“I never thought I’d have to dodge so many buildings,” mumbles Nahlia.

We change course a few times between building corners and imitation bricks. Everyone stayed indoors on the sky platform. People were preparing for the wet season. We were the first ones to experience the Cepertine monsoon, when the rainfall soaked our streets and was collected by the water company.

I look above me. The wind always pushed at the floats with horrific sounds. It made sleeping more difficult if you lived in one of the bad corners. It didn't bother me so much. My apartment was further down. The floats were more for atmosphere than use. Everyone knew what really held up the sky platforms.

“So, why aren't you talking to me?”

I was ignoring Nahlia, trying to weave us through the buildings. I was the weekend already and I wanted every day to count. Nahlia's uncle was out again for a business trip and it worked out well for us. I wander through the city streets. The steam from restaurant vents below, seep upward into the street, hoping to lure us in. The walls of the buildings served as billboards and I had even painted a few myself to make some money. On the sky platform, there was always a rabbit hole to climb down into, or a small shop to enter. You could touch the opposite side of most streets with both hands. Everything was by foot and most areas were mindful of the space.

I let my sense of direction lead us to a hollow metal staircase alongside my apartment complex. I stop at the bottom step before filling the air with the rapid clanks of my feet. I was used to everything looking the similar, but this this was my nook in the wall. I grab Nahlia's hand. It was a little chilly for her up here.

A second later, we arrive at my apartment door. A draft of wind gives warning of changing weather, as I fumble out my key card. I slide it in the slot and electronic “Welcome” sounds off. It was a happy voice and played a stupid song with my name in it. My parents made the jingle for me when I was little boy.

“The welcome welcome Tayt song?....” jokes Nahlia quietly.

“Just get in here,” I shoot back with embarrassment.

A pile of shoes covered the narrow entrance and I motion Nahlia to move closer inside. The smell of vacuumed carpet fills the area and a radio is heard picking up static from various stations. I walk us past a small kitchen overlooking the hallway. I step up. I turn off the radio and look at Nahlia.

“Looks like my parents aren’t home, yet. We're all alone. Just us... for a whole hour....”

My voice gets quieter and quieter, until Nahlia speaks up angrily at me.

“Tayt. Are you trying to lose your virginity with me?”

“Yeah...a little,” I mumble. I try to change the subject. Nothing worked out like it did in my head. Nahlia runs her fingers down her face and lowers her posture.

A motivated expression hovers over my face and I begin to scurry through the refrigerator. Shortly after, I pull out a hidden gift. I shove the gift into Nahlia's chest and she crumples the paper back, to look inside. I double wrapped it. Whatever I had bought from James was heavier than she expected. Nahlia pretty much knew what I had gotten her already. It was a picture, that used to be part of a bigger one. It was like the stories we read.

“Thanks… what is it?” Nahlia smiles. She hugs my gift close to her heart.

“Don't play coy,” I snap.

“I wasn't. I was being sarcastic.”

Nahlia gives me a dirty look. We stare at each other for a while

“Whatever.” I say. “Open it up.”

I hear Nahlia crumbling through her gift. Paper is thrown aside, as I open on the refrigerator. I look around, only to push aside a plastic jar in disappointment.

“Who ate my food!? Why does everyone eat my food!”

I slam the refrigerator door. The harsh echo causes Nahlia to jump. In a second’s passing, her drawing crashes to the ground. Glass pieces scatter from the picture’s frame and I look back, taking a quick breath and sighing. I stare down at the broken mess on the kitchen tile. I wipe my face.

“I'll clean it up.” I say reluctantly.

“Sorry. Well, at least the drawing is ok,” blushes Nahlia. I pull the drawing from the glass shards and place it back into Nahlia’s hands. She puts it on the table and snatches the broom from me.

“I got this, Tayt”

I shrug. We were about to go into the picture with my possessor being. It's called The Far Away Dream or something. It made me feel drained when I tried it.

“I'll be in my room. It's over there,” I point. Nahlia nods.

“Sure. I'll meet you there.”

A short time later, my bedroom door opens. As soon as it shuts, Nahlia's jaw drops.

“What is all this?”

A sleeping bag lay on my bedroom floor next to random messes. Next to it, were a variety of plastic book covers I made and a large beanbag chair. Nahlia takes a closer look at my room

My room was cluttered with random antiques and handwritten cartoons. I had a dart board with a FauX logo on it and a window with view of the building wall next door. Next to it was a poster that had the words X-ray junkies. There was a picture of a sexy woman's back taken by an X-ray. Below it was a quote from a story we used to read together.

“Take an x-ray of a lovely woman’s body. Follow the spine down to the hips. The perfect battle ax.”

“Hey, I know that story,” says Nahlia with excitement. “It's related to our history.”

“That's why I have it.”

Nahlia makes eye contact with me and holds her hands behind her back. She pulls out a package for me she had kept hidden in her bag.

“It's for you, Tayt. I thought you might help you blend in some day.”

“I've lived here my whole life. What are you saying?”

I look at the gift as Nahlia tosses it into my arms. I rip apart the wrapping and hold the plastic container out. There was a handgun inside.

“Thanks,” I say. I toss the gun aside and sit on the floor.

I grab the picture from Nahlia and breathe in nervously. I get her to take a seat next to me. I slide my way across from her and put the picture between us. I was glad she didn't mind my dartboard. Nahlia was dressed head-to-toe in FauX.

“In order for this to work, you need to hold my hand.” I start.

“Oh my God, Tayt! This is just like the story we read!” Nahlia exclaims with excitement. She had a basic idea of how things worked. I did too.

Nahlia puts her hands in mine and smiles. She waits and I smile back.

“I need the energy of a long kiss. I'm not being stupid here.” I stare at her.

Nahlia leans forward and pauses. She gives me a long kiss and I feel better about myself. She didn't really care.

“Thanks,” I mumble. Nahlia laughs.

The kiss didn't do anything, but I knew what to say now. Maybe having a possessor being and being from the Ryoken lands wasn't so bad, after all. I focus my soul with added joy. I concentrate. Loud whooshes surround me like strong wind. I grip to Nahlia's hands and feel my possessor being connect to her soul. It takes a while. The connection would be weak and faint, if the other person didn't have a possessor being. James told me that about myself.

Suddenly, I pull Nahlia close to me. She numbs as a blinding light moves around us. Sounds vibrate all around. Our senses heighten in ways I couldn't describe. I feel myself enter the heat of a new environment. It was a desert I had seen before.