Morning came. Or what I can best tell is morning. I'm not entirely sure. But I wake up feeling mostly refreshed. When I open the door light floods the room. I turn around to see the boys bed is empty.

I enter the main living area. Looking to find Vivaldi so I can thank him for their help. And the place to sleep for the night. Then ask if one of them can guide me out of the sewer.

Instead I find the boy. He's sitting on the couch. A cereal box beside him. Realizing how hungry I am. I pick up the box.

"Mind if I have a bowl?"

I ask.

Relieved to have some real food. Or as close to real food as I'm going to get in this city. Far flung from the harvest banquets of my old community. The cereal should at least have some components I recognize.

Eagerly awaiting the boys response. I begin to study the box.

"Help yourself."

He says.

I barely register what he says as I read.

SHAKEY SQUIRREL'S SUGAR STICKS.

"There's a bowl around here somewhere."

The boy says. Throwing his head around in search. Before lifting the cushion off the seat beside him to reveal a bowl.

"There it is. There's soda in the fridge. I think it's mostly grape left. But I find this pairs better with orange. Check the back. There might be one there."

Realizing this is what I should have done in the first place. I look into the boys bowl. The sugar sticks. Are literal sticks of compacted sugar. In pink, green, and blue. All of them dissolving as they float in an orange sludge.

"You can use the spoon when I'm done. I'm pretty sure they only have the one."

The boy says between bites, as I watch on in horror.

"Uh... that's alright. I decided I'll wait till I'm back up in the city to eat. Where are the other's?"

I ask.

"Sleeping. They won't be up for another few hours."

I don't know if I can wait hours. Not only am I starving. And dreading the idea of trying to force the sugar sticks down. But I have to meet the man from the subway.

"I don't know if I can wait that long. Do you know what time it is?"

I ask.

"No, if you're in that much of a rush I can show you the way out. I think."

The boy offers.

"You know the way out!"

I exclaim excitedly.

"I think so."

"Well can you show me?"

"I think so."

The boy tilts the bowl back. Slurping out the last of the orange soda. Then holding it higher up. Letting the remaining paste of now orange sugar ooze down into his mouth. I have to look away.

When I finally hear the bowl slam down onto the table, and the boy let out a satisfied.

"Ahh."

I turn back and watch as he rises off the couch. brushing the sugar from off clothes.

"Ready to go?"

I feel bad leaving without saying goodbye. But don't think I have time to waste. So I agree.

"Will you tell the Raccoons I said thank you? And apologize for my needing to run out without saying goodbye?"

"We'll leave a note so I don't forget."

The boy grabs two cans of spray paint out of an old shopping cart that is sitting beside the the couch. Going over to the wall opposite the couch. Where the TV stands. He opens the first can. The wall is already covered in spray paint, making it hard to parse what any of it says.

With the first can he paints a solid blue square over the existing paints. He hands me the second can, saying.

"Here you go."

I take the can. I've never used one before. I look at the boy.

"I'm not sure..."

He could probably already tell by my confused facial expression.

"Press the top down firmly. You don't want to stand too close or it will all run down the wall. But don't stand too far either."

I hold my hand up indicating the distance I intend to spray from and look again to the boy. He nods approvingly.

I press down and begin to write.

"Thank you for having me as your guest. You're help was greatly apprec..."

I run out of space.

The boy takes the blue can and covers up my yellow message.

"Maybe keep it short."

He says.

Again I step up and begin writing.

"Thank you

Goodbye

-Levi"

"Nice lettering."

The boy says.

"Okay, lets go."

He continues. After a few moments admiring my message.

"Lully went out this way yesterday. He said "I'm gonna need a sugar rush if we're fighting the Opossums. And we ain't got enough of it here to really get me in the zone."

The boy said, as he was pulling over a milk crate.

He mounted it and reached up to a valve on the ceiling. Turning it, revealed it to be a passage into another tunnel.

As he was going in, I asked how long he would be gone. Because he was going to teach me how to use chopsticks to eat gummy worms, when he got back. He told me the tunnel leads straight outside, so he wouldn't be gone for long.

I give the boy a boost up into the tunnel. Then, standing on the milk crate, pull myself up after him.

Inside it's dark. The light coming from the entry underneath barely lighting a few feet in any direction. Just enough to make out a red arrow painted on the wall, just above the opening. Pointing to the right.

Faintly I make out the shape of the boy, already heading in that direction.

"Keep your arms out in front of you and move slowly. You don't want to walk face first into a wall."

I call out to the boy.

"I already am."

He replies.

A hint of frustration in his voice. I get the impression my advice upset him. Though I can't imagine why it would. We continue walking in silence for another few minutes. Listening carefully to make sure I don't lose track of where his footsteps are.

I'm getting nervous and beginning to wonder if the boy knows where he's going. Finally the boy breaks the silence and calls out.

"Do you see that!"

I take another few steps forward and focus my eyes to try and make out what he’s talking about before replying.

"It's a light!"

I exclaim.

"That must be our way out."

I continue.

"Exactly, we made it! Let's go!"

The boy says.

I hear his footsteps moving fast and far. He's running to the light. I'm excited too, but remind myself to stay cautious and move slowly.

The boys foot steps stop. I hear only silence between the sound of my own footsteps and the occasional drip. I worry for a moment. As I get nearer the light I spot the shape of the boy standing in the light. Getting clearer and clearer with each step.

I can see there are no walls or bends between myself and the light source at this point. So I begin to move faster. Still not breaking out into a run, as there may still be tripping hazards along the way. I yell out to the boy.

"I'll be there in a second. I'm almost there."

The boy doesn't bother replying.

When I catch up to him, I see why.

The light wasn't coming from outside. A single light bulb protrudes from the wall. revealing a fork in the tunnel. I put my hand on the boys shoulder and speak.

"So, left or right?"