PTE

Guinevere's car, and the garage in which it rested, were both spotl

n fresh clothes, the temporary guardianship of Elias felt less the respons

t and ran into the inn. Moments later, he quietly

al. Let's get going."

wheel of the Beetle. "Is Guinevere g

." He climbed in

he where and the when a

t. "I know where to go." H

e slowly backed into the turn

w s

kerchief and wrapped it around his head, tying it in back. It completely covered hi

eling. He sounded comfortable and su

t onto the

th it. What's w

may be half right." Elias slowly folded his hands. "The kids at remedials - they call me no-brain. They'll say I'm an idiot. An

mumbled words beneath his brea

li

ft

, and gave me the thumbs up. "Seven hundred twenty-eight bumps in the road. Seven hundred

why Juan isn't." Elias swallowed, and his voice softe

plane? And our . .

remember. In fact, I don't

asked. "How do y

parts. Like whatever brought you here." He bowed

Well,

yourself? That a gentle monster inside

e, and Elias must have

he asked, pointing to the sign

read. "Bringing ho

He softly thumped the window. "I shouldn't have laid all that heavy stuff on you. After all, we've technically never met

ifferent bloke than the one at breakfast. There w

for the chance to spend time with you in some make-believe worl

n and walked quickly back toward me, stepping ten cen

that didn't answ

throws them on depression meds. But when I slip, I fall all the way through. I feel the ground give way and I'm gone. It's a crack - a crack in what's real, and beneath there I'm stuck. Then, I guess I become someone else. Mom says I still know my name,

. Just one that takes over." Again, he peeked up into the blue overhead. "Shoot, I did it again. Yo

back. "It just feels so strange. To be living my life, until suddenly someone else steal

d I stood, arms w

't ima

ildren of Incar

andering, 500

y

night in the bush changes your perspective. You find yourself doing without creature comforts such as bathrooms, and relying on a different portion of your brain. Choices here come from

osted, and waited. Fiv

ou?" The screen flash

private messaging. I hated lying to him at all, but with my travels going viral, I couldn't risk being exposed. He alone read my first post the

F

aid? Leadin

e

Yes. There's some . . .

F

afari. Thrilling, reall

e

ill

F

gas, and we hiked si

e

yped with a smi

F

hat vehicles can

F

l th

e

ever hear

F

i

e

t's an ident

F

t say

e

st, before you tell them, or spend time with them or something of that sort? I mean, there's this bloke who drew some pic

F

ody can read your mind. But I do beli

e

funny

a

erishly knocked on the glass as four boys quickly

en

lided with the outside of

a really good time to open the door, C

he passenger side, shoved him out of the way, and leaned over t

." I peeke

nanny. Kind of

blokes have made that abundantly clear." I looked to the one on the far end. The

scoffed. "

you? Was I looking at you? Do

large word, and I continue

s your

ro

ays speak for you? When you tw

is snickering friends. "

o!" Middle boy ba

e. "He doesn't al

stepped nearer. "Do you

s a paus

way and continued. "Knock it off! You two would've sa

blem. I'll just leave you and No-brain here. You can discuss whatever, you know?" Fi

urned around." The middle two t

Elis. "Well, that j

aid. "I'm sorr

hed out his hand and they shook. Brock exhale

e tell

this to Mom. She has enough on her mind. They wer

appear to be

, and then both to his left and right. He lowered his voice

nd gave them a jing

hatever Mom told you about the time. Juan is always late, so it'

e hanged. Stick to Plan

t the monstrous you, and the monstrous you . . . No, I don'

ued. "Jolly good. The Other

But the way I see it, you're taking off. Someone like you has somewhere to go and someone waiting, right? S

uld not risk involvements, or get mucked up in responsibility. Both practices led to disaster;

me in minutes, his body slammed against the car, but the backs of m

me, or I wi

would

ou!" I

hands. "I won't hurt you

nce, and then again. "Well then?" I pockete

d him watch my fingers, and gen

s hand, but you

shook, I mean shaken, er . .

you must have

e was t

owly grasped his hand and fit his fingers into mine.

es gre

he sentence stuck in