I heard a strange noise.

A cackling sound, like wood in a fire. A popping; I couldn't figure out what it is. And then it was purring and chirping. Completely dumbfounded; I had never heard something quite like it before.

"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone there?" It gurgled and muttered, but did not speak with words I knew.

I LoVE pApa.

I'm sorry, he wrote in my journal.

He's a rather loveable fellow. It took him a little while to speak; I believe he's a supernatural being and he was learning my language slowly but surely.

"Who are you? Who is there?" I kept calling out. The mutterings became words and the next thing I knew, I was having a broken conversation with him.

"They call me Shadow." He hissed, voice getting louder as it came close to me. He chirped and grumbled, slithering on the floor.

"….What are you?" I asked, knowing it wasn't from this world.

"Don't need to know." He replied.

It touched my leg, and I shivered. "You're not…human, are you?"

"No. Not human. Not me. No." It purred. "But want to be. Limbs. Want limbs. Feet." I heard a strange sound and then he tugged on my arm.

"Swim. Come with me. Swim." It chirped happily. I picked the thing up, and found it had feet and hands. He created them.

"I-I…well, then. I'll take you swimming, but I can't get out of here." I tried to turn around and get a good look at him, but realized the habit would not be fullfilled.

"Hold on." It gurgled, and the next thing I knew, my feet was touching an unknown floor.

"Here. Brennenburg." So happy, this creature was.

"Where? Brennenburg? You can take us places? Can you take me to Justine?"

"Nope. Don't know Justine. Know Brennenburg. Find Daniel. Kill him. Hate him. He's mine, but I hate him."

"Daniel?" I didn't know this name. "Who's Daniel? He's yours?" It flapped its tendrils.

"Everything is mine. You are mine. World is mine. I hate him, but he's mine." This creature was like a child in mind. I chuckled lightly. It seemed adorable.

"Well, Shadow, I'm Alois."

"Alois. Mine." It slithered off and I heard a splashing. I followed it, being careful since I did not know where I was. I felt stone, and realized it was a rather large fountain.

"Swim." He chirped, sliding in. I heard bubbles. I grabbed the substance, and pulled it out of the water, laying it on my lap as I dipped my feet in the refreshing water.

"Can't swim. Don't like feet." Like a baby, he didn't understand how to use the limbs he created.

"Here, sit with me." I set it down on the edge with me and showed him how to dangle his feet. I heard splashing and it giggled.

"You seem to remind me of myself when I was a little boy. My papa and I would go swimming together in the lake."

"Papa?"

"Yes, Papa."

"Papa. Papa Alois." It kicked his feet and chirped loudly. I smiled. I couldn't help it; I missed Damien terribly, but perhaps this creature would give me happiness until I was finally with my Justine.

"If that is what you wish." I chuckled.

"Yes. Mine. Papa Alois. Mine."

Being here, knowing I couldn't leave, even with Shadow by my side, made me feel better nonetheless. I lost my pet, but gained a son.