voice.

[theguideless]

[a testing sound, a little huff of an exhale, and a lapse into quiet. he's hesitant.

but:] Did they say anything about this? Everyone changing...Last time awful things were happening, they said they were working on it. Things got better.

I'm...not very good at using this. Did I miss it? It's... [slight pause. his tone gets gradually more distracted:] It's going to change, like before. And every time we get sent someplace different, something else happens...

[beat.

WAIT:] I meant the Initiatve people, I'm sorry. [a quick, wincing pause. apologies....] They're who I meant should have said something.

Comments

[notbeth]

Really?

[ pause. ]

No... but my dad's in the service. [ she looks away then, rubbing her arm self-consciously. ] Mom was...

[theguideless]

[ah...

softly:] Your family fights, too...

[notbeth]

[ she tries to swallow the lump in her throat but it won't budge. instead, she tries to pretend it isn't there. ]

Are your parents soldiers?

[theguideless]

We all had to fight the monsters.

[notbeth]

[ there's that skepticism again. ] There's no way.

[theguideless]

Huh–?

What do you mean?

[notbeth]

Monsters! There's just no way that's real.

[theguideless]

They were real where I am from.

[notbeth]

Like what kind of monsters?

[theguideless]

There were...a lot of kinds. Some in the water, or some that were like animals...A lot that tried to hurt people.

That's what we tried to get rid of. To keep the people safe.

[notbeth]

Sea monsters? Like the Loch Ness monster?

[theguideless]

Like the what?

[notbeth]

You never heard of it?

[theguideless]

No, I don't think so. Maybe it's not in Olvoski.

[notbeth]

It's in Scotland. Well... I don't think it's really real.

[theguideless]

I suppose I wouldn't know about that one. I only know the ones I had to study.

[notbeth]

[ a pause. ]

This is way too weird.

[theguideless]

[a self-conscious, breathy laugh:] I'm not being much help, am I...

[notbeth]

Not really. [ BLUNT.................... ]

[theguideless]

I'm sorry. But...the monsters I know aren't here. I don't think knowing...which ones are or aren't ones I know really matters, does it?

[notbeth]

Then... is anyone from home here for you?

[theguideless]

No, I don't think so. Nobody I know, anyway.

[slight pause.] Is it the same for you?

[notbeth]

... yeah. [ she looks away. ]

[theguideless]

[a longer pause.

gentler:] It'll be alright, Kate. It might...not be the same, but there are good people here. And a lot of them are working to find a way to put things back the way they were – the way they want them to be.

[notbeth]

So, that means we'll be able to go home soon?