“Nate, you’re an asshole, a ballsy one, but still an asshole...” 

Vin said in a hushed voiced, not wanting to wake anyone else in the area, but also making sure Nate knew he wouldn’t be forgotten if perhaps both him and Eli were forever lost in the abandoned mine shaft. These kinds of things happen no doubt, and a sudden collapsing support beam could prove disastrous in itself, whereby creating a domino effect that would take down the entire site. He knew it was going to take some time to adapt to his new surroundings, being out in the middle of nowhere wasn’t his first choice of getaways, but he apparently had little choice in the matter. Actually, “option B” would have been him probably dead with a bullet in his brain. So in retrospect, things were looking up for him. He was still alive.

“Better that we stay out here, yeah?” He smirked, wrapping his arm around Jennifer’s shoulders. “You know, in case little Eric over there get’s scared.” Vincent looked over his shoulder and was about to shoot Eric a mocking wink when he noticed dim headlights up the road slowly moving toward them. His eyes suddenly went in every direction, making sure there weren’t any other surprise visitors. 

“Shit, we have company.”

He squinted his eyes, trying to focus on the vehicle that stopped a few yards away from their position, and could only make out that it was -not surprisingly- a pickup truck. Vin took a step back, keeping Jennifer behind him and his hand firming clenched to hers, he wasn’t sure what to do at this point. He motioned to Eric, hoping that the kid would move back a few paces, but no doubt this type situation was the norm for someone who lived around this area, as it didn’t seem to phase him. Before Vin even had a chance to say anything however, the driver leaned through the open window and yelled out the same question that was probably on everyone’s mind anyway. Lucky for Vincent, he didn’t have to ask it first.

He turned to Jennifer with an expression of uncertainty and fear, but shook it off as best he could. “Let me go find out what this dude wants.” He whispered, looking back at the mine shaft entrance in hopes that Nate and Eli would come out soon, before walking toward the truck, the engine still running and pushing out swirls of exhaust and burning oil as it idled. 

Vincent hesitantly moved around to the driver’s side and noticed the older, heavy set man with graying hair, wearing a flannel shirt, assuming he had been the one speaking. “Nice ride.” Vincent finally said after a brief pause, surveying the rust and dents that made up a good portion of the exterior. “I think Fred Sanford is looking for his truck, by the way.” He seriously wanted to bust out laughing at such an archaic joke, to ease his own nervousness with the situation if anything, but instead he cracked a smile, and a half-hearted one at that. Just as the breeze shifted in the other direction, his nose suddenly scrunched up. “And what in the hell is that smell coming from in-” Vin cut himself off, realizing he doesn’t have to always say what he’s thinking and knowing his mouth caused him more trouble than it was worth.

“Sorry. No offense. Just chalk it up to lack of sleep, fucked up nightmares, and reduced to eating something resembling cold food out of a plastic bag.”

He looked passed the driver and noticed a young thin girl in the passenger seat staring at him with more suspicion that he had bothered to muster up. Her eyes caught what little light there was, but they almost appeared to glisten momentarily. Vin arched an eyebrow, wondering just what the hell a little white girl and an older greasy-looking fellow would be doing out in this part of town at this hour. But he also knew, of course, their group looked just as out of place, if not more. 

“So...my wife and I were passing by and figured we’d do a bit of sightseeing, you know...out here...where there’s lots to see…” Vin cocked his head, never being a very good liar at times, and knowing these two were probably not going to believe any of the shit he’d try to conjure up, he went down a different path.

Look, I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t here by mere coincidence, and that woman over there...” Vin pointed toward where Jennifer was standing, giving her a reassuring wave and smile. “Well, you see, she’s what you would call a ‘panophobiac’, scared shitless of everything, and doesn’t really need an [i]incident[/i], if you know what I mean. But just so you know, we aren’t here to harm anyone if that’s what you think, and I’m -I mean- [i]she’s[/i] hoping that you’re intentions are...well...honorable, yeah?” He let his words drift, hoping that the two in the truck were reasonable enough not to kick up any more of a shitstorm than was already brewing.

Vincent couldn’t help but glance back at the younger girl, whose expression seemed more annoyed than concerned, causing him to still feel a bit unhinged with the unusual meet taking place. He honestly didn’t know what to tell them, but he definitely wasn’t going to reveal where the other two companions were. What if he needed them now, and giving their position away would mean the end? Vincent just hoped that he could turn the conversation back on them, since maybe they had a better answer.

“So, what brings you two out here on this fine morning?”