Shmee gathered clothes that the hospital made for the patients there: cotton sweatpants, a t-shirt, a hoodie, as well as some non-slip socks and foam slides. He tugged at the loose pants and sweatshirt around his skinny waist and neck and sighed.

"I forgot, they don't allow strings of any kind around here. Haw!" Shmee spoke as he walked towards the lobby desk looking through the drawers to find anything that could help tailor the clothes better. He saw rubber bands along with a stick of chapstick, a Rubik's cube, a harlequin novel, and a keychain made with purple plastic string and green beads.

Shmee's dark eyes lowered. "Oh, Cassie." He thought to himself. In his mind, he did really like her as she seemed to be the only genuinely kind person in this whole place. Even felt bad for her knowing she wasn't meant to be not just here, but not meant for this world.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl, it was easy to get in her head but Shmee didn't want to damage something like Cassie.

Wrapping, knotting, and tucking the loose-fitting clothing the best he could with the rubber band, Shmee stared at Cassie's things in her desk drawer as his other counterparts stared at him. Able to move now, they stayed at the other side of the room not saying a word to Shmee. They were all still uncertain of his intentions but Shmee paid it no mind to explain himself yet. All he could think about was his human-like experience now. Being freed from Todd's own mind.

He then picked her belongings out of the drawer, setting the book and Rubik's cube on the desk he examined the intricate four square ties of the keychain. After feeling the plastic smooth beading he put it in his hoodie's front pocket he then examined the chapstick. He saw her put it on her lips before, taking the cap off he felt an overwhelming sensation as he glided the soft wax over his bottom lip. He shivered, the nerves in his lips felt like they were on fire, and remembered that he had to bring them together sliding them side to side to get an even distribution. He did this and felt the nerve sensitivity slowly disappear.

"How can that young dame do this every day is beyond me." Shmee said to himself as he put the chapstick in the pocket of his sweatpants.

Eff had about enough of the silence, "Are you done now?" He growled in annoyance, "We have somewhere to go, none of us want anything to do with you so we'll be -"

"Oh I'm sorry, didn't know I was keeping you," Shmee interrupted smugly wearing a grin on his face, "It's my first day "out" and I haven't even expressed my proper thanks yet."

Dboys brow furrowed, "Proper thanks? For what? For us tearing you apart?"

Shmee stared blankly back and didn't bother to answer. Picking up the Rubik's cube and book, Shmee made his way out the front door as the sun just began to rise.

"C'mon, let's go," Dboy said quietly to the others, "I don't care to know who this asshole is anymore if he's not going to tell us everything. Best we go our separate ways."

As they all walked outside cold wind blew past them in contrast to the warm sun beaming through the clouds. They all stopped to see Shmee staring right as the sun was rising.

Shmee couldn't help but enjoy this moment. The feelings were unreal, he always knew humans were moved by such simple sights but never understood the feelings they had for them. Witnessing the sunbeams break through the clouds on the horizon as the little warmth touched the back of his hand and face. Seeing in slight amazement that he could see a red hue beneath his black skin. For some reason Dboy decided to walk toward Shmee, something compelled him to talk to him one last time.

Looking up towards Dboy, Shmee smiled, "So Maine is where you're going correct?"

Taken aback, Dboy responded, "How did you-"

"Listen," Shmee said softly and put a hand on Dboy's shoulder, "We know each other better than you know. you don't think I can't hear the telepathic connections like you and the other three have? I know who you all are and how we came in contact in the first place. Now you all did me a favor back there, I really couldn't have done it without your collective help. So thank you."

"What are you saying? That wasn't you." Dboy said sternly.

"You're right," Shmee responded, "It wasn't me, his name was Todd. And he came in contact with Nny during a critical time and had gotten infected..."

Dboy listened in more now as Shmee continued, "You all were right, he wasn't a flusher, I couldn't make that happen since around that time as I started to break Todd in more, Nny was already gone. When you lose your initial connection like that. Things get more complicated as it turns out."

Shmee then started walking towards the others with Dboy. Pausing to sigh he spoke again, "I knew then at that time our dear Creator was also gone. Todd was of course part of this world still and had gotten caught. I was then stuck in purgatory in this forsaken place with him. But I felt in my otherworldly senses that you, Dboy, and others were still floating around in this plane of existence. Somewhere, but I couldn't reach out to anything."

Smiling now at Eff, Sickness, and Reverend, Shmee chuckled as the creases towards the corner of his eyes folded up, "I don't know what exactly helped to get us to cross paths again, but I surmise it could be the same thing telling Dboy to go to Maine."

Eff scratched his chin, "So whatever that pull Dboy got wasn't you? Now, what the hell else could it be then?"

Tilting his head to the side and closing his eyes as the morning sun poured on them Shmee replied, "I think that's something only Dboy could know, but it has not been revealed to him yet."

"Tragic," Dboy said bluntly, "I trust your speculation on that. Everyone else including myself here knows your limitations aren't on our level. I'm not afraid to admit you're more powerful than us but you are no match to some restrictions."

Shmee shrugged in response, "I guess so haw, haw, haw. But I know where ever you are all heading to will give clearer answers than my almighty ways can offer."

Sickness rolled her eyes, "I personally don't care if you stay here staring into the sun or follow us. As long as you don't immobilize us like that again, you prick."

"Oh don't worry darling," Shmee responded, "Just don't puff your chest at me and we got a deal. That goes to all of you."

"Duly noted, Shmee," Reverend said, "Although the others may not care, I'd like to hear more of your background. Perhaps this conversation can help all of us put some more pieces together."

"I'd be delighted! I'm sure these treks can be quite boring." Shmee said as he walked up next to Reverend.

The group now had a new member, all five would be traveling together and Dboy wondered if this could attract any more unwanted attention. He learned from the last time that ended them all up at the camp on the riverbed. Supposing now though, with this more powerful member, Shmee could be of assistance to that.

Eff walked next to Dboy, "What the hell do you think he supposes you know Dboy? Have you gotten anything weird?"

Growling in annoyance, "I can't tell you anything new Eff. Thinking off the bat now I could be wrong so keep that in mind." Rubbing his forehead as the group walked north, Dboy thought if Shmee could exist like this, then there has to be something more extreme out there that's pulling him to Maine. Something more than Shmee maybe even as huge as a Creator, if such a thing could exist.

You're a real fucking dick Johnny boy.