There were clothes on the floor and stuff piled on end tables. Marlene could see where parts of the house were being painted. The place was alive with sound, a barking dog and a father yelling from another room. The house was alive. At Meeks' house, everything was in place and the dust-covered surfaces were bare, Even the photos on the wall were sparse. She lived in a museum, or at least Meeks did. The house was a shell.

"Sebastian, I might need you to help me later," his mother said. She stopped and her eyes widened. She dropped a paint roller and stripped away gloves from her hands.

"Hello! I'm Sedation's mom. Are you Meeks'... niece?"

"Yes, I'm Marlene. Sebastian said we could hang out, if that's okay."

"Okay? It's perfect! Y'all have fun, go on!"

"It's okay mom, you can bring it down a notch," Sebastian said.

"Just cut through the living room real quick," his mother said. She whispered to him. "So your dad can see."

Sebastian's dad almost jumped out of the recliner, struggling for a moment like a turtle on its back. He shook Marlene's hand. She had been captive three months, but wondered if it was longer. Were people always this way?

"Between you and me, the boy doesn't have a lot of friends," he told her.

"Dad, come on," Sebastian sighed.

Sebastian's mom insisted his door stay open, which made Sebastian's cheeks flood with red. She brought hem sodas and cookies. They played games. They talked. He asked again about school. He asked in whispers if she was really okay. Did she need help?

Marlene assured him she was fine. He asked why she left her dad's place. She said divorce and Sebastian remarked that its often for the best. "I give the folks downstairs a year, tops."

Her mother left when she was young, Marlene had no real memory of her. Just her and her dad. What would it be like if he was still alive? Would they take the planned birthday trip to see Bill Cypher statue in Oregon? Or would he cancel? He always got excited about things, and when the time came to leave something always came up. He had all the enthusiasm for the plans, but the follow through rarely happened. Planning was enough it seemed. Talk was enough. When disaster struck, like him losing his job or a car breaking down, he would be calm, she could feel safe. But drop a glass of tea? Make a mess I the kitchen? He'd blow up. Sometimes Marlene hid while he yelled and ranted to himself. He'd apologize though. Promise to be better. Talk was enough.

She missed him so much. Why was she thinking of these things?

"Mr. Meeks is friendly, then?"

"Yeah, he's nice," Marlene said.

"I don't think I've ever talked to him."

"He doesn't say much."

"But seriously, when is he getting you in school?"

"Any day now," Marlene said.

For now, she would just wait until the creature slept. Then she could run, she could show them the monster in hibernation. She could be free.

But it would have a baby, right? Would it be hurt?

No, she had to escape. It didn't have to kidnap her. Maybe she could run? Maybe it wouldn't chase her with a child of its own?

Waling him, she memorized every crack in the sidewalk, each house they passed. They all had perfectly mowed yard, little flags with flowers or cutesy sayings on them flapping in the wind. She saw it on a porch, a small turquoise teacup. It was marked. But the rest weren't. Where was everybody? Had the creature's plan worked better than anticipated?

"I don't see people," Marlene said.

"It's still hot, most people stay inside. Not a lot of kids on this end, and no oneour age comes over to this part of the neighborhood."

Marlen asked why. He walked ahead and then waved for her to come closer. He pointed into a group of trees behind the houses. There were snatches of blue and red visible amongst the gray, brown, and green.

"A lot of the homeless here live in little tent cities. You see it clearer in the winter."

"What's on the other side?"

"Train tracks. Oh, and a housing development. Can't sell any of them though. So yeah, no one wants their kids coming over to this part of the neighborhood."

"People here are that scared of the homeless?"

"I guess. I think the churches are supposed to help maybe? We got a thousand of them in this town, but it doesn't seem to help. They say they want to though."

Marlene wanted to laugh. Scared of people in a world of monsters.

He walked her down the sidewalk to the front of her house. She could hear noise inside. The window upstairs opened with a creak. She glanced up and saw the pale face in the window. She hoped Sebastian wouldn't look up.

"Hey, today was great. I gotta go, but maybe w can hang out again?"

"Anytime! I'm always home. Ah, that sounded sad."

"Not sad," Marlene said. She hoped up the stairs and gave a little wave, instantly feeling embarrassed that she did that. She ran inside and shut the door.

* * *

It heard the door slam below. She was home. When it first moved into the main bedroom, it was a spare room with a bed and a dresser, a few photos of other people on the wall. Since then, it has filled the room with sticks and limbs, feathers and detritus, constructing a massive nest, one decorated with bones that had been picked clean, broken so the marrow could be extracted. He often gnawed on them for calcium.

He made sure the door was shut, and clambered into the nest. It retrieved the head from deep within the mounds of limbs and bone. The desiccated skin pulled the face tight, so it always appeared to be screaming, an unfortunate effect.

Marlene's father. He ferried the skull with him, hidden within his arms or in the trunks of the cars of the ones he controlled on their journey from his dead hive to this one. He cradled the mummified head in both hands.

"She has made a friend. One of your kind. I am happy for her, but scared?"

The skull didn't speak. The creature never tried to imagine a voice. He just sat in silence.

"She will be okay. As I have promised, I will take care of her always. She will be like my own."

The skull again, remained silent.

"I am sorry."

* * *

Mr. Meeks gasped for air and collapsed into the living room floor. He felt a wave of heat and tore at the collar of his shirt. In the forest, the cold seeped into his bones, so deep no fire could warm him. He struggled to his feet.

"Marlene?" Marlene!"

"That is enough."

Meeks fell down again. The creature stood over him, wings outstretched. It removed its white mask and let it drop to the ground. His wings shivered and made sounds like broken glass, the plates of his exoskeleton shook and clattered. Meeks crawled backwards, his back to the front door.

"Welcome back, Meeks. I have given you limited control again. I need your movements to be... more natural."

Meeks started to stand. He turned his eyes away from the creature. "The girl, is she okay?"

"Marlene is always okay. How could she be safer? I'm glad to see you care. I need you to go into town again."

"More cake?"

The creature chuckled. "No, Marlene is growing and requires new clothing. I believe size twelve is what she said. Take your wallet and purchase some. Return here. Remember, should you attempt to escape. I still retain some control."

Meeks slammed against the door. He choked, he felt like a stone wall was crushing his body. His arms pulled to his side and against the door. He lifted, slightly, enough to feel his feet dangle. Then he slid down again. The creature didn't need to move his arms, or even his head. Thoughts were enough.

"Just don't send me back," Meeks said. "Just keep me here, even like this. The forest... I'm always running."

"I know. I was born there. Bring back clothes and I may arrange something."

* * *

In his nest in the bedroom, the creature watched Meeks through the man's own eyes. The walk wasn't far, there was a big box store nearby where he could find clothes. The creature could feel the man's thoughts, not exact words, but emotion, yearning. Meeks wanted to keep driving. Meeks imagined he could step on the gas pedal and the creature couldn't hold on to him, not going 100 miles per hour.

The creature watched Meeks park in the lot, sideways across three spots. Meeks felt nervous. The creature assumed this was an attempt to get attention. As Meeks stepped into the store and put his hands on the handles of a cart, he froze.

He couldn't move. His body felt like it had been submerged in water, at a crushing depth. In his mind, he heard the creature.

Get the clothes. Come back. Your heart, your brain, are under my control. I can stop them.

"Yes, sir," Meeks said. He gripped the handle hard; his knuckles went white. He pushed them ahead, navigating the aisles to the girls' clothing section. The music playing was poppy and upbeat, and the store so bright his eyes hurt. He felt insane, escaping one asylum for another.

Meeks tried to think of the last time he bathed. It had to be when the monster arrived. When the creature left him dormant, it all stopped. He didn't hunger or thirst, he didn't tire. But now, he caught the stench of his unbathed form. His clothes felt loose. Catching his reflection in a mirror surface in the clothing section, he saw a disheveled mess.

"I look homeless," Meeks muttered.

He grabbed shirts and leggings, pants and socks. He glanced only long enough to see the sizes. He felt eyes on him when he tried to find underwear for her. Shopping for a fellow captive. He wanted out, he wanted to get her out. How do you kill a monster like this?

It would be very difficult.

"Go to hell," Meeks hissed.

There was a line for the self-checkout machines, but he saw an available cashier and pushed his cart forward.

"Back to school shopping a little late, aren't we?" She smiled, scanning the clothing.

Meeks nodded but didn't laugh. The girl seemed only a few years older than Marlene. He reached into his back pocket and retrieved out his wallet. He tapped the card, but it was declined.

"Maybe try swiping it?" The girl offered.

Meeks nodded and did. Declined. He had no money left.

Just take the clothes.

"But the girl?" Meeks asked.

"What?" The girl asked.

Kill her. There is a knife in your pocket.

Before Meeks could respond, he reached into his left pants pocket and brought out a large folding knife. He freed the blade and held it out to the girl. She took a deep breath and backed away.

"Sir, what are you doing?"

"I have to take the clothes."

Kill her.

"Not a problem. You don't have to hurt anyone."

"I'm so sorry," Meeks said. He wiped his eyes with his other hand, the knife still pointed at her in a shaking grip.

"Not my first rodeo. There were like two shootings at my high school."

"Sir, drop the knife."

Meeks glanced behind him. A man in uniform, a cop or security guard maybe? Either way, he had a gun trained on Meeks.

"I don't want any of this," Meeks said. "It's not me. It's in control of me! The monster!"

"Put down the knife," the man said.

Meeks turned back. The girl had left. It was just him and the officer.

Take the clothes and run.

"He'll kill me," Meeks said.

"Who?" The office asked.

"One wrong move, and that's it," Meeks said.

Understood.

Meeks feet moved, he lunged, or more accurately, collapsed toward the officer. He almost felt the push in the small of his back. Meeks had a look of surprise before the bullets entering his body twisted his face in pain. Meeks lay on the ground, convulsing. The knife clattered onto the floor. He moaned, tears flowing.

There was no screaming. People fled the area, but they whispered to each other and record everything on their phones. They remained close enough to watch. The officer spoke into his radio. Meeks felt light, and exhaled heavily. The possession left him, the creature was gone. His thoughts cleared, he could take in everything, even his pain was a surprise that wasn't entirely unwelcome. Meeks smiled. He was finally free. Would the girl be free? Meeks almost laughed, and watched the blinking fluorescent light above him. Heaven's light, for all he knew.

In the house, in his nest, the creature sighed.

"Meeks, you fool."