Chapter 148: The Village
The sun blazed overhead as the car shot down the empty highway like a black bullet. Wind roared past, brushing the golden plains and kicking up thin trails of dust behind the tires. Out here, beyond the city’s noise and steel, it was all space—wide, dry, and endless.
Xavier’s foot was firm on the pedal. The road stretched out for hours, and thanks to the flatlands, he barely had to slow down. No traffic. Just a few scattered gas stations and rest stops tucked along the way like forgotten relics.
Lyra shifted in the back seat and let out a groan. "Okay, I’m starving. If I don’t eat soon, I’ll chew my arm off."
Lilia raised a brow. "I wouldn’t recommend that. You’d probably taste awful."
Reva, sitting up front, let out a long sigh. Her skin looked pale—paler than usual—and her voice came out dry. "Can we stop? This sun’s boiling my blood."
Xavier didn’t take his eyes off the road. "There’s a gas station up ahead. Five minutes."
True to his word, a small, rusted gas station came into view. The place was a relic—probably older than Astraeus City itself. A flickering neon sign buzzed weakly, and a few vending machines stood crooked under a dusty tin roof.
Xavier pulled in and killed the engine. "Grab what you need. Ten minutes tops."
He stepped out, walked to the pump, and filled the tank to full. The gas here wasn’t refined or enhanced, but it worked. Good enough for this trip.
The girls disappeared into the shop.
Reva leaned against the open door, shielding her eyes with her hand. "Why is it so sunny and hot today? I’d take night over this any day."
"Come on, it’s not that bad," Xavier muttered.