I looked down at my friend, sighing dejectedly. Why? Why did she have to get him? It's not like I wanted to punch him, but he was going to ruin everything! I crouched down and hugged Smith's unconscious body. "Don't worry bro, I'll make everything better, yeah?" I mumbled in his ear. Not that he responded. I hope I didn't break anything. I stood up and picked up his body, carrying it to his room. To my surprise, I noticed his computer, an IBM. "Oh, he was probably going to write in his journal, wasn't he?"

I knew Smith had a journal, but it wasn't really one in a traditional sense. He always typed his thoughts onto the computer, rather than writing them down. I guess he wanted to be modern or something. I stood up and sighed, turning to leave. It was time to deal with the girl once and for all. I walked out of his house and made my way down towards the street. On the curb was the girl, handcuffed and restrained, glaring daggers at me. "Sheriff, did she put up a fight?" I asked the man behind her, garbed in a brown uniform. He tipped his hat to me. "Damn right she did. Didn't think a young'un like her could have so much fight in her. Nothing I couldn't handle, though."

"She looks dangerous, keep her away from my kids!" Dorothy replied, who had come out to check out the scene. Nearby was Roberto, still in his suit. "Well, it's a good thing I have a vacation day, I wouldn't miss this for anything!" He remarked with a smirk. I waved to them, and after greeting each of our neighbors, turned to acknowledge the Sheriff.

"Samantha will be here soon. We'll deal with her by the end of today," I replied.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" The girl told me, struggling against her restraints. I stepped back in a display of mock fear. "Oh no, the kidnapper is going to get me! Heeeelp~!"

"I didn't kidnap them! I took them away from this god awful place!" The girl spat. I laughed at her anger. "And you see, that's why I can't let you. Smith is happy here, yanno? Why would you want to take that from him?"

"You can't keep him here! I need to do my job!" I had to resist the urge to punch the stupid wench. "Do I look like I give a damn? Smith is my friend!"

"I call bull! You just want another person to keep, don't you?" Before I knew it, I found my hand reaching out and smacking her. "Shut up!" I barked angrily. "There it is...that's who you really are..." the girl mumbled as she reeled from the impact. I reigned my anger in, taking a deep breath. "Hey, don't let her get to you Alex. The Old man is fixing to help us find the best way to deal with her," the Sheriff told me. I nodded, studying the girl. "...good. It makes sense he'd know what to do, he's been here the longest of us all. It's amazing what a few centuries can do in terms of increasing your knowledge..."

"Yo! Wassup?" The familiar voice behind me brought joy to my heart. "Sam, glad you could make it!" I said cheerfully, whirling around. "It's bad, Sam. She's got Smith wrapped around her little finger..."

"No! He's just finally seeing the truth! He knows what you are!" The girl protested.

"Alright, that's enough outta ya!" Jones remarked, pulling her away. Samantha looked at me sadly. "Well, what are we going to do about Smith?" she asked me. I sighed. "I honestly don't know. I'm sure I can think of something. It'll definitely help once we get rid of her, though. I'm certain she's the reason he's gone all crazy...." I stared at Smith's house, thinking on what the girl had told me. "...it wouldn't do for him to leave us so soon, not before we get what we need. He's the final piece...our ticket outta here. I'm tired of spending my life forever stuck here in this limbo...." Years and years would go by. Though I, nor anyone else, felt it's effects, we could feel it passing. We were tired of it. When Smith joined us, it became clear that we had a way out.

He always thought he had lived his life here, when in fact, I honestly knew he had only "moved in" a year or two ago. Funny how the mind adapts to situations it can't comprehend. Me and Samantha knew more about Smith than Smith knew about himself...so it was easy to pretend to be his lifelong friends. All part of the plan, of course. As for the girl...well, she was the reason why we never could get out. She'd always target people and bring them away from this place. Where, I had no idea, but it was a place we could not go.

Not that I'd want to even if I could. The girl bringing those people away filled me with an anger I can't even imagine. Her and others of her ilk. Always ruining my plans. Well, not this time. We had managed to catch her, thanks to Smith. She should have known better than to come here, but oh well. "Come on, let's go check on Smith..." I told Samantha. She nodded, the two of us walking towards his door. "...we may need to start rehabilitation if it's too bad..." she mumbled. I couldn't help but agree. "We'll see....we'll see...."