The freeway traffic came in loud like a raging monster, even from the faraway distance of the rest area. Daniel leaned back against the hot frame of the car and pressed the phone harder to his face to hear. It was 3:47 PM. The dial tone rang, and rang, and rang. He'd been trying since noon to get a hold of Claire and Stephen with no luck. "Hello, you've reached the Reynolds residence," Stephen's gentle voice spoke for the thousandth time. "Sorry that we're not around to answer your call. We're probably out running errands. Please leave us your name and number, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. We hope you have a wonderful day, and God bless."

"Ugh," the boy sighed and hung up, adjusting his dark sunglasses. He hated those things, but Agent Flores insisted he wear them out in public. At least he didn't have to squint in the sunlight anymore. The heat was still terrible. He looked back through Parker's phone to check the weather app. 96 degrees. Man, I feel that. The chewing gum stuck in his cheek was quickly turning bland, so he spit it out. Michaels' choice of Juicy Fruit was awful. "Ooh, I wonder if Parker has Mustard Party 2...YES, score!" the boy grinned happily, tapping the familiar Hawt Dawg Man icon. As he began playing somewhat absentmindedly, he sat down on the ground to see if he could make out any of the conversation going on between the agents on the other side of the car.

"So I have to say, what you did last night," Parker said. "It was very cool."

"Oh, it was nothing," Flores assured him. "He just needed some tough love, that's all. He probably didn't have much of that growing up. At least not from a woman."

"Latina women in general seem to have that knack for keeping control of a situation," Parker chuckled. "Certainly more so than me."

"I'm going to pretend you did not just stereotype me," Flores sighed.

"Sorry."

"But...I suppose some of it is true. There's no better behaved children than those raised by Latina mothers. Growing up in America after you've immigrated, especially if you're not white, is...difficult. You work extra hard to help your children fit in and stay respectful. I try to see a lot of myself in these kids, but. It's a new generation. Many of the problems that stared me in the face when I first came here, they have little knowledge or experience of. Teenagers today, they seem to integrate better into the culture, thanks to technology. There's a certain bliss in ignorance...until real life hits them, and reminds them of who they really are. Much as things are changing, they stay the same. Children like Sean and Daniel Diaz, even if they are mixed, even if they are 'integrated'...they will never be viewed as white, much less equal. And I feel that's a much harder thing for this generation to grasp. Easy to ignore...until you can't anymore."

"So what made you decide to go from Maria to 'Special Agent Flores'?"

"That's a very good question," Maria sighed. "Sometimes, I ask myself the same. I suppose I wanted to be a good role model for my future children, and for all Hispanic women who come to the United States seeking a better life. But with the way everything has changed over the past year...sometimes I question whether I'm still doing the right thing. I've had to compromise myself a lot for the sake of my career. Far more than men, and certainly more than white women. The few times I spoke with Sean, I found myself acting like someone I never wanted to be. As federal agents, we're bound to certain rules. We are told to detach ourselves from the criminals we bring in, but the Diaz brothers...they are not your typical run-of-the-mill bad boys. And of course, I share a culture and a heritage with them I cannot simply ignore. I understand what it's like to always have that target on your back, whether you're a criminal or not, because that same target has always been on mine. Is it the right thing to deny who you are, placing similar targets on others. while hoping those in power no longer notice yours? I'm not so sure."

"Geez, I'm sorry," Parker said sadly. "I can't fault you for wanting to create change, but. Man, that must be a total mindfuck."

"That's putting it mildly."

"So this thing we're doing to help out Daniel. You have faith that it's the right thing?"

"Undeniably," Flores said without hesitation.

"You're not at all worried about losing-"

"My career?" she cut him off. "Of course I am. But sacrificing who I am seems a much greater problem. In the grand scheme of things, a job is a small price to pay. If I can remove some unnecessary targets on my way down, maybe save a few lives...all the better."

"Damn, I wish every agent was like you."

"I'm not a hero by any means, Parker. And with this, I'm probably even less of the role model I wanted to be. I just...need to make things right. That said, I don't expect anyone to follow me. You men have families to take care of. So if at any point, you or Agent Michaels decide-"

"Oh stop! This shit's bigger than us, and you know it."

"It is. And that's precisely why I would never blame you. These aren't things we talk about in the Bureau. I just want you to understand the unnecessary risk you'd be taking to yourself and your family, if you choose to stick with me."

"I do. Look, my kid's in America, but yours is still in Mexico. So if there's any chance that you might take the fall for this, I'm sure as hell backing you up. And taking care of your kid, if it should ever come to that."

"You are a very kind-hearted man, Agent Parker," Flores said, holding her composure. "I hope you understand that even that is a luxury."

Daniel exited out of Mustard Party 2 just in time to see Parker heading around the back of the SUV. He went back into the phone app so the man wouldn't know what he'd been up to. He had promised to only use it for calling Claire and Stephen. It was a business phone after all, and he was sure there were copious amounts of sensitive FBI secrets tucked away elsewhere on it.

"Hey kid. You ready to hit the road again?"

"Oh um, yeah! Uh, is it okay if I just try to make one more call to...someone else?"

"And who might that be?" the agent crossed his arms.

"A friend. From Seattle."

"Daniel, we talked about that," Parker said sternly. "You can't afford to put yourself on the radar right now. Anyone's radar, particularly any friends from your old life who might have a certain opinion on what happened. Or hell, people who might still have wiretaps on their phones. Now you're getting a fresh start in Beaver Creek. A chance like that doesn't come easy, or even often. My suggestion? Don't screw this up."

"I know, I just...wanted to let Lyla know I'm okay."

"Lyla, huh?" Parker smirked. "Old girlfriend?"

"N-no, it was nothing like that!" the boy got defensive.

"That's adorable," the man chuckled.

"Shut up! So...can I call her? Please?"

"Well, let me think," the agent said thoughtfully. "No! Now hand it over. If your grandparents call, you'll be the first to know."

"Ugh, fine," Daniel sighed, relinquishing the device. "You guys suck."

"Stop your whining and maybe I'll get you box of Chock-O-Crisps at the next stop."

"Ooh, you think we can get McDonald's too? I could really go for a double cheeseburger and a vanilla shake!"

"Now we're talking! I'm starving."

As Daniel went to get back in the car with his own private security team, something stopped him. Off in the distance at one of the picnic tables, a young black couple was seated with their older son eating sandwiches. The younger child, who was about six, was running around giggling as he happily chased after their Jack Russell terrier, trying in vain to take back the tennis ball it had just fetched.

"Pongo, come here!" the kid called. The dog raced past him, dodging every attempt he made to grab the ball. "I'm gonna get you! Pongo, come back. Pongo!" The little boy looked on sadly as his pet reached the table and gave the ball back to the father.

"Jamal!" the man dropped his sandwich and rushed over, scooping up the child in his arms and giving him a big kiss on the cheek. "You ready to eat, son? Pongo certainly looks ready!"

"He hates me Daddy," the kid whined.

"Oh nonsense, our boy Pongo don't hate nobody! Look at him. He's full of love for his family, just like we're all full of love for you. Now what kinda sandwich you want buddy, chicken or turkey?"

"Turkey!"

"Turkey it is! And...a big cup of chocolate pudding for our boy Jamal! You know I love you, right son?"

"I love you too, Daddy!"

"Attaboy," the man said, kissing the smiling child.

Daniel felt bad for watching them, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight and how perfect it all seemed. He missed everything about that picture. Having a family, even if it was just them and their dad. Having an older brother to play with. Their dog Mushroom, who they'd lost too soon, and especially their father. The younger kid reminded him of his friend Noah, too. I hope he still keeps up with his rapping, wherever he is now. He had some sweet hooks. The young wolf took off his sunglasses and gazed longingly at them one last time before climbing in the back seat of the SUV, feeling far removed from anything that could be considered a normal life. He'd so far been happy throughout the day, but something about that sight played on his nerves. He hoped things would be just as good in Beaver Creek—even if it was a little different. God, I can't wait to see Chris again.

"Everything okay?" Parker asked, eyeing him in the rearview mirror.

"Yeah..."

As he put the car in reverse, the agent looked over at the happy family enjoying their meal, then back at Daniel.

"Guess we better make it an extra large milkshake," the man winked.

Daniel smiled. Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad after all.

Following their long day on the road, Agent Flores and Michaels decided on staying at a Ramada Inn about six hours out from Beaver Creek. The location felt particularly eerie to Daniel, being that the hotel was in Nevada. They were much closer to Haven Point than they were to Oregon. Tomorrow would entail a couple hours trek across the desert, and he wasn't excited to see any signs for that awful old town to remind him of what Lisbeth had done to him...and Sean. The dreams he had about the experience now were thankfully few and far between, but the fear of seeing her again had been on his mind ever since he'd overheard Flores discussing their route.

"I don't feel so good," the boy groaned, plodding into their third floor room.

"I know what you mean," Parker sighed. "Those chicken nuggets haven't been sitting well with me."

"It's not that. How close are we to Haven Point again?"

"We went over this already," Agent Michaels rolled his eyes. "We're not driving through that dump of a town."

"Not even on the hill above it?"

"Well, I can't exactly guarantee that," Parker admitted. "That highway is the fastest route to get us to Beaver Creek. Look, if it bothers you that much, you don't even have to look out the window. But I don't feel like tacking on another, what...two?"

"Three hours," Michaels corrected.

"Three hours to our trip on some back roads, just so you can avoid a few minutes of crossing through some tiny little hell hole? Nothing bad is going to happen to you, Daniel. We won't let it."

"I don't know," the boy said shakily.

Agent Michaels sighed. "Well...there's always chloroform."

"Chloroform?!" Parker spat in disbelief.

"What?"

"I was going to say Benadryl, and your first thought to help him sleep through Haven Point was chloroform? Get the hell out of here, go!" he shooed him away. "Go to bed right now!"

"Jesus, it was just a joke," Michaels said, exiting the room.

"Yeah, in terrible taste! Sicko."

"Uh...what's chloroform?" Daniel asked.

"Nothing," Parker assured him. "Stupid adult jokes you're better off not knowing."

"Oh. Sooo...who's gonna be watching the door tonight?"

"Nobody. I'm going to be staying in one of these beds, so. You take your pick of whichever one you want."

"Um, okay. I'll take the one near the TV!" Daniel said excitedly. In truth, he felt a bit awkward about sharing a room with one of the agents. Then again, he fully understood the reason why. He had already almost wrecked the last room he was in. They weren't going to trust him with sleeping alone in another. If this happens when I'm at grandma and grandpa's, I'm screwed. He did his best not to think about it as he reached for the TV remote and sat down to check out the channels. The first thing that flashed on the screen upon powering up was an advertisement of something...inappropriate.

"Are you feeling lonely tonight? Maybe you've had a long, hard day and need to work off some stress? Don't sweat it, big boy. You deserve some company. Call our toll-free number now to chat with one of our hot, sexy, single-"

"WHOA, I don't think so!" Parker panicked, rushing over to shut off the television.

"Don't freak out, I was about to change the channel!" Daniel protested. "That stuff is gross anyway."

"You're damn right it is," the man chuckled.

"I-I think I'll take a shower. Still feel icky from today."

"Good, you go do that while I work on finding something more...age appropriate."

After grabbing a quick change of clothes from his bag, Daniel headed for the bathroom. He turned on the water for the tub and adjusted the heat level to his liking before starting the shower, closing the door behind him. Another prison cell, he thought. Memories of his time with Lisbeth were racking his mind. He could have sworn he saw scissors on the edge of the tub for a moment. He checked his hair. Still a bit long. That bowl cut was pretty terrible, now that he thought about it. Jacob had probably had the same one as a kid, back before he ran away to join the Humboldt crew. Daniel thought about how awkward their drive to Haven Point had been that night.

Jake had barely said a word, but he remembered hearing sirens approaching in the distance when he'd got back to the camp. Everyone was freaking out, packing their things away and dismantling their tents in a panic while Daniel stood there paralyzed in shock, unable to move. By the end of it, the site looked completely untouched, save for the large metal water tank and a bunch of overturned equipment. Hannah had run off somewhere in the woods, nowhere to be found. Ingrid and Anders already had a ride lined up to the airport in case everything went south, which they'd long suspected it would. Jacob grabbed things from their tent fast, only taking what he could of their most important belongings.

They'd driven to Haven Point in relative silence the whole way. Either because Daniel simply couldn't talk, or because Jake was too scared to voice anything that was going through his mind. Still, he'd been a very compassionate friend. On their second night in some dive motel, he had set aside any personal reservations about things and cuddled Daniel close to him, much in the brotherly way that Sean always had. But there was a desperation to his touch that felt slightly different, almost as if Jake was cuddling a childhood version of himself. The man had fallen asleep that night in tears—oddly enough, with Daniel cuddling him. And the next morning, the young wolf woke up to find him praying for forgiveness at the end of the bed. Forgiveness for what, Daniel wasn't completely sure. Perhaps it was for things that happened in Humboldt. Or perhaps, it was for things yet to come. But whatever the reason, Jacob had profusely apologized to him just before they'd parted ways on the hill, far above the burning church below.

"The Coyote Cult," the boy muttered as he got in the shower. He certainly didn't miss it. Especially having his Sundays taken up by intense study, or those weekly sessions with Lisbeth. And certainly not his "adoring fans", who put such intense pressure on him. But among the things he did miss were the time he spent being a kid again. Things like his tenth birthday party at the town hall, in which he felt surrounded by friends. The museum trips she'd taken him on. Having a sense of belonging in a community where, at first, he'd felt safe. Those lingering feelings of betrayal would be the most difficult aspect to face, if they were to cross through Haven Point.

Daniel tilted his head up toward the water stream. Basking in the heat, he closed his eyes, running his fingers over his dark hair, then to his shoulders and across his body. He thought about Sean and where his brother must be spending the night. With the cash everyone had chipped in during their time at Away, they'd amassed about $2,000, which was certainly enough for Sean to be comfortable at a hotel somewhere until he got on his feet in Puerto Lobos. Or at least that's what he assumed. Daniel hated to think about his brother begging on the streets. Sean was pretty bad at it. The young wolf grabbed the soap and ran it all over himself, soaping his armpits first. That's when he noticed something strange—tiny hairs. Some had begun to sprout in his nether region as well.

"Holy shit," he gasped. "Puberty?" He'd barely had any time to notice before, with all the running around they'd done for months. Guess I really am a Super Wolf now, he smiled. But in a way, that frightened him too. He just wanted to stay a kid and do normal kid things. Not give into any stupid urges to kiss girls, have sex, or whatever it was that made Sean chase after Cassidy or kiss Finn. That was a weird thing his brother had admitted to him, too. He kissed Finn? Since when did he know he liked boys too? I wonder if I'll ever end up liking boys...nah, don't go there, Daniel. There's enough things to worry about first. Just...get to Beaver Creek and most of it will be over.

Upon exiting the shower, he quickly dried off and got dressed in a fresh set of boxer briefs and the same pajama pants he'd worn the previous night. There was no reason to sit up against the door on the floor for another hour again, allowing his demons to catch up with him. After all, he'd slain an entire pack of wild coyotes in his dream. He hoped that at least that would be enough to keep the bad thoughts at bay for awhile. The boy ran a hand through his hair to brush it out of his eyes, and felt something painful near his hairline.

"Acne too?! You've got to be kidding," he sighed, examining the red lump in the mirror. "This is gonna suck." Frustrated, he used his telekinesis to open the door. A bit more force than he expected hit the frame, and it flew open hard, slamming into the adjacent wall. "No!" As expected, however, Parker immediately rushed over to check on him. Great.

"Hey, you all right?"

"I'm FINE!" Daniel spat, charging past him over to his bed.

"Whoa, whoa, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"That didn't look like nothing."

"I don't think you're going to want to sleep here tonight!" the young wolf said angrily. "Because I...I...fucking puberty!" he shouted, whipping the covers over himself.

"That's what you're so worked up about?" Parker chuckled.

"Shut up! It's not funny! Because I don't know how it's going to affect my powers, okay?!"

"All right, all right, calm down," the man said, taking a seat on the opposite bed.

"Don't tell me to stay calm! It's not like you're the one who has to deal with it. And you're not Mexican. You can survive just fine in America, so why are you even sticking around?"

"Okay hold up, where the heck is this coming from?"

"I heard you talking to Agent Flores today," the boy admitted, poking his head out from under the covers. "She said you could all get in big trouble for protecting me, and that I'll never really fit in. I just...I don't want you to get hurt, especially if you don't have to. That's all. You can leave if you want. I'll stick with Flores."

"Daniel," the man sighed, rubbing his face. "We all agreed that this was the best thing for you, because it's something you would want, and I think your brother would want it for you too. As for everything else...you have to understand that in America, there's good people, bad people, and maybe even those who aren't so obvious."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Let me put it this way. During all your time with Sean, what kind of people did you meet?"

"There were some really nice people, but...there were people who tried to hurt us for no reason, too. Like our neighbor Brett, that guy at the gas station. And Lisbeth's friend kept hitting Sean, over and over-"

"Okay, let's just...I'll try to keep it simple. You made it down to the border wall, right?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know why it exists?"

"To separate people. But I don't get why they'd wanna do that..."

"You know what racism is...right? Please tell me you know."

"Um...I remember we read about some of it in school. Sometimes, kids would throw stuff at me and say ICE was coming. Sean would call them racist assholes. But that's all he said. That they hated us because we were different...or something."

"That's exactly it," Parker said. "Some people are afraid of those who are different. Who come from different countries, who aren't...white. Or entirely white."

"So it's not just because of my power? But...I don't want people to be scared of me."

"I don't think you have that choice, kiddo. Powers or not. There are certain people in different parts of the country who get scared because kids like you challenge what they're used to. They want everyone to be white. They want those walls, they want everyone to speak English so they'll feel a little more comfortable, because they've always been told people from other countries will hurt or steal from them. They don't know any different, and even if, say, a Mexican guy does speak English, they'll only see what they want to. But the good ones? They'll love you for who you are. They'll listen to you. They won't be afraid of you."

"Oh," Daniel said, his heart sinking. "I think I get it. Flores also said there's targets on people's backs. What did she mean by that?"

"It means...uh," Parker sighed. "It means you always have to be careful. To do your best to fit in, wherever you are. Look kid, I'm not the right guy to be having this conversation with. Agent Flores could explain it much better. It's just...I don't feel it's my place to tell you what to do. If that makes sense. You need to hear it from someone-"

"Who's like me," Daniel finished.

"Yeah."

"I understand. Thanks, Agent Parker."

"No problem. You'll figure shit out, Daniel. Just try not to worry. At least not too much."

"Are you sure you want to stay with me tonight? Even if I freak out?"

"I don't think I have that choice," the man smiled.

"I'm just...scared," Daniel said, turning away to face the window. "Of everything. Living with grandma and grandpa, going back to school. Meeting new friends I'll have to hide my powers from. My body changing, what it's gonna mean for my abilities...everything."

"It's a lot to deal with, I know," Parker nodded. "But you're a strong, smart kid. Just remember what I told you, okay? Take things one day at a time. You're never alone. And you're going to be all right...Super Wolf."

"Ugh, why'd I even tell you guys about that? Sounds corny when you say it," he laughed.

"You did great today," the agent smiled.

"Thanks. I feel like it was better too. So I got a weird thing to ask," Daniel said, turning to face him. "Would you mind telling me a story? Just so I can sleep better."

"You're not too old for that?"

"Maybe just a short one, 'cause I fall asleep fast."

"A short one...let's see. Once upon a time, there was...an old, lonely white wolf who lost his pack. Many of his friends got captured by hunters, or lost their legs trying to escape traps. His brother went missing. Many years passed, and the wolf wandered from place to place in search of food and another pack to join. But even though he found a new pack, he never did find out what happened to his younger brother. He felt lost in the world without him. Every night, he would howl at the moon, sending out signals, hoping for him to answer his call. Then one day in his travels, he met a very kind Indian wolf, who promised to aid him in his search. She cared for him so very much. Eventually, they fell in love and had a pup of their own. The old wolf was happy. But he was also scared to raise a child of his own. He had never done it before, and as time went on, he feared he might have to give up the search for his brother...until he came across a lost, endangered wolf pup who missed his own brother just as much. The old wolf reasoned that if this pup was so determined to survive, then maybe...his brother was still out there, waiting for him too. And so he promised that once he got the pup to safety, he would continue the search for his own brother."

"Agent Parker?" Daniel yawned, drifting off to sleep.

"Yeah?"

"I think you're gonna make a really great dad."

"Thanks kid," the man sniffed, wiping away a tear. "You sleep tight."

Song: Placebo – Running Up That Hill

The air tasted of dust and burnt ash. A pale red glow shone down from the skies above to encompass the scene as thick clouds choked off the sunlight, producing acid rain. Harsh winds whipped across a barren wasteland, revealing rusted out car frames, old playground equipment, the skeletons of long dead desert animals. An array of burning shrubs encased the yard in a natural fence, with two swinging swords blocking off the gate not far behind him. Daniel stood outside the entrance of the church at Haven Point, clad in the same bland outfit the Reverend Lisbeth Fischer used to make him wear. His hair, he could feel, was shorter. The cross high atop the steeple appeared to be burning, but the rest of the church was spared. He looked back down to see the same black timber wolf from his prior dream.

"Are you ready for what lies ahead, child?"

The boy nodded, and the doors ahead opened on their own as the wolf moved to join him inside the foyer. The familiar tables and the donation box that typically accompanied them were absent. In their place stood an array of glass candles covered in the images of saints, along with food offerings, personal possessions, various photographs, and crucifix necklaces. The floor was littered with marigold petals. Ofrendas. Daniel remembered his father one year having taught them about the importance of Día de Muertos. Upon closer examination of the photographs on the ofrendas, he noticed all of them were pictures of...Sean. The young boy immediately rose, extending a hand to concentrate on the set of double doors that led into the sanctuary. They flew open and slammed against the wall, which cracked under pressure.

A warm, orange light greeted him. The entire sanctuary was lined with candles on the floor and across the pews, leaving only the center aisle open. The path of marigolds led all the way up to the altar, where a lone hooded figure knelt prostrate in prayer. Daniel inched closer, listening to the young boy speak. He couldn't make out all of the Spanish said, but he began to recognize it as a prayer his father would often start the day with. The Lord's Prayer.

"Padre Nuestro que estás en el Cielo, Santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu Reino. Hágase tu voluntad así en la Tierra como en el Cielo. Danos hoy el pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas como nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación y líbranos del mal. Amén."

As Daniel knelt respectfully alongside the figure and gazed over the identical ofrendas placed over the altar, he detected a scent he knew well from Sean's hoodie. It smelled like a combination of sawdust, weed, rainy days, the cold of winter, and a few other things he recalled from their time on the road together. When the taste of fresh blood entered his mouth, Daniel knew who he was kneeling beside without even having to look. El Lobo.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Saying a prayer," the wolf boy muttered, annoyed. "Obviously."

"It's not going to bring him back, you know."

"No shit. This one's for me."

Daniel finally glanced over at the child, who had since done away with the black grease paint over his eyes in favor of sugar skull makeup.

"It's not even Día de Muertos yet."

"For me...every day is Día de Muertos," the boy sighed, picking up a photograph of their father and Sean together. "We lost everything."

"But we didn't," Daniel pointed out. "We still have grandma and grandpa, right?"

"Abuela y abuelo no entienden. Or don't want to."

"I don't understand."

"Exactly. Maybe you should learn Spanish, stupid."

"Sean was going to teach me."

"Sean was going to teach us a lot of things," the boy said, replacing the photo. "But he's gone now, isn't he?"

Daniel put an arm around the young boy.

"I'm so sorry, El Lobo."

"Whatever. My fault. 'El Lobo' is a stupid name anyway," the boy sniffed. "Sounds like...ear lobes." The two boys chuckled, their laughter echoing quietly in the sanctuary.

"Well I think it's pretty badass. And you know Spanish. That's really cool."

"Just enough to get by. But...it's not easy. I've spent a lot of nights on the streets. No one wants to rent a hotel room to a kid, even with the money I swipe from tourists. Some nice strangers took me in for a bit. They caught me stealing shit and kicked me out. Now, I just don't know what I'm doing. I'm as angry as you are. I don't have any place to go, besides the churches. At least they let me sleep here when I'm tired."

"Maybe...you just need to forgive yourself, you know? If you really want to move on. You can't change the past."

"What the hell would you know?!" the wolf boy snapped. "I had to bury our brother myself! I waited. For hours for him to wake up, for myself to wake up...until it was dark, and black, and cold. I took his hoodie and his bag, all the shit we had on us to survive. I had to use my powers just to move him out of the car because I wasn't strong enough. Then I buried him out in the desert. Dug a hole, moved the earth over him...how can I ever forgive myself that? I took his eye. Then I took his life."

"Yeah. You almost took mine too," Daniel frowned, recalling their previous encounter.

"I'm sorry," El Lobo said, grabbing a hold of his hand. "I was just freaked out to see you."

"Same. How do you think this is even happening?"

"I don't know," the boy shrugged. "We made different choices. But, Daniel...I'm glad you jumped out of that car. You're a lot braver than me. One of us deserves a better life after all that's happened."

"Yeah, I guess. Man...this kinda sucks. I wish I could meet you for real."

"Yeah. I wish I could meet you too. But I don't think the Adventures of El Lobo and Super Wolf are happening anytime soon."

"So are we like, twins?"

"Maybe dream twins...I don't know."

Daniel looked over at his new brother, still fascinated by his makeup.

"If we ever do meet, do you think you could teach me how to do my face like that? I really like it. It's awesome."

"Sure," El Lobo smiled, embracing Daniel. A sudden gust of wind flew up from the back of the sanctuary, blowing out large swathes of candles and tearing photos from the ofrendas. "I think that means you have to go. Hit me up when you reach Beaver Creek? If you can."

"Deal," the boy nodded. "And promise you won't steal from anyone else, okay?"

"I don't do promises. But I'll try not to."

"Good. Well...later."

"Adiós, mi fantasma."

Daniel awoke to a hot wind blowing throughout the car and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The seatbelt felt tight against his tiny frame, so he sat back. Must have slumped over. Drool spots had accumulated on his new jeans. The boy yawned and groggily brushed away whatever fresh drops that remained. He looked around him to be sure he was in the right car and checked his hair. It was still long. Agents Parker and Michaels were up in the front seat, too. Good, I'm awake. He gazed at the passing scenery outside. They were traveling along the top of a hill, coming up on a billboard. Daniel immediately recognized it. Steve Hoe's Wild Mice Ranch. He looked on at the valley below. Haven Point. Just breathe, enano.

"Oh shit." There wasn't much left. The community building where he'd had his tenth birthday party was completely demolished. Not even a burnt out husk of it remained, though some of the wreckage was still visible across the vacant lot. A few construction vehicles and a crane were positioned around it from what he could see. The remains of the church still stood like a charred black ink stain across the golden desert plains. No doubt Lisbeth would be rebuilding it soon to resume her services—if she were even still around. Daniel was a bit curious as to what ever happened to her, but at the same time, he didn't care. The more he dwelled upon that black scar, the more he wondered what El Lobo was up to, and the strange circumstances of their meeting.

Agent Parker looked back at him in the rearview mirror, removing his sunglasses to check on the boy.

"Oh geez, you're finally awake. You okay kiddo?"

"Yeah...just thinking."

"Sorry I opened the windows, the A/C's been shutting off on me."

"It's cool. How long was I out?"

"You been sleeping like a rock since we got you that diner food."

"Oh...yeah, I guess I have." He could vaguely recall getting up that morning, heading to the car, and them bringing out breakfast for him at a local restaurant. He'd wanted the continental option that came with the rooms, but of course Flores reminded him of the importance of staying hidden. He couldn't wait for some of Claire's pancakes soon.

"So I did some checking up on Haven Point after you went to bed," Agent Parker said. "There's a brand new community setting up shop down there. See all the U-Hauls?"

"Oh wow!" Daniel exclaimed. A procession of orange and white moving trucks were heading up the road to the compound, followed by the semi trucks of three other different companies. "Who are they?"

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," the man said. "In other words...Mormons."

"What are Mormons?"

"Door knockers. 'Knock-knock, would you like to hear about your personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,' yada yada. Which really isn't much better than the cult you left, but. At least around here, they have nobody's doors to knock on but their own. Lisbeth was arrested for tax evasion, so I doubt you'll ever see her face again."

"What about Nicholas?"

"Oh yeah," Agent Michaels chimed in, "her little security guard. Cops caught him transporting drugs in Salt Lake three weeks ago."

"So they're all gone...good. What about El-" Daniel stopped himself. "Nevermind." Parker and Michaels exchanged confused looks, but shrugged it off.

As the group continued on past Haven Point, the young wolf thought about the last few times he'd been on this road. First with Jacob, blasting a playlist of 90's grunge and The Ramones on their move to the compound, and then again in the opposite direction with Sean and Karen, in relative silence. No way he could ever repay them all for rescuing him. He missed his time with his mother most of all. I hope she's okay. She would be doing time for arson, no doubt. Ever since his own capture, he realized there hadn't been much point in her sacrificing herself for them after all. They'd gotten caught anyway. Still, Sean had his freedom now.

Daniel imagined him out there on his own, living like a king in a hotel for a few days. Then, maybe he'd gone out to check on their father's old house. It was probably a wreck. At least Sean knew Spanish, so he could probably get someone to help out with it. After that, Daniel couldn't envision it. He tried thinking of how they might even get back into contact. Claire and Stephen would be watching the news like hawks, and would probably hate Sean for abandoning his brother. Will he even be able to get a laptop or a new phone in Mexico? Then he remembered all those misfits in the Humboldt crew, and it gave him a bit of faith. The Diaz brothers had still managed to hook up with Sean and Cassidy all the way out in California after Beaver Creek. Maybe the world really was a small place.

He looked up at the clock on the dashboard. Four more hours until I'm home.

Daniel slept the rest of the way.