End Journeys
Ritualized

"Why are you? From that moment it looked agitated," asked Ruby to her lover.

"I told you let's move on until your family comes back" Felix replied.

"You think when my family comes back we'll be allowed to live together" Ruby refused Felix's invitation to move in temporarily.

"At least until all is safe we stay together" he replied.

"What are you worried about? Tell me," Ruby demanded clarity from Felix.

"Your safety. That's all," Felix replied firmly.

"I'm fine baby," a small debate ensued that afternoon in which Felix insisted on moving while Ruby refused.

It was unclear what Felix was worried about so was eager to find a rental place they could temporarily stay. Ruby felt the situation was not too bad there, there was only a woman asking for an address and that was a natural thing for Ruby.

"I know why you refused" Felix said as he left Ruby replying to a chat on his phone.

"Whatchu mean? Since we don't need to move, I decided to stay here" Ruby followed Felix to his room.

"The men are, right" Felix said as he looked at Ruby angrily.

"P.. What guy?" Ruby replied nervously as she had never seen Felix accuse her of that.

"of course. You still love him so much" Felix took his suitcase.

"Honey. No," Ruby's blocking Felix.

"I want to go home" Felix released Ruby's hand on her shoulder.

"You why? I'm yours" Ruby tried to convince Felix that she had no feelings for Thomas now.

Felix doesn't care what Ruby says. He packed his clothes.

"Alright let's go together," Ruby ran towards her room.

Felix just watched Ruby's behavior with a smile. He was happy because the trick he used succeeded in persuading Ruby to move.

Ruby came to Felix's room with an empty suitcase.

"Why did you bring this suitcase here?" ask Felix.

"My clothes are there" replied Ruby, pointing to a cupboard near the wooden cabinet where Felix had his belongings.

They packed together. Actually Ruby did not understand what Felix was worried about but he just followed his lover. He considers Felix's invitation to move temporarily is a vacation plan together.

"Where now? Even we do not know where to rent a house," said Ruby.

"We'll just walk around first. If you haven't met today, we'll stay at the motel" Felix replied casually.

Ruby went and checked if all the items she needed were packed. Felix put their stuff in the car.

"We say goodbye first" Ruby asked.

"It's dangerous to go back there" Felix immediately told Ruby to get in the car after making sure the house was locked.

They left that afternoon to find a house they could rent.

"I feel like I don't have a family" Ruby said.

"Why?" Felix curious.

"I feel so free. Since college I have only felt this kind of freedom" replied Ruby.

Felix, who had been used to living without parental supervision since Junior High, was silent to hear Ruby's answer.

"You're the princess in your family, yes" seduced Felix.

"Whatchu mean? Because where I live there are no exclamation points then I stay more at home while here are many places that I can visit," Ruby defended herself.

"It's okay, I'll make you queen hahaha" Felix laughed amid the city's traffic.

The sky is getting dark. Ruby and Thomas have found a rental house but it turns out in it less to make them comfortable. And some homes are comfortable but the price offered is less suitable for them. That night they decided to stay at a suburban motel.

"I know a motel on the outskirts of town. You want to stay over there?" Felix offers while handing her phone to Ruby. Seen a picture of the motel referred to by Felix, with a beautiful view for a motel in the city. Ruby just found out there was a motel like that in the area where she lived.

"You like this kind of place, don't you?" ask Felix to his girlfriend.

"Of course," Ruby excitedly entered the motel.

Motel that is not too luxurious and located in the city near the forest is indeed a favorite place Ruby. He who is very fond of mystery also likes a place with a slightly gripping and mysterious atmosphere.

The time it took to reach the motel was about an hour from where they were currently. Although they are tired, they are still excited because the place is very attractive to them. After stopping by a restaurant nearby and filling up Ruby's car, they finally reached their destination.

"Good night" said a woman.

"Night. We want to stay a day" Felix said.

"good. The room is there" the woman replied, giving her the key.

"Our stuff wasn't brought?" ruby whispers.

"The stuff just put it in the car" Ruby suggested.

"No, fear of missing," Felix went back out and took some of their suitcases.

Some time they went in and out of the motel to move their goods which amounted to quite a lot. The woman who gave me the key just sat down and drank tea to see Ruby and Felix move their things.

"A cruel woman" whispered Ruby.

"Can you just shut up?" Felix pinched Ruby's waist.

"I want to take a shower" Ruby went to the bathroom in the room where they were staying. After moving the heavy items, Ruby's body felt very dirty and sticky.

"Me too" Felix followed Ruby.

"I go first, yeah" Ruby closed the bathroom door and left Felix outside.

"I'll take care of you" Felix replied.

Ruby who peeked from the ventilation on the bathroom door just laughed at Felix's behavior. He was happy because his lover tried to take care of him very hard, but on the other hand Ruby was confused exactly what made Felix so mischievous.

Midnight is coming. They both could not sleep well. Just closed his eyes for 10 minutes and then woke up. It happens over and over again.

"Honey. I feel like someone is watching us" Felix whispered to Ruby who was on her back. He pretended to hug Ruby so as not to be seen whispering while Ruby still pretended to be asleep. He clasped Felix's hand without answering Felix's whisper, and they fell asleep.

***

"Darling, we're just staying here for a while" Ruby suggested suddenly.

Felix who was still covered in drowsiness just remained silent and pulled back the blanket. That morning the weather was so sunny, the air was very cool because the motel was located on the outskirts of the city with a beautiful environment. Ruby looked out of the glass window that could not be opened. Outside it turns out that many motel visitors walk out and enter the small motel yard.

"It turns out that many people stay here. Last night I felt it was just me and Felix because it was so quiet. Maybe because it's night," he said inwardly.

"My darling," Felix pulled on Ruby's skirt.

"What are you doing? Let go," Ruby's pinta.

Felix, of course, refused to let go of his lover just like that.

"What are we eating today?" ask Felix.

Geck.. Geck..

There was a knock on the door of the room.

"I'm the only one who opens," Felix cautiously opened the door.

"Good morning" said the woman.

It was Poppy, the woman in charge of receiving guests at the motel.

"Hey. Good morning," Felix greeted the woman back.

"Mom wants to take you to breakfast together. Come with me," said Poppy.

Felix glanced at Ruby and they walked up to Poppy.

"Mom and I used to invite our first-time guests to our motel to eat together" Poppy said on her way to her home. Poppy's house is only about 200 metres from the motel. The Poppy family-owned motel has been around for a long time in the suburbs and there are so many people interested in staying there.

Arriving in front of the house, they had been awaited by the grizzled old lady who smiled revealing her white teeth. Ruby returned the smile of the young but white-haired woman while Felix shuddered in horror.

"Please come in" the mother let them in.

"You guys from town?" ask Poppy about Ruby.

"Yes. Actually we were looking for a house to rent but because of the night on the road so we stayed here" replied Ruby.

"Stay longer here. We do not set the price is expensive because lately visitors are lonely due to the disease epidemic," said the mother.

"Good idea" Ruby beckoned Felix to stay longer.

Felix did not respond and finished his breakfast quickly. He felt quite strange because the woman did not introduce herself at all. All they now know is that she's Poppy's mother.

"Hey get out of here! The ritual! The ritual!" yelled at someone from outside the house.

Visitors staying at the motel ran in fear and entered the motel. Poppy immediately came out and chased the woman away. The woman who looks the same age as Poppy's mother but because she uses a face cover, Ruby cannot see her face.

"Sorry, that woman does make a fuss, too often" Poppy felt bad for her guests.

Ruby and Felix, who are also terrified, choose to return to the motel.

***

"Darling, you go now" asked Ruby. He who initially wanted to stay longer now changed his mind.

"Come on!" Felix eagerly agrees with Ruby's plan.

"Wait!" someone screamed and peeked out of the window.