He was thrown away like trash. Left for dead. Shivering in the cold. Would he die in this wet miserable place? Or would he do the honors himself? The future looked bleak.

REALITY HAS NINE LIVES

CHAPTER ONE

I stop at the corner where I could see the ley lines like glowing threads in the night. All is well; the line is unbroken. Coast is clear. Yet, I still crossed with care. I don't want to be surprised by some mad creature; that would throw me off balance and that is what I totally hate the most.

This is a special night.

No, idiots. Not THAT kind of night. Pervs!

There's the gate. Oh rats, I hate those vines. They used to get into everything and everywhere. It was a bitch to remove. But now, et viola! No more itchy things. I hum a tune as I climb the stone stairs. I don't see any laundry so it must not be her rest day. I checked the time before I went up; Orion was like he was about to spear someone's ass so it's not that late.

I'm talking about time, morons. Capisce? No? Using constellation markings to tell the time? Ah...nevermind.

Yep, I'm right. I can smell coffee from way out here. I can see her in my mind's eye: that big apple green mug's filled to the brim with cold coffee. That was annoying. The condensation often drips onto my head. Tsk, it was troublesome as hell to dry up.

Her face's it up by that glowing box. She often taps something there and a series of black lines sometimes with some curves comes marching out on the glowing surface. I haven't ever tried to use it. I went to investigate once and almost got a heart attack when she screamed bloody hell. Has the thing tried to attack me? I heard her screaming my name. Oh no! I knew it! That thing's must have been so dangerous. I was scooped off of the box and as compensation for my harrowing experience she treated me to a big bowl of my favorite crunchies.

I hide in the shadows so she wouldn't feel my presence. I tried once and she whispered my name, tears welling up and spilling down her cheeks and her sorrow would flow out from her in bitter tasting waves. I took a tentative step toward her like I used to and pat her face and she would sniff and the tears would stop. But...I cannot break my vow. I cannot.

Knowing her I'm one hundred ten percent sure she would not bat an eyelash if she knew the truth. Isn't she the coolest ever? But why risk it; why put her in jeopardy when she could continue to be happily ignorant and...and it would render my death in vain.

I am more of use for her this way than had I been alive.

"o.o"