Lilly awoke in a pitch black fog. Her head felt like it had exploded and been glued back together by a five year-old with a glue gun. What had she done?

"Take it or leave it, me dear. Right now, looks like the best chance ya've got."

"I just want Howard to be happy. I ruined his life, it's the least I can do. I guess – if this will make him happy – okay."

Oh yeah, that's what she'd done.

Lilly couldn't remember anything after that; just darkness and an aching in the back of her skull. She found she could move – with only the slightest bit of stiffness – but she still couldn't see. It was no good, being able to walk, if you couldn't see where you were going.

She sat up in the dark and looked around. Far off to her left, there was a light. She could just make out the flicker of a flame and – deciding to be brave – she stood and made her way toward it. What's the worst that could happen? She was already trapped in some kind of dark prison.

As she neared the fire, she could make out a figure crouched beside it. The closer she got to it, the easier it was to make out the person. It was a dark haired woman in a dress. To Lilly, she seemed surreal and out of place in this dark and endless prison.

"Um – excuse me." Lilly approached her.

The woman looked up and motioned for Lilly to come closer, "Hiya, love. Come on over 'ere and sit by the fire. You must be Lilly."

Lilly did what she was told but she was skeptical of the lady, "Yes I am. How did you –"

"I know everything that happens 'round 'ere. I'm Elsie."

Howard's head felt full of cotton as he lifted it from the pillow. It wasn't quite daylight yet. Why had he woken up? Something was happening.

Howard sat up and put on his slippers before quietly creeping out of his bedroom. He stepped out into the living room and saw there, stuffing things into a great black bag, was the Hitcher; his own living nightmare.

"What are you doing here?!" He hissed loudly, trying to sound menacing without waking Naboo.

The Hitcher was momentarily startled and whipped around to look at Howard, "Just packin' up, boy."

Howard glared, "Packing up? What are you talking about?"

"She's a pretty one, that girl of yours." The Hitcher picked up his back and stood up, "Selfless too. Right stupid bird, if you ask me."

Howard had no idea what he was talking about, but he felt compelled to defend whoever the Hitcher was talking about, "Shut up, you!"

The Hitcher laughed and put himself right in Howard's personal space, "Got a pretty name though, doesn't she. What was it again? Hmmm…" He thought for a moment before putting one green finger in Howard's face, "I remember now; Lilly. That's what it was."

Howard perked up as the Hitcher stepped away from him and towards the stairs, "What? What about Lilly?" He followed the Hitcher to the top of the stairs and watched the green man descend.

When he got to the bottom the Hitcher turned around and winked at Howard, "I'm gonna like havin' her in my box." He turned and walked away, muttering to himself, "Beautiful name, that…"

Howard stood, transfixed. Lilly was in the Hitcher's box? The Hitcher still had his box? And what had Lilly done that had been so selfless?

He turned and padded to the kitchen, putting the kettle on. The sun was beginning to rise and he didn't think he'd be getting any more sleep that night.

Four hours later and Howard was still in the kitchen. He'd eaten two bowls of cereal and a muffin, had three cups of tea, and counted the tiles on the floor seven times. There were sixty-two. He thought maybe he should open the shop but Naboo was away on Shaman business and wasn't there to force Howard to, so he let it stay closed for the day. He could use a day off, anyway. Maybe he'd clean the flat; it was getting to be a mess.

There was a loud sort of scuffling nose in the hallway that made Howard's ears perk up. He was the only one in the flat – unless that awful Hitcher had come back. He stood up from his seat and went to investigate. The closer he got to the bedrooms, the more he could hear. Someone was in Vince's bedroom. He could hear them cursing and moving about.

Howard took a deep breath before throwing the door open. There, behind the door, stood a very disheveled and forlorn looking Vince Noir.

"Howard?"

It was as if those months of dreams had finally come to life. Maybe he was hallucinating. Maybe all that time he spent talking to an imaginary Vince had driven him crazy. He blinked repeatedly and even resorted to rubbing his eyes, as if he were a cartoon character. Vince wouldn't budge.

"Vince?"

Vince just stood there, shocked and scattered. His hair was a mess and he was wearing his pajamas. He looked around the room a couple times and then back at Howard.

"Where's all my stuff gone?"