Even though I fell asleep quickly, I didn't rest.

I had nightmares Casey's death, it had only been a couple of days since and I could still see it clearly in my mind.

Except this time she wanted me to save her, even though I couldn't. And now she was gone.

I woke up suddenly, with a gasp. Also drenched in sweat. I had forgotten where I was, only that this was a strange place, and I had to get out.

I rolled but got caught in the sheets, and fell painfully from the top of the bed to the floor. I hit the ground hard and it bruised my elbows. Groaning, I stood shakily, leaning against the wall.

The light flicked on, and I winced at the sudden bright light. That's right I was back in whatever this place was.

"Did you seriously just fall off your bed?" Justin asked tiredly, he looked like he hadn't slept a wink.

"I don't wanna talk about it," I said roughly, hopping back up.

The light turned back off, and the tin foil things from earlier were glowing. I admired them for a few more minutes, the strange little things, before I found myself slipping into a dreamless sleep.

I was up again way before anyone else. I spent my morning exploring the school and it's many rooms.

Most were just class rooms, but the also had a pool, gym, and outdoor tunnel, which I was itching to check out. But I smelled breakfast and followed my nose to a more home-like area that had a dining room.

And I wasn't alone.

Mr. Wales was sipping a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper, I was about to retreat when he looked up and spotted me in the door way.

"Ah, Will, please come in, usually I'm the only one up at this hour but I'm sure we can have something whipped up for you."

I pulled out a chair, and a smiling maid came through a door with a few pieces of toast, which I accepted gratefully. It was better than nothing.

Mr. Wales folded his paper and gave me a serious look.

"William, I understand you spent some time with Legal Assault Biologies?"

My hand automatically clenched the arm of the chair, knuckles white.

"We've been rescuing people like you from them for a long time, and if there's anything you need or want to talk about, just ask." He nodded at me.

I chewed ruefully on my piece of toast, my appetite suddenly gone.

"Is there a phone here? I need to make a call." I asked, pushing the chair away from the table to end the conversation.

"Yes, down the hall." Mr. Wales had a rejected look, but I honestly didn't want to talk about that right now.

I spotted the phone immediately, it was one of those old ones with square buttons on the box thing and a curly wire.

The phone rang, and rang, for a long time until I heard a click sound and a drowsy voice filtered through.

"What?" Alex sounded impatient. Or cranky, I couldn't decide.

"Alex? It's me Will-"

"Will! What are you doing calling me in the middle of the night?"

Oh, I must be in a different time zone, 'cause the sun was shining over here.

"Sorry about that, but this is important, you know that photograph you had of you and Gratuity as babies, plus the other one?"

There was a long period of silence before he answered. "Yeah, I hope you plan on giving that back."

"Sorry."

He sighed. "I found that photo in mom's personal things. She... doesn't know I have it, and I've been meaning to ask her about it for some time now. What about it?"

I took a deep breath. "You're sitting down right?"

He snorted. "Dude, I haven't left my bed, at least you didn't call the home phone line, nobody would have gotten up for that."

"I know who your brother is."

There was a long, dead silence, followed by a yelp and a loud thump, and then he hung up, which confused me. Until the phone started ringing again, so I answered it.

"You what?" He yelled, "who is he? Where can I find him?"

I smiled, glad he was happier than angry. "I met him once, his name is Tyler, but I don't know where he is now."

"Does he know about us?"

I scrunched my eyebrows. "Probably not, I don't think he would be to happy about it though."

"Why?" Alex sounded so confused.

I swallowed dryly, here's comes the hard part, "because I'm pretty sure your mom gave him up."

Silence.

"She what?" Alex's voice was much quieter now.

"Alex, you have to understand Tyler isn't exactly normal, he's like me, only a little more, grotesque." I tried explaining.

"Oh... What, what does he look like?"

I ran my hand through my hair. "Uh, like you, dark hair and skin-"

"That's not what I meant, I mean if he's like you, what does he look like?"

"Oh, uh, I think I'll let you meet him first, if I ever find him again."

"Wha do you mean by that?"

"Well, I kinda, maybe, sorta don't even know where he is right now, let alone if he'll want to meet you."

"Well where are you?"

I looked around the house. "Not sure about that either, but it's cold and snowy."

"Geeze man, anything helpful you can give me?"

I thought for a second, pondering the question. "Try looking up Reprimenze's Circus."

"Okay, I gotta go, but if you see him again make sure to tell me."

"Sure, bye."

"Bye."

And I hung up.