(First of all, I would like to dedicate this chapter to everyone and anyone I might not mention individually that have given me motivation, support and helpful criticism. I appreciated each and every one of you!)

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Rune had fallen into a sullen silence. His thoughts caught between then and now, the then seemingly disintegrating along with the white line running like a giant serpent behind them.

There were many thoughts running rag tag through his mind. Almost on autopilot, or like viewing an old movie late at night with the weird flickerings of light and shadow. Putting you in a hypnotic trance of sorts. Absently scratching at at his arms, that had begun to develop a strange series of somewhat scaly patches over the last few days, Rune felt an inate sense of something being "off." Something his parents weren't telling him. It had occurred to him at one point, while watching the changes in scenery, the tall reeds and pussywillows surrounding patches of swampy water. Big magnolia and cypress trees surrounding larger bodies of water. He even saw an alligator slip gracefully, yet predatorily into one such spot. It was somehow magestic, in it's simple, primal beauty. No worries of the modern world, just basic instinct and survival. Rune almost envied the creature. He was sure it's parents didn't keep enormous secrets from it.

Things just weren't adding up. The flickering movie reel in his memories was at places screeching to a halt. Things concerning the disappearances of his brother, then a year later his sister. Things concerning the mine his Gramps had worked at, and the subsequent degrees his parents were basically required to complete. His father in Ancient History, archeological and scientific stuff. His mom in bioscience, genetic engineering and a few others as well. Why were they both just teaching now and publishing occassional articles as experts in their areas of expertise. Sometimes one or the other wouldn't be working at all. And the trips taken abroad, usually just one of them, a few times together, while Rune was left with relatives. No one would ever reveal a single detail of what they were doing. Now Rune was the same age as his siblings had been when they left. Coincidence? He thought not.