Page 41 of Map of Pain
The memory made his stomach flip a few times, accompanied by something that might have been anticipation. What would it feel like to kiss Luka again? To make that choice from a conscious place rather than desperate comfort-seeking?
A deafening bang shattered his contemplation. The car lurched violently to the right, tires screeching against asphalt as Luka fought for control. They skidded across the empty highway, gravel pinging against the undercarriage before jolting to a stop on the shoulder.
The hunter exploded into Nick’s consciousness like a flare in darkness. Every muscle tensed, adrenaline flooding his system as his training kicked in. Threat assessment. Escape routes. Weapon inventory. The familiar litany of survival calculations drowned out everything else.
Hewasout of the car before conscious thought could form, his knife in his hand as he scanned the dark fields surrounding them. Newly planted crops offered little concealment for attackers but also little cover for them. His eyes tracked movement patterns in the darkness, cataloging potential approaches and defensive positions.
“Stay in the car,”he ordered. Cold. Efficient.In control.
Nick circled the vehicle, checking for signs of sabotage—cut brake lines, tracking devices, anything indicating Society involvement. His body moved through practiced motions while his mind calculated probabilities and contingencies.
Luka stepped out of the driver’s side, his movements deliberately slow as he took in Nick’s defensive posture. He raised his hands, fingers forming a circle—the sign for“OK?”
The hunter processed the gesture but couldn’t integrate it with current threat analysis. The Society wouldn’t give up.They’dbe tracking, hunting. This timingwastoo convenient, too perfect.
“We need to move,”Nick muttered, continuing his inspection.“They could have planted something. Could be watching us right now.”
Luka approached the flat tire, crouching to examine it. After a moment, he shook his head and pointed to the tread where a ragged holewasvisible. He fingerspelled “OLD”, indicating the tirehadsimply failed.
Nick’s eyes narrowed as conflicting information warred in his mind. The tiredidlook old, cracked from sun exposure and use. But the hunter insisted on patterns, on conspiracy, on never accepting coincidence.
It’s just a flat tire,he spoke into his mind quietly but firmly, cutting through the tactical noise.Look at the evidence. This isn’t the Society.
The hunter snarled back, listing protocols and procedures, citing statistics about enemy action. But it felt... smaller now. Less overwhelming. Like turning down the volume on a radio thathadbeen blasting for months. Nick found himself able to examine its arguments rather than obey them. The voice still offered tactical analysis, but it no longer felt like commands from a superior officer.
Luka’s right. Old tire. Bad timing. Nothing more.
Luka moved to the trunk and popped it open. Nick tensed at the sound, but the reaction felt automatic rather than necessary. The vampire’s expression shifted to concern as he gestured at the empty wheel well where a spare should have been.
Luka pulled out his phone, screen illuminating his face in the darkness. Nick’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.
“What are you doing?”he asked.
Luka pointed to the phone, then made a talking gesture.
“No calls,”Nick said.“The Society monitors emergency services. We can’t risk it.”
Understanding flickered across Luka’s features. He nodded and typed something on his phone, showing the screen to Nick:
We can walk to next exit. About 3 miles according to last road sign. Find motel.
Nick glanced at the dark highway, weighing options with returning clarity. The hunter continued its protests, but he found he could consider its input without being controlled by it. Standing beside a disabled vehiclewouldmake them conspicuous. Walking offered better tactical options.
“Okay,”he said, breathing easier as the adrenaline began to fade.“But we move fast.”
The hunter quieted as they gathered their things and started walking. The threat assessment faded to background awareness—still present, still useful, but no longer screaming for attention. Nick maintained alert awareness, but it felt manageable now rather than overwhelming.
After twenty minutes of walking, Nick’s shoulders relaxed completely. The immediate threat response faded, leaving him with an unexpected realization:he’dbeen worried about Luka’s safety as much as his own.
He stopped mid-step. Whenhadthat happened? When had the vampire’s wellbeing become a factor in his tactical calculations?
I care about him.I want him to be safe.
They walked in comfortable rhythm, their footsteps creating a steady beat against the asphalt. The night air felt thickwith humidity, promising rain before dawn. A car would pass, headlights sweeping over them briefly before disappearing into the distance.
“We need other signals,”Nick said, breaking the silence.“For when we can’t see each other. In case we get separated.”
The admission surprised him. Hewasn’tjust thinking tactically anymore—hewasplanning for their continued partnership, assumingthey’dremain together beyond just reaching Peoria.
