Shmee gathered the clothes the hospital provided for patients: cotton sweatpants, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and some non-slip socks with foam slides. He tugged at the loose pants and sweatshirt around his skinny waist and neck, then sighed.

"I forgot, they don't allow strings of any kind around here. Haw!" Shmee muttered as he walked toward the lobby desk, rummaging through drawers to find anything that could help tailor the clothes. He found rubber bands, a stick of chapstick, a Rubik's cube, a harlequin novel, and a keychain made of purple plastic string and green beads.

Shmee's dark eyes lowered. "Oh, Cassie," he thought. He really had liked her; she seemed to be the only genuinely kind person in this place. He even felt bad for her, knowing she wasn't meant to be here—not just in the hospital, but not meant for this world.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. It had been easy to get into her head, but Shmee hadn't wanted to break someone like Cassie.

After wrapping, knotting, and tucking the loose-fitting clothes as best as he could with the rubber bands, Shmee stared at Cassie's things in the drawer. His counterparts, now able to move, stood on the other side of the room, watching him in silence. They remained uncertain of his intentions, but Shmee paid them no mind. All he could think about was his newfound human-like experience, freed from Todd's mind at last.

He picked up her belongings, setting the book and Rubik's cube on the desk, and examined the intricate four-square ties of the keychain. After feeling the smooth plastic beads, he slipped it into his hoodie's front pocket. Then he turned his attention to the chapstick. He had seen her apply it before, and as he took the cap off and glided the wax over his bottom lip, he shivered. The nerves in his lips felt like they were on fire. He remembered he had to rub his lips together to get an even distribution. As he did so, the nerve sensitivity gradually faded.

"How that young dame did this every day is beyond me," Shmee said to himself, slipping the chapstick into his sweatpants pocket.

Eff finally broke the silence. "Are you done now?" he growled, annoyed. "We have somewhere to go. None of us want anything to do with you, so we'll be—"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't know I was keeping you," Shmee interrupted, a smug grin spreading across his face. "It's my first day 'out,' and I haven't even expressed my proper thanks yet."

Dboy's brow furrowed. "Proper thanks? For what? For us tearing you apart?"

Shmee stared blankly back, offering no response. Picking up the Rubik's cube and book, he made his way out the front door just as the sun began to rise.

"C'mon, let's go," Dboy said quietly to the others. "I don't care who this asshole is if he's not going to tell us anything. Best we go our separate ways."

As they all stepped outside, a cold wind blew past them, contrasting with the warm sunbeams cutting through the clouds. They stopped, noticing Shmee standing still, staring at the rising sun.

Shmee couldn't help but enjoy the moment. The feelings were surreal. He had always known that humans were moved by simple sights like this, but never understood the emotions they invoked. Now, watching the sunbeams break through the clouds and feeling the warmth touch his hand and face, he was mesmerized. He could even see a red hue beneath his black skin. Something compelled Dboy to walk toward him, driven by the need to talk to him one last time.

Looking up at Dboy, Shmee smiled. "So, Maine is where you're going, correct?"

Taken aback, Dboy responded, "How did you—"

"Listen," Shmee said softly, placing a hand on Dboy's shoulder. "We know each other better than you think. You don't believe I can hear the telepathic connections between you and the others? I know who you all are and how we came in contact in the first place. Now, you all did me a favor back there. I couldn't have done it without your collective help. So, thank you."

"What are you saying? That wasn't you," Dboy replied sternly.

"You're right," Shmee responded. "It wasn't me. His name was Todd. He came in contact with Nny during a critical time and got infected."

Dboy listened closely as Shmee continued. "You were right—he wasn't a flusher. I couldn't make that happen because by the time I started breaking Todd in, Nny was already gone. When you lose your initial connection like that, things get complicated."

Shmee walked toward the others with Dboy, pausing to sigh before continuing. "I knew then that our dear Creator was also gone. Todd, of course, was still part of this world and got caught. I was stuck in purgatory in this forsaken place with him. But I sensed that you, Dboy, and the others were still floating around somewhere. I just couldn't reach out."

Smiling now at Eff, Sickness, and Reverend, Shmee chuckled as the creases at the corners of his eyes folded up. "I'm not sure what brought us together again, but I think it's the same thing that's pulling Dboy to Maine."

Eff scratched his chin. "So, whatever's pulling Dboy wasn't you? Then what the hell else could it be?"

Shmee tilted his head to the side, closing his eyes as the morning sun poured down on them. "That's something only Dboy can know, but it hasn't been revealed to him yet."

"Tragic," Dboy said bluntly. "I trust your speculation. It's no secret you're more powerful than us, but even you have limitations."

Shmee shrugged. "I guess so. Haw, haw, haw. But I know wherever you're headed will give you clearer answers than I can offer."

Sickness rolled her eyes. "I don't care if you stay here staring at the sun or follow us. Just don't immobilize us like that again, you prick."

"Oh, don't worry, darling," Shmee replied. "Just don't puff your chest at me, and we've got a deal. That goes for all of you."

"Duly noted, Shmee," Reverend said. "The others might not care, but I'd like to hear more about your background. Maybe it'll help us piece more things together."

"I'd be delighted! I'm sure these treks can get boring," Shmee said, walking alongside Reverend.

The group now had a new member. As they walked north, Dboy wondered if this would attract more unwanted attention. He had learned from the last time, which had landed them all at the riverbed camp. Still, with Shmee's power, maybe he could be of help.

Eff walked next to Dboy. "What do you think he meant by saying you know something? Have you noticed anything strange?"

Growling in frustration, Dboy replied, "I can't tell you anything new, Eff. I might be wrong, so keep that in mind." Rubbing his forehead as they walked, Dboy considered that if Shmee could exist like this, there had to be something even more extreme pulling him to Maine—perhaps something as powerful as a Creator, if such a thing could exist.

You're a real fucking dick, Johnny boy.