Despite the steady increase in temperature, travel had become much more difficult. After conquering the last few mountains, the tundra had turned into a desert. Instead of fighting through bushes and trees, I now felt as if I was surrounded by nothing but small, dry bushes and grainy, steaming sand. Endless sand. Sand somehow capable of working its way into every crevice of my clothes, shoes–even down into the deepest parts of my fur. Every part of me wanted to scratch away all the discomfort, but reaching those itches was impossible with the layers of clothes. Although…

  Clothes…too hot…

  Unceremoniously dropping my backpack to the ground with a thud, I started pulling off my coat and makeshift pants. Well, my pants had almost fallen apart completely anyway. The season was changing, but in this desert, it couldn’t decide whether to be icy cold or unbearably hot. Instead, it had seemed to settle for both; the days were far too warm to be wearing a coat like mine, but nighttime still reached temperatures below freezing. The end result left me carrying clothes I only needed after the sun disappeared. Part of me wanted to simply abandon the clothing and muscle through the cold night like I had at the beginning of my adventure.

  Right now, with the sun overhead and the weather clear, I could see for miles in every direction. Ahead of me was Grand Junction; a long way off, but if I kept a good pace, I could make it there by the end of the day. My initial excitement of first seeing the city had eventually worn off. The entire town, glowing warmly, as if it was expecting me, had steadily been replaced in my mind’s eye with more and more questions. Trying to figure out what would happen when I found Oliver…that scenario kept playing in my head with all the possible outcomes I could imagine.

  So let’s say I make it there. Then what? What am I going to say? How will I even explain…me?

  “Hey, Oliver! So glad to finally meet you! Oh, this?” I said sarcastically to the silent world. “Right! You see, I’m an alien from another planet, and get this: I didn’t even know I was until I went on that little ‘trip’ you suggested, and oh boy, some crazy stuff happened!”

  …that’s stupid.

  I knew it was stupid, too.

  I hope I figure something out by the time I’m there.

  I kicked a small rock in frustration, getting only a small amount of satisfaction as I watched it roll down the hill, kicking up sand with every thud against the soft earth. Looking up, I estimated Grand Junction to be a few miles away. Oliver’s house was around the south part of town, meaning it was best for me to travel through the desert until I could turn north. It wasn’t the fastest way there, but it was the way to minimize my time around people. Besides, there was no rush to get there until sunset. Passing by or through town at night would be far easier than trying to be stealthy during the day.

  What if he doesn’t let me stay? What if he calls the police? What if those people find me again? …am I putting Oliver in danger simply by being there?

  The last question made me feel the most uneasy. After…the fire…I didn’t want to ruin someone else’s life simply by being near them. At the same time…

  “I don’t have any other options.”

  I could feel myself gritting my teeth, thoughts harassing me worse than they had all day.

  Call Emily.

  “I can’t call Emily…not after what she did.”

  She was only trying to help.

  “Help?! She lied to me! She kept this secret from me and used me like some kind of…of…experiment!”

  She would do anything for you.

  “She betrayed me. She lied to me.” I repeated, tone lowering to a defeated sadness.

  She was going to take care of you, give you a place to stay. She didn’t betray you. You betrayed her.

  I didn’t know how to respond. These thoughts were awful. I hated them. Ever since the allure of seeing my final destination had dissipated, arguments in my head kept appearing without warning. It was because I didn’t have to worry about my survival as much, I knew, but it would have been nice to focus on anything else. In fact…

  I pulled my headphones from my neck, sliding them into their proper position. Only a moment later, the voices in my head fell silent as I was teleported to another place and time.

  ***

  House music was a beautiful creation. I could get lost in the melodies for hours, the soft beats and intricate network of instruments flowing together to create an upbeat, relaxing feeling. It made me feel as if I was, fittingly, home. I didn’t know where ‘home’ really was anymore, but I could feel it in the music–not a place, but a feeling. Without thinking, I began stepping to the rhythm, music continuing to keep the voices in my head away. The sounds filling their place were beautiful, lifting my body and spirit in a way capable of forgetting my exhaustion, my fear. Instead, I was simply taking a nice stroll, something I often did through the woods surrounding my treehouse.

  I loved my treehouse. I hoped I would see it again, with all of the instruments I could ever dream of. With any luck, Oliver might have something for me to play at his house. Going for weeks and not having some sort of instrument with me made me realize how much I truly loved making music. While I was mulling the thought around in my head, the song in my ears ended, a familiar, dreadful voice filling the silence.

  What if he doesn’t let you stay? What if you–

  The voice scattered to the winds as the next song sprang to life inside my ears. I took a deep breath, stepping to the beat again while letting my mind wander to better thoughts.

  I could probably teach Oliver how to play an instrument, if he wanted.

  Curiosity got me thinking about what he would want to learn to play. Over the time I had known him online, I’d never heard him play anything. Maybe he never had played anything.

  The piano?

  It was an easy instrument to learn, even if it could also be the most complex when going with advanced songs. Of course, if he didn’t have any instruments, I’d have to find a way to get one…or ten. I looked down at my rugged hands. The wear and tear from running my fingers over the steel strings had all but vanished. Instead, they were littered with cuts and scrapes–small injuries from falling onto rocks, using rough sticks as makeshift tools…

  …they looked foreign, in a way that made them not look like anyone’s hands I had ever seen, let alone mine. My claws were sliced and scraped apart, the grooves from my guitar strings long gone.

  Claw.

  The word felt off, but they were claws. I had always called them fingernails, the same as John and Emily, but my hands didn’t have nails…they had claws. As I considered the word, rolling it through my mind a few times…perhaps it did make sense. Above all else, making this journey had given me time to find myself and who I am…what I am.

  “Ah!”

  A sharp, piercing pan jutted through my foot. Springing backwards as best I could, my headphones tumbled off my head. One strap of my backpack snapped with a light ‘pop’ as I hit the ground. As fast as I could, I sat back up, pulling the other strap away before reaching down to find a snake. The serpent had bitten me deeply on the top of my exposed foot as it looked up at me. I grabbed it by its scaly head, tossing it away and gripping harder onto my foot. Pain seared through my leg as I gently squeezed around the bite.

  My body tensed as I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the searing, fiery pain. Although I didn’t want to, I pulled my hand away, inspecting the damage. My hand had a small amount of blood grazed across it. I couldn’t see where the snake had attacked me thanks to my fur, but I could definitely feel the location of the bite. Giving another small squeeze to my foot, I looked to my side, noticing the snake staring right back at me.

  I froze. The serpent continued to stare me down, its tail rattling as if it were ready to close the few feet between us and attack again. Instinct was urging me to stand and run, to get away from it as quickly as I could…but with my foot still searing in pain, I didn’t know what I could do. My eyes darted around, looking for something to throw to scare the snake away.

  Just as I made the decision to get up and run, to ignore the pain, the serpent started looking up at the sky, mouth opening wide. I could see a layer of black blood–my blood–inside filling its maw. The rattling tail stopped. Slowly, I rose to my full height, wondering if the snake would notice. Instead, it remained unmoving. Once I took a step to move away from it, the body of the creature suddenly twitched. I stood, rooted to the spot, waiting for its next move. It twitched again, much more violently, then hissed. Although I couldn’t be sure, it sounded as if it were in pain…

  ...and then, the snake began spasming on the ground, kicking up sand all around itself as it writhed in apparent agony. I stared, the pain in my foot totally forgotten as the hissing sound grew in my ears. The creature in front of me sounded terrified, in a way which radiated that feeling into my hearts. Though I wanted to be able to do something, anything, all I could do was watch in horror as the convulsions suddenly stopped. The snake’s form went perfectly still, mouth wide. The thumping of my chest radiated all the way to my ears as I processed what I’d seen.

  The snake was completely still, in a way only capable of a dead body.

  I stepped towards the creature, pain forgotten as my eyes looked to the snake’s open mouth. In the span of a few moments, the pink flesh had turned to a rotten-looking black, as if it were corrupted by something evil. Veins of darkness crept up into the scales of the snake’s body. Still in terror, my shaking hand reached out, barely able to take the serpent into my hands with a gentle touch.

  Time itself seemed to freeze as I held its body in my hands, watching the black veins underneath the scales finally stop. Though I continued watching for any signs of change, the only noticeable difference was the pain in my foot slowly disappearing. Only now did I realize the small headache thumping in my head, but it, too, vanished within minutes. My vision slowly rose to the scenery around me, only now remembering there was a whole world surrounding where I sat.

  What had once been a vicious creature now seemed to be a beautiful serpent, marred by the dark lines of corruption. I had to keep moving, but I couldn’t stop holding it in my hands. It had probably been warning me not to get close…a warning I hadn’t heard over the sound of my music. I gently traced a line down the tans and browns that adorned its body.

  “I’m sorry.” I whispered. “You didn’t deserve this…all you were doing was defending yourself…”

  I spent the next few minutes digging a hole. I didn’t have any tools, instead using my hands to push and slide the layers of sand to the side. With the hole deep enough, I gently placed the snake at the bottom, sitting next to the grave, knowing I would be the last person to see its body.

  “Your poison didn’t really affect me…” I said quietly, “...but…”

  You were the poison.

  I frowned, trying to squeeze my eyes shut tight enough to avoid any tears leaking from my face.

  “I…don’t belong here.”

  Without another word, I slowly started pushing the sand over the snake I’d killed.

  You’re right. You don’t belong here.

  ***

  Nothing could have convinced me to wear my headphones during the rest of my trip. I needed to be focused on my surroundings…and not just for any person who could be nearby. Instead, I kept my focus on the sun, following it west as it gently dipped behind the horizon. The lack of music brought the voices in my head back to the surface of my thoughts, even while I tried to shove them away. To think, I’d felt like my journey had taken forever…and now I was wishing I had more time to think. There were still too many questions in my head, unanswered, making me doubt everything I had done. Even so, there wasn’t much time until I reached my destination.

  Grand Junction was to the north of my location as I continued west, hoping to get as close as I could to Oliver’s home before actually making my way into the town. Noticing a large building in front of me, I paused briefly, deciding to stop there before I turned north. I still couldn’t stop thinking of the poor snake, no matter where my focus was.

  The same thought kept coming to my mind: I don’t belong here.

  I didn’t belong in this desert…I didn’t even belong here, on earth. This planet wasn’t where I was supposed to be, despite having lived here for almost my entire life. I looked to the heavens, stars glittering across the dark blue canopy. Over the past few weeks, I’d searched the night sky, wondering where I came from, wondering where I belonged, wondering why I was sent here, alone. Other than Oliver, it seemed to be the only thing I could consider when the voices in my head weren’t distracting me. What I wouldn’t have given to think of something, anything else…

  The building now towered over me as I scanned the area. There was a small parking lot next to the structure and a few street lights scattered intermittently. Aside from them, however, there was no sign of life: no cars, no lights inside the building itself, nothing. The sign above the front doors read, “Mesa County Animal Control”.

  I sighed. “Fitting.”

  With a sharp, cutting pain in my shoulder from my backpack, a short break was exactly what I needed. Spotting a hose on the side of the building’s wall, I made my way over to it. The broken strap had made my backpack far more difficult to carry, but I’d managed to keep my energy high enough to carry it for the last few miles. I dropped the bag next to the wall, feeling immediate relief as I grabbed the hose, rotating the tap to bring the cold water into my reach.

  Despite the icy sting of the water, it was a smooth reprieve from my usual conservation. When I didn’t have to worry about my supply, I found it nearly impossible to resist indulging. I grabbed my water bottles, sitting with my back resting against the wall as I filled each of the containers to the brim. With a sigh, taking a look toward Grand Junction, I could see the neighborhoods, lit up with a soft glow. Somewhere in there, Oliver’s house was waiting for me. I could probably even see it from where I was sitting.

  As I filled the last water bottle, a pair of lights shone brightly from the side of a building. It was a truck. I quickly turned off the faucet, trying to keep the sound as low as I could while the knob squeaked with each movement. The truck came to a stop, parking close to my location. Once the faucet had stopped, I grabbed my back, silently diving into the nearest bush and hoping anyone in the vehicle hadn’t seen me.

  Two people stepped out of the car, slamming the doors shut before walking toward the front door. The first one put a hand in their pocket, pulling out and fumbling with a jingly set of keys. As I turned back, I saw the final water bottle I had been filling still left next to the hose. I froze. If either of them looked to their right, they’d see it. They’d investigate and probably find me.

  Oh no, oh no, oh no…

  It kept repeating in my head, but I stayed completely still. Moving even an inch might catch their attention. After what felt like forever, the first one finally unlocked the door and the pair went inside the building. Not wanting to wait any longer, I sprinted from my hiding place, skidding to a stop just long enough to grab my bottle before darting back to the shrub.

  I need to get out of here. Now.

  Shoving the bottle in my bag, I slung the backpack over my shoulder. Any soreness in my back was forgotten thanks to the spike of adrenaline. Above my location, I could hear both people talking to someone else over a radio.

  “Get both of the nets, please. This thing is fast.” The cracking voice spoke.

  One of the people grabbed the radio. “We got ‘em. Why were people even there at this time of night? Who the hell goes golfing at night?”

  I paused. Thinking about the map I’d looked at over and over, I knew the place they were going. That golf course was only a little south of Oliver’s house.

  The first person inside the building let out an annoyed scoff. “Did it have to show up tonight? Ugh.”

  “The raccoons don’t exactly work on a schedule, dude.” His co-worker responded. “It’s fine. We’ll get it tonight and then we don’t have to worry about it again after this.”

  A loud sigh followed. “Three days of looking for this damn rabid raccoon and it shows up on the one night I had plans.”

  Thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to think quickly. They were probably going to Chipeta Golf Course. If I hopped on the back of their truck while they were still inside the building, they probably wouldn’t even notice. Both of them were clearly tired, and with it being dark out, I could get a ride which would put me close to Oliver’s house without detection.

  The building doors opened again, both people quickly walking out toward the truck. One of them was holding two large nets, each one attached to a massive pole. They tossed them into the back of the truck before sliding back into the vehicle, turning the engine on as it roared to life. I grabbed my bag. There was only one chance, and I had to make it count.

  Once the truck began to leave, I chased after it. Although I could have moved faster on all fours, my backpack prevented it. Luckily, the truck slowed down as it rounded a corner, allowing me to catch the vehicle and jump onto the back. There were tons of levels and knobs, as well as a bar above the bumper for me to grab to stop myself from falling. I held myself in place, and seconds later, the truck stopped. My breath caught in my chest. If either of the doors opened, I’d run. Just as I was getting ready to flee, we started moving again. I sighed, relief washing over my body as I noticed the stop sign.

  Now certain I was safe and heading into Grand Junction, I pulled myself onto one of the boxes on the back of the truck, setting my backpack in front of me with a soft thud. From this position, neither of the people in the truck should be able to see me. If anyone appeared behind us, they would think my backpack was part of the supplies. It was nice to be moving quickly, especially since it wasn’t costing me any effort or energy. The vehicle began to increase in speed. I could only look away from the direction we traveled, but I could still see the lights from houses as the city ahead grew brighter.

  I pulled out my phone, making sure to adjust the screen so no one would see its light. As I opened the map, I could see us approaching what looked like a golf course. This hitchhiking trip was perfect. I was heading right where I wanted to be going. Zooming the map to view everything in more detail, I could see grass fields out of view of the nearby houses, leading all the way up to…

  “The Colorado River…” I muttered.

  There were a few bridges, but all of them would have cars crossing them. Even if they looked empty from one end, there would be no way for me to know they would stay empty while I crossed.

  “Dammit…”

  I couldn’t keep thinking about it, because at that moment, I noticed the dot on the map getting close to the north side of the golf course. Knowing I needed to jump before anyone noticed me, I slowly stood. As I grabbed my backpack, I took a steady breath. It was dark, but no one was driving behind us, and no headlights were visible from any place I was able to see. What I needed to see, however, was where I would land. Before I could make a decision, one of the people in the cab of the truck saw me.

  With no time left, I jumped. For a brief moment, I wondered how I could have possibly gotten into this mess. The ground began approaching, lit up with a red glow from the truck’s tail lights as it slowed. My backpack was gripped tightly in my hand as I braced for the impact. I crashed hard into the ground, much harder than I’d expected. The truck hadn’t been moving too quickly, but I still tumbled around, losing my bag for a moment as I rolled through the grass.

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  As quickly as I could, I got my bearings, head whipping around as I spotted my backpack. It had stopped a few feet before I had. I ran back and scooped it up as I heard a car door. The truck had stopped, but by the time the person in the passenger seat was standing outside of the vehicle, I had already disappeared into the trees. Holding my bag in my hands, I continued running, not stopping until I finally heard their truck continuing towards the golf course.

  When I finally did come to a standstill, I caught my breath, looking at my surroundings. A few houses were scattered around me, but there were only a small handful of lights still glowing. If I kept going north, I wouldn’t be in sight of any potential onlookers. Taking a quick look over myself to make sure I was okay, I resumed my journey, keeping my distance from any houses while I headed north.

  The small fields of grass soon morphed into a sandy, shore-like terra. No buildings were around this section of the city. Instead, it was lined with bushes and trees. My feet gently sank into the sand, just enough for me to notice. I continued, not minding the soft, grainy texture as much as I had earlier. Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a small river.

  Please don’t be deep.

  Needing more information, I took another look at my phone’s map. Thankfully, this river seemed to be a small offshoot of the Colorado River, making a small island with a narrow part of the river going around one side of it. There didn’t appear to be any structures on the island, only sand and bushes. It was exactly what I needed.

  I started walking along the river, going east and continuing to follow it as the water turned to the north. Sooner than expected, I ran into a small crossing area; it was a small place which would isolate me from the houses now behind me. Although I didn’t care about getting wet, I still took my coat and shirt off, holding them overhead with my backpack. The cold water came up to my neck at the deepest point, but thankfully it was only for a few paces as I made it past the middle and onto the opposite shore.

  “Okay…I made it here.”

  This spot would be good to take a rest. Making a right, and walking for only a few moments longer, I reached the shore of the Colorado River itself. It was hard to see, but I could still make out several houses on the other side. Setting my bag down, I gently flopped onto my back. I couldn’t view the stars as well thanks to the city lights, but it actually gave me comfort. I didn’t want to look up at them, I just wanted to be here, in this moment, and not think about anything else.

  My eyes slid shut, ears twitching as I listened to the soft, gentle sounds of the water. My thoughts felt calm, despite the aches in my body. Just a bit more…I knew I was close to my goal. Giving a small smile, I felt my frame relax. Tomorrow, I could figure out how to get past the final stretch of my journey.

  ***

  I woke with a start, the cold chill of the night ever present in my feet. As I lifted the top half of my body, my half-awake eyes noticed the sun, its golden rays beginning to creep over the horizon. When I moved one of my feet, I quickly found the reason for the icy chill. The river must have risen while I was asleep. I scooted away from the water, instinctively grabbing my backpack to make sure it stayed where I had left it. A deep breath escaped me. Everything was fine, but I still quietly scolded myself for falling asleep.

  Getting to Oliver’s house in the daytime would be nearly impossible. If I missed my chance, I’d have to spend the entire day here…or risk getting caught. Now properly awake, I viewed my surroundings, taking in the majestic scenery while deciding on a plan. With enough light to see across the river, I could make out the shore on the other side. The distance was enough to make me reconsider swimming. Looking at my map once more, I noticed a bridge to my left. It was out of sight, but also a landmark I had no way of safely crossing without someone spotting me.

  The river might be larger than any other I’d crossed, but I knew I could cross it directly. Even with the freezing cold water, this obstacle was one I had already overcome a few times. I’d just have to be more creative. Oliver’s house was only a little farther. Once I crossed this river, I’d be done.

  I looked to my backpack, knowing I wouldn’t need most of what I had anymore. I picked up the decaying bag, carrying it up the riverbank a bit more. One by one, I pulled out everything in my baggage. I pulled out all the camping gear, then placed all my electronics into one of my weather sealed bags. Another bag carried the most important things I had: the wheel, the cloth, and the crystal necklace. I wrapped a second bag around the first, just in case anything happened to it. I emptied out all the extra clothing and food I had.

  Now down to the essentials, I re-packed my bag. Compared to the rest of my journey, it was practically light as a feather, and it was wonderfully free. With one more watertight bag which had no use, I stuffed all of my excess things into it, taking it to a high spot on the island. I didn’t want to litter. Instead, I promised myself I would come and retrieve everything when I could. At the very least, I could tell someone else so they could take care of the mess I had to leave here.

  Making my way to the shore, I mulled over the mental checklist one last time. I had everything I needed. Only my pants and the rope were on my person; everything else was in my bag. Though I’d never crossed a river this large, I had a good idea on what I was doing. Taking the rope, I wound the cord through various straps and holes along the outside of my backpack. If something broke, there would be several places for me to grab.

  With a look across the river, then down to the water in front of me, I exhaled a breath, not even aware I’d been holding in my air. The water looked far too murky for me to see anything, especially with the sun not providing enough light. Once I was in the water, I would be continuing blind. I waded into the cool river, holding the backpack out in front of me. With the water reaching my chest after several paces, I gave myself a second’s reprieve.

  “Please float…” I begged the bag, slowly setting my gear onto the water’s surface.

  It sank below the surface, mercifully stopping when a third of it remained in sight.

  I smiled. “...thank you.”

  Holding the rope in my hand, I let the bag go, giving it only a small amount of slack as I waded deeper into the river. Taking a large gulp of air, I submerged myself into the water. As I expected, I couldn’t see anything. Even so, I continued my slow, steady walk, guided by the river’s current. The river sped up as I continued, but as long as I leaned into the current, keeping my balance was simple.

  The real fear thumping in my hearts was the fear of losing my backpack. I kept a firm grip on the rope, unable to see the bag somewhere above me. Feeding the rope more slack as the river grew deeper, I kept my slow pace. The last thing I needed was to find myself tripping over some unknown obstacle and losing the rope. Branches, sticks and modest sized rocks lined the bottom of the river, but as long as I took my time to step over and around each obstacle, I found my way.

  Having no sense of sight left me nervously wondering when I would be free of this underwater maze. If my estimation was correct, I’d been crossing the river for just over four minutes. Just as worry started to fill my mind, I felt the ground slanting up to the surface. The riverbed was still full of the things I’d dropped, but after a minute or two of fumbling my way around everything, I continued to walk up the gentle slope. I kept my slow pace, feeling the rushing water get slower and slower as I neared the shore.

  My head broke the surface of the water at long last. I blinked, looking to my right to see my backpack, still securely attached to the rope in my hand. Looking toward the island, it looked as if I had gone downstream, but only by a little. I picked up my bag, holding it tightly to my chest as I continued walking until I reached the shore. I didn’t want to stop, not now. With a small lurch, I slung the working strap onto my shoulder, continuing along the river. After a few minutes, I reached a small, straight bit of water idly flowing into the neighborhoods.

  “Almost there.” I said, affording myself a small smile.

  Ponds of still, clear water rested on either side of my path as I continued towards Oliver’s house. To my left, I saw a road parallel to the little creek I had been following. I knew this place. I’d looked at this location on my map over and over when I first made plans to travel here. As I expected, a small group of houses rested comfortably in front of me. Approaching from the back, I stayed close to the field, just on the opposite side of a small dirt path separating the field from the houses. I counted each house from the beginning.

  “One…two…three…four.”

  House number four, a small tan house with a red roof, was slightly askew from the prior homes. A fence was wrapped around the back half of the house, but even with my limited view, I knew this place. I’d looked at it so many times. It was Oliver’s house. Actually seeing it in person felt surreal. It had always felt a million miles away while travelling, always felt just out of reach when I dreamed about it. Oliver’s house, along with all the others, were all out, and with no street lamps, the neighborhood remained void of any sounds of life. I darted past the small dirt pathway, tossing the bag over the fence before jumping past the barrier myself.

  Finally, finally, I felt like I could take a deep breath. No one would be able to see me here, no one would know I was here. I might still be alone before Oliver arrived, but I was safe at long last. A small glow of relief emanating in my body, I approached the house, my footsteps taking me to the back door. The sun still hadn’t risen fully, but it wouldn’t be long before someone would inevitably awaken and the neighborhood would stir to life. I reached for the handle, giving it a slow pull…and thankfully, the door was unlocked.

  Slipping inside Oliver’s house, I closed the door behind me as quietly as I could, dropping my bag and gently sinking down to the floor. I rested on my back, looking up at the ceiling of the dark house. Everything was quiet. No one was here. Eyes sliding shut, I did my best to take all of this journey into retrospect. Through everything, I’d succeeded. I’d made it. I was at Oliver’s house and I was finally safe. I thought about all I’d done, everywhere I’d travelled. All of the close encounters to make it here, all so I could…

  I opened my eyes. It was so dark, it startled me enough to make me fully awake. The relief of safety and success must have lulled me straight to sleep. I reached behind myself, grabbing my back and held it snug to my chest as I tried to form coherent thoughts. Unsure of what I should do, I pulled out my phone, knowing I had to start somewhere. The phone’s battery was completely gone.

  “Okay…” I took a deep breath. “I need to find somewhere to plug this in, that’s first.”

  Slowly, I stood, hands out in front of myself as I stumbled my way to a wall. It took a moment, but I eventually found a switch, bathing the room in light as I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a soft wince. This space must have been the living room, given the large television mounted to the wall and a pair of faded blue couches and wooden chairs. Although smaller than my house, the structure had a cozy feeling to it. After everything, I was thankful for anything better than a cardboard box.

  On one end of the living room, the open entrance led to another part of the house. I walked to the entryway, noticing a small island countertop in what must have been the kitchen. The kitchen itself was a few inches taller than the living room, but a long ramp led up to it.

  Walking into the kitchen, I quickly noticed how low the counters were. Normally, I could barely see over any counter at home. If I wanted to have access to anything, I’d need a step stool. Here, they were at a much more comfortable height.

  “Oh, wow…”

  I spread my arms across the surface, marveling at the distance my arms could reach. It was such a simple thing, being able to make full use of the kitchen counters, but I couldn’t help but smile. John had eventually put several platforms around the kitchen for me to stand, but the natural feeling of being tall enough was wonderful. It was simple, reaching up to the cabinet as I found a glass, not even having to jump or crawl onto the counter to reach it. When I turned to fill the vessel with the water my body craved, I found a massive stack of dirty dishes, nearly enough to stop me from getting the glass underneath the faucet.

  “Mmmh…”

  I drank the entire thing in a few gulps, instantly filling the glass a second time. Only now did I realize exactly how thirsty I was, draining the water once more. Satiated, I turned on more lights, looking back to the sink and the pile of dishes.

  “I’ll be back for you later.”

  Returning to the living room, I began exploring the house, looking into all the different rooms and hallways. None of the rooms had carpet, but instead they were lined with hardwood floors and ramps for any places with different elevation. My last stop was the stairway. It had a track on the side of it with a chair at the base of the stairs. All I could see beyond the steps was darkness. Maybe it would be best to stay on the first floor for now.

  With more lights around Oliver’s home, I could see far more clearly. Clutter lined the walls, including random clothing tossed haphazardly around the house. Next to the large television in the living room, there was a large pile of wires and power strips. I walked over, fiddling through them for only a second before I found a white charger to fit my phone.

  “Oh, perfect!”

  I pulled out my device and plugged it in, smiling as the screen flashing to life. A large zero and a percent sign popped on the screen. Testing the buttons and tapping the screen, I quickly realized I’d have to wait. With a sigh, I placed the phone on the ground, nervous about what I would find when my phone was usable again.

  Had Oliver tried to contact me? Was Emily trying to call me again? Who else had left messages for me? How many people knew about what happened, and how many knew I was missing?

  My fingers drummed on the desk, looking at the phone, still reading the same number. I couldn’t simply sit here. There had to be something I could do. As my eyes fell on the state of the house, I walked to the closest piece of clothing, folding it and placing it on the couch. A few minutes later, all the clothing was off the floor, but almost every corner of the downstairs rooms still had clutter everywhere. Glancing at my phone, I knew there was a good chance I could check my messages now…but I didn’t want to think about everything I might see on there.

  Instead, I opened my bag, taking my headphones and a music player at random. Shuffling the music, I decided to let fate surprise me. My eyes slid shut, foot tapping to the beat of the electro swing flooding into my ears.

  Perfect.

  Going back to cleaning, I sorted every bit of clutter on the floor into some level of organization. After making several piles, I moved certain groups and objects onto the shelving units. There were all sorts of various things scattered around me. There were papers, knicknacks, and unopened non-perishables–some even still in their shopping bags. Soon the shelves were organized and nearly everything was off of the floor. I moved to the television area, looking at the massive web of cables. One by one, I pulled them free from the bundle and stacked them neatly.

  The music in my ears made the tasks flow effortlessly, as if I was on autopilot, tapping my feet to the wonderful sound. I barely noticed myself moving from the living room to the kitchen until one song stopped and another began, bringing me out of the trance long enough to look at the pile of dishes.

  With the dirty dishes finished after a few minutes, I turned my music player off, smiling around at my work to build a more respectable looking house. Everything looked to be in place. The last thing for me to do here was sweep the floor. Dust had built up in several places, particularly the corners. Remembering the closet in the hallway, I opened the door, searching for a broom.

  I couldn’t find any lightswitch, but as I used my hand to fumble through the objects, I did find several coats. Past them, I gripped onto something, but it was stuck between other unknown items. Giving it a firm yank, I quickly realized my mistake–

  “No, no, no–”

  –but not quickly enough. Everything in the closet toppled forward, either onto the floor or onto me. Pulling my hand out of the closet, I did find a broom in my grip. WIth the sound of everything settling at my feet, I heard a gentle twang. My ears perked, focus shifting from the broom to the sound of what must have been a guitar, still tucked away in the closet. Broom rested against the side of the wall, I reached into the closet once more, much more careful as I felt around.

  I still managed to knock over a few more things. One was a mop. Another…was a rake, I thought, but with no light, I couldn’t be certain. Finally, my fingers thumped against a large, hard case. Without hesitation, I grabbed it, pulling it out into the light. The black, shiny case gleamed back at me. All of my focus now on the guitar, I brought it over to the short kitchen countertop, undoing the latches and pulling the instrument free.

  The guitar was rather simple. It wasn’t a brand I’d ever heard of, but compared to my worn instruments, this one appeared to be barely used. No scuff marks on the wood, no dents, no scratches…part of me wondered if it had been used at all. I gave it a strum, instantly realizing it was horribly out of tune.

  Bringing the instrument back into the living room, I hopped onto the couch. I couldn’t help but think about my phone, eyes flickering to it, then back to the guitar. Dealing with all of those messages and missed calls could wait, at least for now. I smiled at the guitar, slowly tuning the strings. Doing the tuning process by ear never truly fixed a guitar, but it was close enough. Once I had adjusted it to my satisfaction, I gave the guitar a few strums, followed by some random chords. It sounded fine, even if it was a bit larger than me.

  My finger slipped off a string. I put it back to its spot, playing another chord before two fingers slipped off the instrument.

  What the heck?

  I looked at my claws. The groove I always had at the end of each one was now gone. I had shaped it into my claws to press the strings, but now they were almost entirely sharp. If I looked closely, I could barely see the remnants of my handiwork. To think, those grooves had been on my claws for as long as I could remember.

  Well no wonder they’re slipping…

  I rested the guitar across my lap, I started rubbing the claws on my left hand across the strings. The grinding noise piercing my ears was nothing short of horrible, but noticing them starting to set into place, I did my best to ignore it. After a few minutes, I grabbed the guitar again, sliding my hand up and down the neck. Now everything was starting to feel familiar.

  With a deep breath, I let my eyes slide shut, hands guiding my guitar playing. I tried to focus on everything flying around in my head, thoughts and feelings bouncing and colliding with each other. Every time I had tried thinking about it all, it felt overwhelming…but now, playing along with my feelings…things were starting to form coherently, for the first time since I’d left home.

  Looking for a way out of this foggy place I’m in

  Don’t know where I’m going to

  Hardly know where I’ve been

  So why’d I think I’d know better than you?

  I can’t see clearly down this road I’m on

  The details lost inside the fog

  But I know that it’s the only way

  To find where I belong

  Am I shy or just a coward I couldn’t say for sure

  But it’s the only path to follow

  My only choice is to endure

  Their help I’ll need to borrow

  I hope I’m not alone

  It’s the only way of finding home

  I didn’t ask to be different

  I just wanted to sing my songs

  Will my friends take on my burden

  Or will they just string me along

  This place wasn’t meant for me

  I know that in my soul

  But I’m stranded here frustratingly

  A dumb ignorant fool

  Was I abandoned or just forgotten?

  Who’s fault is it I’m here?

  Did I do something rotten

  Or do they just not care?

  I wish they’d given me a light

  To peer into this fog

  Have they given me a fight

  To carry me along?

  Did they give me clues to follow

  Did I fail to see their signs?

  My thoughts are feeling hollow

  I just wish I knew why I was left behind

  I can’t see clearly down this road I’m on

  The details lost inside the fog

  But I know that it’s the only way

  To find where I belong

  Am I shy or just a coward I couldn’t say for sure

  But it’s the only path to follow

  My only choice is to endure

  Their help I’ll need to borrow

  I hope I’m not alone

  It’s the only way of finding home

  If I’d known the trouble I’d started

  If I’d known where this would go

  I’d have stayed inside my bubble

  I’d have never left my home

  I hope she can forgive me

  I hope I forgive myself too

  Will she take it lightly? Or is that bond broken too?

  I’m far too afraid to ask

  I’m a coward through and through

  I hope my friends are up to the task

  I hope I find the courage to stay true

  I can’t see clearly down this road I’m on

  The details lost inside the fog

  But I know that it’s the only way

  To find where I belong

  Am I shy or just a coward I couldn’t say for sure

  But it’s the only path to follow

  My only choice is to endure

  Their help I’ll need to borrow

  I hope I’m not alone

  It’s the only way of finding home

  It’s not easy to keep trodding along

  This path seems to go on and on

  Should I give up where I stand?

  The answers aren’t as clear since I began

  Putting trust into my friends

  To help me find where this road ends

  Will they see me through the fog

  Will I have the courage to reach out?

  Or will this thought stay a monologue?

  Because every time I talk I always seem to chicken out

  I can’t see clearly down this road I’m on

  The details lost inside the fog

  But I know that it’s the only way

  To find where I belong

  Am I shy or just a coward I couldn’t say for sure

  But it’s the only path to follow

  My only choice is to endure

  Their help I’ll need to borrow

  I hope I’m not alone

  It’s the only way of finding home

  I can’t see clearly down this road I’m on

  I hope the trail isn’t too far gone

  Though this path’s end could be bright

  The ending’s not in my sight

  If I ever want to find where I belong

  I’ve gotta keep on marching on

  Where can I go, where can I be

  Is there someone waiting out there for me

  Will I find them or will they find me

  Emotions were pouring out of every word as I let them flow freely. All my thoughts were flowing out of me, sent into the open air. Finally, I could take a break from my mind burying these thoughts deeper into me and simply let them rest in front of me. I sat in silence, eyes closed and mind wide open as I examined every thought, able to work through what I thought and felt, one emotion at a time.

  I took a deep breath when a loud slam pulled me out of my trance. My eyes opened, tears streaming down my face as I turned around to see someone coming through the front door. His mouth hung slack, staring back at me. Every muscle in my body froze as we stayed there, staring at each other. My eyes darted from his face down to his lower body. He was sitting in a wheelchair. Looking back at his face, his frozen expression had turned to confusion. His head cocked slightly to one side, raising an eyebrow as he spoke in a soft voice.

  “...hi…”

  It was barely audible over the sound of my pulse, thumping hard in my ears. I recognized his warm voice immediately. Taking a breath I’d been holding, I managed to relax myself just a little as I responded.

  “H-Hey, Oliver…”