Vivi awoke in the middle of the night after a nightmare.

She dreamt of that cliff, some odd green smoke, And what Arthur told her...Only...It was different.

There was some guy with them that she didn't know. Him and Arthur went one way, her and Mystery the other just like Arthur said.

But, soon she saw a vision of Arthur and this guy going into the other cave entrance. Arthur started changing and his entire left half went green and dark. He shoved the other man off the cliff.

That part...

Vivi shivered.

That was in so much detail, it left her feeling sick and close to tears.

She saw his body fall and heard herself scream. His body was impaled by many spikes on the bottom of the cliff bed. Each one puncturing a new place and blood...It was everywhere!

She saw him from above...His lifeless eyes had crimson tears seeping out from the spike through his head.

Next, she saw Mystery...Only...It WASN'T Mystery! He had six tails and was HUGE! He...He ripped Arthur's arm off.

Then...She woke up.

It was one of the most outrageous yet disturbing dreams she'd ever had.

She sat there in bed, startled over what she had witnessed...She ran her fingers through her damp blue hair with trembling hands. Her throat was dry and tight as she tried swallowing the lump in her throat.

She decided to go to the bathroom to wash her face and get a drink. She visibly calmed down as she reassured herself it was all a dream, repeatedly.

She went to go back to her bed to sleep but paused as her stomach growled in hunger. She rolled her blue eyes.

"Crap... Might as well." She told herself as she quietly made her way downstairs to get a piece of pizza.

Once in the kitchen, she quietly got out a piece of cold pizza to snack on, being careful not to wake Arthur on the couch.

She leaned up against the counter to eat her treat when something caught her eye.

The tv had been left on in the living room.

She lightly padded over to it to investigate but saw that Arthur was passed out...

'Huh, he must have fell asleep with it on.'

She thought with amusement as she went to turn it off.

But she saw a fire on tv and stopped herself.

The flames had completely engulfed a house.

'Oh no! I hope no one was inside!'

She came closer to the tv and a sleeping Mystery perked up from the floor where he slept.

They both watched the tv intently and Mystery whined a sorrowful sound before growling low in his throat.

Vivi didn't understand why, though, until the news caster announced the town and street name...

33rd street...

Vivi gasped and slowly sunk down to her knees as she held her hand over her mouth; trying to stifle the cry that wanted to escape her throat.

She stared in mortification at the screen.

'Oh no...no ,no ,no ,no ,no ! That...That was Arthur's house!'

She looked back at her peacefully sleeping friend and shook her head with a sob.

'NO! THIS WASN'T FAIR! HE JUST LOST HIS JOB, NOW HIS HOME!?'

She should have woke him up but she just couldn't! She quietly cried for her friend... Why were there lives being turned to utter crap?!


Arthur woke up later then he usually did...Well, not usually. But he was surprised to see the clock read 12 pm.

Surely, Vivi and her parents hadn't forgotten about him! Why would they let him sleep so late?

He felt it was rude and forced himself to get up off the couch with a stretch and yawn.

'Wow, he slept well last night! Best sleep he had gotten in weeks! On a couch no less! Who knew?'

He saw that Vivi and her brown haired mother were sitting at the kitchen table in the other room.

He smiled and hoped he didn't come off as lazy or rude for sleeping in. Walking over to them; he beamed at the women.

"Hi, you two! I'm sorry I slept so late!" He cheerfully told them but was greeted with silence and then a choking noise.

He looked down to see that Vivi was crying on her Mother's shoulder.

"Oh no, what's wrong?!" He worriedly questioned as he put a hand on Vivi's shoulder which made her cry even harder. He jerked his hand back and looked on at them with confusion.

"I-I'M S-S-SO S-SORRY!" Vivi sobbed out through her mothers clothes.

"Sorry? Why?" He asked as he took a seat at the table in front of them.

Vivi's mother breathed and looked at her daughters friend with sadness and pity.

"Arthur dear...I'm sorry to tell you this but...Your house...Burnt down last night." Her mother uttered with sorrow.

Arthur blinked as he blankly stared; the words not registering.

"...Excuse me?"

"I-I...SAW IT ON THE N-N-NEWS!" Vivi tried piping up but she was just crying to hard to get the words out completely.

Her mother sighed and rubbed her back.

"Vivi got up in the middle of the night and happened to see it on tv. It's gone dear...I'm so very sorry..."

Arthur sat there in shock.

'He...He was homeless?'

He rubbed his hands down his face and sat there starring at the table.

"Did ya wake him up yet Shirley?!" Vivi's father yelled from the other room.

"Yes, Frank!" She confirmed with annoyance.

Vivi's graying father came in the room warily.

"Did ya tell 'em?"

Vivi's mom rolled her eyes at her husbands tactlessness.

"Yes, Frank. Just now..."

Frank came into the room with apprehension at seeing his daughter sobbing and Arthur looking close to a break down with his poor wife in the middle of it.

"Well...Kid do you have family to stay with?" He questioned a devastated Arthur.

The young man took a few seconds to compose himself before answering.

"No sir...My mom is dead, my brothers can't stand me and my Dad kicked me out last year for not living up to his 'standards'..."

Vivi's mom, Shirley, gave him a gasp as her eyes watered.

"Oh, you poor thing..." she whispered as she rocked her still bawling daughter.

Frank gave him a sympathetic look before walking over and patting him on the back.

"Well, you've been a good friend to my Vivi and a good kid. You can stay here as long as you need, BUT, you'll have to look for a job soon. We won't have any moochers here!"

"FRANK!" Shirley exclaimed.

"N-No. It's alright. Thank you sir..." Arthur numbly thanked.

There was an awkward silence before Frank cleared his throat.

"Well, come on girls! Give the boy his space for awhile."

Both women nodded and left the room but not before a red eyed, sniffling Vivi gave her friend a huge hug.

Arthur jumped at the sudden gesture but sadly smiled as he hugged her back. She regrettably left the room and Arthur and Mystery were finally left alone.

The dog sadly laid his head on Arthur's lap with a whine.

"Mystery...You saved me. Thank you, pal..." He chokingly said as he petted his dog's fluffy head. Mystery nuzzled it with care as the young man began to cry.

Arthur cried and cried until he couldn't anymore.

Why was all of this happening to him? Why now?! Ever since that Mansion and that Ghost; nothing had been right!