A/N: How about no one blames me for the extreme lateness of this update, and I can't blame you readers for the lack of reviews. Deal? I will offer you a small explanation. As I have stressed over and over again, I am constantly getting new story ideas. And after awhile, it gets to the point where that if I don't start them, I can't write anything. That led to two more stories I must do in the Love Hina section [::points to her list of uploaded stories::] as well as this one, my other HM one, and a Zelda story I have lurking around in my mind. So yah…Just…Deal with it O_O!

Children of the Harvest

Thursday's Child

Argh…Another pang of pain shooting through my stomach, just what I need. Guess I better take a break and get some lunch from Aunty. I've been working here, at my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin's vineyard for hrm…Six months, give or take a few?

I am married to the lovely Ann, am surrounded by friends, on and off the workplace, and have a generally happy life. However, my life wasn't always apple pie and whip crème. There was a time which I, Cliff, hated everyone and trusted no one.

A little over seven months ago, I was a vagabond, someone who traveled around from city to city, searching for my purpose in life. Or something like that. You get the point, I hope.

Now, I had an icy glass of lemonade in one hand and a ham and cheese sandwich in the other. Leaning on the whitewashed fence post, I began to enjoy my meal.

A lot of people would scoff at this, I realize. What's so special about a damn sandwich? Well…I guess they're the ones who already forgetting that a little over a half a year ago, I had no clue where my next meal was coming from. So yes, I am very thankful.

It's times like these, where I'm enjoying the simple pleasures of everyday life, that I recall my life back in the other towns and cities. No one really knows…just what a tangled web…I used to weave.

'They' approached me, silently, stealthily, from all sides. I was surrounded. There was no place to go. I backed up, into the wall, and slowly sunk to my bottom, cowering in the corner. For a moment, I believe I had successfully hidden myself in the shadows, but then the loud, pro-longed growl of my stomach gave me away.

I felt hands ripping at me, at my clothes, just tearing at me. I wanted to scream, but 'their' 'hands' if that's what you could call them, would have muffled it. Always the same…Those haunting, blood red, evil eyes…

I felt a sharp pain shoot through my leg. One of them, had twisted it, in a sickening angle, and was savagely gnawing on it. The next moment, my senses were a little dulled, as one of 'them' clubbed me over the head, with what, I do not know.

I felt the cool metallic liquid leak down my face, staining my cheeks before it washed across my salty, but dry lips. A blast of cold air sent shivers down my spine, and a terrified moan escaped my throat. Tears spilled from my eyes, and they stung the cuts and scratches all over my body as they dripped down onto them.

The next moment, it felt like my entire insides were being ripped out, and knowing these vile 'things', they probably were. I kept my eyes squinched shut, knowing what was to come next.

Their screeching, singing, cries of victory. It was worse than nails on a chalkboard. My head began to throb, and then I blacked out.

"Ungh…" my entire being was taken over my stiffness and soreness. I dared to open my eyes. I was lying, in the same place, as I had collapsed last night, with all my memories intact. I looked down at myself: no cuts, and no scratches. I felt my hair; it was a little oily, but not matted with blood. Just as I expected.

People laughed at me…Called me a freak. Or just plain out told me I belonged in a mental hospital. The evidence that I really was suffering attacks was far and few. But I was sure it was real…Very, very sure.

Nowadays, I just kept quiet about it, feigning innocence, like all along, it had been some joke.

'They' followed me everywhere I went. After I got chased out of one town, it's like 'they' were the baggage I didn't have. 'They' came with me. Everywhere.

And now…Yes, now must be a rather glorious time for 'them'. Because now…I felt 'their' presence in the day. It was almost as if 'they' were mocking me, trying to get me to cry out in fear, give up, if you will. Let people lock me away in a little padded cell…Where it was always dark…Where 'they' could get me…whenever 'they' wanted.

I'm sure I sound like a raving madman. Hell, I probably am. I never told Ann, Karen, or even Jack, about these encounters. In fact, I had even lied to them about the reasons why I never stayed in one place…

'They' had stopped making 'their' cameo appearances ever since I came to Flowerbud Village, so many would just…Assume that since I had found happiness, and a new life, my 'bad dreams' just dissipated

Well, then explain to me…Why had I given up the good life I had, in my hometown, to travel around and be scorned by everyone, and pursued by those 'things'?

Who knows…Maybe I am crazy. What am I going to see next, little green men from mars? Feh, pink elephants are more than likely….

Oh, look… No one told me…That the circus was passing through…

A/N: Chappie probably makes little or no sense. It kind of relates to the plot line of Vagabond, as far as times, working at the vineyard, and relationships with people go, but 'they' are definitely not in Vagabond .;

Oh yah…One more thing…If any of you even has the notion to make fun of Cliff: Don't you dare. You don't know…How it feels…To see things…Like that.

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