"Come along, Daryl. We have a long distance to cover, and I don't relish dealing with all the people out here."

Daryl followed behind the shadowy monster, still keeping a bit of distance. It had been about a week since he had left home and . . . Well, he just didn't trust the monster. He tried his best to hide from everyone, saying things like, "Well, you're my only friend here, Daryl," or "It would be bad for both of us if word got out that I was here." On top of him just acting CREEPY, Ma had always said that if what you are doing is honest, you shouldn't have to hide it from anyone.

Ma also said she'd never leave. So much for that.

The monster had made good on his promise to Daryl though, and Daryl went to bed with a full belly every night. It took quite a bit of scrounging the first few nights, but they managed. The monster had introduced himself as Ghyzx at their first dinner, and that had been a nice night. Though there had been a group of soldiers marching through town, Ghyzx had found an abandoned house and they snuck by unnoticed. Daryl slept in a bed for the first time in FOREVER, and dinner had been some canned vegetables from the basement, while dessert was old crackers coated in berry jam. Plain foods, but better than soup. Especially the jam. Daryl had slathered the crackers with it, and ate it quickly. Sloppily. When he washed up, the jam coating his face and hands reminded him of the home he just left. . .

Daryl had washed up quickly. He didn't need to think about THAT ever again. Especially since there was more jam waiting for breakfast.

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The monster, or whatever he was, had helped Daryl gather supplies in the morning. The soldiers had all gone, and Ghyzx said they would leave soon too. Before they left his home town though, collecting some things was in order. Searching for things went amazingly quick. Ghyzx would stand by a house's door, and his shadow would slide in through the cracks. After a minute or two of waiting, the monster could tell Daryl if anything worthwhile was in the house and where to find it. Sometimes there was screaming from inside the houses . . . Those tended to be the houses with the most stuff in them.

"What's makin' all the noise in dem houses, Mister Ghyzx?" Daryl asked when there were thumps and crashes accompanying the screams.

The monster would only smile and reply, "My supplies, little one. Neither of us shall go hungry on this journey."

Each house was clean enough; they looked better than his own and he never found any trace of the people that lived in them. Daryl bit his lip, and considered. He KNEW there were other people in their town, and although the noises could just be Ghyzx's shadow parts searching for things. . .

It took a bit of courage, but after several houses he had to ask, "What keeps me from bein' supplies like dem den?"

Ghyzx cocked his head to the side, as if reconsidering Daryl. "My clever, CLEVER boy. How do I explain this? YOU and I have an accord, a promise that would cost me dearly if I broke it." One of the monster's shadowy tentacles traced up Daryl's throat, coming to rest on his cheek. "Don't worry, little one. I am taking you to a feast beyond your imagination! It will be . . . Out. Of. This. WORLD."

Daryl's stomach rumbled, and Ghyzx laughed. It was a scary sort of laugh, and just another reason Daryl couldn't trust the monster completely.

The monster winked and continued, "You just have so much POTENTIAL, I couldn't let anything silly like a war hurt you. So don't worry, Daryl," Ghyzx said as he turned away. "I promised you I would get you away from this, and I promise you a feast you couldn't imagine! So much food, it will take you quite some time to eat it all up!"

Daryl thought for a moment and responded, "Well, if food's involved, I 'spose wese better make dis quick!"

Ghyzx laughed, and another scream broke the silence of the town.

Daryl shook his head, and clenched his jaw; for all that food, he could put up with this. "'Sides," he mumbled, "Just think of all dem snacks on da way . . ."