"Albert! Albert! Look!"

Albert looked up to see Wilson holding a box with a ribbon out to him, a small grin on the little six year old's face.

"What's dat?" Albert asked.

"A present for you! Mama and I were out shopping and I found something we thought you would like!"

Albert's eyes grew wide as the five year old reached for the box.

"Really!? For me?" He squealed a little as Wilson placed it into his hands.

"Ahuh, ahuh! Open it!" Wilson grinned, ruffling his sibling's hair. "It's all yours!"

Albert squealed a little before taking off the bow and opening. Inside the box was a bowler hat with a blue feather attached. It was a little big for him but it was something he would surely grow into with time.

"Oh cool!" He put the hat on his head. Due to it being a bit big for him it slid over his eyes a little but he tipped it up, allowing Wilson to see the overjoyed look in his eyes. "How do I look?"

Wilson grinned giving him a thumbs up.

"You look super dapper. Like a detective!"

Albert adjusted his hat, striking a pose. "Like this?"

"Yeah! Just like that! Now all you need is a trench coat then it'll be perfect." Wilson got a sneaky look. "Hm… I bet ya we could sneak something out of Grandpa Barlows closest the next we have to go to a stupid party."

Albert grinned.

"Shenanigans?"

"You bet."

Both grinned, grabbing hands and shaking on it.

"Always together, through shenanigans and good deeds, it's how the Higgsbury Brothers meet their needs."

Both giggled before running off.

"Now let's go see what Mama's up to!"

"Okay!"

oooooo

Albert was in a haze. He knew it was due to hunger but today was not being too kind to him in regards to scavenging. He hadn't seen a single bush of berries, any rabbits or any critters for that matter he could hunt and to add insult to injury, what he had found wasn't helping his growing annoyance.

He glared at the nuts he had found in the trees in the area he was currently in. They would be great to nibble on, if it weren't for the fact they were so hard to the point biting into it might chip a tooth and sadly, he didn't have any fire or a torch to cook them over to soften them up. He sighed, storing them in his backpack.

Maybe I should focus on getting some firewood together so I can least eat these then maybe I can focus better.

He was about to head in another direction when the sound of pigs squealing and something screeching caught his attention. He raised an eyebrow before rushing over to see what it was. His eyes widened at the sight of a pig standing on its hind legs, locked in a battle with some fish like creature. He took note that around the two creatures were pieces of meat and fishes flopping about. How those got there, Albert didn't really care.

They seem busy so…

Albert took a deep breath, sneaking around the battle, gathering up the pieces of meat and fishes as fast as possible. He kept checking very few seconds to be sure the two couldn't see him before continuing. He grinned as he picked up the last fish.

I'm gonna feast tonight!

There was a loud screech heard behind him as he jumped, looking behind him to see four fish like creatures coming out of a run down house behind him he hadn't noticed.

He gulped as they stared him down, one crossing their arms.

"... Hi?"

They screeched before giving chase as Albert bolted for it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

I IMMEDIATELY REGRET THIS DECISION!

Albert ran as fast he could, putting his findings into his backpack as fast as possible, keeping a firm grip on it. He was sure he could out run these goons but they were showing no signs of stopping and as his luck would have it, something stopped him in his run.

He yelped as he foot got caught on the root of a tree, causing him to trip and fall flat on his face. He groaned, feeling the sting of the scrapes on his face.

"That smarts…"

The fish like creatures closed in, cracking their knuckles. Albert knew there was only one way out of this at this point.

He set his backpack aside, cracking his own knuckles, glaring at them before bringing up his fists.

"You want some? Come get some you buggers!"

The creatures shrieked before all charging a him. Albert dodged their punches with ease, managing to get his own punches in, knocking one flat on its back after socking it in the jaw.

"Ha!" He grinned, managing to get another one. "That all you got?"

He gasped, the wind being knocked out of him as one of the creatures hit him in the stomach, scratching him across the face as well, sending him to the ground. He growled, looking up at the creature that hit him.

"Okay, guess you can be sneaky." He got back up, readying his fists again. He waited for an opening before attacking again, only to get a hit in return, getting another set of scratches on his face. Another growl escaped his mouth… one that was mixed with a hiss. "That's it!"

He threw another a punch, or a rather, he opened his hand that had turned black and claw like and slashed the creature across the chest, eliciting a shriek from it as it fell backwards.

The other two that were still standing tackled him to the ground. Albert let out another hiss, trying to get them off but to no avail.

"GET OFF ME!"

He was hit in the head, causing him to go into a daze. He was feeling weak and could barely get himself to sit up, not having enough strength to stand.

These guys are nothing… I… I've dealt with worse before… I… I can…

SHINK!

"Get of him you bloody merms!"

"SCREEE!"

One of the creatures was gone in an instant before the other followed suit. Albert looked up, unable to really tell what just happened. Everything was blurry and he couldn't make out a single thing. It was dark and he was seeing slightly red. And… were there other creatures staring at him?

"You okay there, son?"

Albert looked to the voice. There was someone standing over him but he couldn't make out any features and he wasn't sure if what was standing before him was human.

"Who…?"

They were silent, looking at them… least that's what Albert assumed what the thing was doing.

"Hang on, I got just what you need."

He felt something being slipped onto his head before something was put into his mouth.

"This is going to taste disgusting but I promise it will help."

Albert swallowed whatever it was before hacking a bit at the bitter taste. His vision cleared though and he was able to see what was standing before him. It was an older looking man with pale slightly graying blonde hair, a beard and bright blue eyes. He had concern in his features as he kept his eyes locked on Albert.

"Can you hear me?" he asked.

Albert nodded a little, letting out a shaky breath.

"Y-Yeah." He replied, his voice a bit hoarse. "Thanks for the save."

"Couldn't let them kill you."

Albert nodded.

"Again, thanks. Who are you?"

The man smiled, offering a hand.

"Jack Carter. At your service."

Albert smiled a bit himself, taking his hand.

"Albert Higgsbury. Pleasure to meet you."

Jack helped him to his feet, keeping him steady.

"Pleasure to meet you too, though would've been nice to meet under some nicer circumstances but life is strange I suppose."

"I can agree to that." Albert held his head a little, feeling at whatever had been slipped onto it. "What did you put on my head and what did you shove in my mouth?"

"Flower crown for your head and some cooked green mushrooms for your mouth."

"Huh." He blinked. "Good to know. Em… What do those do?"

"You were losing sanity. It's a plant that has medicinal purposes for the mind that can fix that."

"And the flower crown?"

"Helps preserve sanity and restore it as well. It's slow but it works. The flowers and the plants of this world are quite strange but are quite helpful."

"Got ya." Albert's stomach growled loudly, the man bringing a hand over it. "Though I'm guessing the green caps aren't exactly filling?"

"No and you better have something to eat with those." Jack could see Albert was having a hard time keeping his balance, the man clearly not having much energy left him due to hunger and taking a beating from the merms. He slung one of Albert's arms over his shoulder. "Come, I've got plenty of food set up at my camp."

"Food sounds great… anything edible sounds great." Albert leaned on Jack, his steps wobbly as they walked on. "I swear my luck likes to mock me these days."

"I know that feeling."

It was a little bit before they arrived in Jack's small camp. There was a bedroll set up along with a small fire pit and a garden.

"Here." Jack set him down on the bedroll before going over to the garden. "You allergic to any vegetables or fruits?"

"I'm only allergic to shellfish. Regular fish don't got a problem and no vegetable or fruit allergies."

"Good." Jack came back from his garden, having a bowl full of strawberries. "Here, you can nibble on these while I cook up a proper meal."

Albert gave him a grateful look, before he started digging in. He closed his eyes sighing happily at the taste.

"I swear this is the best thing I've eaten here so far since coming here."

"You're in for a treat then." He chuckled as he got to work, putting together ingredients into a small crock pot.

"Thanks. You sure you don't mind?"

"I'd rather not anyone go hungry."

"Well… thank you again." Albert sat up, feeling some strength coming back. "Seems rather nice of you to help a stranger though. For all you know I could murder you in your sleep."

"You don't seem like the type." Jack smiled. "Been here long enough to know what is dangerous and what isn't and lived a long enough life too."

"If you say so." Albert glanced at his hands. "Hey Jack… when one is going insane do you see things that shouldn't be there? Or do certain physical things happen to someone?"

"You definitely do start to hallucinate." Jack kept his eyes focused on the crockpot. "Hear voices, see nightmarish creatures. As for things happening to someone physically well… you were the first person I've got see going through it but I assume it happens to me and anyone else too but veins in the head start to turn black along with the whites of the eyes."

"What about claw like hands?"

Jack blinked, looking to Albert.

"Pardon?"

Albert ran a hand through his hair.

"It was heat of the moment but I swore for a second my hands changed and they were black and claw like and slashed one of those creatures across the chest."

Jack gave Albert a look of concern.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… I'm pretty sure."

"Maybe you were seeing things."

I've never heard of body mutations as part of it though…

Jack looked at Albert carefully, seeing any signs of insanity were now gone… though he couldn't help but notice one other thing peculiar about the man. He wasn't sure if he should ask though.

Not now. He's got too much running through his head. Besides, it's not that serious looking.

Jack shook his head, finishing up the meal he was cooking, bringing it over to Albert.

"Here, some pierogi. This'll fill you right up."

Albert gladly tucked in, feeling his head clear up more as he ate. He hadn't realized how hungry he still was until the first bite was taken.

"This, is amazing."

"Eat as much as you want, Albert."

"Will do."

Jack smiled, getting his own serving.

The two sat in silence, biting away at their meals till they were satisfied.

"I feel better." Albert flopped over. "That's the best I've eaten in days."

"I'm glad." Jack smiled.

Albert smiled back before sitting up.

"So, I don't mean to pry but em… just out of curiosity, how did you get… here? Like, here, here?"

Jack's smile faded as he rubbed the back of his neck, a sigh leaving him.

"I guess you could say I got lost while trying to find something or rather, someone."

Albert frowned looking away.

"You too?"

Jack lowered his head.

"It was a late night. I was tending to my garden when… I thought I heard what sounded like my daughters playing. I looked and… I saw a glimpse of them running about in a fog. I called out to them but it seemed like they couldn't hear me. I tried going to them but as I got closer or thought I was getting closer the fog got thicker and thicker and before I knew it… I was here and have been for quite some time now." Jack sighed. "I really don't know where I plan to go but… somehow, I feel like my daughters might be here."

"Did they disappear?"

"Yes… 13 years ago they just… went missing."

Albert reached over, squeezing his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry for your loss." He frowned. "No parent should have to go through that."

"I just… I wish I could've done something."

Albert frowned.

"Well… maybe I could help you find them."

Jack looked to Albert with surprise.

"You would do that?"

"You've been kind to me so why not return the favor?" Albert gave a small smile. "Besides, I don't think I like the idea of someone else being separated from their family."

Jack stared at him for a moment before smiling.

"Thank you, Albert. And whatever it is you're trying to do, I'll be more than happy to help you as well."

Albert grinned, nodding.

"I'm looking for my brother. Like with how you feel about your daughters, I feel like he's here too. So, we'll help each other find them and survive this crazy place. Sound like a good deal?"

Jack chuckled before offering a hand.

"Yes."

Albert took it, giving it a shake.

"Then it shall be done."