Joel continued behind Levi as they took their shortcut to Moose. Or, at least, he hoped it was a shortcut. Time would tell whether or not they’d end up completely lost in the middle of nowhere. 

“So you have an internal compass,” Joel started. “Are there any other super senses or abilities I should know about?” He wondered if the question was invasive, but he was genuinely curious. It would be useful to know what Levi was capable of if they got into any scrapes in the future. 

Levi shot him an amused look. “You don’t already know? I thought humans loved gossiping about biblical lore.” 

“Oh, most do, but I doubt much of what they say is reliable.” Nearly all humans feared biblicals, or ‘bibs’ as they were often called. Everyone had their own harrowing stories of coming across an angel or demon, but Joel had to wonder if some were slightly exaggerated. “Consider this as a chance for you to set the record straight.”

The demon looked thoughtful as he stared out in the distance. “I can sense angels and demons approaching.”

Joel could feel my entire face drain of color as he whipped his head around in terror. “You can?”

“I don’t mean right now,” Levi chuckled. The demon usually looked painfully serious, and Joel realized this was the first time he’d ever heard him laugh. His gray lips had parted in a smile, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth. “I meant in general. The feeling is usually faint, so I have to concentrate to be sure. I don’t think there are any closeby at the moment.”

“Oh, okay,” Joel breathed, attempting to lower his heart rate. He wondered if Levi had purposely worded the declaration in a way that would scare the living daylights out of him.“Is there anything else I should know?” 

“Not really. In general, my physical corporation is much like yours. Just more durable and with less maintenance. All of my senses are heightened as well.” 

“I see,” Joel said. He’d heard more rumors about demons, but decided he’d save specific questions for later. Levi was probably already annoyed at his prying.

After more walking, the large asphalt highway thinned down to smaller, residential streets. The houses they passed became more spaced out and significantly larger the farther they traveled. Despite the disrepair they’d fallen into, most were still impressively ornate. 

The people who had lived here years ago must have been obscenely wealthy. He’d have to scavenge whichever house they stayed in.

Joel stretched his arms over his head, leaning to the side in a futile attempt to crack his back. 

Levi gave him a sidelong glance. “We’re stopping for the night at the end of this block.”

Long shadows were stretching across the ground as the sun lowered on the horizon. The slanting rays painted the sky an orange pink, but there would still be another hour of light to left before it got too dark to travel.  

“I can go further. It’s still light out.”

Levi shook his head. “That was the fourth time you’ve yawned in the last ten minutes. We should rest for the night.”

Joel felt self-conscious. Was it really obvious how tired he was getting? Was Levi going to think he was weak for needing a break?

“We don’t have to stop on my account,” he said, shuffling his feet. “I’m not that tired yet.” Another poorly timed yawn escaped his lips, and Joel could feel himself blush.

“I wanted to stop here anyways,” Levi said as he gestured to the mini mansion they were approaching. “I’ve stayed in this one before. None of these properties have running water, but this place has a clean well in the backyard.” 

“If you’re sure,” Joel said gratefully, already imagining how good it would feel to pull off his boots after a long day of walking. They’d been moving non stop for nearly seven hours.

“I’m sure,” Levi said. “Just let me do a sweep of the house first.”

“You think something might be inside?”

“I can’t hear anything, but it would be foolish not to check. Stay here.” 

Levi disappeared through the great brass doors, while Joel waited on the steps. He felt somewhat useless but also incredibly thankful. He leaned against an external pillar as he took in the house’s exterior. It was a mix of wood beams and rounded stones. The large, smudged windows were still intact, and Joel could see the shapes of furniture as he peeked through the dirty glass. While the facade was arguably grand, the exterior walls still bore the weight of time, weathered by the elements and negligence. Joel felt a mix of curiosity and trepidation as he waited for Levi to return. 

After a few minutes, Levi finally re-emerged through the brass gilded doors. “All clear,” he said. 

“And there’s no…” Joel trailed off, biting his lip. He felt embarrassed asking, but didn’t want any surprises. “There’s no, um, corpses inside?” 

The torments of disease and famine had wiped out most of the human race. Joel had only come across corpses on a handful of occasions, but the first time was on his trip with Maria and Luca. 

The three had broken into an abandoned motel after visiting Hudson. There had been no rotting flesh or insects swarming the room. The body was nothing more than an old skeleton, but the discoloration on its comforter had made Joel wretch. 

It hadn’t been the first time he’d had a panic attack, and it wouldn't be the last. Maria and Luca did their best to calm him down. The siblings were always so patient with him and his emotional baggage. Joel was skeptical Levi would show him the same courtesy. Levi had doubtlessly seen more carnage than any living human on Earth. He probably thought Joel was ridiculous for even asking. 

“No,” Levi replied in a surprisingly soft voice. “No bodies. I’m pretty sure this place was abandoned early on. No one’s died here.”

Joel nodded gratefully before stepping across the threshold. Despite the thick layer of dust that coated most things, the house was still impressive. Long, billowy curtains sat beside the dirty windows. The once glossy wallpaper was slightly faded, as well as the photos and frames that had been hammered over it. Joel turned away, not wanting to see the pictures of the family that had once lived here. He didn’t want to see their blissful smiles, completely unaware how their lives would soon change forever. 

A grand staircase was off to his left, but he had no desire to explore the empty rooms at the moment. He wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest for the night. 

“This is a nice place,” Joel said as he dropped his bag onto a nearby couch. He tried to ignore the flurry of dust motes that erupted from the fabric the moment he sat down. 

“Yes, it is,” Levi agreed. “I’ll go to the well and get some water.” 

Joel moved to stand, but his muscles ached in protest. “You don’t have to do that. I can get it myself. Just show me where it is.”

“You should rest. It’ll be easier for me anyway. I’m stronger.” Joel couldn’t argue against that. Levi was at least a foot taller than him, and probably weighed twice as much as he did. 

“I’ll lay a fire then,” Joel offered, not wanting to be completely useless. 

They wouldn’t need it for warmth, as it only went down to its fifties at night, but it would be nice to heat some water to wash with. There were plenty of streams around for Joel to clean himself in, but the water was glacial runoff, meaning it was painfully cold. 

Joel took some of the old, cracked wood that sat by the hearth and placed it on the grate. He made sure the flue was open before striking a match and fanning the flames. He grabbed a large iron pot from the kitchen and a few jars and cans of food that weren’t bursting with botulism. 

Levi returned carrying two large buckets of water, some of which Joel poured into his pot and set on the flames.

As the water heated, Joel looked over the cans he collected and took out some of the food he had packed. 

“Do you need to eat?” He pulled out his packet of dried meat and extended it forward. Levi had already chastised him before about ‘sharing resources’ but that wouldn’t stop him from offering it.

“A little. Not as much as yourself.”

Joel nodded and retracted his bag of jerky when Levi made no move to grab it. 

This was the first time they’d sat down together, and Joel decided it was time to address the elephant in the room. “Look, I know you don’t want me here,” he blurted out. “I know it’s more work for you to have me around.”

Levi just stared at him, his face betraying nothing. When he stayed silent, Joel continued. 

“I know you don’t have to help me, and I just…” he ran his fingers along his scar, like he usually did when he was uncomfortable or nervous. “I just wanted to say thanks. I know I’m more likely to find Maria and Luca with you here. I… I really hope we can grow to be friendly.” He flushed, hoping that didn’t sound childish. 

Levi just nodded before tilting his head towards the fireplace. “Your water is boiling,” he said flatly. 

Joel could feel his ears turn red. “Right. Thanks.” What had he expected? A hug? An enthusiastic promise to become best friends? God, he felt like an idiot for even saying anything. 

He turned away, attempting to hide his grimace. He quickly laddled hot and cold water into another pot he’d found, trying to find the perfect balance of warmth to wash himself with.

He could hear Levi clear his throat behind him. “I have nothing against you. I’m here because you were going to travel alone. It’s not safe out here for any human.”

Why do you care if I’m safe? Joel wanted to ask, though he knew it probably had something to do with Nan and their agreement. 

“I know,” Joel said, grateful he’d gotten any type of response. “I promise I’m going to do my best not to make your life harder.”

The demon mumbled something unintelligible before Joel turned to face him again. “Can you point me in the direction of a restroom? I want to wash up.”

Levi’s eyes seemed to linger on his body before he raised a calloused hand and pointed in the direction opposite to the kitchen.

“Thanks.” He ambled along a long hallway, until he found a bathroom. He set his bucket on the counter before checking under the sink for towels. There was no point in dirtying his own if they already had some. The ones he found smelled somewhat musty, but looked clean enough. He found a bar of unwrapped soap by the tub and began lathering it. He undressed before running the hot, damp cloth over his body, wiping away the sweat and grime of the day. He took his little jar of homemade toothpaste out of its ramekin and quickly brushed his teeth as well. 

He was used to the sputtering, ice cold showers of Skyline’s old locker room. Using a bucket wasn’t nearly as glamorous, but his muscles still loosen as warm liquid was as it dripped down his body. 

After cleaning himself, he put on fresh clothes and used the soap to scrub out the armpits of the shirt he’d worn, as well as his underclothes. The whole thing took a little under an hour and his fingers were pruney by the time he was done. He hung his damp clothes over the shower rod to dry and wandered back into the living room where Levi was sitting. It was now completely dark outside, but the fire he’d laid cast a warm glow over the room.

The demon was laying across the couch, a book propped up on his chest. His lips were pulled into a lazy smile as he stared at the pages. A sharp canine poked over his bottom lip, and Joel was surprised at how endearing it looked. His sharp features, which Joel could reluctantly admit were strikingly beautiful, were finally relaxed. It was the first time Joel had ever seen Levi so at ease. 

Joel made his way into the living room and stood close to the fire. The house wasn’t cold, but he still relished the warmth that radiated from the dancing flames. 

“What are you reading?” he asked. The cover was worn and the dim light made it difficult to read the title. From what he could see, the pages seemed to be a mix of printed text and handwritten annotations. 

Levi snapped the cover closed before glancing up at him, his smile evaporating in the process. “Nothing. Are you going to bed?” 

Joel shuffled awkwardly between his feet, feeling guilty he’d interrupted such a serene moment. “Uh, yeah. I’ll probably take one of the rooms down here. Do you.. need to sleep?”

“Not as much as a human, but I find it refreshing.” 

“Okay. Should we take shifts watching the place?”

Levi shook his horned head, gesturing at the brass doors. “No need. The locks still work and I’ll ensure the house remains safe.” 

“Oh. Okay, thanks. Uh, I hope you have a good night.” Unsure of what else to say, Joel turned to leave. He went back to the hallway he’d just emerged from, opening a few random doors until he saw a bed. The room looked like it had belonged to a child; there were anthropomorphic cars decorating almost every surface.

He lifted the comforter to shake off the dust, thwacking what looked like a buck-toothed tow truck that was printed on the fabric. Once he had deemed it clean enough, he tucked himself under the covers. 

Before setting off on his journey, Joel had been terrified at the prospect of sleeping out here on his own. Now, he wasn’t alone. He had a demon watching over him. Even though Levi did so reluctantly, Joel knew it would be safe to rest. 

Moonlight was streaming in through the window Joel had opened. He wrapped himself tightly in the downy blankets and tried desperately not to think of the people that used to live here. He failed miserably.