“Can you understand me?” I asked the nymph as the cloud creatures and mudpie stared at me without eyes. The mudpies reminded me of the little brown guys on Mario you could jump on. Goobas?

  The nymph nodded.

  “Are you friendly?”

  Again a nod. It then pointed at Emily and stared after her longingly. Everybody else just sat around observing the interaction. Dad went back to the bus.

  Emily floated over. “What’s up? You need something from me?”

  For the second time in her life, a screen popped up in her vision hovering over the nymph.

  “Huh. Hi, Bubbles. So, you are saying I’m a water elemental now?”

  Bubbles nodded.

  “Can you communicate other than nodding?”

  Another nod, then a banner popped up.

  “Okay. I’ll bond with you.”

  The nymph’s internal bubbles rolled like boiling water. Blue waves of energy flowed from Bubbles into Emily. At every place the energy waves moved through her, her body rippled like a pebble being dropped in a pool of clear, blue water, distorting the image of her projected clothing.

  “What was that?” I asked Emily.

  “So…Bubbles,” she pointed, “she just bonded with me. Apparently, I’m the Water Elemental, whatever that means.” She looked down at her flesh-colored hands making them transform back and forth from flesh to water. “I don’t really know why, but I’m totally at peace with this whole thing. Like…it doesn’t feel weird at all. I should be freaking out, shouldn’t I?”

  I put my arm around her. “How 'bout I freak out enough for the both of us.”

  She leaned into me, nuzzling her head into my chest. “I was really looking forward to you coming home. I should’ve just taken the days off and met you at the airport. I couldv’e—”

  “Now, stop that,” I said with a joking tone. “You know we can’t change the past. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. Besides, I wouldn’t have been good company, anyway. I was exhausted when I got home and slept for almost 12 hours. I haven’t done that in like 20 years.”

  “God. You’re so old.”

  “Hey!” We giggled, and I hugged her tighter.

  I love how she joked about our age difference. I was only seven years older, but she still teased me as if it were 100 years. She bought me a Jitterbug phone for Christmas last year, and for my birthday she mailed me some tennis balls with slits cut in them for a walker.

  “We’re going to figure out what all this means. I promise—”

  “Oh my God!” Steve interrupted. “Get a room already, bro!”

  “Jelly much?” I replied. “Okay, okay. I think we should stay at the bus for the night, get some rest, then head into town in the morning. I have a bad feeling this problem is going to continue to spread. What do y’all think?”

  “What about your dad?” Powell asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “And what about Ratta-tat-tat ovah here?” Steve asked.

  “I swear ta God, I’m gonna—” Vic said as he started heading towards Steve, cruel intent in his creepy black eyes.

  “Vic, you’re right to be mad, but please, calm down. If he calls you one more name, I’m not only gonna let you have him, but I’m going to hit him too.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Man, a guy can’t have no fun ‘round here.” Steve sulked.

  “I guess I can stay out here with Dad while you guys bring us what we need to survive. I swear I'll pay you back.”

  “What’s wrong with your dad?” Emily asked. I’d almost forgotten she hadn’t been out here the whole time.

  “I believe he has a case of repressed PTSD, and he’s a…a werewolf or something like it. He’s—"

  “Do you really think he’s going to be a problem in town?” Emily asked. “Maybe it’s what he needs. Seeing his house and friends can soothe him back to normal. Maybe—”

  A tremendous flash of lightning hit the earth right next to us. The loudest thunderclap I’ve ever heard rumbled. Our entire group fell away from the explosion of dirt, grass, and debris as the smell of ozone filled the air.

  Using a weird-looking staff to aid its gait, a tall, green creature with awkward, bony knees slogged our way. It was wearing an extra-long burlap hoodie that looked extremely uncomfortable. As it got closer, I thought it looked like a ginormous frog that walked human-like instead of jumping around like a frog would.

  “Hello, Bart,” the creature croaked, and I mean it sounded like what a frog would sound like if it could talk. “It’s me, Jeremy.”

  “Jeremy??” I said with the most eloquence I could muster. “Wh—What are you? Wh—wh—what happened?”

  I mean Jeremy was a frikin’ frog…or something that resembled one. This almost six-foot green amphibian-looking creature with no nose or ears and bulbous eyes popping out of the side of his head stood right in front of us, claiming to be one of my best friends. Since this whole magic crap had destroyed what I knew about reality, I had seen some crazy stuff, including a tree with a face that used to be Donnie, my dad turning into a werewolf, and Vic getting turned into a rat. Now Jeremy is a frog?? And he’s alive!

  A salamander-looking creature rested on his shoulder, staring at me with friendly black eyes. Honestly, the thing was absolutely adorable.

  “Jeremy? Is it really you? And what’s that?” I asked, pointing. I must’ve been making a funny face because Jeremy roared with laughter.

  I knew it was him then. No one else laughed like that. Contagious. Boisterous.

  “It’s me,” he said, walking closer to me. “I know I must look crazy, but it really is me. And this…” he raised his hand to his pet, and the fishy lizard moved to perch on it. “This is Melorian, my bonded familiar. He’s a moonwake koi, but I like to say he’s an axolotl mixed with a koi fish. Cute ain’t he?”

  Everyone gathered around to get a closer look.

  “Yeah,” I said, “he’s cute. What is he?”

  “He’s a bonded familiar. An extremely rare sentient animal from the world I was on."

  “Um. World you were on?”

  “Yeah.” Jeremy laughed. “Long story, but I’ve been on a world called Elar. Whole 'nother planet. I’ll tell you everything later.”

  “You know everyone here, right? You might not recognize Vic, but—”

  “Vic? What happened to you, man?” Jeremy asked as he stared at the enormous rat.

  “Same thing that happened to you, I guess. This magic shit don’t like black folk…”

  Vic continued to murmur on, but I cut him off. “Did you just walk through some sort of…I don’t know…stargate? I mean it looked like a stargate…sorta…thing.” I must’ve sounded like a complete moron to a nerd who knew all the correct terms. I liked some sci-fi, and I loved the Stargate movie and series I watched with my dad back in the day, but there were a lot of guys out there who retained all that knowledge, and I wasn’t one of them, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

  Jeremy laughed again, heartily, before saying, “You’re killing me, Bart. You haven’t changed a bit. I missed y’all so much.” He walked over with his arms spread wide for a hug, so I moved in for the awkward embrace.

  “Steve, how you holdin’ up?” he asked, moving over to Steve for a hug.

  “Meh. Fair to middlin’ I guess,” Steve responded.

  “Powers. They still call you Pow?”

  Pow reached out for a handshake, but Jeremy pulled him into a firm embrace. I assume they didn’t know each other too well. “Get in here. No handshakes today, bud! I’m home!” Jeremy said, squeezing Pow’s neck.

  “And who might you be?” he looked over at Emily.

  “This is—” I started.

  “Hi, Jeremy. I’m Emily Weels. EMT for the region. Nice to meet you.”

  “And very nice to meet you,” he said bending down to hug her. “Unless you’d rather—”

  “Nonsense,” she said, smiling. “Like you said. You’re home.”

  After the hug, Jeremey looked at me with concern. “Did you find your dad, Bart? Do…Do you know what happened to him?”

  I shrugged. “Yeah. He actually found us. Long story on our side. I’ll have to tell you everything too.”

  “Okay. Before we start exchanging stories, I have a serious question. Do you know what your dad…is…What he turned into?”

  “Yeah. I know he’s the monster that took you. I really thought he killed you. I’m glad he didn’t. What did he do with you?”

  “He threw me into a whirlpool. I think that’s what he did to Steve and Pow too. Vic?”

  “No! Will had nothin’ to do with my change. One minute I was pullin’ up on a bank to come lookin’ for Bart and Will, the next, I was zoomin’ through the muck bein’ pulled by some invisible force. I got pulled undah da water, and next thing I know, I’m bein’ woke up by numb nuts ovah dere, and I’m a frakin’ rat.”

  “Damn, bro. I’m sorry. We gonna have the hardest time getting dates, huh?” Jeremy laughed.

  “Okay. I guess we should find a spot and tell our stories,” I said, pointing toward the bus.

  “…and that’s just part of the story!” Jeremy laughed. “A lot happened in between.”

  We hung on his every word. I literally lost track of how long he’d been talking. Even Dad was fully engrossed in the fantastical story. Jeremy actually lived an RPG game-like life for years while we were here on Earth for only a few days.

  “I’m goin’ huntin’,” Dad broke the silence. “Got a buncha mouths to feed tonight. Bart. Come with me.”

  “We don’t have to hunt, sir. That centipede had a ton of meat.”

  “Well den, I need ta talk ta you over der in private den.”

  “Yessir,” I said obediently. “Can y’all get a fire goin’ while we’re gone?”

  “Are y’all good?” Jeremy said with a hint of worry. “I mean…your dad. He…”

  “He’s fine with me for now. I think he’s nervous with all these people around, but he’s…don’t worry about it. We’re good.”

  “Cuz I can…I mean…I more powerful now, and I can help if you need it.”

  “Thanks, Jeremy. Really. But I think we’re okay. If you hear me hollerin’ y’all come a runnin’, K?”

  “You comin’?” Dad hollered from the tree line.

  “I’ll walk you over,” Emily said and got up to walk with me.

  As we walked, she said, “Be careful. I get a very bad vibe coming from your dad. There is a ton of energy behind that small frame. I feel he could snap at any moment.”

  “Awww…you’re worried about me? You’re kinda cute when you’re worried.”

  “This is serious, knucklehead. I want that dinner you promised, and if you get hurt, I’m outta luck.”

  I don’t know why, but I pulled her close. “I keep my promises. I’ll be back. See ya in a few minutes.”

  Thankfully, she didn’t pull away. I wanted to hold her for the rest of the night. Draw comfort I’ve been needing for months if not years. I reluctantly let go and headed to the tree line to meet Dad.

  When we were out of earshot, Dad grabbed my arm and pulled me in. “You sure about all dese folks? I thought you said Jeremy was a spy a couple days ago.”

  “Dad,” I said, putting my free hand on his shoulder. “I can’t promise everything'll go back to normal, but I can promise those guys back there are all good people. They're here to help, and we’re going to let them. Okay?”

  “Well, I don’t trust any of ‘em.”

  “That’s okay, too. It may take a while to build that trust back up. Hey. What do you think about headin’ back to town tomorrow? It could be good to get back home. A little normalcy for a few days?”

  “Lord knows I could use a bath.” He said lookin’ at himself with disgust.

  “Lord knows we could all use one of those!” I laughed. He didn’t laugh with me. It made me miss his real self so much. “Let’s go back. Try to have a good night. Okay?”

  He didn’t answer but started heading back to camp.

  Normalcy. I didn’t think we'd ever see normalcy again.