Prologue

"How long have you and the life-form been connected?"  

I blinked at the man in the suit, "Since he fell, and his name is Icah."

"On November 3rd?"

I shrugged, because I didn't know the day when he fell into our fields.

"Has it been days? Weeks?"

"A few days."

"So he, I mean Icah, he lives inside of you?"

I nodded.

"And does he speak to you? Can he understand you?"

I nodded again, "He knows English."

"Can he come out so I may see him?"

I stared at the man for a long, quiet moment. I could feel my heart racing all of a sudden, and I knew that it wasn't me that was feeling that fear, it was Icah. He doesn't want to come out. He doesn't want to meet this man. I could feel him gripping my heart, as he was squeezing it in the palm of his hand, telling me no, no, no.

I swallow hard, as it was hard to think and breathe with my chest feeling so tight. "I don't think so." I reply.

A brief second of silence, "Why not?"

"He's scared of strangers. He is not used to humans, especially grownups." I look down to the floor, "He told me that."

"I won't hurt him. Tell him that nobody here will hurt him."

"He can hear you." I say, because I felt like it was stupid to repeat what this man says when it was true, Icah could hear everything I can.

"Then, can I speak to him now?"

"He is listening." I sigh, "He is always listening." Even when I don't want him too, but I don't say that part.

"Icah." The man sounds a bit uncomfortable, almost as if he doesn't believe that Icah is listening. "I will not hurt you. Nobody else will come in this room, it is only me and Rosie, I promise."

My heart suddenly stopped racing, which meant Icah stopped allowing me to feel what he was feeling. He was walling off his emotions, which is what he does when he doesn't want me to know he is upset.

"I think you made him mad." I frown, "Icah," I say out loud, even though I could just as easily speak to him with my thoughts. I didn't like doing that, though. It felt invasive; I don't like him crawling through my mind, because sometimes I like to keep my thoughts to myself. "Please come out."

I was met with a heavy silence. The man in the chair stood still, as though moving would prohibit Icah from coming out any quicker.

"Icah," I say again, frustrated, "Please? You know I hate it when you are mean like this." I lean back in my chair, and kick the air in front of me, "You promised me you would be good."

Nothing.

I sat there, not sure what to do, and the guy was quiet as well, I felt stupid that Icah was being stubborn. The man probably thought I was lying and making Icah up. I was not making him up.

And then I remembered something that may help. I pointed up at the light, "Turn the light off for a moment."

"Why?"

"He prefers the dark."

"Will he come out if I do that?"

I nodded even though I wasn't entirely sure if he would.

The man glanced at the camera that was placed in the top corner of the wall, and nodded his head once in it, as if to say, "Do it."

Not seconds later, the light flicked off, and we were left in complete darkness.

Beside me, the empty chair moved only a fraction back, and I knew Icah has come out to play.