Where is Everybody? thirty three.

August second. I have had the time of my life, however special that may be. There's not much to live for. Except our in-residents, later neighbors have vanished. I'd like to say it's a good riddance, had it not been for the fact that my drinking buddy and co film appreciator had gone with them. Damn. This is *not* what I had bargained for at all. Sweet's scarlet mess is a minor annoyance compared to having the literal basement dwellers at our door, and demanding the location of the bracelet, and of William.

Will had come home yesterday and gone inside. Nearly the whole time on our way back, whenever we weren't telling him about the orcas trying to get that marine dude, he kept rambling about some woman sitting on a cloud looking up at the sky, her legs dangling over the edge. It sounded to me like a children's tale, a fantasy. Everyone knows clouds are vaporised water. Not a solid mass. You'd have to be crazy, as I expected Willie to be anyway.

Determined to convince us, I tuned him out. We needed to relocate him (the merman) before, that was clear. Now he really needs relocating. Drying out and getting sunburned, dehydrated is a slow, miserable way to perish, but getting eaten alive, or having that looming over your head, especially by a being smart as Keiko and Luna's species is continuously terrifying. My own worst enemy I would not wish this upon.

The following day, early today, I heard some commotion outside. Around eight AM, I looked out and saw someone in a silver suit. I found Vinnie had come to the door, and was here, as she tends to be during daylight hours. I could not be less thrilled to see them here. Whenever they show up, trouble follows. I care not how desperate a plight they might get into. The man standing there, one of the ones in the car that took me to HPI base was talking to her, and seemed in discomfort. He probably thought we were all horses, not this diverse in specie.

He was asking for Will and the bracelet, claiming they wanted to slip it onto his wrist, then take him with them. That doesn't seem consistent with their scheme, or our agreement. I didn't care though, as he means nothing to me. Vinnie blatantly lied and told me he wasn't here, which was true, but lied saying she didn't know. And our beetle horse, feeling our fear, rushed down to say the same. He seemed just as weary of this insect, but composed himself anyway. The man left, but not before telling us he'd be back later with the other two, and that they'd be armed to the teeth ready to take what they need. I fetched the bracelet, and handed it to him, but he declined, saying he wanted both at once. He'll only trust me. Seems legit.

That afternoon, back they came, but there was no sign of William, nor his cohorts. I wouldn't have cared so much for Val, but Vinnie went with them. I caught eyes on them sneaking out of the house earlier, as did Monica, and all three were loading up Monica's car with gasoline and scrap metal, then sped off. Even with his increased stamina, Monica could not keep up.

Does it go without saying he was fuming? I would imagine so. When they came back, we told them they disappeared, off to some unknown location. We told them we'd be willing to come along and join the search, which they agreed to. Angela and Sweet Stuff weren't totally on board with this. Anthony and Pickering and Samantha and especially Sherman blatantly stated this is a terrible idea. He knows what happens when our likes are taken down there, or put on the bracelet. We get weak and likely eventually die, same as regular humans would without UV. (they have UV lamps down there).

I looked into the yard and found nothing but a swimming pool in top condition, a diminished metal heap, an outhouse, and some cauliflowers I hadn't seen before. Huh. I'd better tend to them while he's gone, which hopefully won't be long.

They took a spare bracelet, and helped Monica snap it on. They put mine on too for me, but I tried myself first.

These three were stoic, but they had to be to hold this position. We had no luck. I'm glad we didn't find them, but that's still three potentially useful hands gone, plus one who wasn't so bad. Had been mad.

We'll keep this up, though, and Monica seems more determined than ever to get them. Now we have two bracelets they have trusted us with, likely cause they know we're at their mercy. We can't just abandon the very place we've been squatting in like that without accommodations and foresight, and they outclass us in arms. They trust we'll take care of them. I didn't intend to break humankind's gift to me. Nor does he obviously.