"It wasn't possible.." I keep saying in my sleep. I see myself in the sewers, being able to see through the walls. I watch the insides of the lair as if a movie and try to piece together the hints I saw. In the scene, I investigate the cracks, the arrows, and even the blood from afar, yet I can't help but repeat the words "it just couldn't happen.." I play through the scene what seemed like the millionth time, changing details in attempt to increase plausibility. Which cracks were formed by who.. when exactly did he go.. I rewind and rewind and rewind. I imagine the squeaks of the rat, Twitch initial panic, and the two bleeding out together as they chased each other. Squeaks and cackles and screams.. I couldn't take it anymore. I turn away from the scene of the crime and start marching towards the surface.

"It.. probably died as it ran away.." I told myself. "Still came from Twitch. I need a real dream.." As I march onward, I see a bright light in the distance, with its warm glow flowing inside me. It feels like home as I sigh the fresh air that was so rare in the sewers. I run towards it, excited to see what will be behind it, but as I went through the hole, everything seemed small. I look up, and I see its source. A lamp above a massive lab table that towers above me. This isn't what I wanted. This isn't the homely nature I seek. I turn back, but the hole behind me wasn't there anymore. All that was left is a concrete wall where no one can hear your screams or your cries.

There the footsteps follow. I shook and shiver at the floors rumble. I look around to find a hiding spot, but I realize there weren't any. They already took them out long ago just in case something like this happened. I quickly run to the corners and feel the wall for cracks. Please open up. Please take me out!

Step. Step. Step. I couldn't take it anymore. I rub for everything, but it was all smooth. The door creaks open. The shadow emerges from the door and sees me. "Time to test for stability," he says apathetically. He quickly turns his head to me with his red eyes. He walks over to me, his footsteps making me jump as they get louder and louder. I try to run, but my small legs couldn't get me out.

"There you are.." he said as he comes closer and closer. I couldn't go anywhere. I begin to cry out. Cry loudly for someone. Anyone. I begin to curl up in a defensive ball. "Help please!" I sob. "Help Please!"

"Don't worry.." he begin to mutter. His tone changed this time. "I'm here to help you.."

I look up in reaction. I see a hunched body with large ears. The shadow of a hand came for me before I could even mutter out his name.

I jolt up. I look around and hear the familiar creaking of the green lantern above the cauldron. The liquid is still inside except colder. "Twitch?" I ask before looking at the other bed to see he isn't there. "TWITCH!?" I ask loudly. I stand up and run outside of the lair to find him. I simply headed straight and call his name with my voice echoing in the tunnels, bringing my plea. "Twitch you th-" I stop as I begin to feel something beneath my foot. It's hard like bone with dirty coarse fur.. I look down and see a shadow of Twitch sprawling on the floor with his arms and legs all spread out, now awake from his slumber. He just looks up at me. "Ow.. Goopy One that hurt.." Twitch grumble, too tired to be angry.

"I.. I'm sorry about that pal, but I'm more concerned about what you're doing here."

"I.. I can't sleep.. You can't blame me Goopy One. My creation.. my subject is out there.."

"Well.. I think your safety should be more important," I respond as I carry Twitch up to my shoulders.

"But.. I must! It.. it ran away from me.." the rat said, rather dejectedly.

I pat his back for comfort. "Hey.. It's okay, but you should be in a better state of mind before you try something out." Hopefully that state of mind could help clear his head. "I don't want you wandering around the sewers in your sleep, pal. I was worried." I thought for a second and came up with an idea. "Hey. I know a place for you to relax a bit. I always go here."

"Is it your stupid surface.."

"Well.. no. It's actually in your sewers. I think you'll like it. I know I do." I begin to carry him across the tunnels, knowing my way through the labyrinth. I could still here the rat's muttering to his delusions as I went, how he concocted strategies of where the rat would be. It concerned me on how he obsesses over these unhealthy thoughts. "Hey.. Twitch," I blurt out. I need to find a way to distract him. "I.. missed storytime with Twitch! Last night. We didn't get to it because of all of what happened. Wanna tell me one now?"

"Hm? Bah! Why do you want to hear a story when something's more important!" he replies. "I'm telling you he's out there, and you want to goof around with fiction!?"

I bit my lip. "Uh.. no. I don't. I just.. wanted to hear one, y'know?"

"Hmph! Get your priorities straight.. " We walk in silence for a few seconds only with Twitch's muttering and the rushing of sludge and sewage. I begin to drone out at this calming sense, but the whispers behind me ground me to reality, like ghosts trying to bring me back.

"Hey.." I said abruptly. The whispers behind me stop.

"What is it?" Twitch ask.

"Um.. that rat.. he entered the hole right?"

"Yes.. what of it?"

"And you didn't see him after that?"

"Why no.. but I know he's out there. He has to be! Hehe.. He's tough. Plague rats are tough! He's out there."

I bit my lip again. "Uh... what about the possibility that.. he isn't?" I ask reluctantly.

There was nothing but moments of silence. I resist the urge to freeze in my tracks out of guilt.

"What do you mean?" he growls.

But I didn't answer; I see the light at the very end of the dark tunnels of the sewer. It's radiance enriching my skin as I walk towards it. "Hey. We're here!" I shout. "Oh.. you need this pal."

I look out to the light to see the view of an ocean from the eastern side of Zaun. The stars glittered in the purple night before the orange horizon begin to overtake them. I hear the ocean waves crashing and the fresh breeze carrying the salt of the waters below me. I breath it in, releasing a sigh of relief. There was nothing but the vast blue seas. No Zaun. No delusions. No violence. Just.. peace.

"Isn't this great?" I said. "Just nothing but the ocean and the stars... The whole world ahead of us. The sewers get cramped for a while doesn't it?"

Twitch is merely confused. "..how is this supposed to help. Giving me tainted air!"

"It's.. it's not tainted.." I mumble. "Here. Just take a few breaths. Should help ya. Clear some thoughts and all. You just seem on edge.."

"Well I need to be on edge, Goopy One! he could be anywhere! ANYWHERE!"

"And that's what I'm worried about. Just.. take a deep breath and relax.."

"NO!" Twitch shouts. "Unhand me at once in this entrapment! I know he's there! And if you think some tainted air will 'clear that up'..." The rat wrestled his hand to his back. "THEN YOU'RE WRONG!" Twitch slam the cask to my neck and my grip on him wavers in response to the poison. He jumps away, running back to his kingdom of the sewers, to his own world. "Twitch?" I shout as I run towards him to the twisting tunnels. I run and run, losing track of where I was, only listening to the footsteps of the plague rat. I run blindly and blindly until I can finally see what seems to be his shadow.

"There you are.. You shouldn't run like that, Twitch!" I shout. "I'm.. I'm just trying to help, and I just wanted to help you! I.." Upon closer inspection, the shadow was missing some details. Like the brace on Twitch's shoulder. The casks on Twitch's back. The coat. I step forward curiously, only to see the it pulse green and grow in size slightly. The veins seem to bulge out fiercely and the fur rose. I step back, hearing his scream out, but only slightly to hide his pain from his captor. I could hear his heavy breathing as he collapses on the floor.

"Hey.. I'm here to help you," I said gently in pitch darkness, with only our shadows visible. I stretch my arms slowly towards him, but he keeps moving backwards. Once I felt his fur, he attacked.