After loading everything into the car, a Ford Maverick, “Jeff” and Kyle set off, Kyle sitting in the passenger seat, grinning with excitement, “this is gonna be fun,” he says.
“Jeff” chuckles, “I’m sure it will,” he says, “this is the only thing we have in common: being adventurous. But hey, at least we share one interest, right?”
Kyle nods, “ya, I honestly always wanted to explore something with you, Jeff,” he says, “no matter if it were a cave or building, but I never thought I’d accompany you to an abandoned castle! This is gonna be so freaking cool! I can’t wait to see what we might find!”
“Jeff” smiles, “you know, the only thing that matters to me is spending time with you, little bro,” he says, “that, for me, is what counts the most”.
Kyle nods, “I agree, but it’ll be cool if we’d find some treasure or something!”
“Jeff” chuckles, “that would be something,” he says, “though I doubt that, whoever lived there, left anything behind, and if they did, I bet it already got either stolen or taken by the government”.
“You never know,” Kyle says, “they could have missed some stuff!”
“Maybe,” “Jeff” chuckles, “but don’t get your hopes to high!”
“Fine, I won’t,” Kyle says, “are we there yet?”
“Jeff” laughs and shakes his head, “it’ll be another hour or so until we arrive,” he says, “it’s going to be a rough drive, luckily I have the perfect car to get us to where we want to be”.
“It’s a really cool car,” Kyle says, nodding, “perfect for off-roading, going camping and stuff like that!”
“Jeff” chuckles, “that is why I bought it,” he says, “I just love being in the open”.
Kyle smiles, “I too enjoy nature, that is another thing we have in common,” he says, “promise me, next time you go camping… please, let me join!”
“Jeff” smiles, “I promise,” he says.
Kyle smiles, “I love you, Jeff,” he says, “you’re such a great big brother, the best! I kind of regret that we just started to bond”.
“Hey, I guess until now, it wasn’t the right time for us to bond,” “Jeff” says, “but I promise, this won’t be the last time we’ll be doing something together”.
Kyle simply smiles at the teen, unaware that the guy is NOT his brother Jeff, “Jeff” himself smirks inwardly while smiling back at the 10-year-old, ‘hehe… he doesn’t know it yet, and never will, but he is mine and he’ll never see his family again,’ Henry thinks to himself.
After a two hours drive, they finally arrive at their destination, “Jeff” parks the car and they both step out, “whoa, just look at this place,” Kyle says, “I thought it would look more damaged, but it looks in perfect condition, at least from the outside”.
“It does,” “Jeff” says, “but it could look worse on the inside, we have to be careful, the floors and ceiling might not be so stable anymore”.
Kyle nods, “I’ll stay close to you and promise to not wander off,” he says.
“Jeff” ruffles Kyle’s hair, “that’s a good boy,” he says.
“Hey,” Kyle says, “you know I hate that”.
“Jeff” chuckles, “sorry, I just can’t help myself,” he says, “you are just to darn cute!”
Kyle blushes hard, “sh-shut it, Jeff,” he mumbles.
“Jeff” grins, “why don’t you give me a cool pose in front of the castle and I’ll snap a picture?”
“Okay,” Kyle says and stands in front of the castle, his legs parted and his arms crossed, grinning as “Jeff” takes out his phone.
“Jeff” opens the App and activates the scanner, grinning as the app scans the boy, “one more,” he says, switching to the actual camera and snapping a picture, “now one with the two of us,” he says, setting his phone against a rock and activating the timer. The “teen” then hurries to Kyle and lies and arm around the boy’s shoulder, while Kyle lies his arm around “Jeff’s” waist, both raising their thumbs and grinning into the camera. Jeff walks back to retrieve his phone, “let me send you the pictures,” he says, and after adding Kyle’s number to his contacts, thanks to his “memories”, he sends the images he had taken to Kyle’s phone, “now, let’s find a way in,” Kyle nods and both head up the stone steps that lead to the large doors of the castle.