Author:  Apenamee

Disclaimer(s): Based on the movie directed by Guillermo del Toro, Mike Mignola (comic books) Guillermo del Toro (screen story) ... please do not use Wen for fan fiction.

Summary: A honeymoon that doesn't go so well...

Archive: Here

Feedback: penamed@yahoo.com

The Reference of Dr. Sapien
Volume One
 

Pulling Back The Curtain

There is more to a book than the printed word. Memories, the past, sometimes the future are available to Abe's Touch. The BPRD's adventures are imprinted there, and when pulled out by a stroke of his fingertips, I can be there too. When I see the things he's faced, I'm scared right down to my soul. Will I be brave enough to help him, faced by the same terrors, when I'm also on a mission?

Many times I couldn't look, but I also couldn't stop asking to see more.

I'm like those books. The memories of our life together are hidden on my skin, waiting to be drawn out by him, and when I can no longer remember, through age or sickness, Abe will remember for me. We will live in the world of the mind.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I've never had a honeymoon, not with my first husband, and not with Abe. Not that I cared - I was comfortable staying in the safe walls of the library. But Abe saw a chance to get away for a week. He reasoned and argued, and otherwise persuaded, until Manning could only say yes.

Tom came by with a interesting possibility a few weeks later. An old friend of his had a vacation home in the northern cascades of Washington. It was a large retreat, quite deluxe we were told, with two cabins and a small lake. Best of all, it was in the middle of 500 acres, large enough for Abe to enjoy the outdoors in privacy.

Tom was uncomfortable about letting us go, without an agent to escort us. Abe chose John Myers, a man who he trusted more than anyone but his closest friend. John was actually pleased, surprisingly having a great love for the outdoors. Soon I knew the two would be enjoying a lot of 'guy' activities together.

How long had it been since Abe could do that? Maybe more than a hundred years.

"You wouldn't mind being that far from civilization?" Abe asked me. He knew I had been in that part of the country before, and how much I liked it.

"Winthrop is not exactly roughing it. There are probably more millionaires there than in the whole of New Jersey," I said. Although you couldn't tell by the rusty trucks parked all around. Abe laughed at my mental snapshots.

John helped us plan the trip, detailing what gear he would need to buy and pack. He had a special interest in fly-casting and having shared a few of his moments with Abe, had found a partner in the sport. I had to spend a great deal of time printing out pictures of flies from the on line sporting goods stores.

I asked for a water sample from the lake by the cabin. Abe usually didn't get sick from the water he swam in, but I didn't want to take the chance, and the sample was judged pristine. I packed a heavier wetsuit for myself, and one for Abe. We would arrive the last part of June.

I looked through our library for any books about the northern cascades. All I could find was an old tourist guide from some sort of cowboy festival, which the professor had kept because of an article about Bigfoot. For all I knew, the Sasquatch could have been an acquaintance of his. I scanned it without reading it, for Abe's future reference. I looked at the magazine cover again. The festival was held the time we were scheduled to arrive. I hoped the town, and airport, would not be too busy.

The pilot filed a flight plan that would put us into Wenatchee at daybreak. From there we would transfer by helicopter to Winthrop. A truck would be waiting for us, with a map to lead us to the cabin.

As soon as we had landed, Abe got out of the box we had stashed him in. He put on a layer of clothes from shoes, up to a scarf and hat to camouflage himself. He would be transferred in a wheelchair, fake oxygen tank at his side and fake mask at his face. Anyone would think he was an invalid. The door of the airplane was opened, and we stepped out into the fresh air, walking across the tarmac to the helicopter.

The helicopter lifted and we flew over large fields of skeletal apple trees.

Winthrop had been rebuilt as a western town for its many tourists, every corner of it craftily staged, although it didn't look so. There were more than a few good places to stay, and they were all packed with visitors to the cowboy festival. We drove through the center of town, headed north, in the beautiful Hum-vee that Manning had surprised us with at the Winthrop airport. A note from him, attached to the window said, "enjoy yourselves, try not to do any work. Abe, catch a fish for me."

Brush replaced the grazing fields, evergreens the brush, as we drove into the mountains. The dirt road to the property was primitive, but the cabins, as we saw when we arrived, were anything but. Made of Madrona trees from the coast, they were a polished glowing red. The one nearest to the lake would be ours. Abe immediately took off his disguise and jumped in.

"This lake is quite cold," he said as I walked over. "I'll need to change into the heavier suit as soon as I've explored a bit." Then he disappeared under the water. I walked back to the Hum-V and John helped me take our supplies into the cabin. It had already been well stocked with food, and there was a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator. "This is for you," I said, handing it to him. "Although I might like one glass."

"Then I might as well open it now." He found two glasses.

"Abe doesn't drink," I said. "Please, just half a glass for me."

John poured out the champagne, then took his glass with him out the door to explore his cabin.

I took a suitcase into the master bedroom. As I pulled out Abe's heavier wetsuit, he came into the room. It always amazed me how quickly he dried off.

I stared at the bed, and it struck me just how different our life was. Abe sensed what I was thinking, and put his hand on my shoulder. We both were still standing, lost in thought, when John suddenly appeared next to Abe.

"What's wrong?" John looked between us, then at the bed, and something seemed to dawn on him. "Oh, I..." He stammered.

Abe looked at him, with a funny smile. "That was a rather surprising thought coming from you John, although quite accurate."

"I'll just go... " he pointed in the direction of his cabin.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"The lake is very clean, with a few fish. There is a submerged tree, and if I had a hammock, I could sleep there."

"The one thing I didn't pack," I said. "Maybe there's one stashed around here, you could have John look. It would give him something to do."

Abe went over to John's cabin. I thought back to the first time I had met John, when he had showed me my quarters. I had thought him arrogant, when he was only very innocent. Who better to be the third wheel, on a girl's honeymoon.

I was standing alone in the cabin - and jumped when I heard a tinny voice. It was Abe's, coming from the kitchen. I found an intercom on the wall, and hit the button.

"Yes?"

Abe's quiet laugh came through from the other side. "I'm going fishing with John."

"Great," I said. "Can you activate your locater? Have a good time. Come back with something large - I'm hungry."

I walked out to the porch and waved as they went off into the woods to find a stream. The air smelled like flowered pine, much warmer than I expected, the forest so quiet my ears rang. The lake before me rippled with a light breeze. I sat down in a chair and, before I knew it, was asleep.

They came back with about ten small trout, enough for a light meal. I cut some greens up while they cleaned the fish, and John cooked for us. Abe and John talked about their afternoon; they had a great time together. John was prepared to teach Abe the difficulties of fly-casting, and was surprised to find him casting perfectly after Abe had put his hand on John's shoulder and Read him.

"So that is how you and Abe work together?" he said. "I thought you had a 'special' talent."

"I'm an average person," I replied, "but I've become a willing vessel for Abe's use. I don't know if he would have just chosen anyone, though."

"You are unique, irreplaceable. You trusted me." Abe said.

"With my life," I replied, as I waved my wedding ring.

We finished dinner and burned the paper plates outside. Abe asked John to stay for a while. I lay on the couch, my head on Abe's lap, and with his hand on my forehead, Abe read to us.

I was the book.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

We said goodnight to John, and retired to bed. Abe stayed with me for awhile.

What's it like not having people around? Do you read anything out here in the wilderness? I asked him.

I Hear many voices! All small animals, nothing large. John comes through quite clearly. He misses someone, although I won't tell you who. He then looked far away. "There's something here - not living, but not dead either. It's like - eyes behind a curtain."

Sounds scary. Take me outside for a walk, I replied.

I put on my hiking boots, parka over my robe. We stood on the porch, and when we stepped off, I took Abe's hand. As we walked through the dark forest, I saw and felt as he did, Abe's eyes seeing more than I could. Little animals scurried around us too softly to actually hear. They didn't think in words, rather, as pictures of what ever consumed their minds; "food", "hide", "catch".

There was nothing else.

As we walked back to the cabin, I asked Abe, What was John thinking earlier, when we were in the cabin?

Abe smiled, and Showed me.

"Wow. Better than accurate. Quite complimentary - but now I'm heated up." I took his hand. Come back in the cabin with me for a bit. I'll try to better that thought.

"Mmm... alright."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Morning sun came through the window, and I found myself alone. I got up, threw on something, and walked out into the living room to find the coffee that woke me. Abe was not in the cabin.

I put on water shoes, and walked out the front door of the cabin, across the yard, and waded into the lake. No - I needed my wetsuit. It was very cold in here. How could Abe survive in this?

He came over from the direction of John's cabin, suited up. "I froze last night. Feel my hands."

They were delightfully icy. Try putting some shortening on them tonight. Was everything else OK?

I missed you. The fish are very curious about me. Come with me, John's making breakfast.

As we walked over to John's cabin, small birds twittered around us. One landed next to us on a pine tree, and looked at us without fear. It was a hummingbird. Others came by and it flew off with them, engaging in its tiny battles.

After breakfast we changed and met John to hunt for huckleberries. Abe didn't care for them, so I split them with John as we picked. In the afternoon, I put on my wetsuit and took a float out to sit on while I was in the lake. John had his own wetsuit, and he tried to swim, but didn't have the motivation I did to brave the water. He went back to his cabin to change, coming back with a chair to sit by the edge of the lake.

I lay floating, until a cold blue hand came up out of the water. It brought with it a memory so delightful, I flipped over and dove into the depths. Abe brought me down, showing me plants and fish, until I started to shiver and had to leave the lake.

Later, we went back to the trout stream. I tried fishing with the men, but couldn't cast very well, so I just sat on the bank and watched. The woods stretched away, inviting, like the folds of a curtain... so interesting, drawing. I walked slowly, the trees seeming to pass by me more quickly than my own steps. Whispering voices lay beyond the next stand of trees.

"Wen, what are you doing?" I heard my husband's voice from a distance. Abe came running up to me.

"I guess, I just wanted to walk." We both knew I had no idea how I had gotten there.

"Stay with us,' Abe said. "You may want to wear a locater, just in case."

He grabbed my hand, and would not let go. Abe pulled me back to the spot where John was waiting. What just happened? I asked as we wlked.

Your mind faded, as if you were far away, he Thought. Keep me in your mind, I'll keep Listening for you.

During and after dinner John told us stories about his time on the outside, before joining the BPRD. Abe had actually chosen him for the job, and he had been as good a friend to Red as Abe had.

Late that night, after John had gone, Abe suited up for his watery bed. He sat on a chair, while I coated his hands with shortening. He stuck his hand out in front of him. "I can still Read you," he said with a little surprise. On is feet were heavy wool socks.

I crawled into bed, and turned on the radio to hear a midnight program. People were calling in with sightings and rumors of Red. "Crazy black-helecopter radio," I said. 'They'll believe anything."

The dark mountains were silver tipped with moonlight. I passed over them without moving. He showed me the way. Arms surrounded me, folding me into black liquid that turned solid around me, cutting off all light and air.

Abe shook me. "Stay out of her!"

I opened my eyes. "What are you doing?" Was he having a nightmare?

"You screamed." He put his greased hand on my forehead. "Someone is trying to draw you away; he's still in your mind."

"Make him leave," I said.

"I can't. You have to put him out."

"Goodness Abe, I was probably listening to the radio in my sleep. Stay with me if you're concerned." I turned over and went back to sleep.

Abe drew water in the tub, and went back and forth between it, and the bed, all night. I had no more 'visits'. When I woke up, he was asleep in the tub, his long blue legs hanging out. I wet down a towel in the sink and hung it over them.

I had humored Abe the past night, but doubted anything was trying to get me. I felt no presence, heard no voices. Probably the radio, as I had said.

I buzzed John on the intercom. "Have you had breakfast yet? Abe's sleeping late."

"I'll be right over." I saw John trotting across to our cabin.

"Sit down John, I'll try some eggs - how do you like them?"

"Sunny side up. What's wrong with Abe?"

"He's sleeping in the tub, please don't wake him. He had a nightmare."

However, Abe had woken up and came into the room, with respirator and shorts on.

"There is something trying to, overcome you." He waved his hand at me. "Don't discount me. Did you see some marmite in the cupboard?"

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I wanted to see how Winthrop had changed since the last time I had visited, anxious to show it to someone else, so John agreed to drive me into town. He was bending the rules by leaving, but he knew Abe wouldn't try to escape. Abe would stay in the lake while we were out. I placed my phone at the side of a bush, in case he needed to call.

"I'm amused that you worry about me. The worst thing that could happen is that some beast throws a log into the lake." I got a wet kiss goodbye.

John had a hard time finding a parking spot, Winthrop was so crowded. We wandered through the various stores on our way to pick up a few more supplies. There was nothing I wanted to buy. There weren't many things I needed to own anymore, but I talked to the shop owners, and touched everything.

We walked into the general store for groceries. I waited by the front door while John shopped. One of the locals was talking to the clerk at the register.

"How long have you been up there so far?" Asked the clerk.

"Been camping since May. Nothing unusual, no tourists hassling me. No offense." he nodded toward me, and I smiled.

"Hows your neighbor?" Then to me, the clerk mouthed, 'Bigfoot'.

"Yeah, I've seen him." The camper turned to me. "He doesn't like your blue friend." Oh crap.

"Sorry?" I said. The clerk just laughed, the camper paid and left after giving me a glance. "He likes you."

I felt a bit pale.

"He's been out in the woods too long. Some people just turn kind of ferral," the clerk said. "But don't hang around with Sasquatch. He's not a nice guy."

The clerk laughed at me as we left.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Abe!" I started yelling as soon as I spilled out of the Humvee.

"Don't panic," he said, breaking the surface of the water, and walking out of the lake to meet me.

"Someone knows you're here." I grabbed his hand and stuck it on my forehead, wishing I would have thought to touch the local camper.

Abe seemed unconcerned. "I told you I felt something. You've got to be more careful - don't invite the beast here."

Go ahead, make me more frustrated. I don't know how to keep it away. "No more mind stuff then."

"That kind of puts a damper on the honeymoon, doesn't it," said Abe, as John came up behind me.

"Abe, was there anyone here when we were gone? Just in case, you've got your gun, right?" John asked.

"It's hidden within easy reach," he replied.

I keep forgetting my husband's a company man.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The night brought no visits. I hoped whatever Abe had been concerned with had just lost interest. We spent another quiet night, and he finally went out to sleep in the lake.

I turned on the radio, but the talk was political.This could give me even worse nightmares, I thought, but I left it on for company.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I was not having the best time. Abe and John, though were, and the place was very pleasant. I looked around the cabin for something to read, and went out to the porch to wait for the guys.

They came up, laughing, talking shop."Take John out tonight," said Abe, after he had kissed me hello."I know you found the nightlife here the best thing about Winthrop. I think he needs something like that."

"You really want me to?" I'm sure John wouldn't do what I had done, the last time I was there, but I wondered what he would do. Would John abandon his post for a girl? I was itching to find out. How very gracious of Abe to want me to enjoy myself by going out with another man. I'd probably be driving back to the cabin alone. Maybe that was what Abe had in mind.

"I'd like a new experience - but I can't go there. And of course John wouldn't do that. Just don't drink too much, it makes me feel fuzzy too."

"You know I haven't in a long time." It was part of my life I had put away years ago. "I won't dance either." I considered things for a minute.

"OK, I'll take the kid."

John seemed ambivalent about it, but Abe must have Read something in him. Would he lift an experience from him too? "If he'll let me."Abe answered.

Before we left, I kissed Abe goodbye. "You sure you want me to do this, you'll be safe here? Stay in the lake OK?"

He assured me. "I'm safe, Wen," and continued, "Whatever it is, it doesn't want me because I'm not attracted to it, and my mind is not defenseless." He touched my forehead. "Yours has been opened, and you don't know how to protect it yet. I'd just like you away from here for awhile. When you leave, it will too."

"Let's hope it doesn't follow me"

"Doesn't work like that."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

John drove the Hum-Vee over the roads into town. I hoped he could navigate the way back. Did he drink? I told John of my last encounter with the night scene at Winthrop. "It's just for fun. I'll even be the designated driver." But I wasn't in any shape to drive by the end of the night.

"John, do you have a girlfriend?"

He glanced over at me, smirking. "Almost. I thought, well... not lately."

"What's stopping you? I mean, if you need an introduction." I knew of a few past friends that would really like him. No, they were too dangerous.

"I'm committed to the Bureau," he said. "It means a lot to me. I'll never have a chance to do what I'm doing now - so my personal life, that's for another time."

He became animated. "I can save people from the worst things that will ever try to hurt us. Things that could take more than a person's life. And, there aren't many female agents in the BPRD. I can't tell anyone else what I do, and I won't lie."

"Ah, chivalry. Abe was right, you are a knight," I teased. "And who will get your rose?"

John laughed.

We pulled into town and picked the noisiest place we could find. Before we got out of the Humvee, I turned to John and said, "Remember, Abe sees everything I have seen. So don't get too wild."

He looked at me. "No promises, Abe."

There was no need for a western hat in the bar. I thought John could have used something with a tractor logo, but he seemed to fit in fine once we were in the place, and was lead off by two girls before I found a place to sit. I thought I saw him on the dance floor.

The bar smelled even worse than something Abe would eat. I had a great time deciding what my first drink would be after all the years. "Rye?" The bartender poured me a glass. They had rye - yes, I should have remembered how many retired 'Borg' lived in the area. What a scene unfolded around me.

John found me at the bar. He wore a grin bigger than I've ever seen.

"Remember, you have to drive me home," I said.

He looked at me strangely. "I thought you were the designated driver."

I giggled. "Go. Have a good time." I waved him off.

I spent the rest of the evening listening to the stories around me, glad that no one tried to talk to me. Too many people were discussing network problems, server problems. Yahoo - the new wild west. I felt a little fuzzy, but couldn't figure out why. I hadn't had much to drink.

Before I knew it three hours had passed. John came up to me. "I've had it. Can we go back? Abe won't be happy I didn't take care of you." He grabbed my elbow, and I found I was unsteady.

"Maybe you'll share your experiences with Abe, too." He hadn't understood what I had just said, and I immediately wished I hadn't said it. "Let's go."

John did OK driving back. He was doing a lot better than me. We talked and laughed along the way. His night out seemed to be good for him; I missed Abe. He would love this. I couldn't wait to share with him.

As soon as we got back I stumbled out of the truck. "John, please go to your cabin and give me a few minutes alone with Abe."

"Yeah," he smiled.

I went toward the lake, but couldn't see Abe in the dark. I yelled.

"Abe! Come out of there!"

As I walked, I started taking off my clothes, leaving them on the ground. I waded out into the water, starting to swim. I opened my mind for him to hear me. Then I realized swimming naked in a freezing lake, drunk, was really stupid. I turned around to the shore to get my clothes.

I found my boots and jeans, and was looking for my shirt. It was right next to the beast. I looked up, and up. It was huge. Long hair like pine needles floated in the darkness. It smelled like the mountains.

A feeling came from him, deeper than anything else I had known. Not hunger for food, but a hunger for my soul. If I went with him, I knew I would shed my life as soon as I had taken the first step.

"Abe... Abe... ABE!"

Abe burst out of the lake and grabbed my arm. "Quick - into the lake!" As we ran, he turned and fired, with a gun that could only have been Red's.

He hit the creature.

I have never heard a scream like that, even in Abe's nightmares. I could hear it even as I dived. Abe carried me down into the dark water. Tree limbs shot down through the water like bullets. Then it was quiet. He brought me up to the surface.

"Did you kill it?" I asked.

No. What it is really, is too big to be killed. The beast you saw was one of its physical shapes. But it won't come back for a while. Then he spoke."We need to leave. Get out of the water and get your clothes on; you are about to pass out. You need to get our things, quickly."

Abe helped me put my clothes on, then took me to the cabin. He put a blanket around me. "I'm going to find John."

I nodded in reply.

I ran into the cabin, grabbed some trash bags and threw everything in, then dragged them to the truck.

I found Abe bent over John, who was slumped on the ground. "He was hit by the creature, and I can't take care of him here. We need to get him to a doctor. Get his things, as much as you can. You will have to drive."

I still felt pretty drunk. "Abe, don't you know how?"

"I'm rusty. You can do it, I'll help you." Abe picked him up.

I opened the back of the Humvee for him, and he loaded John in, packing the trash bags around him.

"I need my respirator." His gills were opening and closing, his mouth open, gulping air. How could I have forgotten that? I checked its pack, but it was empty.

The collar was sitting in its charger. I grabbed it and hurried back. "I'll get John's things too." No trash bags in his cabin. I grabbed his suitcase, and looked for his gun, but couldn't find it. It would have to stay.

Everything was loaded in the truck. I tried to make my head clear, and started the ignition. Slamming the car in reverse, I backed into a tree.

Abe put his hand on my shoulder. "Open your mind Wen, use my eyesight." That was much better.

Abe's sense of balance was better than mine tonight. My head was spinning, but I tried to ignore it. We bumped over the dark road, driving as fast as possible. At least I was in a vehicle I was familiar with, but I had trouble staying on the road. I kept losing my concentration, the mountains drawing me away.

"You're driving off the road."

"This is a Hum-vee. It's not a problem," I replied.

"Yes, I know. But the trees may have a problem with the Hum-vee. Wen!" Abe had stopped the truck right before I was about to go off the road. "Switch. I'm driving."

"You're going to be able to do that?"

"I've picked up enough driving from you. I should be able to do at least as badly."

I got out of the truck, then turned away to the darkness. I stared at the trees, then started to walk away. Abe jumped out and grabbed my face. Wen, look at me. Remember this -

That got my attention. He pulled me back in the truck.

He drove the rest of the way. After a bit, groans started to come from the back compartment.John waking up - I hoped.

We pulled up to the clinic, and Abe managed to get John propped up by the door, then went to hide in the car. I rang the after-hours buzzer.

John was admitted, and held for observation because of a skull fracture.

The doctor pulled me aside."Can you tell me what happened?"

I talked with him about our run-in with the Bigfoot. I let him believe we had at the cabin alone. He gave me a cold stare, then asked me to stay in town until I had talked with the sheriff.

I had no choice. "I'll stick around, but do you know where I can stay?"

"Go down the main road. Maybe there's a room at the motel. I'll give them a call."

I got in the truck, with Abe hiding in the back. I reached around and gave him the phone, and he Touched my hand. "I'll call the BPRD," he said, as he flipped open the cell.

A cabin was waiting for us at the motel, and I sneaked Abe in.

"You know," I said, "I forgot to turn the cabin lights off." He smiled at me.

"Stay here with me awhile," he said, "before you go back to check on John. You need to rest."

"And I my jacket is at the bar." I'm never drinking again, I thought. The price could be too high.

"Abe, I still feel it, even in town."

"There's too many people. He won't come here, you're safe."

I looked for a tub in the cabin, but found only a shower. "Let me go in first, so I can use some hot water." He nodded, and I began to get undressed.

Abe came in after the hot water ran out. We only had time for a few kisses, before I feel asleep, standing, with Abe holding on to me.

The sheriff never talked with me, though he did talk with John, asking if he wanted to press charges against anyone. We were back on the road in the afternoon, driving the Hum-vee from Winthrop to the Wenatchee airport.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

As soon as we got back to BPRD, Abe had a meeting with Manning. My husband was very angry. It made me afraid for Tom.

"I knew nothing about any beast, Abe. I'm so sorry. Here, look for yourself." He extended his hand.

Abe held his hand for a minute. I wondered if Tom knew how much information my husband could get from him with that simple Touch. He trusted Abe though, and I was glad for it.

John remembered nothing from that night, but after he had recovered, Abe Showed him what had happened. The expression on his face was priceless. The rest of our gear, not including my cell phone, were sent back to headquarters. Enclosed was a note apologizing for the 'neighbors'.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"What a great honeymoon. Motivates me."

No one was safe from Red's wit. The four of us were in the library, Liz and I having coffee, Abe behind glass. I leaned on the other side, next to him.

"Glad you survived," said Red.

"Well, I was a coward, I ran."

"I ran too, Wen," said Abe. You have to know when to pick your battles."

"Yes, but you shot at it. Maybe I need a gun."

"Sure works for me," said Red.

"Wen, you never came here to fight monsters," Liz said."Red is indestructible. I can burn tmy enemies, and I know Abe has some weapons. You were completely defenseless out there."

"Naked, and defenseless," said Abe.

"Let's keep that part private." I leaned my palm against the glass behind my back.

"She almost left; whatever we encountered was very powerful. In the end, Wen chose us."

"It was more than that Abe. To have gone with the beast would have been death, and I chose to live. But, to look into the face of chaos was so seductive..." I said.

But not half as seductive as you, Blue, I thought at him, then moved away when he put up his hand to answer me.

Abe's thoughts were reflected on his face.

Looking at my friends, I realized I had just gone through a battle they all been soldiers in, at one time or other. "It's what you fight against, isn't it, the pull of darkness."

"Every time, Wen."

"I left my phone by the lake. If we called it, who do you think would answer?"

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