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Hector turned to see Colt reach into the dirt and pull. A huge door rose out of the ground. Dust kicked up all around the man as he revealed a manmade hole in the ground. They both looked down at the ramp leading into the darkness.

Still groggy and aching all over his body, Hector scratched under his eye. “W-where are we, exactly?”

Colt thumbed behind himself. “East of Walton.”

Hector squinted, only then noticing the buildings in the distance. They fluctuated on the horizon, seeming almost a mirage against the heat.

Colt fetched the children from the car, along with a flashlight, the latter of which he handed off to Hector. And all together, they ventured underground, Hector leading the way while the reapers brought up the rear.

The ramp curved gradually right as they descended, and soon, they discovered an even floor. Hector found a switch on the wall and flipped it. Incrementally, flood lights in the ceiling illuminated a much larger chamber than Hector had expected.

There had to be upwards of fifty vehicles in this place.

“Damn,” said Colt. “Some friend you got here.”

The reapers began browsing.

Hector looked at Colt again. “So I guess... you talked to Gina while I was asleep?”

“Not for very long. Only to get the coordinates to this place. She did say to call her back when you were awake, though.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you just wake me up, then?”

“She said it wasn’t urgent.”

Bohwanox floated up behind Colt. ‘He’s lying. He told Gina all about how you needed your rest.’

Colt’s glare only seemed to make the reaper happier.

‘It was very touching,’ said Bohwanox. ‘He cried.’

The man rolled his eyes and walked away.

Bohwanox lingered with Hector. ‘Alright, so maybe he didn’t cry.’

Hector tried to reply but found no words available. He wasn’t sure he understood Colt and Bohwanox’s relationship. He wasn’t sure they did, either.