Chapter 7: on the road again

It was dark night already when a sharp pain awoke Hobbies from his self-inflicted unconsciousness. “Ouch!”, he proclaimed as Maria carefully, but swiftly pulled the bandages from his head. He touched his face and was relieved to find his wounds gone. The only remnants were some scars and a lot of dried blood.

“Oh don't you even dare to complain, you idiot! To just put me in a situation like that, without asking me or even telling me beforehand...!” Maria was visibly upset and glared at him angrily.

“Well, but it worked, didn't it?” Hobbies flashed her a smile, opened the door and got out of the car to wash his face with a bottle of water. The car's engine was still running, and the headlights illuminated a bit of the road ahead. The moon, hanging above a small group of trees, provided an additional source of light for the scene. They were in the countryside now, Hobbies observed. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still wet and muddy. The air was cool and refreshing.

“Thank you”, Hobbies said with sincerity when he got back into the bus. “I mean it. I know I didn't made things easy for you, but I trusted you and knew that you would be able to deal with it. So thanks – And I'm sorry.”

Maria was speechless by that direct and sudden apology. She muttered “It's fine” and then focused her attention on the road, putting the vehicle into motion again.

The monotonic humming of the old engine was the only sound that filled the bus, until Maria broke the silence after a few minutes. “We should reach a motel within the next hour. Sleeping in the bus isn't really that comfortable, so I'd like to avoid it if possible.”

“Seems good to me!” Hobbies replied. After Maria remained silent, he resumed talking.

“So now, what exactly is your plan? I mean, on a bigger scale - How are you gonna make me change my mind?" Maria smiled. "Oh, you just wait, Hobbies..."
"Come on, I'm curious!"
"Well, Hobbies...", Marie replied after some time, "I've got some things planned. But to be honest, I think it doesn't really matter what I show you. Actually, I think you coming on this journey with me already proves that you don't really want to go through with that crazy plan of yours. You may be lost, you may be unhappy, but I sincerely doubt that you are that... well, evil."
"That is most cetainly a cute little idea you have there", Hobbies replied with a smile, more light-hearted than the actually rather serious conversation topic should allow. "But I'm sorry to let you down - My plan is already set in stone. If there was something that could change my mind, I wouldn't take any risks like travelling around the country - So, as a matter of fact, my joining you on this journey actually means that the world's final fate is irrevocable, quite contrary to your theory."
Maria didn't seem convinced. "Oh, hide behind your smart speeches all you want ... I know I'm right, and deep down you know it too... And if not, you'll realize it before all this is over."
"It's hopeless to argue with a believer, isn't it?" Hobbies chuckled.