With a start, Sam's eyes shot open just as his back arched violently, and he watched a plume of gray-blue breath escape his mouth and dissipate. His chest rose and fell; he felt it heaving beneath the weight of clothing with no more owners. No one else was awake; they all lay huddled in the same arrangements as before, two or ten or however many hours ago they'd given in to the boredom and the need to escape and forget. The fire was low. He stared dumbly for a moment before cursing and forcing himself onto his feet.

A boy in a t-shirt stood at the edge of the circle of light. The flames cast deep hollows beneath his brows, on eyes already half-hooded. He was tall, about Sam's own height. He kept very, very still. The sight of his bare arms made Sam shiver. "Where are your coats? You've got to cover up, you should be dead walking around like that." The past few days had taught him not to ask names -- that the boy was talking was proof enough of survival.

The boy smiled, and turned his head aside for a muffled laugh. "What's so funny?" Sam snapped.

Nothing, it's just-- The smile didn't leave his face. Your fire's getting low.

Sam scowled. "I noticed." Stuffing his hands beneath his arms, he made his way toward the pile of Imberson's Compleat Catalogue of Malayan Tropical Insects (vols. 12-34, 10-11 having already been consumed) and tried to wrap stiff woolen fingers around the massive tomes.

I did some stuff with fire once, you know, the boy added by way of continuing the conversation. There was this abandoned house once, and they kept me back in school for that one, and then there was that pervert with the basement, but they didn't catch me. Frank made sure of that.

Sam tossed a book into the flame and turned to examine the newcomer. The way the darkness pooled about his middle -- it just wasn't right. He swallowed around a dry tongue. "Who are you?"

Gerald, he replied with a grin. His shirt shone with something wet.

Sam straightened, and leaned against the mantle. "Well... why are you here?"

The boy's face was unreadable. I'm keeping you company.

Not an enticing thought.