Jess thinks quickly before Kyle comes out of the bathroom. He grabs the hotel phone and calls the front desk, requesting a plate of Kyle's favorite food and a strong dose of sleeping pills to be added to the order.
He begins pacing the room, anxious, hoping they arrive quickly. After just five minutes, there's a knock at the door.
Jess calls out, telling them to open the door with their key. A lady enters, handing him the food. Jess accepts it, closes the door behind her, and immediately stirs the sleeping pills into the food.
He then lies on the bed in a relaxed position, deliberately making it look like he drifted off unexpectedly.
Moments later, the bathroom door opens. Jess closes his eyes tighter, even pretending to snore quietly. He senses Kyle watching him, staring intently. After a few seconds, Jess feels Kyle's gaze shift away. He slightly opens one eye.
From his half-lidded view, he sees Kyle walking to the table where the food has been placed. When Kyle lifts the lid from the dish, Jess catches the faint smile that forms on his face. A spark of hope rises in Jess's chest.
He silently prays that Kyle eats the food. Just a few bites. Just enough to knock him out.
But Kyle scoops only a spoonful, raises it to his mouth, and eats it slowly like he's tasting it. Jess holds his breath, watching, praying harder.
Kyle doesn't eat again, he reaches into the pocket of his trousers and pulls out the small bottle. He uncaps it, pours the liquid into the food, and stirs it calmly.
Jess's heart skips a beat. His breath catches.
No.
His plan has failed.
He curses silently. There's no way he's going to eat that food. He tells himself firmly, no matter what happens, he will not eat it.
Kyle turns toward the bed. Jess shuts his eyes again quickly, playing the role of someone deep in sleep. Kyle comes closer and starts shaking him gently.
"Hey," he says softly, nudging him.
Jess stays still, ignoring the touch, hoping to sell the act.
But Kyle doesn't give up.
Instead, he picks up the plate of food and walks over with it, sitting beside the bed.
"Come on," Kyle says, coaxing. "I know you're hungry. Come on and eat."
He lifts a spoonful, raising it toward Jess's mouth. At that, Jess sits up suddenly, rubbing his eyes and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I ordered that for you," he says quickly. "I'm fine. I don't want to eat now. You need it more than I do. Just eat it, I just want to rest for a moment."
But Kyle insists.
"If you want me to tell you what's going on," he says firmly, "you gotta eat this first. Otherwise, I won't speak. Come on. I know you're hungry but you don't want to eat because you are still mad at me. Come on, eat."
Jess can tell by the tone of his voice, there's no room for negotiation. Kyle is serious. Determined. His heart pounds.
What should he do? He needs to get out of here. Fast. But if Kyle doesn't eat that food and fall asleep, he'll be trapped. Kyle looks ready to do whatever it takes to make sure he eats the food.
Suddenly, a thought flashes through Jess's mind.
He stretches his arms, feigning sleepiness again, and as he shifts, he lets his hand swing toward the dish. With swift precision, he knocks it from Kyle's hand, pretending it was an accident.
The dish clatters to the floor.
Kyle jumps up immediately, frustration rising in his voice.
"What have you done!" he nearly yells. "Shit!" he curses.
Jess puts on a shocked face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to! I can order another one…" He's already swinging his legs off the bed, reaching for the phone.
"Order another one?! Do y..." Kyle starts to snap, but before he can finish the sentence, he suddenly winces, holding his head.
He presses his fingers into his temples, blinking rapidly like he's struggling to focus. Jess stares at him, stunned.
Could it be? Did that one spoonful actually work?
Hope sparks inside Jess.
Kyle stumbles slightly, murmuring, "Why am I…" but he can't seem to finish the sentence.
He sways. Jess hurries to him, catching him by the arm and guiding him back to the bed.
"What's wrong?" Jess asks, barely hiding the satisfaction in his voice.
"My head… it's spinning," Kyle mumbles. His eyes flutter, the lids growing too heavy to keep open.
The moment his body hits the bed, he goes still, completely unconscious. Deep asleep.
Jess lets out an astonished chuckle. "What the… Did it actually work? Oh man…"
He moves quickly. He digs into Kyle's trouser pocket and grabs the keys. He unlocks the door, steps out, and walks quickly down the hallways of the hotel. The moment he's out, he breaks into a speed, moving so fast it even surprises him.
His mind is focused. One place burns in his thoughts: Crystal Bay, Moonvale Pack House.
But first, he has another task.
He roams the town, searching for a specific shop. He knows the scent is how everyone tracks him. He needs to mask it.
He's looking for one thing: VeilMist.
An illegal spray. One that confuses wolves' senses and throws off their ability to track a person by scent. He's used it before, and he knows exactly what kind of shady places it's sold in.
It's not the kind of thing you find in normal stores.
He searches, passing alleys and strange shops, almost ready to give up. But then, at the end of a narrow street, he sees a building that looks familiar, like the ones he's found VeilMist in before.
He slips inside quietly, eyes scanning the dim shelves.
He spots it. Without hesitation, he grabs it and makes his way to the restroom.
Inside, he sprays himself heavily, almost soaking himself in the stuff. The sharp chemical scent fills the air. He breathes it in, his nose wrinkling at the harshness.
Once he's done, he sneaks out of the shop. He didn't pay, he doesn't have the money, and he knows he doesn't have the time to argue.
He disappears into the street.