Every second that the clock ticked my heartbeat get faster. When it eventually landed on three, I swallowed a gulp as I knew it was time.

I quickly popped my head out the door to check if the coast was clear. It would be bad if I got caught sneaking out of the house on my first day here. It's bound to raise some questions.

Whilst putting my jacket and scarf on, I made sure to stick close to the shadows of the stairs to avoid being spotted.

I thought that Ms McCollin would've been in her own bed right now, but that didn't seem to be the case. She was passed out on the couch and snuggling up to an empty beer bottle.

Luckily for me, she seems to be a heavy sleeper, so I didn't have to worry about making too much noise as I opened the front door.

Once outside, the chilly night air cut right through me. No matter how layered up I was, I was no match for the snowy climate of this town. I swear I'll come down with the flu after this...

I circled around to the back to find the barn. And sure enough, there it stood, like the menacing force it was. I'd say the barn was in worse condition than Ms McCollin's' house. The wood was rotting, and the front barn door even seemed to be slightly off its hinges.

How could someone let their farm get into a condition like this? It's no wonder why Ms McCollin is seeking help.

I didn't want to enter the barn, but I knew I had no other option. It's all part of my objective... I suppose it's thanks to my skill that I even have the courage to face my fears in the first place.

As I braced myself for whatever horrors may lie behind this door, the sound of a twig snapping could be heard. But I didn't see anyone else around. The coast was completely clear. Ugh, it must just be my imagination.

With one quick pull, I opened the door to an empty barn. No, there's no way this place is completely empty. There has to be something important hidden here, why else would I be told to investigate?

I wish I had a flashlight, it's really dark in here so it would make me feel more secure. I suppose the next best thing I could do was pick up a nearby shovel for protection. As I continued on with my investigation, I started to become more fearful. What am I—

Something fell on my shoulder. It was hot and slippery. As I slowly inched my head to the side to look at it, a sudden wave of nausea overcame me. Is this... green slime?

I hesitantly looked up to see where the slime was dripping from. And sure enough, it was leaking through the cracks of the upstairs floorboards. This must be what I'm looking for I thought to myself.

Using the creaky stairs, I made my way up cautiously as my grip tightened on the shovel. I don't know what this slime could possibly be from, but I can't imagine it being good in any case.

As I gained in on the peculiar object, it started to become much clearer in my line of vision. It may be dark, but I think I can recognise what the matter is. It was a large slimy cocoon.

Oh, hell no, what kind of vermin does Ms McCollin have growing in her barn??? It looked vile and completely inhuman if I'm being honest. I've never seen anything like this in real life.

On closer inspection, there was a hole on the side of the cocoon. Don't tell me... the cocoon has already hatched! This means that whatever creature was inside is now roaming freely somewhere around this barn...

Taking one step back in alarm, I accidentally stepped on what felt like a hand. Wait. A hand? As I turned around to witness the truth for myself, I was surprised to see a boy lying unconscious on the floor.

Once a headache start to come on, I knew it was time to check my status window once again.

Mission objective: Reunite Cyrus with his own kind

Great. I'm saddled with babysitting duty once more. But not only that, I have to reunite this creature with his own kind? That's so cryptic. It doesn't even tell me what exactly is his kind!

As I sighed in frustration, a hand firmly gripped my ankles. Looking down, the boy was trying to stand up. Once he eventually pulled himself up, I felt slightly intimidated. He was towering over me. How the hell did he manage to fold himself up in that cocoon if he's this tall in real life???

Just as I was lost in my train of thought I gave the unusual boy a quick once over. His skin didn't seem to be abnormal. If you ask me, he looks like your typical human being. He did have messy green hair which is sure to make him stand out though. But no other abnormalities on the rest of—

"WAH!" I shrieked. THIS MAN IS COMPLETELY NAKED RIGHT NOW!

As I covered my eyes, I grabbed a nearby bucket and shoved it into his hands. "H-H-HOLD THIS IN FRONT OF YOU!" I commanded.

The boy did what he was told but stared me blankly in the face before he leaned in towards me. I didn't know what was running through his mind right now, but what he did next filled me with fear.

He licked the side of my face before pulling away to stare at me blankly. "Hungry."

I AM NOT FOOD!!!

As I turned away in a huff, I took a hold of his arm. "You can't eat me. So, let's look for something else to eat, okay?" I replied in annoyance.

The boy cocked his head to the side in uncertainty. With a huff, I tried to ease his apprehension. "You can trust me. I'm here to help you."

The boy silently coiled an arm around mine. "Understood." He said in response. Huh, I didn't expect him to be so jovial...

Once outside the barn, I found myself ambushed unexpectedly. As I felt a light tap on my right shoulder, I swung the shovel on impulse.

"W-WHO..." my voice trailed off as sudden realisation dawned on me. I recognised that familiar figure.

In my shock, I dropped the shovel to the ground as I took a step forward. "Nick, is that really you?"