I had become further dedicated to completing my journey, but that didn't make it any easier.

Every time I tried to do something normally, I had to stop myself to asses the risk of blowing my cover. It made the process of traveling and getting information slower and more tedious.

I sat silently on a dim bus, listening to the things around me (made all too easy with my extremely sensitive ears). It was seemingly normal bus conversation. People chatting quietly with others, someone listening to music with their headphones a little TOO loud, and some kid playing a video game.

The thought of that made me think about the way things were. Me and Casey. We used to do things like that. I'm sure Casey didn't anymore, and I sure as hell couldn't with these dumb paws.

When I got home, what would happen then? I couldn't just go back to life, since everyone thought I was dead and they certainly weren't expecting me to come back as an otherworldly animal hybrid.

I leaned my head back, looking up at the ceiling. Don't think about that right now. What matters is getting home.

Eventually the bus rumbled to a stop. I looked up and noticed that it was my stop. I grabbed my meager possessions, pulled myself up and stepped off the bus.

I can't recall the name of the town on the spot, but it was close. Only a few dozen miles from home. The thought had adrenaline and ice flowing through my body at the same time. Excitement and extreme anxiety.

I hit a sort of visitor's center for some information before heading to a nearby cafe. I limited the cash I spent, seeing how little I had. So while I was there, I ordered a cold glass of lemonade (the cold helped me cool down and stay rational). I pulled out a map I had found at the visitor's center and looked over it. After a while, I found what I was looking for.

A train station. The train station that could get me home.

I quickly got some basic directions from the map and took off for it. As I hurried out, I bumped into a man dressed in a formal suit. "Sorry." I muttered without looking at him. I continued without hesitation.

I quickly made my way through the streets. I wasn't sure how far it was according to the map, but I was determined to get there as soon as possible. I followed my mental directions, hoping that I had them correct. At the last turn, I crossed the street and prepared to head down the sidewalk, and I felt a pair of eyes focused on me. I looked with a little more purpose into the restaurant nearby, and met eyes with another man wearing a suit.

I swallowed and quickened my pace. I rushed down the street until I reached the station. There was no one heading in, which gave me hope that I wouldn't have to wait long.

I stepped inside through the door, and received the biggest slap in the face I would ever have.

It was empty. No one to be seen in the entire ticket area. Not behind the counter. Not even anyone cleaning.

"Oh no..." I ran through the building until I reached the terminal. Also empty, only one disconnected car, sitting motionless and alone, greeted me.

"I...I don't..." I glanced down at the map I had used. The train station was on there. So why was it not...

I looked around again hoping to see something. I finally did.

Another man in a suit.

This was a trap.

I tried to get ready to run, but before I could I saw a laser dot on the ground in front of me, which moved carefully into place on my back.

I stood slowly, my hands above my head. A few other men stepped out, all with guns ready and trained on me. And finally, the lone train car opened, and revealed two familiar faces.

"You..." I muttered, trying not to act in a way that would get me instantly shot.

Dr. Maine smiled as he stepped out of the car. "Hello again. You made quite an effort. You're smarter than I gave you credit for. Oh, and I'm sure you remember our friend here."

He waved to the other face, a strange, yellow one belonging to the strange creature that I had encountered in a secret cell. We looked at each other, and I couldn't say anything.

After a lengthy awkward silence, I asked, "Why? Why are you chasing me, trying to keep me from my family, from any bit of my old life?"

"Because you were a soldier."

"No. I'm just a kid. And you're crazy. So just shut up."

(If somebody catches the [3!] references within that last line, you will instantly earn brownie points)

He shrugged. "Very well. I thought we could talk. But clearly you are too far gone." He gave a slight nod to the yellow creature, and my head began to explode.

Well not literally. A splitting pain erupted inside my skull, and I dropped to the ground. I began to lose control of my thoughts and my senses. I couldn't feel the ground. The sounds of the world dropped away, and my vision became spotty and dim.

"He is able to manipulate mental stimuli. A number of uses, telekinesis, telepathy, and even mental attacks. You'll find that he's also very powerful." His voice sounded loud in my head despite not hearing anything else, the words likely being communicated directly into my brain. I clutched at my head desperately, despite knowing that nothing I could do on the outside would stop what was tearing me apart from within.

His voice was followed by another one. Deeper. More gentle. Almost like one that had experienced more than I could imagine. This one, however, seemed different. It was more like thoughts being placed on top of mine, as opposed to my ears being forced to hear something.

You did me a great favor.

When you encountered me, I couldn't think straight. I had no casual thoughts to grasp what reality was. When you touched me, I could think. Your thoughts were pressed on to mine, I could make sense of things, because all you needed to think about was what was happening.

You helped me, and I will return your favor. Your power comes from anger. I will soon weaken my attack. Use that power then, if you want to go home.

"I really hoped that we wouldn't have to do this. But at this point, I could care less what happens to you. There are others who could replace you. All they need is the right circumstances."

Things weren't making a lot of sense, but those words definitely drove anger into my heart. I felt heat throughout my body, but the hotter I got, the better I felt. Stronger, faster, and less pain.

I put a fist onto the pavement and pushed off it, my head still reeling from the psychic blow. I got one knee off of the ground, followed by the other. From my crouched position, my anger finally gave me enough strength to stand.

And boy, did I stand.

I could feel waves of heat radiating out of my body with power. I glanced out to see that several of the men had fallen back to avoid the burst of flame. I walked over to the doctor. The sound of a silencer hit my ears, but all I felt was a small pile of ash land on my shoulder.

"That's...not possible." He muttered as I approached.

"Then congratulations," I told him, picking him up by his collar yet again, "you made the impossible."

I hurled a full strength punch into his face.