THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Despite the cold, Kali's senses were alive, more so than they had been in years. She could hear the soft crunch of snow underfoot, the distant call of a bird, and even the faint rustle of a squirrel darting through the underbrush. Each sound, each sensation, was almost too much. It was freedom, but it was also overwhelming.

Her head began to swim, her vision blurring at the edges. The cold seemed to seep into her bones, making every step heavier. 

Then she saw it. A small crooked structure, nestled among the trees. At first, she thought it was a trick of her imagination, but as she drew closer, the details came into focus. 

The fort was made of old branches and planks, its entrance decorated with an American flag. 

Two wooden plaques were fixed above the doorway. One read HOME OF WILL THE WISE in red paint, and the other in yellow declared CASTLE BYERS. Beside them, another sign proclaimed, ALL FRIENDS ARE WELCOME.

Kali hesitated, her instincts warning her to keep moving. Surely the lab guards had expanded their search to the woods by now. But the cold was unbearable, and the promise of shelter, however small, was too tempting to ignore.

She ducked inside the fort, her breath visible in the frosty air. It was small, just large enough for a child or two to sit or lie down. A thin mattress was laid out on the ground, and a blanket was draped over it. Kali grabbed the blanket immediately, wrapping it around her trembling shoulders.

As warmth began to seep into her, she looked around. The walls were adorned with drawings of knights and wizards, their figures sketched in bright colors. Piled in one corner were stacks of superhero comics and worn picture books. Kali traced her fingers over them and felt a pang of longing.

Her mind drifted to her mother, who used to sit beside her bed and read her stories before tucking her in for the night. She remembered the comforting voice that brought The Wizard of Oz to life, the tale of Dorothy finding her way home. Kali closed her eyes briefly, the memory sharp and bittersweet. She wished she could go back to those days, to her mother, to her home—wherever that was now.

The sound of a distant branch snapping jolted her back to the present. She couldn't stay here. Wrapping the blanket tightly around her like a cloak, she stepped out of Castle Byers, imagining herself as a wandering knight on a quest.

Her newfound resolve carried her through the woods. She reasoned that there must be a house nearby; the fort's existence suggested a family lived close. Kali's steps were slow and deliberate as she scanned her surroundings.

But it wasn't long when she saw it—a small, one-story house nestled among the trees. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, a sign of life. Behind the house stood a weathered shed, its roof partially covered in snow.

Kali stopped at the edge of the woods, her heart pounding. It was a risk. Whoever lived there could call the authorities, who might alert the lab. But the warmth and safety promised by the sight of the house was inviting.

Clutching the blanket tighter around her, Kali took a cautious step forward, her bare feet sinking into the snow. The sounds of heated voices reached her before she even reached the window. She crouched low, peeking in through the frost-covered glass. 

Inside, a man and a woman were arguing in a cramped living room. The man was pacing, gesturing wildly with frustration, while the woman stood her ground near the couch, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"You said you'd stay the whole weekend, Lonnie!" the woman snapped. Her voice was filled with frustration, but there was a tinge of exhaustion there too.

"I did stay the weekend, Joyce," Lonnie shot back, throwing up his hands. "New Year's Eve, New Year's Day—what more do you want? There's nothing to do in this dead-end town anyway!"

"Nothing to do?" Joyce repeated incredulously, her voice rising. "You're here to spend time with your sons!"

Lonnie scoffed, brushing past her toward the kitchen counter. "I'll take them to Indianapolis for the day, how about that? Show them something worth seeing."

"They're starting school tomorrow!" Joyce retorted. "You can't just whisk them away at the last minute!"

"What, you don't trust me to get them back on time?" Lonnie said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Joyce faltered, her jaw tightening. "It's not that…"

"Then what is it?" Lonnie pressed, his tone daring her to answer. "What's the real reason, Joyce?"

Joyce hesitated, glancing toward the hallway as if hoping no one was listening. Finally, she lowered her voice, but the words came out with biting clarity. "You're clearly still not sober."

Lonnie froze, his back to her for a moment before he turned around sharply. "There it is. There it is again. Always making me out to be the bad guy in front of my kids. 

He jabbed a finger toward the hallway. "You think they don't hear this? You think they don't see how you're always trying to paint me as a drunk?"

Joyce opened her mouth to respond, but Lonnie cut her off with a bitter laugh.

 "You know what? Forget it. I don't need this." He grabbed his coat from a chair near the door and threw it on haphazardly. "Happy New Year, Joyce." The words dripped with sarcasm as he yanked the door open and stormed out.

Kali ducked quickly to avoid being seen, pressing her back against the side of the house. She heard Lonnie's angry footsteps crunch through the snow and watched from the corner of her eye as he got into his car and drove off, tires skidding on the icy road.

The argument left a strange feeling in Kali's chest—a mix of anger and sadness. Shivering, she turned her attention back to the house. She could still hear Joyce moving around inside, muttering to herself as if trying to hold herself together. 

Kali stayed hidden, her breath fogging in the cold air as she watched through the frosted window. Joyce walked down the hallway, her shoulders squared as though steeling herself for the conversation with her sons.

"I'm sorry, boys," Joyce's voice carried softly from the hallway as she stepped into the room. "I know you wanted more time with your dad, but how about this? We can have breakfast at Benny's, and then I'll take you to Hawk Theatre. Any movie you want."

"Even King Kong?" Will's voice was timid but hopeful.

Joyce smiled. "Even King Kong, if it's not too scary."

Will shook his head emphatically, and Jonathan laughed. "He'll be fine. He loves the monster stuff." Jonathan crouched down, imitating a gorilla. "Kong's got nothing on me!" 

He scooped Will up onto his shoulder, growling and stomping around the room. Will squealed with laughter.

Kali's eyes lingered on them. Jonathan was blonde and beady-eyed, his thin face marked with a weariness that seemed too heavy for someone who looked to be about her age.

Will, on the other hand, had a shock of brown hair and wide, innocent eyes that reminded Kali painfully of Eleven

Joyce gathered coats and scarves for the boys. The warmth of the scene tugged at something deep in Kali's chest—a longing for the kind of love and connection she hadn't felt in years. She watched as they moved toward the living room to get ready, leaving the kitchen area empty. 

It was her chance. She slipped around the side of the house, finding the back porch door. She twisted the handle carefully and opened it, stepping into the laundry room. 

It was warmer here, and she let out a breath of relief as she looked around. A dryer sat in the corner, and she checked inside, finding a load of dried clothes. 

She sorted through them quickly, pulling out a pair of jeans and a sweater that seemed about the right size. Probably Jonathan's, she guessed. She left on her dry swimsuit and changed into the clothes, savoring the warmth of the fabric.

On a hook by the door, she spotted a jacket and a pair of snow boots. She slipped them on, feeling slightly guilty but knowing she needed them if she was going to survive out here.

As she adjusted the boots, the creak of the back screen door made her freeze. She turned slowly to see a small white terrier standing there, its nose twitching. It sniffed the air and then barked, the sound sharp and accusing.

Immediately, Kali crouched behind the dryer and willed herself to become invisible. Chester stopped barking, confused, but the sound had already drawn attention.

"Chester!" Will's voice called out.

Kali held her breath as Joyce, Will, and Jonathan approached the back screen door. 

"Chester, what are you barking at?" Joyce said, scanning the porch. "Come here."

Chester kept sniffing, his nose pointed towards Kali's hiding spot. Then Joyce took a step closer and Kali hoped she wouldn't notice the missing jacket and boots. But Joyce pulled Chester away and shut the interior back door, locking it. 

Kali let out a sigh, realizing how close that was. Leaving the blanket, she crept out from her hiding spot and stepped slowly through the porch door, back towards the woods. 

Her stomach growled, and she glanced back toward the house, now just a speck through the trees. But she couldn't afford to go back, having narrowly escaped discovery. She pressed on, deeper into the woods, determined to find her way.

The tracks beneath her boots seemed to stretch endlessly behind her. She didn't know where they would lead, but for the first time since her escape, she felt the faintest flicker of hope.

She was startled by a sudden rustling to her left and froze. But then she saw it—a deer stepping delicately through the trees. Its coat was a rich brown against the white snow, its eyes wide. 

For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Kali's fear melted into fascination. 

Before the lab, she had seen pictures of deer in books but never one in real life. It seemed so peaceful, so free. She wondered if it was alone, just like her. 

Slowly, she stepped forward, reaching out a tentative hand towards the creature, reassuring it to not be afraid. The deer didn't move. It simply watched her, its ears twitching. Kali felt a warmth in her chest, a small comfort in the midst of her isolation.

But as she took another step, her boot caught on something beneath the snow, and she tumbled forward.. The deer startled, bounded away, leaving her alone once more.

Kali groaned, sitting up and brushing snow off her clothes. She looked back at the spot where she had tripped and noticed a metallic gleam poking through the frost. Curious, she brushed the snow away, revealing the iron tracks of a train line.

Her fingers traced the cold metal. The tracks didn't look new, their edges rusted and covered in frost, but they could be her way out. Tracks led somewhere—to towns, stations, people. Somewhere far from the lab.

Kali stood up, brushing snow from her knees, and began walking along the tracks, her boots crunching with each step. The silence of the forest was broken only by the soft whistle of the wind and the occasional call of a bird.

As she walked, her thoughts drifted. She felt the ache of loneliness, a longing for the family she barely remembered. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing her gift to conjure them. 

She wanted to see their faces, to feel like they were walking beside her, guiding her.

But when the figures appeared, their faces were blurred, indistinct. It was as if her mind couldn't fully recall them anymore. Her chest tightened with frustration and sadness.

Then the illusion began to change. The blurred figures shifted, their forms twisting into shapes she knew all too well. Brenner stood before her, his cold eyes piercing into hers. 

Behind him, Ray Carrol smirked cruelly, flanked by Dr. Coleman and the orderly Peter.

They didn't speak at first, only stared at her. Then the voices began, low and insidious.

"You can't stay out here, Eight," Brenner said, his tone calm but commanding. "It's not safe for you."

Ray sneered. "You think anyone out here cares about you? You're nothing but a lost little girl."

"You belong with us," Coleman added, her voice firm. "The lab is your home. We can protect you."

Kali shook her head, backing away from the phantoms. "You're not real," she whispered.

But the figures loomed closer, their faces cruel. "Your parents didn't want you," Peter said, his voice dripping with venom. "They left you to us because they knew what you are."

"No!" Kali yelled, "You're lying!"

"You can run," Brenner said, his tone steady and cold, "but we'll find you. You know we always will."

Kali's knees buckled and she fell to the ground, as the figures surrounded her. "Get out of my head!" she screamed.

With a burst of will, she forced the illusion to dissipate. The phantoms melted away like smoke, leaving her alone once more in the woods. She sat there, trembling, her breath ragged.

Tears stung her eyes, but she wiped them away angrily. She wouldn't let them win—not now, not ever. They might haunt her thoughts, but she was free. She had to remind herself of that. Kali stood up and resumed walking along the tracks. 

Her steps were shaky, but they had a direction. No matter what Brenner or any of them said, or tried to make her believe, she would find her own way. She was going to survive.