Thomas went looking for Piotr, as he had said the previous night. Where is he? Thomas thought. Is he okay? Hurt? Thomas stepped out of Blair’s apartment, taking care not to wake her. Piotr had no Unit, meaning communicating with him long-distance was impossible. And so Thomas began an odyssey, taking train upon train upon train, exploring the City’s nooks and crannies. Hours and hours had gone by, more and more time passing as he walked the streets. He asked whomever he saw if they had come across a large man wearing maternity clothes, but everyone he asked said “no” or they thought Thomas was looking for a store to buy large male maternity clothes. Which actually existed, surprisingly. Nobody had given Thomas any concrete information until he found a half-naked man covered in bite marks wandering around one of the streets. “Hey are you cool, man? You don’t look so hot,” said Thomas, stumbling around the empty street nearby Blair’s apartment, realizing he’d been wandering in circles.”

“Oh, my goodness! I’ve finally found somebody! I’ve been trapped in the sewers all night!” Sauro whined, feigning pain that was far worse than what he was actually experiencing, although the anger he felt after being trapped in the sewers for an entire night was completely genuine.

“Dang, dude. That sucks. Anyways, have you seen a very tall man in maternity clothes and sporting a white beard? He’s been missing for a little while now and I’m trying to find him.” Thomas brushed off Sauro’s sewer anecdote, mostly because he really didn’t have the time to help some guy fight rats or whatever.

Is this guy Piotr’s friend? Maybe he could help me find him and finish that bastard off, Sauro thought. “Oh, do you mean Piotr? He and I are pals! You say he’s missing, huh? Well, that’s a real shame. I can help you find him,” said Sauro, flashing his warped teeth. “I just need a place to get dressed.”

* * *

Piotr had woken up inside Edith Matria’s Home for the Wayward. His stomach was full, and his bed was soft—his body fully rejuvenated after a good meal and an even better sleep. He had gone downstairs to the living room, where he found Edith knitting something.

“You know, Piotr, I’ve never knitted anything so large before—aside from a few quilts.” Edith chuckled, her needles working furiously at a mass of maroon thread, expertly crafting a large wool sweater in Piotr’s tremendous size. Piotr found it to be a lovely gesture, having very rarely been shown such hospitality before.

“Edith, do you happen to have a Unit on hand? There are some people I need to contact,” Piotr said.

“Oh, you don’t need to contact anyone. We have all the company we’ll need right here!”

Piotr thought about last night. Maybe it was best if he didn’t bother anyone and just kept to himself for the next little while. He and Edith spent the morning playing board games together, something Piotr enjoyed far more than playing games on a screen in his mind. He liked to feel the pieces. Then the two enjoyed a healthy lunch of turkey sandwiches. Piotr felt cosy at his new impermanent residence, as he found Blair’s apartment too full of cats and their byproducts. Maybe after he met up with Thomas, he could stay here even longer. Edith didn’t seem like she wanted him to leave.

* * *

“Please don’t use any of Blair’s shower products. This technically isn’t my apartment!” Thomas shouted through the metal bathroom door as Sauro showered on the other side. Thomas could hear his unwelcome houseguest moan and groan as he lathered himself, sending shivers down his spine. This guy’s a textbook pervert. How the fuck does he know Piotr? And what’s up with his teeth? His whole deal screams ‘look at me I’m a sex offender!’ Thomas thought. Then, Sauro stepped up out of the bathroom. Completely nude. “Oh my God, what the FUCK, man?” Thomas shouted, covering his eyes as he stepped out of the way, recoiling in disgust.

“I thought you said you were gay, man? Don’t like what you see?” Sauro cackled. His body was covered in the infected rat bite sores.

Holy shit I’m going to kill this guy, Thomas thought, preparing to unleash Phantrana on this perv, but decided against it. He might be my only shot at finding Piotr. I have to stay strong.

The two eventually set out back on the streets of Neonight. “So, Sauro, where did you see Piotr last? Do you know where he might’ve gone?” Thomas tried to keep the conversation as impersonal as possible.

Meanwhile, Sauro was biting his already chewed fingernails. He racked his brain, considering where he might be. “I saw him at a train station a little while ago. I followed him, and then he was gone. He might’ve gone into one of the buildings there,” Sauro answered, his fingers deep in his nose. Yes, fingers.

Thomas shuddered. “Then let’s go there as soon as possible. There’s no time to waste! In fact, if you could just tell me the train station, then I’ll just go there myself.”

“No, I’m not good with names of places and stuff. I’ll just take you there,” said Sauro, leaning in. “This shirt you lent me is really comfortable by the way, I might not let you have it back after today!” Sauro chuckled in Thomas's ear, intending his previous comment as a joke.

“You know what? Keep it.”