Chapter 2

The storm was even worse than before. It was so dark and rainy out, Bryce couldn't see a foot in front of his face. He reached a hand out to feel for a wall or lamp post. He felt something thin, and thought it was a lamp post. He began to hug it-his mother always told him that if he got lost in the woods, he should hug a tree and wait. So he thought that since he was lost in the city, he should hug a lamp post. But something was off about this lamp post. It was soft, warm, and moving!

"Excuse me, would you mind letting go of my leg?" a female voice said. Bryce looked up to see a teenage girl looking down at him. She had some art supplies in her arm as well as a white beret on her head. Her hair was brown and was styled with two odd protrusions on the top. They looked somehow familiar, but thought nothing of it. Bryce let go of her leg and apologised.

"I got lost, and I can't find my parents" The girl stooped down, set down her art supplies and gave Bryce a hug.

"How about you come with me." She said, Bryce looking up in half-confusion, half-wonder. "My house isn't that far and we might be able to find your parents after the storm clears up." Bryce looked up and smiled, nodding his head. "Okay, hold my hand and don't let go." Bianca said. Bryce nodded his head and held on tightly to the girl's hand as they began to walk through the storm. It took a few minutes, but they stopped at a house. Bryce looked up to see a log cabin. He had seen these kinds of houses before back in Johto, but this one was a lot bigger than those houses. The girl opened the door and they walked in. "Grandpa, I'm back!" the girl called out. A burly man with a white beard and very wide eyes came into the room and Bryce hid behind the girl.

"Bianca, where were you? You were supposed to be home half an hour ago. And who is that?" Bryce tried hiding himself more, and buried his face in "Bianca's" skirt. Bianca noticed this and turned to him saying, "It's okay, this is my grandpa, Lorenzo."

She turned to "Lorenzo" and said. "Grandpa, this is..." She turned back to Bryce. "Um, I actually don't know your name?" Bryce looked up and told her his name, still trying to hide from Lorenzo.

"Anyways," Bianca continued, turning back to Lorenzo, "I was late because of the storm and I had to help this little guy out." She stepped aside, revealing Bryce. He gasped and tried to hide behind Bianca again, who asked, "What's the matter?" Bryce was slightly shivering and he pointed to Lorenzo. Bianca realized what he meant and began to laugh.

"He's scared of you Grandpa." Lorenzo now had a confused look on his face.

"As I was saying," he continued, "she is back and wanted to see you." Lorenzo stressed the word she as if it was important. Bianca understood what he meant and nodded her head. She turned to Bryce and said, "Listen, I need to go somewhere for a few minutes, so I need to leave you here with Grandpa, is that okay?" Bryce looked at Lorenzo, then back at Bianca and nodded his head. "Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes."

Bianca left and Bryce looked at Lorenzo. Lorenzo smiled at Bryce and said, "So, what do you want to do?" Bryce hesitated for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He went over to a nearby chair, pulled it out, and sat down. He began to slowly move his legs back and forth. Lorenzo sat down in another one, and Bryce looked down at the floor. Lorenzo didn't really know why Bryce was scared of him.

'Maybe it was when I yelled at Bianca, or maybe he doesn't really trust strangers.' The door opened again and Bianca came back without her beret. Lorenzo shot up and went over to her. He whispered something in her ear so Bryce couldn't hear. She nodded her head and went back out the door. Lorenzo walked back over to Bryce and said, "I think it's time for bed. I'll show you to the guest room."

Bryce jumped off the chair and followed Lorenzo up to the second floor. He opened a door at the end of a hallway and Bryce walked in. The room had a single bed, two chairs, and a small TV. Bryce began to laugh and ran to the bed. He heaved himself up to the bed and circled it (like what a dog does) and fell asleep. Lorenzo was a bit confused at why he did this, but shrugged it off and went back downstairs.

(Bryce's dream)

It was stormy outside. Lightning was streaking across the sky. Bryce saw two large, bird-like things in front of him. He heard a voice echo in his mind, /Stay close, Bryce.\ Another streak of lightning iluminated the sky and he saw the figures. Before he could mentally register what he saw (to remember a dream), another streak of lightning flashed. He saw a bird fall to a city below. It was smaller than the others, and he felt the urge to save it. When he tried going after it, however, he felt himself being pulled back. He tried to yell out to the three birds, but his voice wouldn't work. He made one last attempt, but he woke up yelling, "NOOOOOO!"

(Third Person View)

He shot up and saw he was in the guest room at that nice lady's house. He looked around, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

Bianca came through the door, wearing her nightgown, and said, "What's wrong?"

Lorenzo was behind her in flannel pajamas. "It's four in the morning." Lorenzo's expression of confusion and slight anger faded when he and Bianca saw Bryce. He was sitting in a fetal position, rocking back and forth. Bianca went over to him and hugged him. Bryce calmed down a little and slowly came out of fetal position. Bianca asked what was wrong. "Bad dream," was the only thing he said. Bianca gave a slight "aaaww" and continued to hug him. Lorenzo sat down in a chair and asked what it was about. Bryce shook his head and Lorenzo understood what it meant.

"You don't want to talk about it?" Bryce nodded his head. "Well, I don't think I can go back to bed, so I think I'll work on the gondolas." Lorenzo left and Bryce relaxed a little. Bianca stopped the hug and said, "Do you want some water?" Bryce nodded his head, and Bianca left. Bryce tried to remember the nightmare, but all he remembered where the flashes of lightning. Bianca came back in with a glass of water. Bryce thanked her and took a long drink, draining half the glass. Bryce hugged Bianca again, and Bianca began to hug back. Bryce released her from the hug, but she kept hugging. She let go after two minutes and waved goodbye. Bryce waved back and wondered why she hugged him for so long. Bryce closed his eyes and thought he heard someone say, "Goodnight Bryce." And he fell asleep.