Dr. Stillman looked a bit impressed while Theo felt that shiver from before again.
"Ben, can I call you Ben?", he asked.
Benjamin said nothing so Theo took it as a "yes" so he continued.
"Listen, I saw you earlier today. Did you see me?"
Ben's expression remained blank but Theo felt the shiver again only stronger this time. Something was up with this kid and Theo was growing interested.
"Ben, what happened out there?", Theo asked, "Why were those kids being mean to you?"
Dr. Stillman looked his way firmly.
"Mister..whatever your name is. I think you're stressing Ben out."
Theo backed off.
"Name's Theo. I'm the new guidance counselor at this school.", he answered smiling warmly, "Now that woman from before-"
"Nurse Debra.", Ben said cutting Theo off and taking both adults by surprise, "She's always letting the other kids get to me."
"Probably cause there's something special about you?", Theo suggested, "Not that I'm intruding or anything."
Ben looked off into the distance before he suddenly fell out of his chair looking both horrified and in pain making Theo and Dr. Stillman by surprise though Theo felt the shiver become a full-blown mental assault on his own mind as he suddenly fell to his knees clutching his own head as mental images came to mind.
"Don't worry Ben, they're all going to be surprised."
Theo could barely see through the color and saw what looked like a woman who he guessed was Ben's mother the way she was looking down at him and Theo saw Ben only he looked about four years old.
"Soon, Daddy is going to land his huge spaceship and…he's going to take you and me home."
Theo felt another wave of pain on his mind as he returned to reality with Ben looking like he was coming around too and Dr. Stillman looking both surprised and more than a little freaked out.
"Theo?", she asked timidly, "You okay?"
Theo thought fast.
"I'm thinking we should call his house. He still has a father right?"
/
A while later, Dr. Stillman and Theo had Ben with his stuff at the entrance of the school. Theo was still feeling a bit weary from the experience, but never forgot the woman's face. Dr. Stillman was still looking his way a bit funny.
"You sure you're okay?", she asked him.
Theo smiled.
"Yeah, just…a slight migraine. Haven't been sleeping too well and hopefully I'll get some around here."
Before Dr. Stillman could answer, a white Subaru car pulled up and a middle-aged man wearing a white coat, dark pants, a red shirt with a tie and with dark eyes and short brown hair came out. He came over looking curious.
"Everything okay?", he asked.
"Yeah, Ben is fine.", Theo answered as the man looked their way, "Dr. Stillman and I checked him out before we called you."
The man looked Theo's way with a raised eyebrow.
"And you're who?", he asked.
"I'm Theo, I'm the new guidance counselor alongside Dr. Stillman here who's the new child psychologist.", Theo explained as he mentioned toward Dr. Stillman.
The man got up and held out a hand while smiling.
"Dr. McCann. Michael."
"Pleasure to meet you.", Theo said shaking his hand.
The moment they shook, Theo felt a new wave of mental energy got through his mind and saw Dr. McCann standing in the dark with a flashlight before snapping back to reality and releasing his hand.
"Sorry.", Theo said as he noticed Dr. McCann looking at him funny, "Just getting used to living here."
Dr. McCann seemed to accept that as he then turned to Ben.
"Well, I better get this one home."
Ben seemed excited as Dr. McCann led him to the car.
"Dad, these two are awesome. I didn't know girls and adults like aliens."
After Ben was in, Dr. McCann and DR. Stillman had a small chat, but Theo observed Dr. McCann's expression and tone of voice and something told him that this man knew more than he was willing to let on.
/
Fortunately for Theo, the town had a hotel, but it seemed old fashioned and looked it too. Dr. Stillman came out with him before they headed in.
"Thanks for the ride Dr. Stillman.", Theo said giving her a light smile.
"Well, it's the least I can do with you helping me with Ben.", she answered.
Once inside, Theo and Dr. Stillman went up to the front desk where a rack of keys was displayed behind the counter with a bell near the register.
"Hello?", Theo asked as he dinged the bell a couple times, "Hello?"
An elderly woman rose up from behind the counter wearing a faded gray dress, a shawl that looked like she had it for as long as she was alive. Her white hair was tied up in a bun and her eyes looked weary even behind her half spectacles. She then reached behind the counter and took out a pair of dentures which she placed in her mouth before looking Theo and Dr. Stillman's way.
"Yes, we were wondering if there's any rooms available.", Theo said being polite.
The woman just reached behind the desk again and placed a book with a pen in front of her which told Dr. Stillman and Theo that they needed to sign in. After they had signed in, the woman handed a key to them.
"Up the stairs, fourth door on the left.", she said before she took the book back and they took the key.
As they made their way up the stairs, the smell of mold and the creaking got Theo thinking that the place was barely holding itself up. Luckily for them, nothing bad happened as they got to the room and Dr. Stillman unlocked it. Inside the room, there was a couch that looked faded, a window overlooking the woods in the back with curtains that looked as old as the couch, a walk in bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower stall, and finally two beds which Theo was grateful for, but the look of the stained sheets and strong smell of mildew, smoke and cleaning solutions, he was feeling a bit disappointed.
"Guess people around here don't get to cleaning often.", Dr. Stillman guessed.
Theo sighed as he felt a bit sleepy, but not enough to call it a night.
"That Dr. McCann was weird you know. Like really weird."
Dr. Stillman looked his way funny as she set her coat on one of the beds.
"What do you mean?", she asked.
Theo looked her way with a raised eyebrow.
"Why would a father not want his son in psychiatric care? Sure he's a doctor, but even he doesn't have all the answers."
Dr. Stillman then paused and got her coat again.
"Where you off to?", Theo asked.
"Going to get something from the diner.", she answered, "You want anything?"
"Nah, I think I'll stay and try and clean this place up a bit so it doesn't reek so bad.", Theo told her.
After she left, Theo got out his four-sided dice.
"Well, time to roll again."
By the time Dr. Stillman came back, Theo had rolled five times before the room looked a lot better than it once did and it smelled nicer too. Theo looked her way as she came in the door and pretended to be worn out as he hid the dice back in the box.
"Well Doc, guess it's time to hit the hay.", he said with a yawn.
/
Ted dashed through the woods with the moon shining through the branches to cast eerie shadows and making his fur shimmer whenever the light touched it.
"Run as far as you like Theo, but I could smell you even if you had traveled into the abyss itself."
Ted sniffed the ground near the road and Theo's scent was still strong.
"So, you got a ride to Sierra Vista, eh?", he sneered, "It's been a long time since I've hunted in those grounds."
He was about to head off, but a familiar voice came into his mind.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Hunting.", Ted thought bitterly, "I've been tracking this guy since he showed up in the realm and he's always avoided me either by getting ahead of me or some creature getting in the way."
"You will do no such thing!", the voice snapped, "I'm trying to keep the town in suspense here and need to keep things in order."
Ted felt his blood boil.
"I'm starting to think this little arrangement you have is not worth it."
Ted felt his head flare up in pain as he fell to the ground trying hard not to cry out in pain.
"Do not underestimate my power Ted.", the voice scorned, "I can put you down before you can even say "oops". Got it?"
Ted could barely keep his focus with the pain, but it went away as whoever was talking to him had settled for now.
"Just wait for instructions and I will see to it you get your fill to make up for the last few nights."
That was all Ted had to hear.
"Get me there, and I'm yours."
"Sorry, but I'm a little occupied with someone who can pose a threat to me if I don't keep it in line."
Ted felt his mind become clear, but after making sure that the presence that was there was gone, his mind turned spiteful again.
"Deny me a meal if I do your work?", he snarled, "I will not be reduced to some attack dog. Even if that voice is who it claims it is."
He then noticed the horizon was starting to lighten signaling that morning was on its way. Soon, he'd be human again, but at least he had on his pants and vest so he wouldn't have to find something to wear when he did.
"I'm so going to get that traveler.", he swore.
/
Theo went into the office with Dr. Stillman feeling a bit concerned.
"I can't believe you actually got your job that fast.", Dr. Stillman said in awe.
Theo rolled his eyes smiling.
"He's charming.", he stated, "In his own way."
He then turned to Dr. Stillman looking interested.
Any idea on what you're going to ask Ben today?"
Dr. Stillman looked hopeful.
"I'm going to ask him about his mom and maybe I'll get some idea why not many people like him."
Theo felt a bit of optimism as he helped get Dr. Stillman settled. A while later, Theo and Dr. Stillman observed as Ben was clearly teased by other kids. One even stole some of his lunch, but Ben didn't do anything. After that, Theo met up with him as they walked to Dr. Stillman's office.
"You doing okay?", he asked.
Ben shrugged so Theo thought he'd continue.
"Dr. Stillman and I are kind of worried about-"
Ben paused as he noticed the box sticking out of Theo's pocket.
"What's that?"
Theo felt his heart skip a beat as he looked to the box.
"This? Oh, just something I carry around."
Ben looked interested.
"Like what?", he asked, "Are you some kind of alien collector or something?"
"No, just a guy who's a little lost in a realm that's not his own.", Theo answered absentmindedly.
Ben's eyes widened as if he had just met a celebrity. Luckily for Theo, they had arrived ad the office and both went in where Dr. Stillman was waiting for them.
"So, what were you two doing?", she asked.
"We were just talking.", Theo answered.
"Theo's some kind of traveler from outside this world.", Ben said still in awe.
Dr. Stillman chuckled.
"Well, if you guys are done playing, I would like to know a bit more about you Ben."
Theo then looked thoughtful.
"Dr. Stillman, could you stay with Ben? I'm feeling a little parched."
/
Theo left the office and found a fountain which he got a drink from. He was just finishing when another assault on his mind came. He almost fell over, but he could see flashes of some kind of mob in darkness, the woman from before and Ben in his younger age. He then felt something else among it all. Hatred, confusion, and fear all happening at once along with a huge black mass with large legs before he snapped back to reality. He heard something from Dr. Stillman's office, but when he finally got there, he found Dr. Stillman looking both confused and bewildered.
"What happened in here?", he asked clearly surprised.
Dr. Stillman sighed.
"I tried getting Ben to talk to me about his mom and then he reacted really bad and fell to the floor. Then Dr. McCann came here and told me not to put him in therapy, but Ben just ran off."
She paused as she picked up an "Aliens" comic from the desk and Theo observed it. The moment he touched it, he felt a familiar vibe like from when he was on the ship.
"Theo?", Dr. Stillman asked snapping Theo out of his gaze, "You okay?"
Theo slapped on a smile.
"Yeah, we should probably just..return this to Ben since he's such a fan."
Later that evening, the winds seemed to pick up though no rain fell. Dr. Stillman and Theo were in her car and driving towards Dr. McCann's house when Theo noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It was like a flash of light that came down from the sky and fell into the forest not far from them. By the time they got to the house, they found Dr. McCann there with Ben in his arms.
"What are you two doing here?", he asked as Theo and Dr. Stillman came over.
"We just wanted to return Ben's comic here.", Theo answered showing it.
Ben however looked awestruck.
"He's here."
Theo felt a bit confused as Ben took his comic back.
"Who?"
Ben just pointed upward and Theo saw that the skies had cleared up and the wind had died down. Dr. McCann though plastered on a smile and started heading inside.
"Guess someone stayed up a little late watching his monster movie."
Theo felt a tug on his mind. A monster movie? Why did that sound so familiar and what kind of connection did it have to what he was experiencing and the clue? As he and Dr. Stillman got back in her car and drove off, Theo felt like something was watching him as they left, but couldn't see anything through the darkness. Little did either of them know, that something was there, and was watching them before it turned and headed off back into the forest as a wolf howl pierced the air signaling that something else had arrived.
