Being yanked by the arm wasn’t the way Alex wished to go as he struggled against the man’s grasp.

     “Stop your worming around kid!” Pulling him off his feet Alex yelps and starts to kick.

     “Let me go you big idiot! My Mama going to tear you apart like a grizzly bear!!” Alex shouts as the man grabs one of his legs and holds him out. Drawing closer to the warehouse Alex stops kicking and turns to just flat-out yelling profanities at the man till he tosses him into a large gym-like room.

     “Have fun kid.” The man remarks closing the door. Shooting up from the floor Alex starts punching and kicking it.

     “Let me out!”

     A crooked hand land on his shoulder, pulling him back from the door. Turning to the owner of the hand an old woman with deep bags under her eyes smiles down to him.

     “Welcome young one. Please this way.” She motions with a sharp tug towards a brightly lit hallway.

     “No thank you! I just want to go home now!” Alex proclaims pulling against the woman as she basically drags him across the gym floor and into the hallway.

     From either side are windows with other kids about his age, each sitting almost statue like at a desk. An elderly man or woman stands at the front of class motioning to equations on the board.

     “This is your home now young one no need to worry.” Pulling Alex into a small room, inside seats a tall dentist chair a man with dark hair stand in front of the chair a smile on his face as they enter.

     “Welcome home.” He says, motioning towards the chair. “Let’s get that hair all tidied up then you can go meet your brothers and sisters.”

     “No thanks I like my hair this way.” Alex quickly interjects trying once more to pull from the woman’s iron grip.

     “There is nothing to fear.” The man pulls a pair of scissors from his pocket as Alex is thrown into the chair, restraints quick to hold him in place. “Now let us see what we are working with.” Pulling on a pair of white rubber gloves he goes to push Alex’s hair out of his face. Drawing back immediately as he turns his gaze to the older woman.

     “Interesting…” A voice from the doorway makes them both turn, a tall figure in a dark cloak step into the room. Sliding across the tile floor dark claw-like fingers pull the restraints.

     “Sir, that won’t be necessary.” He quickly steps to the side his hands shaking as he quickly draws them to his side.

     “Come child…” The cloaked figure motions, holding his hand out to Alex who with no other choice takes it.

     Making their way down the hall, teachers watch them from the classrooms. Some in disbelief while others filled with disgust.

     “Why are they looking at us like that?”

     “Mi hijo, things will be explained.” Looking to the figure the voice seems to be oddly familiar. Stepping into a small room another dark mass makes its presence known.

     “Milo!” A hand quickly covers the boy’s mouth.

     “Shush, keep your voice down.” Milo whispers, their voice barely breaking as they turn to cough a stream of smoke comes from their mouth.

     “Then… Papa?” Alex questions, and the figure shakes his head.

     “I my boy am a part of him yes, but I am not him.” Confused Milo shakes his head, pulling himself up from the ground.

     “He’ll explain later.” Milo quickly interjects stretching, wincing as they drop their arms back down. “That bottle was the most uncomfortable thing I’ve been in, in years.” Alex chuckles, hugging Milo as they figure pries the farthest wall from open.

     “We must go, they will become suspicious soon.”

     “Suspicious? You got to be kidding me? Of you? No shit.” Milo’s voice dips a bit into sarcasm as Alex starts laughing.

     “Sarcasm isn’t your forte Milo.” The figure remarks as the wall peels away with ease, revealing an open cave entrance.

     “What about papa?” Alex questions, as the door starts to rattle.

     “Your Father will be close behind… Now go.” Loud shouting and banging can be heard from the door as it creaks in retaliation. Feeling arms pluck him off the ground they enter the cave which seems to close as soon as they stride inside.

     “Wow…” Alex mumbles as they move through the pitch-black cavern. “How do you know where you’re going?”

     “I don’t kiddo got to trust your dad in making things hard if they make their way in.” Milo responds, before being met with a glimpse of light. Stopping at the entrance they place Alex down on the grass.

     “What’s wrong?”

     Coughing roughly into their arm, they shake their head lowering to the ground.

     “Just a headache. You remember that weird light we were testing before the fire?” Alex nods. “Well, while we were captured, they took it amongst themselves to try and see what else they could do. Hard to keep my body up and all.” Milo explains leaning against the wall as half their body slips into the ground.

     “What are we going to do?” taking a seat in the grass he can see Milo shrug before closing his eyes. “Milo?” They hum softly in response. “Where do you think Mama is?”

     “Probably sending one of those cultists flying through a wall by this point.” Milo chuckles, “Why?”

     “I just got a bad feeling is all… my eyes are getting all itchy, I don’t like it.”

     Lifting a hand to Alex’s face they lift his bangs to reveal ten dark orbs, like open voids.

     “How long have they been itching?”

     “Since we got here…” Alex admits looking down embarrassed. “I didn’t think anything of it so please don’t be mad!” He quickly exclaims.

     Shaking his head, Milo stands up reaching down to pick Alex up the rush of footsteps draw close behind them.

     “Damn it…” Rushing out of the cave, shouts, and spotlights wave behind them. Cursing he rounds a corner in front of the building bumping into someone and dropping back. Scrambling to get up two hands grab the side of their face.

     “Calm down mon amour.” Remy smiles, ducking down to lay his forehead against Milo’s. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

     “Never.”

     “How did you guys get out?” Yukiko questions breaking their moment which makes Milo shake his head.

     “Later we have crazy cultists on our asses, and they have lights.”

     “Lights? Oh…OH!” The realization dawns on Remy as he scoops them off the ground and they all take off towards the woods. Feeling the mentioned lights against his back Milo ducks down against his chest.

     “Up here.” Yukiko whisper shouts motioning to the some of the trees. Quickly they get into the tree’s limbs. Which this time sadly doesn’t help them as before. The lights splash up into the branches making Milo screech and draw in on himself.

     “Up there!”

     “Come down with your arms up!”

     “How about you just go?” Remy grumbles flinging the men back against the trees. A few of them drop their lights onto the ground cutting them off as Katie jumps down. Checking each one she looks back at them.

     “Out like lights! Nice one Remy!”

     “Annoying…” Remy grumbles running his hand against the small blob that was once Milo.

     “Let’s get out of here and see if we can catch up to the others.” Katie smirks as Yukiko jumps down, nodding they make their way back into town, Hopefully the others are having such an easy time with these weirdos…”

     “Let us hope.”