"I have to go." I say it automatically, and hear protests start to arise just as I shut my phone off and run out the door. I run out onto the street, and call out, "Hey!"

The boy's head snaps up, registering me. His eyes are grey, with a ring of blue around the pupils and on the outsides.

I pause to catch my breath, getting the sensation that this isn't real. I touch his shoulder and he frowns, looking like he wants to take a step backwards.

"Sorry," I say, retracting my hand, "I just... Needed to make sure you're real. Not in my imagination."

He nods, but doesn't say anything.

"Are... Can you speak?" I say, unsure all of a sudden. What if he couldn't? But he could understand me, so at least he can hear...

"No, I can't." His sarcasm catches me off guard, and I stare at him. He looks younger than me, maybe about fourteen, but he acts like he's in charge. From the way he looks, acts, and now talks.

I get irritated at his tone. I've been alone for how long, eager to see another human? And now he's going to be sarcastic? Hasn't he noticed the situation we're in?

"Well," I match his sarcasm, "Since you can't hear me, maybe you can just listen. I've been alone for a long time now, wondering what the heck is going on. So if you'd like to explain with your non-speaking tongue, that'd be great."

Both of his eyebrows raise, and then he smiles, almost like a tiny smirk. "Okay, my non-speaking tongue would like to say that I don't know what is going on. I found myself alone about a week ago."

Some of the hope that had ignited when I had seen the boy dimmed. He knew as much as I did. I shouldn't have expected anything else, but I couldn't help but hope for it to be otherwise. Something flickers behind his eyes, and I can't grasp what exactly it is.

"My name's Lea, by the way," I add, realizing I never introduced myself.

He hesitates, and then answers with his own name. "I'm Chance."

I smile genuinely for the first time in a long while. "Nice to meet you."

Chance and I walk down the street aimlessly, mostly in silence. I don't see any monsters, but I doubted I'd see them until they were ready to attack.

"You don't know where we are, do you?" I ask, the question bursting from me like it had been pent up for awhile. Which it had.

Chance looks over at me for a second, and then back ahead. Something goes on behind his eyes again, and then he answers slowly. "I... have an idea."

My feet stop abruptly. "You do?" The situation we're in is so bizarre, that I hadn't really considered the possibility that he might actually know what's going on.

He turns around to face me. "You know what happens when there's an excessive amount of radiation, right? Like, a huge amount of radiation."

I shrug, "Not really. I mean, if it got in contact with a human, it'd be lethal, right?"

He starts talking, and he sounds really familiar with this subject. "Yes, it would, but what happens when it's contained? When the radiation starts to reach a point where it can't be contained?"

I don't answer, so he keeps talking.

"It creates another dimension." He pauses, waiting for my reaction. Maybe at one point I wouldn't have believed him. Now, though, I'd almost believe anything. "An alternate reality, if you will."

"So you're saying we're in an alternate reality?"

"Well..." He stops, and then starts again. "Yeah."

I try to understand the implications. "Where is everyone else, then?"

"In the real world, I'd guess." Chance starts walking again, and I catch up with him.

"But how do we get back?" It sounds childish, but I don't care. Panic starts as a bud inside my chest, threatening to blossom.

Chance keeps walking. "Your guess is as good as mine."

I sense the monster before I hear it. I whip around, my hair nearly hitting Chance in the face. The monster that flies over the top of a house looks like it came from the pages of fantasy, with a dark twist. It has three heads, which stare directly at both of us. Its wings span out on either side, like dark stained leather. It's chest glows, like there's fire within it, and the same fire transfers to its six eyes.

My breath catches in my throat at the monstrosity that is staring us down. It's a dragon. A fire-breathing dragon.

The first few tentative steps I take backwards turn into a full out run as I twist around completely. I don't hear Chance behind me, and see him looking at the monster.

"Run!" I scream at him, wondering why he already hasn't. He turns around, easily catching up to me, and the monster roars behind us. I don't feel any heat, and I risk a glance behind. The monster looks like he's struggling with himself, unable to move forward to chase us.