Love and Burden
by The Great Red Dragon

Chapter 3
From the nest he had built in the line of the jungle, Auron watched as the lights in the large house were switched off. Finally, he could see only the large light in the living room still bright, mixed together with the blur of the television.
Auron shifted himself uncomfortably.

"What do I do now?", he asked himself aloud.

Feeling that he needed a walk, he got up onto his feet and pulled on his cloak. He circled the house halfways-around from the jungle [to avoid being seen] until he was emptied out onto the dirt road that led into town. The night was dark and it was late, and Auron assumed that there weren't many people out on the street.

He dared a walk in public, and quietly made his down the road, until he came to the 'T' that divided into the neighborhood and the shopping streets. Following a course that he had set on the way down, he made a right towards the grocery stores and convenience stores.
The street lamps shone down on him weepingly while he walked in solitary silence. The night had turned cold, and he pulled his garment tighter around himself for warmth.

He followed the streets for several moments, recordings that paths that led to where in his head. He imagined a nightly-tune in his head that he had heard before, that fit the scene he was in: perhaps 'Emotions' by Gigi D'Agostino...or a trance by DJ Darude or Quicksilver...
Past an empty fruit-stand with a sign that stated 'Sorry, we're closed!', Auron found what he was looking for. A shabby-looking phone booth with a lighted interior came into view, and Auron put his clawed hand into his cloak pocket in a search for change. He found two quarters and a nickel, which was just enough for a single phone call.

Quietly, he slid into the phone booth and shut the door behind him. He climbed up to level his own height with that of the phone box, and checked to see if the thing was intact before he inserted his coins.
The reassuring 'beep' was heard, and he slid the coins through the slit- like opening. He punched in a number on the button-keys; a number that he knew by heart. He raised the receiver to his right ear and listened to the ringing begin.

"Come on", he pleaded.
"Please pick up..."

There was a click, and Riley Kivanna's voice flowed through the receiver. Only, it was a recording.

"Hello", the taped voice said invitingly.
"You've reached the house of Riley, Rebecca-Anne, and Lara-Gene Kivanna. We're not here at the moment, but you can leave a message if you'd like, and we'll get in touch with you as soon as we can. Aloha!"

Auron cursed as the message was played out. He thought of hanging up the phone and getting his money back...but then decided that it wouldn't hurt to drop a message.
The starting-beep was heard, and the recording rolled to capture his voice.

"...Riley?", Auron began quietly.
"It's Auron...I guess you're not home right now."

He changed ears for no reason.

"I hope you're out somewhere with Lara and Rebecca, having a lot of fun", he continued.
"I hope you're having fun, 'cause I'm not. It's been so long, and I haven't seen you at all...I hope y'all haven't changed too much.
"I'm on Kauai right now, but I don't know exactly where. I'll let you know once I find out, and maybe we can send a letter or two. You wouldn't believe how boring all of this traveling around can be. It's not an adventure, it's just one long drag away from home."

He cleared his throat audibly.

"There's some things I want to tell you about...some people I've found and..."

He sighed and cut off his sentence. Talking about what he had seen to a machine seemed stupid.

"I'd much rather talk to you when you're actually there, and even more if you were here with me", he said.
"I'll try to call back tomorrow, if I can, and I hope you're home then...I'm sorry, but I lost your CD-player...I promise I'll get you a new one.
"It's getting late here...I gotta get back to camp now. Besides, my time's probably just about up.
"Say hi to everybody for me, okay? Tell them I'm fine and everything's going good.
"...I miss you, Riley. I wish I could be with you right now, wherever you are...I wish...
"I love you, Riley...good night."

Painfully, he hung up the receiver with a click and dropped from his position. Turning around, he pushed open the door of the phone booth and began the walk back towards the big house.

The walk back seemed even lonelier than the first, and the whole town seemed dead and ghost-liked.
Auron put his hands into his pockets and lowered his head. The darkness could not scare him as much as the thought of being left alone in the world did, for if it was the world already, he'd be alone in the universe as well.
Once he reached the 'T' again, he headed back up towards the house. That night, he was too bummed to wonder about what was going on in the house. Surely, everybody was asleep by now, but he would've still wondered.

This night, Auron felt so out-of-thought that he only realized where he was when he stood at the base of the stairs that led up to the front door. Auron looked up at the entrance, which was lit by a small auto-light that reacted to approaching people. Apparently, it was extra-sensitive and had picked up his position from where he was.
Auron stood there for a minute, thinking of nothing. He hadn't considered going up there and ringing the doorbell, and he hadn't considered walking away. He wasn't sure what to think what anybody could or should do in his situation, and it was disconcerting in an odd way.
Auron stepped away from the stairs and circled the house casually. His eyes shone brightly in the darkness as he observed its many features and windows.

Before long, he found himself on the patio, looking into the living room through the glass door.

The TV was still blaring loudly, but the viewer had fallen asleep in a recliner. He was undoubtedly an Experiment, and resembled Auron in shape and color. He was a bit chubby, but looked very healthy.
Auron stared in at the unconscious Experiment, who seemed to be talking in his sleep. Auron looked up at the door, and saw that the door hand was at an angle that indicated it to be unlocked.
Without thinking twice, Auron pushed open the door, casually yet silently.

"-And we had a cupful of Soapy Gems-", the TV advertisement said loudly as Auron entered into the house.

At once, he recorded the scent of everybody who had been in the living room. There was some familiarity about them all, but that was probably because he was smelling the other Experiments.
Auron switched off the television, remembering how he couldn't stand wasting energy. The chubby Experiment mumbled something that sound liked;

"Hash brown gravy..."

And then, as if the entire thing had been a routine, Auron turned around and returned to the outside. He shut the door behind himself and began a march back up towards the jungle.
Halfway there, he stopped in mid-step.

"What the Hell was that?", he asked himself.

He turned around and looked back at the house, which looked now completely serene.
Auron wondered if he had blacked out for a few minutes and done that stuff back there. He felt very confused and possessed, and suddenly, the dark was his greatest enemy.
Quickly, feeling very scared, Auron returned to his nest where he had left his red backpack.

He settled himself down and looked around warily. Any monster who would want to eat him would have the golden opportunity now.
Auron pulled out a quilted blanket from his pack and wrapped himself up. He felt cold both inside and outside...and then, all at once, it left.
Auron decided that he was possessed; that was the only explanation.
As he rested his head down, ready to fall asleep, he quietly whispered goodnight to himself and all the creatures surrounding him.

It was a very strange night.