Alfred

A:

"We need to get out of here," Alieen says, closing the chest and sliding it underneath Matt's bed. She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door.

"Come on," Alieen says, "We need to get out of here before--"

As soon as we open the door, we see Alfred standing before us.

"Alfred," Alieen shouts.

"Alieen," Alfred says, "And A? Why are the two of you in my room? Wait, why are the two of you in my room? Oh my god. Did, did you--"

"No," Alieen cries, pushing Alfred back. "No. Whatever you're thinking, it's a no. A and I, we did not do anything."

I cannot be sure why Alieen and Alfred are thinking but I am guessing from how fast Alieen's face turns red, it is something embarrassing.

"Well if you guys didn't do what I think you guys did," Alfred says, "Then what did you guys do in my room?"

"It is also Matt's room," I add.

"Okay," Alieen starts, "First thing first, I just want to say sorry for breaking the rule. I didn't want to, believe me, but there was a chance Matt had something A and I really needed to see."

"Wait, what," Alfred asks. "There was a chance Matt had something you and A needed to see? What on earth would that be?"

Alieen looks at me before letting out a sigh. She raises her hand and shows Alfred the silver-colored bottle with the cross on it.

"This," Alfred says, looking at the bottle and then at us. "This is what you two really needed to see. Matt's flask of holy water."

"Wait," I say, stepping forth. "What did you say this is?"

"It's Matt's flask of holy water," Alfred repeats. "From his supernatural apocalypse survival kit."

"His supernatural apocalypse what?"

"His supernatural apocalypse survival kit," Alfred repeats again. "I think Matt brought it off Amazon. It's supposed to be filled with a bunch of things needed to fend off supernatural begins. I'm guessing since you have his flask, you went through it."

"Yeah," Alieen whispers while lowering her head.

"Then I'm sure you two have seen the garlic and the silver bullets and even the wooden stake."

"We have seen the garlic and the silver bullets but we did not see a wooden stake."

"Oh. Well, still, it's everything you would apparently need to defeat vampires or werewolves or anything else."

"Vampires or werewolves or anything else," I repeat to myself. "Vampires or werewolves or anything else. Does this mean?"

"Hey wait a minute," Alieen says, looking up. "Alfred, what are you doing here? Don't you have class right now? Why are you home so early?"

"The professor had a doctor's appointment he couldn't reschedule," Alfred answers. "So he taught the class for as long as he could before he had to go. He lets us students leave early. That's why I thought I could go to sleep for a little bit. Now I'm wondering why two people are exiting my and Matt's room while holding Matt's supply of holy water."

"As Alieen said," I say," We just needed to see it for a bit. We will give it back. Go to sleep."

I nod my head and grab Alieen's hand. Pulling her away, I thought Alfred would go to his room but I'm wrong. He starts to run, pushing past Alieen and me and stopping us before we could reach the stairs. Spreading out his arms and legs, he stares us down.

"Okay," he yells, "That's enough. What's going on? What is going on here? Who are you?"

"Uhh," Alieen stutters, looking between A and Alfred. "Uhh, what are you talking about? He's A."

"Yeah, no offense or anything, but A may be the worst fake name I have ever heard."

"It is not a fake name," I say. "It is the only part of my ID I could make out."

"What," Alfred says.

"What," Alieen asks. "An ID?"

Both Alieen and Alfred look at me as I reach into my pocket. Alfred and Alieen jump back when I reach into my pocket but relax when they see me pull out a crumpled piece of paper. The piece of paper is not only crumpled but it is also burnt and falling apart. As carefully as I can, I show them the paper.

"Alfred," I start, "I have put too much on Alieen. It is time I tell you the truth. At least, as much as I can tell you."

"The truth," Alfred repeats. "Okay. What's that?"

"The truth is that I am poor."

"You're homeless," Alfred asks.

"No. I am not homeless. I do have a home. I am just poor. I have very little money. I almost have no memory of my name."

"You have amnesia? How?"

"I do not know how. Again, I have no memory of anything. Including my own name. In fact, because of my memory loss, this is why I choose to be called A."

I dust the paper off and point to the only visible letter. It is a black, burnt A.

"An a," Alfred says after staring at the paper. "Okay. Honestly, things are more confusing than when we started. For now, just please follow me."

Alfred tosses his backpack into his room before walking down the stairs. Alieen and I look at each other before following him. For some reason, Alfred leads us into the kitchen. There, he grabs three large cups and a pitcher of apple juice.

"When I get nervous or confused," Alfred says, drinking one whole cup of juice. "I get hungry."

"Hmm," I say, thinking back to all the wrappers around Alfred's bed. "You must get nervous and confused a lot."

"Yeah, I do."

Moving fast, Alfred pours himself another cup and drinks it all in seconds.

"Do you want mine?"

Alieen pushes her cup toward Alfred. Alfred takes her cup and drinks the whole thing in one swallow.

"Thanks," Alfred says, wiping his mouth.

Seeing this, I offer Alfred my own cup, and once again, he takes and drinks it all.

"Okay," he says, slamming the cup down. "I feel a little better. So, just doing a little fact-checking, making sure I've heard everything right. You have amnesia. You don't remember anything, including your own name, and because of that, you have decided to call yourself A because of a single letter on a piece of paper."

"Yes," I say, nodding my head.

"Also, you're homeless."

"No," I say, shaking my head. "I am not homeless. I am poor but not homeless."

"It's true," Alieen says, rising her hand. "A lived in an abandoned gas station. That's kind of his home."

"An abandoned gas station?"

"Yes," I shout, "I lived in an old abandoned gas station outside the city. I lived there. It is my home. It may be lacking such things as running water and electricity and well, cleaning, but nevertheless, it is my home. Can we please move past that?"

Alfred pours himself another cup of apple juice before going on.

"Okay. I guess those jackets you gave A makes some sense now."

"Yeah," Alieen says while nodding. "Since A is homeless--"

"Poor," I correct.

"Since A is poor, I gave him a few jackets I've been meaning to donate."

"Okay," Alfred says with a nod. "Okay. One last question before I pass out."

"What's that," Alieen asks.

"Why do you have Matt's flask of holy water?"

"Oh," Alieen yells, looking down and realizing she is still holding the flask. "Uhh. We kind of need it."

"You need holy water," Alfred says, shaking his head. "For what exactly? Fighting ghosts? Seriously Alieen, give that back. That's not yours."

"No," Alieen says, lending back. "We just need to borrow it for a bit. Just a little bit."

"Even if that is true, it's not yours. Give it back. I'll put it back in Matt's room."

"No!"

"Alieen, give it!"

Before I know it, Alieen and Alfred have the bottle in their hands. They struggle for it, both Alieen and Alfred fighting for the flask. While they fight for the flask, Alieen pulls it back suddenly, ripping it from Alfred's hand. As she does, the flash opens and water pours out. Before I can get out of the way, the water gets all over me. It burns me, my skin sizzling as I fall to the floor.

"A," Alieen yells, throwing the flask and dropping to her knees. "A? Are you okay?"

I cannot answer Alieen. Despite how little water there is, it still burns and the only thing that comes out are screams.

"A," Alfred says, running around but stopping when he sees me. "Alieen? What? What is going on? Why is A burning? Alieen, why is A burning after being doused in holy water? A, what are you?"