time it has to be different.
As he walked, the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Itus couldn't help but marvel at the beauty, even as anxiety gnawed at his insides. Overhead, sleek spaceships zipped by, reminding him of how small he was in this vast, unknown world.
I can't spend the night out here, Itus thought, eyeing the lengthening shadows with growing unease. There has to be something...
A glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. Squinting, Itus made out the faint outline of a building in the distance. His pace quickened, fatigue momentarily forgotten as he approached what appeared to be a small fuel rest stop with an attached hotel.
Relief washed over him as he drew near enough to read the flickering neon sign: "Starry Night Motel." Thank the stars, Itus breathed, pushing open the door and stepping inside.
The lobby that greeted him was a far cry from the cozy warmth of Cliff and Anise's home. The air was thick with the musty scent of neglect, and peeling paint clung desperately to the walls. An old couch sagged against one wall, and a strange-looking plant that hadn't seen water in weeks drooped sadly in the corner.
Behind the counter stood a young Mierese woman, her bored expression momentarily lifting as she registered Itus's presence. "Welcome to the Starry Night," she intoned, her voice as flat and uninspiring as the decor. "How can I help you?"
Itus hesitated, suddenly aware of how out of place he felt. "Hi... um... I'm looking for a room for the night."
"Of course. Just one?" the woman asked, her fingers hovering over an ancient-looking computer terminal.
"Yeah," Itus nodded, then remembered his limited funds. "How much?"
Before the woman could answer, the staircase beside the counter erupted with noise. Three men—two Mierese and one human—stumbled down, their raucous laughter shattering the lobby's stagnant atmosphere.
The human, a roguishly handsome man with a mischievous glint in his eye, pushed past Itus and leaned against the counter. "Glenda!" he exclaimed, his words slightly slurred. "How are you doing on this fine evening?"
Glenda's expression soured instantly. "I was doing fine until you showed up."
Great, Itus thought, suppressing a groan. Just what I needed.
"You wound me!" the man continued, undeterred. "Come on, baby, can't I just have one kiss for the road?"
Glenda's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Tristan, I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I want nothing to do with you, and the only time I think about you is when I imagine your body dead in a ditch."
Tristan's face lit up with delight. "Boys!" he called to his companions. "Did you hear?! She thinks of me." He clutched his chest dramatically before pretending to swoon, collapsing to the floor with theatrical flair.
As his friends fanned him, giggling like school children, Glenda rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot," she muttered, then added with saccharine sweetness, "I hope you have the worst day."
Itus watched in disbelief as Glenda turned away, clearly intent on escaping the situation. Wait, he thought, panic rising. What about my room?
"Hey!" he called out. "I still wanted to get a room."
But Glenda had already disappeared into the back room, leaving Itus alone with the three troublemakers. He turned to find them laughing hysterically, Tristan now pulling himself off the ground.
"You really did it this time," one of the Mierese men chortled.
"Yeah," the other added, wiping tears from his eyes. "I don't think I've ever seen her run away that fast."
Tristan shoved them playfully. "Shut up! One day, she'll realize that she's meant to be mine."
"Sure," his friend replied. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
As the trio headed for the exit, still laughing, Itus felt a surge of desperation. I can't sleep outside, he thought.
"Um... excuse me," he ventured, his voice small in the cavernous lobby. "Is she coming back?"
The three men turned, seeming to notice Itus for the first time. Tristan's expression softened slightly. "Sorry, kid, I didn't see you there. Yeah, she'll be back."
"Once she realizes Tristan is gone," one of his friends added, earning another playful shove.
As they left, Itus found himself alone in the dingy lobby, caught between the closed office door and the exit. Is it even worth it to stay here? he wondered, his mind racing. Wait here alone? Try to find somewhere else?
In a split-second decision that surprised even himself, Itus bolted out the door. He spotted the three men getting into a ship and, before he could second-guess himself, called out, "Hey! Wait!"
One of the Mierese men turned, surprise evident on his face as Itus skidded to a stop before them, panting slightly.
"Hey," the man said hesitantly.
Itus straightened, trying to catch his breath. "Where are you guys going?"
Tristan appeared, his earlier joviality replaced with suspicion. "Why do you want to know?"
Good question, Itus thought. Why am I doing this? But desperation and curiosity pushed him forward. "Um... I'm just trying to get to the next town over," he explained, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I thought maybe if you were going there, I could hitch a ride instead of wasting money... on a hotel."
Tristan's face fell into an exaggerated grimace. "Well, we aren't heading in that direction, so..."
But Itus wasn't ready to give up. I've come this far, he reasoned. Might as well see it through. "Well, where are you going?" he pressed. "I'm not exactly set on anywhere. I'm just trying to get somewhere that isn't here."
Suddenly, Itus felt an arm wrap around him from behind. He stiffened as the other Mierese man appeared, squeezing Itus's cheeks between his hands. "Aww," the man cooed, his breath hot against Itus's ear. "Look at his cute face; can't we keep him?"
Panic flared in Itus's chest as Tristan leaned in close, inspecting him with unsettling intensity. "I don't know," Tristan mused. "I mean, what use could you possibly be to me?"
"You look like nothing but a scared little boy," the man holding Itus whispered, his grip tightening as Itus struggled to break free.
This was a mistake, Itus thought, his heart pounding. I should have stayed in the lobby.
"Let him go, Iero," Tristan commanded, and Itus found himself suddenly free. He backed away quickly, straightening his clothes and trying to regain his composure.
Tristan's eyes narrowed. "You should go. Before something happens that we'll both regret."
But before Itus could retreat, the first Mierese man spoke up. "Come on, Tristan, you don't need to be so mean. Weren't you just saying things would be easier if we had a fourth person?"
Tristan scoffed. "Yeah, but I don't need a kid coming on board and fucking up everything."
Something in Itus snapped. I'm not a child, he thought fiercely. I've been through more than they could imagine. "I'm not a child," he declared aloud. "I'm 18."
Tristan's unimpressed face loomed close. "Like I said, a child."
As the first Mierese man pulled Tristan away, Itus felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this wouldn't be a complete disaster, he thought.
"Can you stop being an egotistical maniac for two seconds?" the man chided Tristan. "We are going to need someone small, and in case you haven't noticed, no one here is going to fit."
Tristan considered this, then turned to Iero. "What do you think?"
Iero shrugged. "I guess he could work."
A sickening grin spread across Tristan's face as he turned back to Itus. "Today's your lucky day. Get in the ship."
Confusion warred within Itus. "What's happening?"
"You wanted a ride, right?" Tristan's tone left no room for argument.
Itus nodded, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Right. So get in the ship, and don't ask questions."
Before Itus could process what was happening, Iero grabbed his shoulder and shoved him into the backseat of the ship. What have I gotten myself into? Itus wondered as the others piled in, the other Mierese taking the driver's seat and Tristan riding shotgun.
"Seatbelts, everyone," the Mierese called out cheerfully, as if this were nothing more than a normal road trip.
As they pulled away from the Starry Night Motel, Itus stared out the window, trying desperately to memorize their route. But in the darkness, everything looked the same—an endless sea of shadows and starlight.
The Mierese’'s voice cut through the silence. "Sorry about them. They can be a lot sometimes. I'm Kin, by the way. Next to me is Tristan, and beside you is Iero."
Itus turned and looked around him before answering, noticing that Tristan and Iero were already fast asleep. "Lucas," Itus replied.
"Nice to meet you," Kin stated, his friendly tone at odds with the bizarre situation.
After a moment of silence, Kin spoke again. "I recommend getting some sleep. We won't get there until morning."
Itus nodded but had no intention of sleeping. I need to stay alert, he told himself. I need to be ready for... whatever this is.
As Kin turned on the radio, Itus continued to stare out the window. The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic passing of shadows lulled him despite his best efforts to stay awake.
I can't fall asleep, Itus thought desperately, fighting against his heavy eyelids. I need to stay awake. I need to...
But exhaustion won out, and as the ship sped on into the night, Itus slipped into an uneasy slumber. What have I done? Where am I going? As sleep claimed him, the unknown stretched out before him like the endless road beneath their wheels, full of both danger and possibility.
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