A/N: And part two! I really hope you like the whacky route I went with this :) I still want to thank those who keep reviewing! It means a lot!

Chapter Thirteen:

Sinister Memories: Part Two

When she took the boy's hand, she noticed bruises on his arm. Dark, yellow bruises. Her heart sank deeper in her chest.

It was quite a walk back to the boy's house. It took nearly an hour to even come across anything other than trees. Thankfully, it was only a crossing of the street and we came upon his house: a little yellow building that looked like it was going into ruins. And the overwhelming smell of smoke hit her hard once she stepped on the front porch.

"Maybe you should come home with me," Isabelle suggested. OF course, the idea was stupid because she had no idea where she was at or what the year was either.

"No. It's almost dinner time. Have a nice evening."

Just as he went for the front door, someone burst through it. The woman didn't look like any normal lady. Her eyes were fierce and raged filled them to the brim. If looks were able to murder, she and that little boy would have been dead in less than a second. The lady went for the boy, ignoring the presence of Isabelle. When he cried out in pain, Isabelle immediately lunged for to save him, but something grabbed her arm, yanking her into a rock hard chest.

The next thing she knew, she was on the floor, heart racing quicker than it ever has.

She took in her surroundings, trying to calm down. She was back in that guest room, right next to the closet.

Ashley came in, "There you are. We've been looking for you."

A few of the other children followed behind her.

"Where did he go?" Isabelle asked. "Did you see him?"

The little girl squinted in confusion, "Who, Izzy?"

She opened her mouth, she was going to say his name, but she didn't want to. For if she did, she feared that the reasons she asked for him would be more real than they should be. Isabelle instead shook her head. "Nevermind... Who's Todd?"

There was silence.

"Where did you hear that name?" Stephanie asked quietly.

Isabelle pointed behind her, "Well, I just got tossed back into my own memories, and then tossed into what looked like the early 1900s with this little boy named Todd. I don't know why that had any correlation with my memories. Why...I don't even know how to form my question, my mind is so fried."

Henry spoke up, "Mr. Boogie used to be just like us. Human. His name was Todd."

Isabelle rubbed her temples. "Jesus Christ, I think I'm going crazy."

"Jesus Christ?" Michael questioned. "Who's that?"

Isabelle's heart broke completely in two.

She took another shot. It was fiery hot down her throat. Those people lied. They said drinking would make her forget things, but it didn't.

Isabelle still couldn't get those children or the creature out of her head. Tears brimmed her eyes. Her brows furrowed as she gazed distantly at the small glass. The way she touched the creature's face... Why? She was curious, but either away, it was uncalled for...weird.

Something inside Isabelle's stomach lurched. She felt especially nauseous. It had to have been the drinks, for she's never had so much alcohol before. In fact, the only time she touched it was New Year's Eve right after her twenty-first birthday. The young woman went to the bathroom, sat on the floor in one of the stalls and waited for any bile to come up her throat. She felt miserable. This was a terrible and stupid idea. Just because it worked out for the most part of society didn't mean it would help her in any way.

And how cliche was that? Drinking to "ease the pain". She felt even more stupid.

Someone burst through the bathroom doors. Isabelle looked to see two pairs of feet. There was a lot of smacking and moaning. Isabelle made an ugly face of clambered into one of the stalls, clearly trying to rip each other's clothes off.

Isabelle cleared her throat. "Someone's already in here," she mumbled, "Don't expect me to leave either...it might be a while."

They stopped, muttered frustrations and then left the bathroom. Isabelle thought about how they could do what they were about to do anywhere and anytime unprotected and be able to have children to love and raise. Something she would never be able to do. She mentally slapped herself for having such self-pity. She couldn't do anything about being barren. She should find the good. What was the point in moping around when she could be happy? It was such a waste to live life so miserable.

Then again, was it really all that easy?

No. She lived alone in a house full of dark creatures that might kill her at any point in time. She had no friends. Her job is okay but that can only make her so happy.

For God's sake, Isabelle, get it together! You are young! There's so much life to live and not everything has to happen right now, she scolded to herself.

It was a good point. She didn't need to make great friends with anyone right away or be so overwhelmed with the supernatural going on in her house when she was still alive and seeming to be close to those children, and as much as she would love to hang with people her own age, the children were still fun to hang out with. They made her mood that much brighter.

Isabelle got up, going to a sink. She rinsed her face with cold water and drank as much as she could cup in her hands. It was time to go and take care of her body and mind, not destroy it.

She did in fact call Deputy and got him to give her a ride home.

The drunk stumbled slightly through the door. Though she had this revelation of choosing to be happy, she still found herself thinking bad thoughts. She hated that. When she was so excited about something or made a big decision about something, she usually ended up not going through with it. Laziness...cowardice...she didn't really know what it was. It was pathetic.

Breathing in and out, she slowly walked up the stairs. Very groggy and mentally exhausted, she fell into her bed without taking any clothes of or turning on the lights. As she did so, she heard something crinkle beneath her. Now she turned the light on, taking off her shoes as she walked back to her bed. There was in fact a white piece of paper and a red rose.

She picked up the note:

You are loved.

No combination of words could describe the feelings that were coursing through her body. She felt happiness, confusion, and scared all at once.

But mostly, and crazily enough, she felt a peaceful kind of happiness.

"Isabelle?" a little voiced said softly. "Are you okay?"

The woman turned around to see Ashley standing in the door frame. The young woman felt ashamed and embarrassed with her state. In front of a child. How could she be so selfish and careless?

"Yes, of course, Ashley," Isabelle smiled. God only knew her eyes were showing her drunkenness. Turning around, back to the note, she closed her eyes and whispered quickly, "Bughuul, she shouldn't see me in this state. Take her away." It was a desperate plead.

When Isabelle turned back to Ashley, the little girl was gone.

"Thank you."

Just as she said it, Bughuul appeared in the same spot Ashley had been.

In all honesty, she felt embarrassed to be near him. Not only because of her state, but because she was more than just sure that he had laid that note on her bed. It was odd. This wasn't supposed to be happening; it wasn't normal. He should be cruel and killing whoever got in the way of his priority. She should be terrified and running away. But none of that was happening. None of the normal feelings that were supposed to be felt in that situation were being felt. It was only embarrassment because there was a fondness in the air. Whether it was one sided or not didn't matter. It was still not normal.

"Did you write this note?" Isabelle asked. She didn't think he would answer, but she knew the answer.

He nodded slowly.

Her brows raised slightly in astonishment. She tested her luck. "Who was that little boy? Todd. Was that boy you?" She could see Bughuul being Todd with the same stringy black hair.

This time, he didn't answer. He walked towards her slowly. Her heart beat faster with every step he took. With a sandpaper-y hand, he stroked her cheek.

Suddenly, she was being knocked into a different time again.

Isabelle was back in that same treehouse. However, this time, there was a lot more to see.

The old table was still there was the chair. It contained notebooks upon notebooks with pens and pencils and crayons and paints. There was paintings of beautiful horizons, sunsets, and forests taped on the walls. There was a sleeping bag with blankets folded in a neat stack and two pillows at one end. Canned food was piled next to the table and a trash can was holding a bunch of empty cans. Was he living here now?

The woman walked up to the paintings and drawings. They had gotten so much more realistic and detailed since she saw his last drawing.

"Hello again," said a low, rumbling voice.

She jumped, turning around towards the entrance. It was a man who looked similar to the little boy. He had longer black hair. His clothing was dirty and worn. He was wearing a grin. Not a terrifying one by any means, but a happy one. As if he was so excited to see her. She was at a loss, and her heart was doing that annoying rapid beating again.

"Again?" she questioned.

"Ah, so this is the day when you first travel through time," he chuckled. His teeth were yellowing. Despite that, he had such a beautiful smile. By the looks of it, he looked of Native American descent. His skin color which now looked healthier than when he was a child. It was much darker. He had a strong jaw line.

Isabelle was nervous and curious. "I'm lost."

He climbed the rest of the ladder and stepped onto the creaky boards of the house. He was so tall, it made her feel like at any time he could attack her and she would be utterly defenseless. He had to bend only slightly in order not to hit the ceiling. "Well, I suppose I could begin by telling you that you have visited me more times than I can count before this. Four times when I was a child and three when I was in high school and the rest was mostly after I made this treehouse my home. You are a friend to me. Weird to you that might sound, but in my opinion it is a fondness that goes both ways." He smiled at her, a twinkle of something strange in his eyes. It looked similar to the way Trevor looked at Leila. Isabelle turned away from him.

She decided to put her two cents into the conversation while he had stopped speaking, "This is my second time seeing you. Todd, right?"He nodded. "I saw you when you were younger. I took you home after you told me it wasn't a good idea."

"I see," he laughed, "I guess I look a bit older, don't I? Well, I tried to ask you where you came from the second time you came to me, and you told me that you weren't allowed to tell. That it was less complicated and safe if I didn't know. I was okay with that because I was happy simply because you were there."

Her heart pounded. "You talk like you adore me or something...I'm not comfortable with that."

Todd smirked, "My apologies, my lady."

What the hell?

Isabelle wasn't sure what to think. Never had she been liked by a male like that. Neither had she seen any male be such a kind, old-fashioned gentleman. That was rare. And appealing. Isabelle cursed herself at that.

"What else?" she asked almost rudely.

"Not much," he answered. "Although, I'm sure you're wondering about this treehouse. I am living here. No, I don't have a job, and yes, it's not the most ideal living."

She decided to go slightly off subject, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-five in three days."

If this man, Todd, was truly the creature Bughuul, then what happened to him? He was normal. Minus the hard situation he was in of being homeless and unemployed, he was a kind man who honestly could be a godly man, not a demon.

"How are you getting food?"

"I make some money here and there doing various jobs for different people. Nothing stable enough to live on." He frowned. His mood went from happy to solemn and even longing for something.

Isabelle tried cheering him up in a non-direct way, "May I saw all your drawings and paintings?"

It had clearly been much longer in this period of time than any other memory she had ever been in. She tried asking to go back home in her head, hoping Bughuul could somehow hear her, but there was no answer.

For God's sake, she had to pee so bad, but there wasn't a bathroom for miles.

When he finished showing her one of his bigger masterpieces, she asked, "Do you remember how I was able to go back home?"

"Only that someone had to take you back his or herself. It isn't up to you. That's all you ever told me. As I got older, the length of your stay grew longer and longer. Last time you stayed for two weeks."

Two weeks? I have a job I need to keep up with. I could end up in a treehouse just like this if I don't show up to work for two weeks.

"Why? I know I wouldn't choose to stay that long."

Todd didn't answer her. He got up and opened up the cabinet in the corner. He pulled out another sleeping back and pillow.

Isabelle felt just as nauseous as when she was drunk, "I'm going to guess that this isn't the first time I've stayed here...sleeped here."

"Correct. Don't worry," he assured her, "I know your values. If you wish, I could pay for a motel. There is one just a few miles from here."

He was serious. For someone who was so alone and broke, he was such a genuine person who looked out for others. But because he was broke, Isabelle declined the offer. Better off that money be for food than her prejudice and skepticism against him. There was something terribly wrong with him...there had to be. He turns into a creature that forces children to kill their parents and then take them away. And she could only imagine where they roamed, where they lived and slept and what they ate because they were now in this other-worldly dimension.

Any appeal for this man, however big or small, she now hated him.

This man would lose any kindness he had now and bring ruin and tragedy to so many others.

Bughuulies:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I'M DOING

I feel like this story is going way out of whack, but it's just how it went. If you guys hate it, let me know and I can redo this entire chapter or any other chapter you guys dislike.

I admit, I was having a little fangirl moment over Don Shanks in Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. He plays Nakoma and he also plays Michael Myers in Halloween 5. When he was in Grizzly he was so attractive...I can't help it :P So that is what inspired Bughuul as a human.

Goodness I feel like I'm cheating my code of never being overly fluffy or stupid or illogical or unrealistic in my fanfictions like so many people do. But I did it. Sigh.

Well let me know what you think, what you like, what you don't like, what you want to see, and whatever else you have to say.

I love your guys' comments. They are so helpful and nice and it helps me continue to write this story!

Next chapter will come when a consensus among all of us Bughuulies comes on whether we should keep or ditch the path that this story is taking. Thank you!