"You're just where I left you," Otis says, sitting down beside me. He's wearing another black sweater that almost looks blue under the moon and the stars.

"My new favorite place." I shrug. "Don't have many other places to go or did you forget?"

"This place is as good as any." Otis smiles.

"As good as any to die in." I wallow.

"Hey. Positivity, remember?" Otis looks down at me like a teacher chastising a student.

"Yea yea. I remember," I sigh.

"We will figure this out, Q," Otis says.

Q. His new nickname for me. Never thought Otis Price would be nicknaming me.

"Whatever you say." I agree.

It's our third night at the quarry. I've been spending almost every minute here since I'm too afraid of my alternatives. I'm afraid of going home –of seeing my sister and my parents living in anguish. I enjoy the emptiness of the quarry, well the almost emptiness.

Otis meets me here just after dusk each night. I didn't want to let him leave my side or be out of my sight after I found him. After all, I was being driven insane alone here in the Fold. Otis also seemed reluctant to leave me, but in the end he decided to come back every night for as long as I wanted him to.

I've told him about the white room and the elusive voice and the Fold. No, I still haven't told him about my anchor. I haven't told him that he's the one who will help bring me back to life.

Otis is reserved about where he goes during the day, but I suppose he has to be in school or showing up around his house so people don't suspect he's gone missing. He's not the one that's literally lying on his deathbed.

"How's your brother, Liam?" I ask.

"Good. He's good. Asks where I go sometimes, but he's easily manipulated," Otis says.

"Spoken like a true big brother," I smirk. Otis frowns. "And your parents? Do they ask where you go?"

"That would require them to notice I leave." Otis's voice can't filter out the animosity it holds.

"Otis–" I begin.

"No. It's fine. Being invisible isn't so bad. No complaints here." Otis grins. His words sting and I look away.

"Oh shit. I didn't mean –I didn't –I wasn't thinking, Q." Otis grapples with his words. He reaches for my hand and shifts closer to me.

All the sudden I want to cry. I am invisible.

"It's one thing to wish it. Another to be it." I choke back the tears. "It's like..."

"Like the most isolated existence in the world?" Otis finishes my thought.

"Exactly like that." I nod. Maybe he does get it. Maybe Otis knows exactly how I feel.

"At least we're alone together." Otis puts his arm around my shoulder.

"For now," I mutter. "Until I find my way out."

"Still haven't found the glowing door, have you?" Otis asks.

"Not yet. I just wish I could find it again. I wish I knew what it was waiting for," I groan, cursing under my breath.

"You speak about it like it's alive," Otis says. "This white room you call it."

"It is." I answer. My voice is quiet. "I know it in my heart. If it's not alive, then what is it?"

"Maybe that's what we're supposed to figure out. Together." Otis looks away from me when he says it.

"Do you think that?" I ask.

"Why else am I the only one who can see you? Who can talk to you?" Otis asks.

"I have the same questions," I smile. "Same doubts too."

"Maybe it's supposed to be me. For whatever reason." Otis nods.

I stretch my arms to my side and lean back over the empty valley. Such a quick drop to the bottom of this quarry. It's strange to think it wouldn't even do anything to me. I could plunge to the rocks and just wake up back on this ledge, next to Otis. "Maybe."

"It's almost as if I'm your tether or I'm your link." Otis's voice falters slightly.

I turn to look at him. He's staring at me with his dark, brooding eyes and I can't place the look on his face. A strange choice of words he's chosen. My tether? My link?

Why does my gut feeling tell me he is tiptoeing around the word anchor?

"Yes. It almost is." I nod.

"We'll find a way to get you back," Otis says, squeezing my hand in his. "We'll get you back. Together, Q."

"Do you really think it's possible?" I ask.

"I know it is. I know there has to be a reason to all this," Otis says in earnest. I believe him. I believe he will try to help me.

"Otis, I think –I think you're my anchor." My lips press together, waiting for his response.

"There are worse things I could be. I would consider it a privilege to help bring you back to yourself –back to us." Otis finishes quietly. His voice sounds sad for some reason.

"I think I may need to consider you a dear friend after all of this is done," I say, laughing. Otis's eyes crease in the corners as he laughs.

"Let's just get you back first." He nods. "We can discuss terms and conditions second."

"Deal." I agree.

"What will you do when you get back? First thing?" Otis asks, stretching his arms above his head.

"First thing?" I repeat his question. What would be the first thing I'd do if I woke up?

"Eat? Sleep? Change out of that tragic sweater?" Otis offers.

"Hey!" I fake punch him on the arm. He snickers and shakes me off. "First thing I would do is hugs my parents. And Hazel."

"Of course," Otis says, nodding. He looks ashamed.

"Then definitely shower. And change my sweater," I laugh. "Then eat."

"We could eat together," Otis says. "You know when you wake up. When you can actually eat."

"I'd like that," I smile. The image of Otis and I eating together in the cafeteria comes to mind.

A silent moment passes between us. I can hear the low hum of the quarry generator and the streetlamp outside the gate flickers. Otis shifts beside me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It's just, do you think we'll still talk? Once you wake up?" Otis asks.

"Sure. Why wouldn't we?" I ask. I wonder what he is getting at.

"What if you don't remember?" He says, raising an eyebrow. "What if you don't remember this Fold place you're in now?"

"Then you'll remember," I say, picking up his hand in mine. "You'll remember and you'll help me remember too."

"Deal." Otis squeezes my hand.

At least in the Fold, Otis feels like home.