Hospital. Drogo barely opens his eyes. At first he sees only a white ceiling. After a moment he lowers his gaze, looks around and realizes he is in a hospital. Two nurses are standing in front of him – one beside a food cart, the other near his bed. His memory returns in fragments: two strong blows in the back, the fall, the sudden appearance of an old man in front of him, then the voices of passers-by shouting and darkness. Pushing the memory aside, Drogo begins calmly assessing the situation. Where does it hurt? How long has he been here? What should he do next? He listens inwardly. The essence is silent. Probably sleeping – too much energy lost. Then a soft voice pulls him back to the present. The nurse standing beside the bed leans slightly closer and asks, Awake already, sweetheart? Does anything hurt?

  Drogo’s opinion clearly does not matter to anyone, and he does not feel any desire to argue anyway. While he slowly eats the porridge, the nurses begin recounting what the ambulance doctors reported. The emergency team received a call about a man who had collapsed in the street with severe blood loss. When they arrived there was a large pool of blood on the pavement. The victim had already been turned onto his back, and beside him was a man trying to provide first aid but clearly not understanding what exactly needed to be done in that situation. When the ambulance team approached, the man immediately started explaining: I’m a doctor. I tried to give first aid. I turned the victim over to assess the situation. At first I thought the blood was coming from the nose or maybe from a head injury, but when I rolled him over I saw that the man was covered in blood. He was unconscious but breathing. His clothes had cuts in all the vital areas of the body – around sixty cuts in total. I took off my shirt and tried to find the source of the bleeding and stop it. Most of the blood seemed to be around the abdomen, so I pressed the shirt there. But when I pressed it against the body I realized there was no bleeding there – only healed scars. I kept looking for the cuts but found nothing except scars. So when the ambulance arrived I just held the victim’s head on my knees because I didn’t know what else to do.

  Neither that doctor nor the ambulance team were able to find the source of the blood. The weakness you are feeling now, the nurse explains calmly, usually appears after massive blood loss, although no transfusion was required because there was no medical reason for it.

  During the nurses’ story Drogo suddenly felt a wave of joy rising inside him so strongly that he could not even hide the wild grin spreading across his face. Power… if only these little people understood how good this feels. Nurse Two pulled him back to reality again. Dear, we need to collect some information about you – who you are, your name and surname, whether there are relatives we should contact. Drogo pretended that the weakness had returned and promised to explain everything later, already knowing that “later” would never come. He closed his eyes and waited until the nurses left the room. When their footsteps faded, he slowly sat up, still enjoying the feeling of triumph. But the joy suddenly shifted into something colder. My original goal has already been achieved… but now I’ve met him. I want him. The realization came quickly. My goal is under threat.

  At that moment he heard a familiar voice inside his head. The essence had awakened.

  So, how are you?

  Looks like I survived only because of the new ability, Drogo answered inwardly. Why didn’t you sense the danger?

  Because they weren’t emitting any threat. There were no emotions directed at you. Perhaps the attack was a mistake?

  No, Drogo replied after a short pause. Most likely the Higher Ones received my message and started hunting me. They took their time. Too many deaths already… but at least I won’t have to search for them. They will find me themselves. But first we start with something sweeter. Let’s find that boy. Guide me through the hospital corridors to the exit.

  Are you sure? You still look weak.

  I said we are going.

  Guided by the scents his essence picked up, Drogo managed to avoid the doctors and move down from the third floor into the main lobby. In the cloakroom he found a light jacket that roughly fit him, slipped on a pair of shoes and stepped outside.

  Where are we going? the essence asked.

  We need a map. I need to understand how many schools are around that waterfront.

  At the nearest bus stop he studied the city map and quickly realized that there were only two schools near the embankment. Drogo considered this a success.

  I understand you are already in a state of anticipation, the essence said cautiously, but you are attracting too much unwanted attention right now. I can sense the mood of the people around us.

  Why?

  Maybe because you are dressed a little strangely.

  From a distance it looked almost absurd: a man standing near a hospital bus stop wearing a patient’s gown under a jacket and mismatched shoes. Drogo suddenly realized how ridiculous it looked and quietly slipped into the nearest alley.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  German was in an unusually good mood that day. He had a new friend now – a very interesting and mysterious one. He could hardly wait for the moment when he would meet Gobby again near Gobby’s school so they could continue their strange and fascinating conversations. Since early morning German had been unusually energetic, which surprised his classmates. Normally he was always buried in his notes, hardly noticing anyone around him and rarely even greeting people. But today he not only greeted everyone – he even gave compliments. During the lessons he kept raising his hand, answering the teachers’ questions and helping classmates who struggled with the material.

  When the long-awaited bell finally rang, German grabbed his schoolbag and hurried toward the exit. Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air and exhaled slowly, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his face and the sound of birds somewhere above the schoolyard. He ran toward the gate, turned left onto the sidewalk and suddenly crashed straight into someone.

  Falling to the ground, German immediately began apologizing. With one hand he picked up his glasses from the pavement and looked up at the person he had run into.

  Once again he felt surprised. The man he had collided with was wearing hospital clothes, a brown jacket thrown over them and sneakers with untied laces. The man looked exhausted, pale and hunched forward like a dried mummy. German continued apologizing while reaching for his bag with his other hand so he could put it back on and continue toward Gobby’s school. The man didn’t move and didn’t look at him, so German assumed he could simply go on his way. He stood up, apologized again and started walking past him.

  Suddenly everything turned grey again and Drogo’s essence screamed inside his head that the boy had been with him.

  The man instantly turned his gaze toward German and grabbed his arm. Where is he?

  German stared at him in confusion. Who?

  Your friend. Where is he? Is he still at school? Where is he?

  German suddenly understood that the man was talking about Gobby. Let go of me. I don’t understand what you want.

  The man bent down toward German until their faces were almost touching and whispered, I want him.

  At that moment the sports teacher rushed over and grabbed the man’s other arm. What’s going on here?

  The man turned his attention to him and his grip weakened. German pulled free and ran. The man followed him with his eyes for a moment, then turned toward the teacher. With a quick movement of his free hand he knocked the teacher’s arm aside and then knocked him unconscious with a sharp slap.

  German finally reached Gobby’s school. The bell rang and his mood immediately lifted. For a moment he even forgot what had just happened to him. Standing near the gate, he scanned the crowd of students leaving the school, searching for Gobby among them. But Gobby wasn’t there. Where is he? Most of the students had already left the building. Did I mix something up? Would it be strange if I called him? After waiting for a few minutes, German finally decided to call. The phone rang… but no one answered. German tried not to show his disappointment and began imagining all sorts of silly explanations when suddenly he heard a mobile phone ringing somewhere near the school.

  He looked around and noticed that the school doors were already closing, while down the street a cheerful Gobby was walking toward him – a donut in one hand and a milkshake in the other. He seemed completely absorbed in his food and apparently didn’t hear the phone ringing in his pocket. When he came closer and noticed German, he greeted him with his mouth full and then suddenly looked confused. He had forgotten about their meeting and had bought only one donut.

  German, sorry! Next time I’ll definitely buy you a donut too. Do you want the milkshake instead?

  German shook his head.

  No.

  Well, if not… want to go to the sea?

  Yeah, German answered, but immediately remembered that he needed to tell Gobby about the man who had been looking for him.

  They walked along the street. Apartment buildings rose on both sides. Gobby finished his milkshake while listening carefully to German’s story, then asked,

  Why do you think he’s looking for me? He only asked you about some friend. That could be anyone, right?

  German shook his head.

  No. You’re my only friend.

  After those words it was as if some invisible force struck them. German was suddenly pushed sideways into the alley and thrown against the wall of a nearby building. Gobby, on the other hand, was lifted into the air for a moment and then slammed hard onto the ground. Drogo had followed the scent and finally found them. A wild craving seized him and, seeing the opportunity, he rushed forward, knocked German aside and grabbed Gobby, throwing him over his shoulder before carrying him into the alley and slamming him down onto the pavement.

  German groaned in pain, still not understanding what had just happened, and called out Gobby’s name, worried about him. Drogo finally heard it. So Gobby… A slow grin spread across his face. I’ve been looking for you for so long. Gobby lay on the ground while Drogo leaned over him and began breathing in his scent, starting from the neck and slowly moving upward toward the face. When their eyes were finally on the same level, Drogo whispered, How long I’ve searched for you… and now you are completely mine.

  Gobby was conscious. His eyes were fixed directly on Drogo. But for him the moment felt unreal, like a dream where everything happens in front of you while you remain outside the scene. It was as if he were watching from somewhere else while his body remained there. For the first time his mind simply could not process what was happening. His brain failed to interpret the situation and he slipped into shock.

  At that moment Drogo’s essence interfered. Something’s wrong. The scent is right… but very weak.

  Drogo ignored the warning and continued enjoying the moment, repeating quietly, Soon you will become part of me.

  The essence decided to check its suspicion and moved closer to Gobby’s face, staring directly into his eyes. There was no reaction.

  Panic seized the essence. He doesn’t see me… he doesn’t see me… what do I do? He doesn’t see me… maybe it isn’t him… The panic grew stronger and above them a flock of crows appeared, circling and cawing as if a lost chick were crying somewhere below.

  Only then did Drogo slowly come out of his trance and begin hearing the frantic voice of the essence. Shut up. Calm down. Why are you panicking? What happened?

  He doesn’t see me! Something is wrong. Do you understand? He doesn’t see me!

  Drogo turned back toward Gobby, ran his hand slowly over the boy’s hair and said softly, What did they do to you, my dear one? Who ruined someone so perfect? Who dared touch you?

  Gobby was only now beginning to return to himself. He turned his head away from Drogo and looked toward German. Why?

  Drogo smiled. Remember our first meeting… at the psychiatric hospital…

  A low ringing began in Gobby’s head. Pain spread through his body and broken flashes of memory started surfacing.