"Curioser and curiouser," Hunter said, in a gesture towards humor that I appreciated, referencing Alice's trip deeper and deeper into Wonderland and through the looking glass. Though we'd only known each other for a few short hours, there was something about him that I liked already, some warmth to his character that wasn't present in a lot of people that you met on a daily basis. He was the kind of person that everyone looked at and instantly felt comfortable with. The kind of person that you could tell your deepest and darkest secrets to and they'd never get mentioned to anyone else, even though he'd heard it all before, and nothing would be surprising to him.

Not that I planned on telling him any secrets of mine, and especially not as I sat in the woods behind the wreckage of an RV while the world faded into and out of reality all around us. The fading world was strange to look at, but nothing felt different.  I wasn't any closer to finding the answers that I sought; I'd only brought misfortune into the lives of the people who became involved with me.

The world outside of our little sphere faded, and I sank deeper into my own reflections, poking the ground with a stick.

"We'll make some more progress in the morning when there's better light," he stated. "I'm going to get some rest.  You should do the same.  Don't worry about the RV.  I can buy another one, someday."