(talk to the boy)
"Yes?" he purrs, his voice smooth and calm.
"Wh-where am I?"
"Here."
"Wh-wh-where is huh-here?"
"Here. In this spot. In this time. On this planet." He grins
and his eyes twinkle merrily.
"But where?" you ask, flustered.
"In the land beyond. Beyond air. Beyond water. Beyond the sun.
Beyond the stars. Beyond... everything. A vast land... a vast, lonely
land."
"I... I need to find... Karrie."
"Karrie?" The boy takes on a look of amusement. "The
girl that was with you?"
"Yes! Her! Wh-where is she?"
"She's... away." His hands flutter like wings. "Maybe,
someday, you will see her. Maybe not. For now, she is gone.
Lost."
"Lost? What do you...." You trail off, suddenly
understanding what he is saying, but not wanting it to be true.
"She's... she's... dead?"
The boy let out a howl of laughter. "No, she's not dead, but most
likely, she is wishing she was."
Suddenly overwhelmed with concern for Karrie, you jump to your feet.
"Where is she?" you demand in a steady, stern voice.
"As I said, she is away."
"Tell me where! What are you doing to her??"
The boy's grin slowly widened. "Oh, if only you
knew."
"Wait!" you gasp, one hand outstretched to the boy. The boy
stops, one foot raised in the air. He slowly settles it back down on
the ground and twists his body around to look at you.
