Chapter 8

Barricade looked to the sky and hummed in interest, "It seems that a cumulonimbus cloud is above us."

"Are you sure that's not stratus?" I said, not bothering to look at the sky.

"If you'd look at the clouds, you'll see it's incredibly dark. And it looks like it's just about to rain. Stratus clouds do not create this kind of darkness. Plus, I have access to the internet, I can see the forecast."

I roll my eyes. I decided to put the things in the barn to good use. I found lots of old clay and porcelain pots, outdated soil, tools, possibly expired seeds, etc. Apparently, whoever used to accompany this barn, were green thumbed.

I patted the soil down in the rectangular small pot I found. Sticking a finger inside the soil, I create a hole for the seeds. I look at all of the packets I have, about twelve in all. Both herbs and vegetables.

"Is it going to storm?" I say, pausing my work and looking at the holoform leaned up against the barn, his arms were crossed, as was his legs. He nods. My eyes trail around my little work space in thought, "What do you know about Sunny and Sides?"

With that, the holoform stiffens and his crimson eyes seem to dim a little. I swear I can hear a low growl come from him, "Those two are nothing but trouble."

"Well, guessing that you guys don't like each other, you might want to leave," I said, staring off into the distance.

"Why?" Barricade said, unraveling his limbs and standing straight, no longer leaning on the barn.

I point to where I'm staring, "They're coming."

The holoform peeks from behind the barn to see that, indeed, the twins are approaching the barn. The rumble of their cars gave it away. Barricade's holoform quickly dissipates and I race to the barn doors to unlock them so he can easily get out. I don't know what kind of trouble would happen if the twins saw Barricade again, but Ireally don't want to find out.

I direct Barricade to go around one side of the barn as the twins' cars are coming from the other. I bring myself back to the pots and get back to work again, using my finger to create holes. I pretend to get ready to rip open a seed packet when the twins come around. They park around me and I watch Barricade drive away as fast and quiet as he possibly could.

"Hey," Sides says, squatting next to me, clearly interested in what I'm doing. I return the greeting without sparing him a glance. The silver twin's tone begins to sound a little more serious, "Have you seen that Mustang lately?"

I shake my head with a mute "no."

"Charlese, you can't keep this going, you know," Sides says. Shit, does he know? Did they see Barricade leaving? "You need to go back to the orphanage."

Okay, that's a little better then them knowing I was lying, "I'm not going anywhere."

"We don't know what would happen to you if you got into the hands of that Mustang." I give him a weirded-out look. Sure, the cruiser has a holoform, but hands? He realizes his mistake and fixes it not so subtly, "Well, I mean, the person who owns that Mustang."

"Uh-huh. And who might that be?" This ought to be good. Sides doesn't say anything, "I know who that is."

"Alright then, Miss know-it-all, who is it?" Sunny snarks from where he is, leaning against his golden car.

"Barricade."

The two stiffen, and like Barricade, their eyes dim. They didn't expect that. Wait, are they like Barricade? Ah, fuck, is this why they are always near their cars? Are they holoforms? Only one way to find out, either look crazy or know who they actually are, "Are you two holoforms?"

Their eyes widen, Sides softly, yet not so softly, grabs my shoulder, "How do you know this?" I shrug, shaking off his hand.

"This is serious. Have you seen Barricade recently?" Sunny says, his brows furrowed and mouth set to a frown. I shrug, ticking off Sunny, "This isn't a game!"

"Charlese," Sides says, putting his finger on my jawline and pressing it to turn my head, "You could be in great danger."

"Grave danger, even," Sunny adds in.

How can I be in danger? If anything, it seems that Barricade is protecting me. But at the same time, Sunny and Sides are. I glance at their cars, are they also sentient, like Barricade? Are all sentient cars like this? Are all cars sentient? Oh my God, I'm going crazy.

"I have one question," I say, almost muttering it. The two perk and look at me, awaiting my inquiries. These two do act oddly around Barricade. And they seem to know each other, and loathe. I glance at the direction Barricade had fled in.

Where he could have fled, I don't know. He might come back later, I hope the twins won't be here to know that. Speaking of, I have something to figure out.

"Are you two sentient cars?"

March 20, 2016, 2:45 pm