It was half past ten when they started their journey, although Cevil and KJ both had no idea about their destination — Fate refused to tell. The three boys were going on hoverboards, the others on foot, carrying bags of food with them. The forest was huge, and the trees were identical, but Fate somehow managed to find their way out. It wasn't as easy as Cevil thought, going over branches and dried leaves and stones. He could balance well, but sometimes he would bump over something slightly bigger and fall, especially the stones. His shirt was always caught by twigs accidentally. Sometimes, even worse, as he felt the twigs tangling his hair, something slimy and disgusting — worms — would fall from the branches onto his head. It was almost impossible to avoid them, the distance between one tree and another was so near, almost touching. Cevil always tried to divert his attention by chatting with KJ, although that couldn't help avoiding worms dropping. He was surprised by how KJ didn't seem to mind them. Sometimes he could see worms slithering on KJ's shoulder, and he would brush them away. KJ didn't mind, but he did.
"Did you know that your wound seemed to have recovered extremely fast?"
"Yea, I realized that too. Not much pain."
"It's just a day, isn't it?"
"Yea..."
Their conversation ended.
Cevil had no idea how long they'd been going, he hadn't a watch or a clock, but it didn't matter to him. He wasn't feeling tired, he didn't need to move his legs. Somehow, they'd exited the forest. There was a jeep parked right at the exit, and three BMWs. Grass around sixty inches tall was surrounding them, blocking all the exits. No. There was one path. Narrow and small, just right enough for a jeep to pass. At first Cevil thought it was a trap, people were waiting for them, and immediately backed away at the first sight of the jeep, clutching KJ by his shoulders and crouched behind him. But Fate explained, the jeep belonged to them, and they'll travel by jeep for now.
The sky had darkened a little, but Fate took no notice of it. Fate drove Cevil and KJ, while the other men followed behind in their BMWs. The path seemed endless. The path they were driving continued with another path, followed by more paths. There wasn't any view for Cevil to enjoy either, the grass was as tall as their jeep, stealing all the view from Cevil. Their hoverboards were left behind, buried underground, in earth. Cevil had saw the men digging the hoverboards, but he didn't ask for reasons. Neither of them spoke, allowing silence to take over them. Cevil had fallen asleep fast as the jeep ride had begun. It was a dull and boring day. Firstly, travelling in a forest, with identical trees surrounding them, then travelling through grasses.
He had been awoken by the strike of lightning, the thunder deafening his ears. The sky was already taken over by grey clouds, the sun had vanished. The only light came from the headlamps of the jeep, and sometimes from the blinding lightning. Fortunately, it wasn't raining. The leaves that were surrounding them had been left far behind away. As far as Cevil could see, there were suburban houses running along the street on both sides. Everything, too, looked dead like the forest. There was no sign of any living creature. But very soon, as they drove along the road, there was a little black figure peering at them behind a tinted window. Then it disappeared after a moment. KJ was sleeping soundly beside him, his head leaning against the window. Cevil yawned and stretched himself, then leant forward.
"Where are we?"
"Somewhere."
"How long more to your destination?"
"Almost."
"Means?"
"Soon."
Cevil rolled his eyes. Then he slumped back into his chair and watched as the houses whizz past. Some of them had already decorated their house with Christmas decorations. Colorful lights stringed lights, Christmas wreaths dressing up the doors they were placed on, and garlands could be seen everywhere. Nutcrackers, completely unavoidable in Germany, standing at both sides of the door. Seeing this, Cevil could feel the lively and comfy atmosphere instantly, although there was little snow. More signs of living creatures appeared. A man was playing a saxophone of Christmas songs by the street, a few people surrounding him. Cevil enjoyed the music, but he was always wondering, they seemed to be celebrating Christmas a little too early. There were still around three weeks until Christmas.
A puppy appeared. It ran across the road out of sudden, and although Fate wasn't speeding, he wasn't fast enough to react. The car came to a halt as Cevil heard a banging sound. At the same time, KJ woke up with a start. The cars following behind braked in time, only inches apart from their jeep. Fate began reversing the car as the cars behind did the same, to change lanes and continue. But Cevil hopped off the car immediately and bent down to have a look at the wounded puppy. The puppy was lying on its stomach, its legs stretched out, if Cevil did not know, he would have thought it was sleeping. The road was dyed red with blood, but the puppy was somehow still alive and conscious, whining softly. Looking at the puppy's pale pitiful eye, hearing the whining, Cevil felt his heart melting.
"We have to go, people are finding us, we might get ambushed anytime, and that hund is dangerous too, even if it is wounded, it can kill," Fate urged, leaning out of the window. Cevil scowled, "But he's only a puppy!" Then he rubbed his hands together for a moment for warmth. KJ got himself out carefully, afraid of slipping in the snow. Then he squatted down beside Cevil, examining the puppy. Cevil watched KJ rest his hand on the puppy's inner thigh, then carefully slipped his hand beneath the dog, checking for whatever it was, Cevil didn't know. The dog growled softly. KJ took a close look at the injury on the dog's head. Fate sighed and jumped off the car, shoving a hand into a pocket — either to keep warm or look cool, Cevil thought.
"How long more to our destination?" KJ finally spoke. Fate shoved his second hand into his pocket and replied, "Go along this road, turn left and we've arrived." KJ waited for a few seconds, still examining. "How long?" KJ repeated. Fate shrugged, "Three minutes." KJ stood up and continued asking, "Any shops here?" Fate bent down and watched the dog whine, "No." But as if knowing KJ's goal of asking he continued, "We have veterinary tools and equipment." Hearing this, KJ hopped into the car, "Let's continue our journey." he said quietly. Fate entered the car, Cevil scooped the dog in his hands, worried, then jumped into the car with them.