Gotta get home. That’s the only thought on my mind. My bag pressed heavily against my body, uncomfortably hitting my body with every step. The bitter cold made my arms cling to my body even more. I couldn’t help but yawn despite the freezing cold but then again that’s what 4 hours of sleep for the past 6 weeks will do to you

I turned the corner at the end of the street. It's a dead end, this isn’t the way home.

My eyes adjusted slightly to darkness and I noticed dark figures huddled together in the end concealed in the dark. And they look a little worse for wear. They noticed me too and hurriedly turned my way. A few of them shuffle towards me. I backpedal slowly

I have a bad feeling about this…

I turn tail and attempt to run but I feel a hand on my back. I am pulled back and dragged all the way to the wall. “Stop struggling.” I hear a ratty hoarse voice whisper into my ear. I tried to scream but a dirty rag was stuffed into my mouth. Its musty taste made my eyes water. I can’t help but wonder if this is the end for me. No family, no friends, nothing accomplished, just my crappy job at the construction camp. They restrain me with a knee in my back and stretch my arms behind me.

One of them walks forward, removes the now saliva covered rag from my mouth and opens their mouth. A dark black mass undulates out before falling into my own.

It forces its way deeper into my body. I couldn’t take it anymore I black out

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When I came to, I was alone.I am unsure whether I had been dreaming the whole time. But the fact that I am still in that dead end must mean it was real.

I check my pockets. I locate my bag sticking out of a dumpster. Everything is there aside from the taste in my mouth I feel surprisingly great.I have a lightness to my body. My body isn’t cold at all deven though there is frost forming on the ground. My tiredness feels great all the way from my aching back to my sore feet.

Greetings.

What was that? I look around me but there’s no one there. You can’t see me. I have bonded with your brain stem. The image of the black sludge came to mind.

That’s right I am that “black sludge”. Can you read my thoughts? I said out loud Some of them yes. It replied.

“ What are you and why are you in me?”

I am what you might call a parasite.

“A parasite! Doesn’t that mean you are hurting me?”

No no no, I have not harmed you. I only need a host to keep my body safe and only leech some nutrients from your bloodstream.

I couldn’t help but ask why I was feeling so good.

In return for being my host I will make sure your body is running smoothly and healthily. If I lose you then my life will also be in danger.

“What about those people that were here, why did they seem almost brain-washed? “

I do not control mental processes. Those people were a temporary host for my kind but they are what you may think of as “druggies”.

My stomach suddenly rumbled, reverberating throughout my gut.

It took a lot of energy to keep you warm throughout the night. You require sustenance.

I guess I do. You know this is a very strange situation but I don’t really have anything else going for me so I’ll see where this goes. For now let's get something to eat. I picked up my bag and went on my way.