Tory shut the lights... dumbfounded... at a loss for words and at the same time very afraid, a feeling he thought he would never have in regards to Colin.

Colin moved past Tory and back to the bedroom. A faint "goodnight" came from Colin as he slid back into Tory's bed.

Tory knew one of two things. Either the Colin he just saw, or the Colin he thought he knew was the result of the Gaia Project.

Tory slowly tiptoed back to his bedroom and just stood in the doorway, staring at Colin in bed, trying to make out his form.

"What did I just see?" he thought.

"Don't think about it." said Colin.

"Is he reading my fucking MIND?" thought Tory to himself

"Yes" replied Colin.

"Listen... I don't expect you to understand what I am or why I am like this." Colin's voice was somber yet somehow reassuring. " ... at least not right away." he continued. "You are one of only 3 people in the world who know about me in this form. I'm not going to hurt you."

Tory felt some relief. If Colin was really going to harm him, all he had to do was yell and everyone would hear and then see...

"I know you know about the existance of Gaia, I could hear you thinking in the hall".

That last statement made Tory's heart race. What an odd and scary concept... I can hear you THINKING. "Have to clear my mind." he thought.

"Don't worry, your thoughts and feelings are safe we me". Colin's voice again was reassuring.

(Gulp) "Feelings? What the hell, he probably knows everything if he can read my mind" thought Tory. He waited for a response from Colin on that thought, but none was forthcoming. Tory entered his room and slid back on the floor next to his bed.

"Can you talk about Gaia?"

"It's an adaption process..."

"The way you look now... is this a result of Gaia?"

"No..."

"Then what are you?"

Colin rolled over and looked down on Tory, Colin's now green eyes staring right at Tory. His eyes almost glowed in the dark.

"You see, even though it is dark in this room, I can see you perfectly. You saw your notebook on the bed... I can see in the dark like you can see in the light. I couldn't sleep after... changing... and was looking for something to do. Light to me is blinding... even a little. Staring at the moon is like staring into the sun for you. Where I come from there isn't alot of light you know."

Tory listened trying not to think or even move, aware than ever of everything around him.

"You know that I am not really human from what you have seen from the shadows and the few seconds the lights were on. This is what happens when I relapse, when my human side kinda goes into remission..."

Colin reached out and touched Tory's face. Tory never thought the act of Colin touching him would bring so much fear. Colin's skin was scaly... almost slimy. Colin ran his moist finger over Tory's lips... it was... odd, but he didn't dislike it.

"When I change from warm blooded to cold blooded... which is what happens, I sweat alot. My skin is very snake-like... and so is my body... "

Tory almost didn't know how to feel.

"I-It's OK..."

"In the morning I should be better. I took some of those pills I got when I was at the drug store. Azithromycin Dihydrate."

"Azithro-what-di hate?"

"Gets rid of bacteria in humans... working with Gaia, it does alot more for me. Just keep the shades down... in case"

"Colin, I gotta get you out of here in the morning. Nobody knows you're..."

"Don't worry, I should be OK in the morning. I can sneak out with you"

"WITH me?" thought Tory... suddenly, something brushed up against his leg... and Tory jumped for a second and the cold feeling.

"'Nite Tory"

"Does he really think I'll sleep..." thought Tory

"You really should" replied Colin, half asleep.

Tory emptied his mind of thought.

TO BE CONTINUED