I took a deep breath. The robots were gone. We were safe. I glanced over to gray, who had begun to slide out of our hiding spot. I followed, and soon we were both standing at the bottom of the ditch again. I started to climb up the side, but Gray nudged me aside.

"I'll go first, so I can check for the robots."

I ignored him as he began to climb up the side of the ditch.

"You're a Brink, aren't you, Gray?"
He stopped halfway up, then looked down at me.

"Alright, I am. So? It doesn't change anything"
"Does that mean you're part monster?"
"I think so. I never met my parents, that I can remember."

"Is that why you wear a mask?"

"Yeah. But you know about me now, so I can take it off without worrying."

Gray slid down into the ditch next to me again, then unclasped the straps around the back of his head. He tossed the mask away, then looked up, and...

He looked completely normal.

"Gray, you look normal."
He didn't verbally answer me, instead pulled his lip up with his finger, revealing razor sharp teeth. My eyes widened, but it seemed that was all that made it obvious he was a Brink.

"I know I don't really look like a Brink. But I am. Now shut up, we need to keep moving."

I glanced at the mask on the ground.

"Won't you need that?"
"Nah. There's no one except you to see, and you know."

"Oh."

I gave the discarded mask one last look, then jogged to catch up to him. I noticed a ladder on the opposite side of the bridge, then pointed it out to Gray. He looked over at it, then changed direction and began to climb up. I followed close behind, still wary of robots that might be around.

"Gray, are you sure the robots are gone?"
He scanned the area, then nodded.

"I'm sure. I'd know if they were close."
"How? Do you have powers or something?"

He climbed the last rung and jumped onto the sidewalk above.

"No, I don't have any powers. Just better senses than the average human."
"Then how would you know?"
"I'd see them. Or hear them. Whichever happens first."
"That's actually really neat, Gray."

He brushed off his sleeve, then glanced at me.

"Thanks, Jason."

"No problem. Also, I still consider that a power."
"Whatever you say."

We kept walking and I kept asking questions.

"Do you have any other abilities?"
"I can see pretty well in the dark."
"Neat."

"What do your teeth do?"
"Nothing much. It's not like I regularly bite stuff."
"Huh."

This went on for maybe an hour, and the sun was beginning to set. I heard the distant whirring of robots, so I made sure to stay extra close to Gray. As the stars began to come out, Gray became more hurried as we searched for a shelter.

I spotted an alleyway and pointed it out to Gray, who began to walk toward it. I still had to get used to seeing him without a mask on. He looked so different.

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice coming from down the alleyway.

"Looks like I've got myself some visitors."