One two three four. I exit the front door. One. Two three four five six. Wow, it’s a really pretty neighborhood, quiet and full of life. I can see the old trees growing and the squirrels are running about. It’s evening now and the sun is setting and it’s not a particularly hot day or cold day it’s got an orange hue that is just so beautiful. You don’t usually get this color in the sky in this part of the hemisphere. I mean I’m not a specialist but I can notice an oddity when it occurs.

That said I should stay focused because Tye’s pretty sure I might be in mortal danger from his relatives and their associates. Not that I can deny the idea seeing as his father just abducted us but to be honest I have this feeling I’ll be just fine. They really didn’t do much to me. I had a short chat with Mr. Lancaster and he sat me in the office upstairs. He took everyone else down to the underground.

He just took one look at me and said “he’s not involved in this. Leave him out of it.”

I am part of the group damnit. I don’t know why it bothers me but it does. I am part of the group. I don’t know why they keep ignoring me? I don’t speak but I’m a giant and I’m always there and I kinda keep everything from failing more often than not. I just don’t understand. Life is strange I guess. Anyway, Tye gave me these keys and I’ll just find my way to the docks and to this boat that belongs to his aunt.

Boat? I mean Yacht. His aunt is very well off. The women in the Lancaster line have lots of money. It’s the men who have trouble keeping it. Not necessarily making it. Which reminds me I should probably send a message to Tye’s grandma to say thanks for the gifts. I can’t believe I haven’t sent her a thank you message yet. She must be so annoyed with how ungrateful I’ve been. The bed is nice…

Brent recalls the apparition he saw standing on it prior to all this mess. He shivers…

Well I remember why I forgot now. Let’s forget about that for the moment.

Oh the squirrels are following me again. That reminds me of those bet takers at the arena. I can’t believe I placed a bet and lost my… wait a sec I still have a coin right? So do I currently am in debt but have money to pay it off or am I paid off and must holding onto the payment till they come to claim it? I’m really unsure how this works. I should probably keep this with me next to my heart for the rest of my life.

Brent fingers the groove of the gold medallion in his pants pocket. It’s still there.

“I’m half surprised the government didn’t take it from me when we got back. I’m not sure if I’ve even managed to change my cloths yet. I should probably do that. Take a shower. Just relax. Maybe after I find what I’m looking for. Which was what again? Oh yeah, the boat. I gotta get a ride to the harbor. I’ve got Tye’s keys to the truck I could drive that but it’s kinda cramp. I feel like I’m in one of those plastic children’s toy cars riding around.

Whatever. This squirrel thinks it’s clever following me around like it is. Running up tree to tree. It seems like it’s collecting an army of followers to follow me. Are they talking to each other? What are they saying? I wish they knew sign language. Huh. I’m already at the end of the block. Main Street, State street. Cross section. Learn a lesson it’s just off the main school campus artery funny they call it Main Street. Main bypass maybe? Pretty lazy.

I think the bus line would take me there but I don’t think I’ve any cash for it. I could get something from an ATM? Maybe? Isn’t that a drugs store they usually have one of those. I did remember to bring my wallet right? Yup. Good.

Oh shit the squirrels almost caused an accident on the street and on top of that I think this hawk is looking for one of them to eat. I should probably help them disperse. It’s a curse I say that I have to always save the day for these little guys I look out for. I just adore everything honestly. Especially the small fuzzy little things. The people are honking at me cuz I helped the squirrels across the road. They just jumped onto me. Dazed about almost dying for a second there you okay little guy?

The car that dodged them ran into a fire hydrant and then into another parked car. People were in the parked car, I should say van and they all started arguing then a fire started smoking form the store adjacent to them. I saw some squirrels running out form the back. Might have been my imagination but I think they were snickering. My imagination definitely saw a matchbook on the ground from their path. Couldn’t be…. Could it?

Brent looks at the squirrel he rescued. Its eyes watery and wide and cute and looking at him in amazement. Star struck one might even say.

Okay, this is weird even for me….

An explosion behind him from the store that was previously just smoldering as people run around in Havok.

Brent looks back to the squirrel.

Please tell me you didn’t do that Brent signs to it.

It shakes its head no. As if it itself didn’t. Brent shivers.

This is going to be a long trip isn’t it?