Dr. Stillman pulled up the car into what looked like an abandoned clinic and Theo got out with Ben following him and Dr. Stillman inside. Theo pulled out Visitor (the name Theo chose to give him) and flipped it out allowing the alien to manifest on the table. Visitor still looked pretty bad as it lay upon the exam table and Theo got out Quinten and Princess who helped start tending Visitor's injuries.

"Man, those dogs really did some damage.", Quinten said as he held a leg so Theo could patch it.

Ben and Dr. Stillman stood back so the trio could work. After a while, the patching was done and Visitor relaxed as Ben turned to Theo.

"How is Dad?", he asked.

"Well, we patched him up as best as we could.", Theo stated as Quinten and Princess returned to their respective cards, "We'll just have to wait til morning I guess."

Visitor then lifted an arm and pointed to a door nearby.

"I'll be okay. You three better get some sleep."

Theo smiled as he led Dr. Stillman and Ben to the door.

"Telepathy."

Ben looked confused.

"What?", he asked.

"An ability that allows someone to communicate with someone else through their minds.", Theo explained.

Dr. Stillman opened the door to reveal a couple bunk beds and a dresser. The beds had pillows and a cover, but everyone was too tired to care. Once they were settled, Visitor came in and returned to his card as Theo picked it up off the ground and slipped it into the box with the other cards.

"Three down, four to go.", he yawned.

Then he remembered the dice that Visitor had dropped. He got it out and observed its silvery numerals and pale white color.

"A dice that transfigures objects, a dice that makes explosions, and I have no idea what this one does."

He tossed it and it rolled until it landed on a 10. Instantly, there was a flash of light and Theo looked around, but nothing seemed to have happened. Ben and Dr. Stillman came into the room ready to sleep so Theo decided not to wonder any further. Once all three were in bed, Theo got his new dice and put it in the box alongside the other two and put it near his pillow before clapping his hands twice and the lights went out.

"Good-night.", he whispered though he doubted his fellow travelers were listening.

He drifted off to sleep unaware that outside, a pack of zombies had been creeping along, but just walked right by the clinic since it had vanished and no trace of anything edible was there either. A while after they left and were nowhere in sight again, the clinic slowly became visible again though nothing was around anymore to care.

Ted huffed as his injuries began to mend. He couldn't believe he was thwarted from eating Theo again.

"Go ahead and run Theo.", he sneered as he looked down the road, "I'll catch up."

He had just about started to go forward as the dogs that had come with him were all dissolving into the earth and out of sight. The aroma of decomposition, dung, and bile made Ted flinch since his werewolf nose was so sensitive, but he didn't give it much thought.

/

"Guess I'm on my own again.", he grumbled.

That was when a rift opened up in a nearby tree and several of the winged serpents showed along with many more forming a swarm in the air. Before he could do anything, the swarm started to fly right at him with their heads opening up to reveal the faces of the dogs which made Ted bolt down the road. As fast as he ran, the flying serpents only seemed to get closer with each mile.

"Guess my death is being eaten alive by those things.", he figured.

Before the serpents could get to him though, he was fortunate enough to find a drain pipe and slip inside and slide the gate it had over it which had a screen lodged into its frame making the serpents fly into it, but none could enter. The screeching made Ted's ears ache, but he darted down the pipe which helped him escape the sound and into a vast underground maze of pipes and drains.

"Tracking prey in a sewer.", he griped as he trudged through the muck, "Why did it have to be here of all places?"

Through the scent of sewage and rust, Ted's nose picked up a familiar scent which made him perk up a bit.

"I must be underneath some kind of building."

He scrambled up the ladder that led to a pothole in the middle of a road which he opened to see he was back in open country and with no winged serpents in sight.

"Guess they lost me.", Ted guessed as he got out.

The moment he was all the way out, he heard the wings flapping and turned around to look. Fortunately, it was only an owl which flew into the woods far away in the distance. Ted breathed in the fresh air and his wolf mouth formed a macabre smile.

"There's no place like home.", he chuckled to himself as he sniffed the air again, "Now I have prey to catch."

He got down on all fours and was off like a shot into the shadows.

/

The morning slowly dawned as Theo felt the box vibrate. He got up and took out the cards to see Visitor's card glowing a bit and then it went back to normal.

"What was that about?", he wondered.

He got up and noticed Dr. Stillman and Ben were already up and eating some breakfast sandwiches made up of toast with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage between each two slices.

"Where did those come from?", Theo asked.

Dr. Stillman shrugged.

"We found them in the fridge and they seemed freshly made so we helped ourselves."

Theo went to the fridge not far from the exam room and found one more sandwich which he guessed was for him and he unwrapped the plastic wrap and helped himself to it. A bit later, Ben had finished his and looked Theo's way a bit confused.

"Theo, I have something to confess."

Theo looked his way.

"What's that Ben?"

Ben took a breath as Dr. Stillman had finished her sandwich and was listening in on the conversation.

"They killed her. People at Sierra Vista were acting like we weren't wanted around so I grabbed my mom's necklace and somehow burned everyone who was around. They chased us to a shed in the woods where they killed her out of hate."

Theo gasped as Dr. Stillman looked equally shocked as Ben continued.

"Dr. McCann is my mom's friend, but I never knew my dad. Then when I was watching a movie…."

"You brought the alien to life to teach the people a lesson.", Theo realized earing a nod from Ben, "Well, at least you didn't kill anybody."

Visitor suddenly came out of its card looking recovered and its cycloptic eye fixed on Ben who was looking a bit nervous.

"What's going to happen to him since I got the message across?", Ben asked.

Visitor looked a bit sad itself as it placed a tentacle on Ben's shoulder.

"I guess I fade away since you brought me to life."

Theo smiled as he pulled out the four-sided dice.

"Maybe not."

A while later, Dr. Stillman and Ben had gotten in her car and Theo stood outside it with Visitor.

"Where to now?", Theo asked.

Dr. Stillman didn't look too concerned.

"We could drop you off at the next town and see where it goes from there."

Theo smiled as Visitor went back into his card and he got in. Soon the group was off on the road again.

/

After what felt like hours, the trio had arrived at yet another small town in the middle of nowhere but looked a bit bigger than the last one and with more modern looking restaurants. Dr. Stillman dropped Theo off at the bus station and after a fond farewell, she drove off with Ben again. Theo then dusted himself off and went off to find somewhere to stay. He didn't go far as he noticed a woman with blond hair that came to her shoulders, light blue eyes, light pants, white sneakers, and a blue vest over a white shirt. She seemed to be a bit stressed, but recovered fast as she noticed Theo.

"Hey Mister.", she said giving a warm smile, "I don't remember seeing you around these parts."

Theo blushed.

"I'm kind of passing through.", he admitted, "I kind of need a place to stay while I recover from my travels. Would you happen to know such a place?"

The woman thought for a moment.

"Well, I've got a house near the woods that has room if you're interested."

Theo's smile got brighter.

"I'd love to. By the way, what's your name?"

"Janet.", the woman answered as she led Theo to a white car nearby, "Janet Harrison."

Theo was reminded of Ted, but decided not to mention him as they drove to Janet's house. After a bit, they reached a two story house that looked like a small mansion with a large front yard with a stone walkway leading to the road. Janet pulled up the car to the garage connected on the side of the house and as they got out, a boy about ten came from around wearing jeans, sneakers, and a striped shirt. He had blonde hair also with green eyes and carrying an orange Frisbee as a full grown German shepherd came up after him.

"Mom, Thor and I were wondering if-", the boy said before noticing Theo, "Who's he?"

Janet led Theo over while Thor (who Theo guessed was the dog) sniffed his shoes a few times and then backed off.

"Theo, this is my son Brett and Thor our dog."

Theo held out a hand.

"Nice to meet you."

Theo came closer and sniffed Theo a bit more as Brett and Theo shook hands and parted. Janet led Theo inside with Brett and Thor following.

"Brett, make sure we've got enough firewood for the night okay?"

Brett nodded and left with Thor following. Theo followed Janet upstairs where she led him to a room halfway down the hall and opened it to reveal a guest room with a bed, a dresser, and a closet. There was even an area around the window where Theo could sit and look out if he chose to.

"I'm not sure if it's your standards.", Janet said a bit embarrassed, "But it's what we got."

Theo didn't hold back his smile.

"I think it's great."

Janet then moved around him and back into the hall.

"Well, I got some cases to look over. We'll soon have dinner ready if you'd like to join us."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer.", Theo answered, "But right now, I'd like to nap for a while if you don't mind."

Janet nodded and left while closing the door behind her. Theo laid down upon the bed to stretch out his legs.

"Guess I'm here for a bit.", he figured as he settled on the standard blanket, "I don't know what my new dice does, but I'm sure it's important."

/

Soon it was evening, but Theo was awake as he smelled dinner being cooked. He came downstairs to see Brett helping Janet set the table as the roast beef cooked in the oven. Thor was by the fireplace curled up and looking content though his eyes were on Theo as if wondering.

"Hey, glad you could make it.", Janet said cheerfully as she got the mashed potatoes set and went to get the beef, "Just pick a place anywhere around the table."

Theo felt content as Brett set some French beans on the table as Janet got the roast beef carved. Soon the whole group was around the table talking.

"So what brings you to these parts?", Brett asked, "You some kind of salesman?"

Theo chuckled.

"Nope, just a traveler who's looking for some things."

Janet raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of things?", she asked curiously.

Theo shrugged as he took a swing of his glass of water.

"Little of this, a bit of that, whatever comes my way I guess."

Janet clearly showed that she didn't buy the story so Theo sighed.

"Okay, I'm looking for some dice."

"Dice?", Brett asked getting interested.

Theo nodded.

"Something really bad is on its way and I need to find seven dice so I can be prepared for it."

Janet looked a bit more convinced.

"So what kind of dice are you looking for?"

Theo looked thoughtful.

"I've got a four, a six, and a twelve-sided so far. So I just need to find an eight, a couple tens, and a twenty before the set is complete."

Brett and Janet said nothing more even when dinner was over and they were heading up for bed. Theo noticed Thor was looking more at ease around him so he guessed the dog thought he wouldn't hurt anybody.

/

Unbeknownst to the whole group outside, Ted had shifted into his werewolf form and was lurking in the forest not far off.

"Now, to find myself a little dinner.", he sneered.

He sniffed the ground and the aroma of a familiar scent got hold making him smile devilishly.

"Well, well, if it isn't the prey that eluded me so often.", he said turning his head a ways, "Looks like I'll be feasting sooner than I think."

He darted in the direction of his nose, but then paused as a bolt of lightning came out even though it was a clear sky and hit the ground mere inches from him making him jump back startled.

"How did that happen?", he wondered.

Another bolt of lighting came out and struck near him again clearly trying to scare him off and that's what made him turn around and run back into the forest while Visitor stood outside the house and hoisted himself up to Theo's window where Theo let him back inside.

"Is he there?", Theo asked.

Visitor nodded.

"Good thing my telekinesis can do that otherwise he'd have invaded for sure.", Theo heard in his mind, "Do you think we should tell Brett and Janet?"

Theo shook his head.

"Not right now, but we will. Thanks for the cover."

"Glad to be of help.", Visitor answered telepathically, "It really helps to read the vibrations in the air."

Visitor returned to his card and Theo closed the window as he settled into bed after getting the lights. He was about to drift off until he heard a wolf howling outside.

"Guess Ted found his way here also.", he admitted rolling his eyes, "Does this dog ever give up the chase?"

After he noticed the door was open a bit, he got up and went to close it to find Thor passing by.

"Don't worry Thor.", he said calmly, "I'm no threat."

Thor tilted his head, then walked down to Janet's room so Theo took it as Thor was on board.