Chapter Four

About an hour had passed since we 'hijacked' the car. Not that either of us were skilled in stealing cars. Cherie could just master the driver, while I had other means of travel.

In the end, we found a green Nissan with the keys left in the ignition. In a stroke of luck, the car also had several maps of New York, so there was little chance we'd get lost.

I handled the role of the navigator and sat in the passenger seat; a large map was splayed on my lap. It was fairly straight forward. All we had to do was travel along the I-90; keep right until the I-87; and take exit 18. After that… I would check the map again once we got there.

"So… I know I should've asked this when we left Buffalo, but why are we driving to the other side of the state?" The girl was resting her chin on the steering wheel, watching the road with half-lidded eyes.

Glancing back at the paper map, I debated on how much I should say. It was important that she knew at least some of the plan. Her contribution in helping me leave the city was commendable.

"We're travelling to meet a villain named Ravager. I have business with her." Keeping it simple, I turned away to scan the road signs. Just ahead of us was a sign that read Syracuse 78, Albany 212, and New York 360.

Cherie groaned into the wheel. "Come on! I want more than that- give me something to look forward to."

Staying silent, I watched the girl slowly become more antsy. It was then that I spoke. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"You really really want to know?" Muscles tugged at my lips; I couldn't stop myself from grinning.

Slamming the wheel, the car honked as Cherie pushed herself into the seat. "Yes- I said yes! Give me something to work with. I'm dying here!"

"Well, if you say so…" I ignored the girl's glare, "Ravager is a peculiar subject. She's a villain who absolutely despises the hero Mouse Protector."

Straightening my back, I rolled my shoulders. "You see, Ravager would go as far as to hire the Nine to kill Mouse Protector if she had the chance."

Absorbing my words, my 'partner' adopted a contemplative expression. With a frown, she furrowed her brows while tapping the wheel with her index finger.

Slowly, her countenance shifted—brightened, like a researcher who had their eureka moment.

"You're- you want to find the Slaughterhouse Nine! I knew that following you was a great idea." Cherie beamed, a toothy smile gracing her face. "Was planning on joining them myself, but the Pit was really something. But with you at my side, this will be a piece of cake!"

Patiently waiting for the girl to finish, I held back a soundless laugh. "Close, but not exactly."

Irritated that her moment was ruined, Cherie could only glower as she waited for me to elaborate.

"Yes, I am looking for the Nine, but I don't want to join them."

"I want to slaughter them."

— — —

With the sun setting and the streets growing darker, I decided that we'd get off the road and stay at an inn for the night.

Exiting at the 37, I was fairly sure that we were in the city of Liverpool, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Finding an inn was a relatively easy affair. I could count almost four different places to stay the night.

"Park over there. We can stay at the Hearthstone Inn. Sounds good enough." I pointed across the street in the general direction of the building.

Letting out a tired yawn, Cherie flicked the turn signal. "Finally… Thought I'd never stop driving."

I decided to not mention that whatever city in Canada she came from was a longer drive, but there was a chance she just mastered a taxi driver.

Shifting the gear into park, the girl unlocked her door and stretched her arms upward. "Ahh… So good to get out."

Removing the keys, I exited the car and locked the doors. I rubbed my eyes and stretched in a similar fashion. Craning my neck down to read the map wasn't a comfortable position.

We walked into the Inn; the reception area was fairly luxurious. The entire room was lit brightly, illuminating the hardwood floor.

The desk itself was a smooth cream color and the backwall a type of gray granite. Small potted plants were expertly placed around the room to add a bit of flair.

A woman in a sharp black uniform sat primly behind the counter; a practiced smile adorned her face as we entered.

I wondered if I should've found a place less… opulent, but remembered that money wasn't a huge issue anymore.

"Good evening, welcome to the Hearthstone Inn, what can I do for you?" The receptionist turned her attention to me when I stepped forward.

"Hello, I would like to book a double room. Are there any available?" It would've been an oversight to go to an Inn without reserving first, but my phone didn't have any service. Kind of hard to make calls when your provider doesn't exist.

Examining a clunky monitor, the woman typed on a keyboard. "Hm… sorry, but all the double rooms are either occupied or reserved. Would you be willing to book a single suite?"

The suite, huh. I was willing to pay for the place, but needlessly spending money was-

"Sure, we can do that. Sounds wonderful." Cutting through my ruminations, Cherie decided for me with a vulpine grin.

"Great! If you can look over and sign these papers. I'll need an ID as well."

Internally, I froze. Using my ID was not an option. One look at the expiration date and we'd be outed.

My partner might have an identification, but I wasn't sure how valid it would be. Nothing was coming to mind. I wasn't sure how to proceed.

Cherie leaned onto the desk and gave me a side wink. Staring into the receptionist, the tune of the situation altered. "There's no need to be so hasty… This is all a real hassle, isn't it? You're so tired and the day has been really long. Dealing with customers, keeping track of everyone's mood—it would be fine if you neglected a couple bits of info, right?"

The woman absently nodded, apathetically following along with the Master.

"Alright. So just give us the keys to the room and say the place is booked. Easy." Reaching out her hand, Cherie plucked the room keys from the receptionist with a smile.

Through a moment of clarity, I recalled something important. "And the Wi-Fi code."

"Yeah, and the Wi-Fi code." The girl glanced back at me, but otherwise said nothing else.

One code and a quick walk to the room later and we were finally able to rest.

Removing my backpack, I fell onto the bed and let myself sink into the soft covers. Cherie mimicked the action and landed face first into the pillows.

The sheets were pure white, like the fluffy clouds in the sky. It was like heaven, except it wasn't, since I was still in Worm. But if I wasn't in Worm, then it would be heaven.

Of course, this was very short lived, as I soon realized that 'single suite' did not mean a single room, two beds.

But one bed.