Author's Note: I will be on vacation this weekend so I won't be able to post a new chapter. Thankfully, I could make time to write one this week. This week's chapter is from Nerin's perspective, so I hope you like it! Special thanks to Happygoddess2003 for her recent review and support! And, of course, thanks to every reader!

Arrie had been gone for about five minutes when I got bored of playing with Aquaman. I had already helped him save a porpoise out of a fisher's net and rescued a damsel in distress from drowning, so obviously there wasn't much else to do. I got up from my chair and decided to do some exploring, but everything was just old and lame looking. Then I remembered what Arrie told me in the hospital. She told me to run the second I got a chance to escape.

I looked around the room and realized the only way out was back where we came through, so I grabbed Aquaman and put him back into his underwater layer. Then I swung my backpack over my shoulder and ran as quietly up the stars as possible. The door was unlocked, so I just walked right out all stealthily like and no one even tried to chase me. I shut the door super quiet like I'd seen Arrie do when she would slip out of our hotel room in the morning, trying not to wake me up. I don't sleep well though, so I always wake up. I pretend to sleep, because I know she needs to be away for a while and I don't want her worrying about me.

It was easy to find a road to follow and I just started walking, I figured If I staying on the road someone would pick me up and I could ride with them to the nearest church or fire station or whatever. Then Arrie's voice came rushing into my head, "Don't take a ride from strangers unless I am with you. If you are all alone, bad people can take you away and I will never see you again." I stopped walking so I could think about what she said and if I really had to listen to it. I mean we take rides from people all the time, and they are normally nice. But I was like eight when she told me that, so maybe I am old enough now to get rides by myself.

I started my trudge again and my attention drew to my surroundings. There were some trees on my right and a field on my left. Behind me was the round-brick-surrounded door that Arrie was still trapped in. I felt a little guilty leaving her behind, but I knew she would be proud of me. I mean, I was listening to her like a good big boy would, so why would she be mad? Ahead of me was the road that would lead me away from the only person in the world that I loved. As I walked away I felt very heavy, which is weird because I am used to walking a lot and it never really has bothered me.

I zipped up my jacket a little more as a cold gust blew in. There weren't any cars for a long while, so I was just left with my thoughts and the view around me. I had walked probably two miles before I heard a car coming in the distance from behind me. I felt panic as I was sure it was those two big hunters, so I ran straight into the woods on my right and crouched down under some brush. I made a peaking hole, so I could see if the car was them or not.

Sure enough, it was that black car and the hunters. They were driving slow and I noticed there was a different man riding with Dean. They were both looking out their windows, and Dean was calling out my name. I stayed as quiet as a mouse, so that they wouldn't notice me.

The car left my peaking hole, but I stayed there for ten more minutes in case they came back. I didn't hear them come back and it was beginning to darken, so I left my spot and returned to the road. After a while I could see the road was leading me to a city because the lights glowed in the darkening sky. It was only 5 pm and in the Fall, it got darker faster. That's what Arrie told me.

Hoo-hooo hoo-hooo

The sound startled me at first, and I spun around looked all over to figure about where it was coming from.

Hoo-hooo hoo-hoooo

I looked up and found the source of the deep and somewhat scary sound, an owl was perched on a branch in a tree that was close to the road. Its bright yellow eyes stood out in the paling sky and it reminded me of Arrie's green ones. It struck me that Arrie and the owl were a lot alike. Arrie's eyes glowed just like the owl's, and Arrie like to stay up really late too. And I read once in a book that owl's were wise, although I don't really remember why. Maybe it's because they only come out at night and it's easier for them to catch their prey, and they don't have to be afraid of anyone because the darkness protects them. I don't know. But Arrie is wise too, so maybe she should have been an owl instead of a mermaid. Maybe then she could fly away from the hunters instead.

The owl continued to star at me all wide eyed, and then it spun its head to the side and must of seen something more interesting than me because he flew away before I could try and come closer to get a better look at him. Part of me really wanted to follow him, but I knew it was pointless. He had wings and wisdom, and I wasn't even a merman…. Or wise.

After that, I walked all the way to the city. A few cars passed me and each time I had to run back into the woods or drop down on the side of the ditch just in case it was the hunter and his friend. No one found me, of course, because I am a really good hider.

The first building that I came across was a church. I couldn't believe by luck! It was old looking with a giant white cross standing on top of the steeple. I remembered a rhyme that a girl showed me a few weeks ago, we met her at a church that was helping us out. She was blonde and smelled pretty like orange sherbet. I remembered the rhyme she showed me and there were hand motions with it as well, first you slide your fingers together and line up you pointing fingers and thumbs so that it looks like a church. Here are the doors, and this is the steeple. Open the doors and where's all the people? Then I interlock my fingers so that they are on the inside. Here are the doors, and this is the steeple. Open the doors and here's all the people!

I played the game and rhyme as I walked up to the doors. Light flooded underneath, so I knew someone was in there. I knocked on the door and no one answered, so I tried it again. Still no answer. I tried pushing the door open and it swung wide inside. I walked in and was greeted with warmth and silence. It felt weird to me that no one was in there when the lights were on and the door was unlocked.

"Is… is someone in here?" I called out nervously.

Still no answer. The door led right directly into the sanctuary, which was really big. Like as big as two houses put together at least. There were pews on the right and left with one large pathway leading down to the front where a cross stood and a Jesus hung from it. Moonlight was flooding from the stain glass windows, causing beautiful colors to line the floors and pews. I walked down the center, not sure where else to go. Since no one else was here, I decided to lay down on one of the pews. I was very tired, and hungry. But mostly tired. I was used to hunger and knew I could survive without for a while, besides I am sure Arrie will come get me soon.

I was awoken by a man shaking my shoulder, "Boy, wake up."

I groggily opened my eyes and couldn't believe that it was sunny outside! I looked at my watch and saw that it was eight am. I did not mean to take that long of a nap. The man that stood over me was dressed in a black suit with a white square that sat in the middle of the collar. He was middle aged, and smiled down at me as I struggled to wake my body up.

"What's your name, my boy?" He reached out his hand and I shook it.

"Nerin."

"That's a strong name." He smiled at me, "Mine is Reverend Peterson. Now Nerin, I don't mind that you slept here last night. This is a house of the Lord and all of God's children are welcome, but I need to know… where are your parent's?"

Reverend Peterson sat next to me on the pew and I answered him, "I don't have any parents. They died when I was a baby… But I do have a sister. She should be coming to get me soon."

"I am sorry about your parents; may they rest in peace and let the Lord keep them as they sleep. And where is your sister now?"

"I don't know. We got separated and…. And she told me to go to a church and that she would find me here."

"Ah, I see. Well your free to stay as long as you need. Are you hungry?"

Nerin felt his stomach growl at the thought of food, "Very."

"How about I take you to breakfast?"
"I don't know… my sister is supposed to come here."

"It's okay my boy, Sister Margret is here and I will let her know that you are expecting her. We won't be long, I promise."

"Okay." I thought about it and figured that it wouldn't do much harm if I just went with him for a little while. I mean, he is a Reverend. They had to be good or God would probably strike them with lightning or something.

I followed Reverend Peterson out of the church and to his car. It was an older one, and the inside smelled like Tabaco. I scrunched my nose up, because I hate the smell. It reminds me too much of fire… and I hate fire.

"How does Sheri's sound? You like waffles?"

"Who doesn't like waffles?"

It only took us a few minutes to get there and there was a really pretty waitress that sat us at a booth. Reverend Peterson said I could have whatever I wanted, which was so cool. I ordered a waffle with chocolate drizzled on top, and extra whip cream. Reverend Peterson ordered the same thing, he said I had a good eye for breakfast food. Then he got to talking and said a lot of things, most of it religious and I didn't pay him much attention. I was too focused on my hot chocolate.

The meal came and went, and boy was it delicious. I didn't realize how hungry I had been. It felt nice to have a full belly again. Reverend Peterson said I was a good boy, and that I'd grow up nice and strong if I kept eatin' like that.

"Well, it looks like we better head back to the church."

I held Reverend Peterson's hand as we left Sheri's. I decided I liked him, even if he said lots of big words I didn't understand and kept calling me "my boy" when I wasn't his at all. We approached the old car that was sitting in the back-parking lot because the front was too full, when suddenly Reverend Peterson yelled and fell to the ground. I turned around and a large man held a gun pointed right at my face.

Secondary Author's Note: Well that turned out way longer than I thought it would. Hope you liked it. It was a challenge to try and get into Nerin's young mind and I hope I did him justice. Let me know what you think, feedback is always very much appreciated.