"Portsmouth, New Hampshire! Ooo, population 21,956. A lot smaller than the last city. Should be easy to get through," Reverend said out loud.

The group of five made their way past the town's welcome sign. It felt like days had passed, though it had been only a few hours on foot through the night.

Eff rubbed his eyes feeling the weight of exhaustion. He couldn't help but think this long trek had shaved a few years off his new "life." The body he had coveted for so long now felt pathetic. Yawning, Eff stretched his arms upwards and grumbled, "Ahhh, let's hope. Either way, I think we should enjoy this?"

Dboy scowled at Eff's words. "Enjoy this?"

"I agree!" Shmee perked up. "I've been very curious ever since you all mentioned the riverbed incident—how humans mingle in regular society."

"Enjoying it or not, it's no different than watching apes fling shit at each other," Dboy muttered.

"But that's the best part! I'd like to see all their day-to-day activities," Shmee responded, smiling as he skipped ahead, glancing at the houses and buildings in the distance. The group walked near the main road into town. It had been decided that new supplies like backpacks and clothes were needed, especially with Sickness whining throughout the night about how badly her clothes had gotten torn after almost being killed by Dboy.

As they approached the main road, the group passed by small businesses, from restaurants to antique stores. Dboy hated catching glimpses of their reflections in the windows. His peers would stop periodically to gawk at their stark, human appearances, but they knew they couldn't make a scene. Gaunt, pale, sunken, lanky, dirty, ragged—just a few words to describe their appearance. It was a wonder they hadn't been chased out of town yet, looking like vagrants from the woods.

Dboy spotted a town clock pole up ahead. Squinting, he read the time: 4:45 AM. It was still early, and the sun hadn't come up yet.

"Could anything be open right now? We're still by the coast, and the open waters have me wet and frostbitten. We've got to find something soon," Reverend said, rubbing his hands together. Their malnourished bodies, sustained only by the power of their Voices, were nearing their limits. The cold sea air was merciless. Dboy could see the look of angry anguish on all their faces, but he felt calm. The closest thing he could get to the sweet release of death were these small, torturous pleasures. Still, something in Maine had to be seen—once and for all.

"Let's go down this street. It looks like the lights in that building are still on," Eff pointed a block down toward an old New England-style building, its windows beaming a warm orange glow.


*Ring ring.*

The sound of a small bell tolled as the front door of a sleepy library opened. It had been open for about 45 minutes, letting in the weary from the streets to take refuge within its paper-thin walls. People from all walks of life, seeking temporary shelter, trickled in until the sun fully emerged. To anyone observing, the group of five looked no different—just people in need of help like everyone else.

"Oh wow, what a place," Shmee whispered, taking off his jacket as the warm air enveloped their decrepit bodies. The doors closed behind them. Looking around, they saw drifters sitting at communal tables—some quietly chatting, others playing cards, and a few eating prepackaged food from the small café inside.

A cheery voice rang out from behind a nearby register, "Happy to have you all with us!" exclaimed a small, bald man with a clean-shaven face. "My name is Lester. Please, take a seat. We've got some coffee and plenty to read until the sun comes up." Lester smiled warmly at the eldritch abominations, who smiled back as best as they could. Dboy watched as Shmee quickly charmed the man and began to spin his tale.

"Why thank you! This is a beautiful library you have here. My friends and I have been traveling to meet some old acquaintances up north in Maine but we decided our usual hobby, hiking, would make quite the adventure. Haw! We've forgotten about the cold so, so many times!"

Lester hacked a cough laughing, "Ohhh you're not the first, and definitely won't be the last, I got some folks here who travel in vans, encampment groups, hell, last week a community I think was a nomadic commune something or another came by our town and squatted for a while. Please, make time to relax a bit while you're waiting."

As they took their seats, Dboy began speaking in their minds—a familiar ring that signaled his telepathic voice.

"Let's not get too comfortable or make friends here, you bastards. We need to find supplies, and clothes, and get the hell out."

Eff glared at Dboy, his arms crossed at the table. "Can you relax, you scab? We just got here. Shmee, Reverend, you two are the more chatty and approachable types. See if any transients here can point us to where we can get some new stuff."

Reverend scowled at Eff. "And why can't you handle that yourself? Does Dboy have a chain around your ankle?"

Now staring Reverend down, Sickness sitting between them was the only thing keeping Eff from getting his hands around his neck, "My feet are bloody, I'd get doll face here to do it since any man gets happy seeing a pair of tits talking to them, but she's in the same boat as me since last night."

Sickness kicked Eff's shin under the table. "Like your ass could get me to do anything! Reverend's right—why don't you go suck some dick and—"

Shmee, laughing aloud and breaking the telepathic tension, Shmee wrangled all 4 voices back into the loop, "Don't start here, don't start here! I'll go looking! You children behave now! Blue can get a thing or two." Shmee ended the connection, got up from the table, and smirked at the group before heading down a corridor of books.

"What's he gonna do? Jerk off in some books?" Sickness whispered, annoyed.

Dboy sighed, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on him. He stared at the table, then closed his eyes, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be buried six feet under.


Shmee traced his fingers along the spines of the many books tucked into the shelves. In his other arm, he carried the book he'd taken from Cassie's desk, trying to imagine what a girl like her would choose. He knew he was in the right section: romance.

As he wandered through the aisle, his thoughts drifted, not just to the characters in the book—Blue and Flora—but also to the primal ways Reverend Meat had come into existence. He recalled the conversation he'd had with Reverend and Eff in the woods, and how easily he had slipped into Cassie's mind, even if it was through Todd's body. Shmee had concluded: that he was closer to becoming fully real. And now, he was ready to test that theory.

He slid the old tale of Blue and Flora back onto the shelf and picked up a new book. His gaze shifted down to his dark skin, marred with crude stitches, and the faint, hazy mist that seemed to radiate off him, just a centimeter above the surface. Lifting his free hand away from the books, his eyes wandered to a nearby picture framed on the wall. It was an orchid, set against a black background, with the light dimming just right. Shmee saw what other humans would see.

He noticed his aquiline nose, his bald head, rounded ears that stuck out slightly, and his button chin, framed by a v-shaped jawline. It wasn't too strong, but it held up. He also noted how his brown eyes might be mistaken for a deep black, though in the sunlight coming through the windows, they shone with a hidden depth.

I guess I look quite enough. Haw!

Just as Shmee said it in his head, his eyes caught movement. A woman stood next to the picture—and she was staring right at him.


"Oh God he just saw me!"

The woman panicked, quickly tearing her eyes away from him, glancing at the genre signs around her as if to play off the moment, pretending she was looking for something specific. She could feel her face flush, her arms tightening around the stack of books she was carrying as a nervous sweat broke out. Without looking back, she scurried off into the next aisle, hoping the tall, dark, and handsome man hadn't noticed her. As she turned the corner, she fumbled with her books, pretending to browse the shelves.

I'm just passing through this town. I shouldn't be even thinking about going for any guy right now!

"Excuse me, miss." A soft voice spoke right next to her, causing her to jolt in surprise. There he stood, smelling faintly of campfires, with stubble outlining his shapely lips.

"O-oh, sorry! You scared me!" she stammered, her face blushing a bright pink.

"Haw-haw, I should be the one apologizing," he said with a gentle laugh. "I was staring at the orchid photo behind you. I didn't realize how bad it looked until you rushed off. I thought I should make it right and apologize. I'm sorry for frightening you back there." Shmee offered a small, shy smile, his arms tucked behind his back, and his head tilted slightly to the side in an almost embarrassed posture. It seemed to work.

Tucking an auburn curl behind her ear, her brown eyes met his, and she couldn't help but notice there was something different about him.

Softly giggling to ease her nerves, she replied, "It's okay! I guess we're all tired here. I'm glad I was mistaken, haha! My name's Dani, by the way. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand for a handshake, and when their hands touched, she felt an unexpected warmth, one that made her curious to know more about him.

"My name is Blue. A pleasure to meet you," he said, before bending slightly to give a small, old-fashioned kiss on the back of her hand. Blushing again, Dani tried to change the subject to regain her composure. "S-so where are you coming from? I don't think I've seen you around here."

Standing up straight, Blue leaned casually against the bookshelf, carefully reciting his story. "I came into town early this morning with four of my friends. We traveled on foot and planned to visit some old friends out in Maine to celebrate a reunion. We go way back, been through a lot together. But what about you? Do you live around here?"

At that moment, Dani felt like she could open up to Blue, this mysterious stranger. His calming presence put her at ease, and there was something genuine about him that she couldn't quite place.

"Well, not exactly," she said. "I live in my van. Been traveling for a few months now. I'm originally from Virginia, but I've been camping with other van lifers here for the past three weeks. I know I should be moving on soon, but the weather's been kind of manic." She laughed, and Blue smiled warmly, the creases around his eyes adding to his charm.

"Oh, I know manic," Blue said with a grin. "You should meet my friends. We could use some help getting to know people around here. I think you'll find them just as free-spirited as you are..." Gently, he took Dani's hand, leading her out of the row of books. "...and don't we all need to stick together?"

Dani felt warmth in her gut, seeing it reflected in his eyes as the early morning sun began to rise, casting soft beams across his skin. His kind smile made her feel, for the first time in a long while, like she could trust someone again.

Clasping his hand a little tighter, she smiled and nodded, walking with him toward the tables.


Dboy's blue eyes pierced into Shmee's. "What are you doing? Trying to be another stuffed animal for some sad sack of shit again?"

"You know, I was starting to worry you weren't that bright, Dboy. So relieved you're not an idiot after all!" Shmee grinned, his smile stretching ear to ear as he stared back at the angry Dboy. Their telepathic exchange was picked up by Eff, Sickness, and Reverend, all of them suddenly aware that they needed to act human again.


After Dani's introduction to Blue's group of friends, she couldn't help but notice just how... odd and out of place they seemed. The two brothers, especially the older one, Dominic, weren't exactly friendly. Dominic, in particular, kept glaring at Blue with a hatred that was hard to describe. It made Dani feel uneasy. Vincent, the younger brother, along with his friend Roman, seemed more interested in talking to Dani. They asked her endless questions about her travels, and Roman even suggested she should write a book about her experiences.

But the only woman in the group, Devi, sat with her arms crossed, gazing out the window, not engaging with the rest of them. She didn't talk to Dani or anyone else. Dani couldn't help but feel worried. Devi looked so skinny, and there were bruises on her arms. Dani wondered, Was she okay? Were the men treating her well?

As the conversation with Eff and Reverend continued, Dani's unease grew. She noticed how still Blue sat next to her, his eyes locked intensely with Dominic's as if they were having a silent conversation. The sense that something was wrong became undeniable, but Dani felt like she couldn't leave.

Just as the sinking feeling in her stomach reached its peak, Devi turned her pale face toward Dani and said, "Hey, Dani, is it?"

"Y-yeah?" Dani responded nervously, meeting Devi's intense green eyes.

"You've probably noticed we aren't exactly dressed in our Sunday best. Do you know where we could get new clothes for free? Sleeping in the woods and the weather have done a number on us," Devi asked calmly but with an underlying sternness.

Secretly, Sickness—under the guise of Devi—was growing irritated. Her human skin chafed against her dirty, ragged clothes. Devi couldn't take it anymore.

Dani nodded, explaining, "There's a donation center near the van encampment where I live. The library doors are open now, so I'd be happy to take you all there." She spoke quickly, knowing she needed to figure out what was going on between Devi and the rest of the men. Something was off, and she wasn't going to have peace of mind until she got to the bottom of it.

I wish someone would have done the same for me, Dani thought.

Blue turned his head toward Dani and smiled. "That would be lovely! My friend here could finally get a break and recover from his bad attitude," he said, gesturing toward Dominic.

Dominic scowled, getting up and heading toward the library's main doors. "Whatever, shithead," he grumbled as he walked out.


Sickness stood alone in Dani's RV, getting dressed. Peeking behind the blinds, she saw the rest of the guys talking with Dani's friends. The silence of being alone made her uneasy, so she decided to poke the boys' minds for a bit.

"Shmee, what are you up to? I don't like thinking too much when I'm around humans."

"That figures. He's testing out his theory."

"What theory? I wasn't there to hear it."

"He believes he can possess any human and take part of them to become more human, Sickness. That's good news for me, you, and Eff!"

"Uh, and how does he expect to do that? I can get it with Todd, maybe Nny and Devi, but just any random human with no prior tethering?"

"You're all wasting your time with this theory. We don't even know if it's fully possible because guess what? As long as I'm around, none of you will be real. We're tied together this way. I'd rather die this way than become any more real and fully human."

"Oh, shut up!"

"We won't know until we try. Let me test my theory, Dboy. And if I fail, you can reign over the rest of this trip. Sound good?"

"Like I haven't been doing that already, you dick!"

Sickness broke off the connection. She knew the conversation would just spiral into insults again and couldn't care less. Standing in front of a full-length mirror, she examined herself. The coat, sweater, thermals, and pants she'd layered on made her look less skinny and felt warmer. Sickness touched the delicate skin on her face, tracing the visible veins pumping very real blood. Staring at her human reflection made her hope that Shmee's theory was right. If it was, she would do whatever it took to be fully free.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Hi, it's Dani. Is it alright if I come in, Devi?"

Snapped out of her trance, Sickness replied, "Yeah, sure. It's your place, after all."

Dani entered the RV and locked both doors behind her. Hearing the click of the lock, Sickness raised an eyebrow. "Uh, what are you—"

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind." Dani sat down at the small dinette table, pulling out the other chair for "Devi." Sickness hesitated but walked over and sat down, unsure of what to expect.

Did Shmee's plan work? Is he in her head now?

"Is everything okay?... Did my friends do anything?" Devi asked, still apprehensive. She was caught off guard when Dani suddenly took her hand, a serious expression crossing her face.

"Now, I don't want to freak you out. Just know you're safe here, and the people who live in this park can help you. Do you need to get away from the men in your group? I couldn't help but notice the bruises on your arms and how skinny you are. I... I just want to make sure. Many women here, including myself, know what it's like to be in rough situations, and we can help you."

Sickness's eyes widened as Dani rambled on. Then, she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Hahahahaha!" Devi cackled in Dani's face. Confused, Dani didn't know how to respond.

Catching her breath, Sickness struggled to speak through her laughter. "Oh, dear! Oh dear! Those idiots do no such thing. Jesus, lady, that made my day so much better. No, you see, my thing is, I just don't eat much. It's hard for me to put on weight. And the bruises? We've been traveling on foot for so long—sleeping on hard ground, falling down cliffs during mudslides. I just bruise easily."

Fully composed now, Sickness added, "No abuse here, trust me. With the exception of Shmee, the rest of them... I've known them my whole life. Especially Reverend."

Relieved but still confused, Dani asked, "Who's Shmee? And Reverend?"

Sickness froze for a moment, realizing her mistake. She'd forgotten the human names they were using. Thinking quickly, she made an excuse. "Ha... oh right, they haven't told you their nicknames yet. We call Blue, Shmee, and Roman, Reverend. It's a long story, kind of personal. So please, don't mention it to them."

Buying the excuse, Dani nodded. "Oh, okay. Yeah, for sure. I won't mention it. And thank you for explaining. But if you ever need anything—anything at all—don't be afraid to come to me or anyone here."

Scratching the back of her neck, Sickness wondered if she was really so weak that humans could see her as vulnerable, as someone getting taken advantage of by her counterparts. The thought planted a seed of insecurity she hadn't felt before—an insecurity she now wanted to destroy.

"I don't think it'll be necessary, but thanks," Sickness mumbled in response.