Edan was too fazed to remember how he ended up in the back of a random dude's truck, the engine puffing out smoke behind as they drove over cracked asphalt. Soft Jazz music played in the background of the McDonalds smelling car. The road was near void of cars. Looking out the window, Edan watched as the depths of the forest passed.

"What happened to you, kid?" The driver asked. Edan looked to the front of the car where the man sat and just shrugged. They turned around a bend and in the distant, a city shone brightly.

Edan couldn't comprehend the events that occurred. He'd woken in a strange place surrounded by goo in a capsule like those sci-fi movies. There were three other people with him that he recognised from his Sophomore year at high-school. Scientists were there and they began running tests and it was excruciating. His body was on high-alert and that's a simple way to put it. His nerves were pulsing in agony as they were doing things to them. It was like he was being attacked by electricity. He stayed there for a week before he was too fed up and decided to break out. It was a series of events that he forgot – or blocked out of his memory.

"What's your name? I'm Carl." Carl looked behind at Edan with a brief small smile before returning his attention to the road.

"I'm Edan," he replied stoically.

Edan wasn't a very sociable person and with everything that's happened, the last thing he wanted was to communicate with others. He longed for sleep, no matter the quality of it. He wanted to drift off into an infinite dream which he never awaked from. It was tempting, but he held himself back. This man had offered him a ride, the least he could do is be respectful of that. In an attempt to keep his eyes open, he counted the raised pavement markers as they zoomed by.

"You're a quiet kid, aren't ya?" Carl more like stated and let out a small laugh.

"... I guess?" Edan was unsure of himself. He'd never really had any friends so he couldn't socialise with many people. If there was a topic that he enjoyed, well the other person would be in for a long ride. Edan had dreamed of making friends but with the rumours that were spread and the popular kids picking on him, it was near impossible. He'd make a friend but they'd always leave after hearing a rumour like 'did you know that Edan White has to wear diapers because he's a piss head?'. After many years, he'd decided to just give up on all hope that people would like him for who he is.

Edan's reflection stared at him in the window. He saw his hazel-brown eyes and large ears that gave him the nickname 'Frill Eared Edan' derived from the Frill Necked Lizard. It was a sore spot of conversation for him. They weren't... natural you could say. It picked him apart from everyone around him, ostracized him. And his parents wondered how he had generalised anxiety.

Edan's mum, Maia White, was a standardized mother. She loved embarrassing her son in front of people but also loved being childish. Edan looked up to her, literally, as she was only a few centimetres taller but also metaphorically. He took on her slim but muscular frame and petite nose. She was a highly-regarded police officer in their town on the outskirts of New York City. Everyone loved her funny side that was never shown at work. Edan missed her so much. He wanted her to surround him with warmth. He wanted her big famous hugs when he got home from school and the amazing food she cooked for dinner. Mum loved cooking nearly as much as her family. She loved how creative you could get with it and exposed the small family to many cuisines from around the world. Edan's favourite being Japanese (definitely not because he was an anime addict).

He looked out through the passenger seats and at the road ahead. The city was drawing to a close. "Where are we going?" Edan asked.

"To Chicago."

"Oh, okay."

"I'll drop you off in front of a hotel but then I have to leave. My wife is expecting me soon."

Edan nodded and looked down at his white latex suit. There was no way he'd fit in, he thought. 

***

Not long passed before Edan was dropped off in front of a luxurious hotel. People scuttled along the streets, giving confused looks to him. He gulped nervously. The truck drove into ongoing traffic. Edan definitely did not plan to walk into a hotel looking like a freak. He aimlessly wondered through the streets with no destination other than a place to sleep that night. Maybe he could find some clothes to wear? Very unlikely, but the possibility still lingered. 

He came across an alleyway void of homeless people. It couldn't be due to the fact that it smelt so putrid the rats were scared of it. Edan coughed into his arm. He had learned enough to know that this was about the best he'd get looking the way he did. Mum had never condoned stealing. She always said, 'stealing makes you a criminal. You don't want to be a criminal because that will ruin your life, now do you?' Edan had grown up with that but alongside, his father spoke different words. 'Stealing is only acceptable in great times of need.'

Edan knew enough that it was a dire situation. There was no way he could sleep with that rotten smell, but sleeping on a park bench, looking like a snowman with big ears, also meant he'd risk getting a beating by some punks. There was only one way out of either cruel situation: To steal from a clothing store – or at least another person.

It was past closing time and the people were becoming drunk and uncoordinated. Edan searched nervously for a thrift shop. Robbing from a big brand like Supreme isn't ideal. This wasn't on his bucket list but bullying wasn't either. Dying, flickering lights that read Local Thrift Store stared at him. He wished it took longer to find the store.

The alleyway beside was full of sketchy looking people smoking foreign substances with dirt streaks down their faces. His breathing quickened at the realisation he'd need to make his way through them. Startled by a weight flung over his shoulders, his head snapped up. A guy with black greasy hair smoked a sloppily rolled cigarette. He pulled it out his mouth with dirt covered hands and puffed the smoke into Edan's face. He held back a cough as the substance entered his lungs.

"What's a young kid like you doing out here?" He asked, unsteady on his feet.

Edan shrunk under him. "Uh... walking?" he offered. He rather risk getting beat by some punks than to associate with this guy.

"What's the suit for then?" He poked at Edan's chest harshly, rubbing a gross finger into his outfit. Edan didn't reply. The man pulled him towards his body and ruffled his short brown hair, mixing some of the ashes into it. "Kid, lighten up." He showed rotting brown teeth. Gross.

"I s-should go," Edan stuttered out. He wanted out of the situation he found himself in. Even with the crippled fear he felt, he forced himself to duck away from the man's grip and run away.

"Oh, c'mon!"

Edan didn't stop running even when he was three blocks away... five blocks away... seven blocks away... a park. With the moon hovering above, many homeless sleep there. He stood outside the gates, breathing roughly, hands on hips and head pointed to the starless sky. It took only a minute to calm his breathing down enough to walk into the silent park. Many were asleep apart from a few who gave sad glances his way before returning to their cigarette or their beer or card game. Why was he here? He was sure to get beaten for looking so out of place. He discarded the thought and let a new one enter his mind. He'd heard that being a rebel was fun and with the past week and the psychological effects it had, he could always become one. Go down a path he knew he'd regret. If he couldn't steal from a store, he'll have to steal from another being.

Edan sighed and ran a hand through his messy knotted hair before looking around. He needed something to cover his weird outfit, he thought, even just a jumper. A man slept with thin, hole-ridded blankets covering him. He had a cardboard box open behind him with a limp woollen sleeve sticking out. The few still awake were absorbed in their hushed card games or sad thoughts.

Edan sneaked over to the sleeping man, bare feet freezing. Around the man... silently remove an item of clothing...

"Hey!" A guy shouted from behind Edan. He clenched onto the woollen knitted jumper, backing away from everyone. "You can't just steal other people's stuff!"

"Yeah, give it back!" another shouted.

Edan glanced behind him. A low sandstone wall was a few metres away. If he ran, he'd make the jump. Spinning around, he ran towards the wall, jumping it with ease. Angry voices followed him a few hundred metres down the road before being dragged away with the wind.

Resting against a brick wall, he caught his breath before studying the woollen jumper in his hands. It was a dark brown and definitely a few sizes too big but nevertheless, he threw it over his head, the sleeves passed his hands and the hem ended halfway down his thighs. He smiled. Exhilaration coursed through him like joy. His mind wondered away from past events and dawdled on current events happily.

He never knew that being a rebel, even if it was only stealing old men's clothes, could be so fun!