Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
“Haven’t you ever been caught out in a stretch of land at sunrise before?” Drake chuckles at the baffled look on Kyle’s face. “C’mon, it’s quicker if we all dig. We’re gonna share this deep, narrow hole, Kyle, just you and I. We need enough room for us both to stand side-by-side, deep and straight down.”
“I’m not sharing any kind of hole with you.”
Drake quirks an eyebrow at Kyle as he digs. “If that doesn’t sound sexual … Hey, tick-tock, hot stuff, time is of the essence.” He keeps cutting into the earth with his hands, scooping away clumps of hardened dirt and stone with impressive ease. Mikey stands there, at a loss, likely wondering how it’s even possible to dig a hole so deep in this hard earth. He probably figures it has to do with “human muscles” this and “vampire muscles” that.
Kyle figures the same. Despite his feelings, he grits his teeth and drops to his knees to join Drake in digging. It isn’t as easy for him, and not much soon after he starts, he regrets how sore and raw his fingertips become. Several times, he debates giving up.
The sky brightening by the second is a sure motivator to not.
It isn’t long before even Drake’s sense of urgency increases, as he peels off his denim jacket, tosses it at a large nearby stone, and continues digging in just his sleeveless white shirt. Kyle’s body is drenched in sweat. Mikey even reluctantly pitches in, scooping away the broken dirt that’s already been dug up to make room for more digging, though his efforts are slowest.
“Really, guys, what am I supposed to do all day? Just sit out here and wait?” Mikey’s voice is weary and out of breath. “No way. I’ve gotta get to that Nowhere town. Where even is it? Do I go that way? Or that way? What if I get turned around?”
“It’s southwest from here,” answers Drake simply.
“And where the hell is southwest? I’m not a compass.”
Drake, halfway submerged in the hole as he digs, patiently points at the horizon like he has hours of time to spare. His voice shifts to that of a schoolteacher. “See where the sun makes its daily debut? That is east. Suns tend to rise in the east.” Drake smiles, satisfied with his lesson. “Easy for you to find the right way, if you’re really that desperate to get in your cardio.”
“I … But I … I can’t …” Mikey’s hands go to his collar, as if reminded it’s there. “I can’t just walk into some random town all alone looking like this. I look like I … like I wandered there from some kind of kinky sex party.”
Drake squints at him. “Isn’t that … precisely what you did?”
Mikey opens his mouth to protest, stops. Then his voice is a whimper. “I’m gonna turn into bacon out here, sitting in the sun for thirteen straight hours. You got any idea how hot it gets during the day, man? I’m fucking dead.”
“There’s a teensy chance of rain,” says Drake as he calmly slides back into the hole, digging. “As you may notice, the sky isn’t totally clear. Besides, seeing as you stayed up all night …” He throws another fist into the ground, cracking more earth. “… and you really don’t look in the best condition, and we still have all this distance left to go, I’d recommend getting your rest. Also, we’ll be returning to Nowhere at night when people are less likely to see you and gawk. Hey, you can even use my jacket as a blanket. See how generous I am? I really am a good guy,” he then adds for Kyle’s benefit, turning to him at once, his eyes innocent and soft. “I’m so good. Like, the goodest.”
“Keep digging,” grunts Kyle, annoyed. Drake smiles, obliges.
Mikey pouts down at the ground like he wants to cry.
In about four and a half more minutes: “That should do it,” announces Drake, sitting back on his heels. “You wanna slide in first? Or shall I?”
“Wait a sec,” blurts Mikey. “You guys … really are gonna do this? You’re gonna bury yourself until it’s night again?”
“Of course,” sings Drake lightly, “and you have the power to dig us right up at any time. So we’re trusting you. Isn’t this amazing? So early in our friendship, and we’re already playing trust games. If you wouldn’t mind resting directly on top of us, that would be lovely.”
“We need to dig some more,” Kyle insists. “This hole is … is too tight. We’re gonna be squeezed against each other.”
“It’s perfect.” Drake meets his eyes. “Cuties first.”
Kyle is about to protest again, but the light is beginning to surge behind the mountainous horizon. It’s reminding him far too much of another cruel morning not too long ago when he voluntarily welcomed the sunrise upon his exposed body.