"Good morning, Captain Harper!"

Ack, so loud and cheerful. How can anybody be so damn happy in the morning?

It's that new recruit, Charlie. He's still full of optimism and hope for the future. Lucky bastard. He'll lose it eventually; we all do. Well, I'm not gonna be the one to crush his dreams just yet. Best be nice to him.

"Mornin', kid." Let me offer him a nice smile, too. That's it.

Charlie's got that goofy grin on his face. Look at him staring at me as if I was some sort of damn celebrity. I can't stand that he looks up to me so much. If he only knew how miserable I am, then he'd find another mentor. Better get away from him for now.

Sanctuary in my stinky ol' office. Oh man, that plant isn't looking too good. When's the last time I watered it? And where'd this headache come from? I didn't drink any more than usual last night. Oh, my badge is on crooked. That won't do for Thanksgiving's Chief o' Police, will it? I wonder if Charlie noticed. Let me just fix it real quick... there we go. Damn, this headache is getting worse.

"Hey, Charlie! Come in here for a moment."

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring me a cup o' coffee, would ya? Black."

"Yes, sir."

That'll help a little. Ugh, gonna close these blinds for now. Sunlight is the last thing I need. Okay, better get started on this stack of paperwork. Looks like we've got a couple o' fellas in the drunk tank sleeping it off this morning. I'm lucky that's about the worst we've been getting recently. Though the amount of reports of wild animal attacks has risen lately. I wonder if it's something in the water.

"Captain Harper?"

"Yes, Charlie, come on in."

"Here's your coffee, sir."

"Thanks." Ahh, sweet, bitter salvation from my little stained mug.

"Is there anything else you need?"

The kid is restless; he wants something to do.

"Any new reports on wild animal attacks?"

"Yes, sir, just two. They're already there in your in box."

"Hmm..."

"Also, sir, we received an item for the lost and found box. It was brought in by an elderly woman earlier this morning."

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure, sir."

"Well, bring it in, let's have a look."

A mysterious item, eh? Well, this might perk up the day a little. It's good to have some mystery in one's life. Makes things more interesting.

Ahhh, this coffee is just what I needed. My headache's already fading a little. Good. It'll be easier to concentrate on the mystery. Look at me getting all excited. Feels like Christmas morning. Wow, I need to get out more.

"Sir?"

"Come in, Charlie."

"Here it is. The woman just left it here and she wouldn't give me her name. She said she found it in some bushes north of Sweet Little Factory. There was nobody else around and she didn't know what to do with it, so she brought it here."

"Why's it wrapped in a handkerchief?"

"She said that looking at it gave her a strange feeling, so she was afraid to touch it. She wrapped it in her handkerchief before she picked it up."

"Did you look at it?"

"Very quickly, but like the old woman said, I also got a strange feeling from looking at it. I, um... I thought it would be best if I left it to an expert."

Check out that sheepish look he's giving me. The kid's scared of it! Well, if he thinks I'm an expert on the unknown, I better not let him down. I'll even sit up straight and puff out my chest a little.

"Yes, I'll take a look at it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Sergeant." Let's offer him an approving nod, too.

He's smiling again. I guess he's glad that I used his rank instead of his name. Feels kinda good to make others feel good about themselves. Yeah, the coffee is definitely working now.

All right, Charlie's gone; time to take a look. Let's just unwrap it first... Huh? It's a fish hook. Well, it's shaped like a fish hook, but it's pitch black. What the heck's it made of? No metal I've ever seen, that's for sure. And Charlie wasn't lying, I do feel kinda strange when I look at it. Kinda like there's fuzz in my brain.

Ack, the phone's ringing. Good, Charlie picked it up. I guess Hank's out on patrol today; I haven't heard him stomping around out front yet. God, Hank's stomping drives me crazy! Are his shoes made of lead? We really ought to hire a secretary or something. Poor Charlie deserves better than this.

Oh, right, the mysterious fish hook. Whoa, that fuzzy feeling comes back when it look at it. Well, the hook doesn't smell like anything. Let's open the blinds a little. Huh, the hook isn't reflecting the sunlight. That ain't normal. It doesn't seem to be casting a shadow, either. Should I touch it? I dunno, this fuzzy feeling is making me really uneasy, here. But hey, I'm the expert, right? Okay... here goes...

Ugh, my stomach. Where did this come from? Shit, don't let this happen now. I think I'm gonna be sick.

Okay, breathe. Yeah, you're fine, Harper. Just keep your eyes closed and breathe. No, wait, that's making it worse. Need to look at something. Need to focus on something. Stop my head from spinning.

All right, there's a palm tree in the distance. Let's just sit quietly and look at the tree for a little while. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out. Good.

Wait... a palm tree? That ain't right. Palm trees don't grow in Thanksgiving. Wait a second, this isn't my office. Where am I? Oh my god, what's this I'm sitting on? It's some kind of fluffy, pink stuff. Looks like cotton candy. It won't budge if I tug on it. It seems... sturdy. I hope.

Okay, I think it's safe to try to stand up. I'll use whatever I've been leaning on to help balance myself. What is this thing, anyway? Some kind of tall, spirally sculpture. Huh? The ground is cotton candy and I'm surrounded by palm trees with... do they have pink trunks?

What's that noise? Sounds like splashing water. Oh, it's a cat. Huh? What's it swimming in? No, that's definitely not water. Shit, this cotton candy ground is suspended in midair! Hey ground, please don't fall. Ugh, I feel dizzy. There's a bridge over there. Those pink palm trees look safer than this weird cotton candy island. Okay, crawl very slowly over the bridge, and try not to pass out. You're doin' great, Harper.

Over the bridge now, but that urge to vomit hasn't gone away. Shit, this has to be a dream. But... I don't remember falling asleep. Is this one of those lucid dreams? Those dreams where you can do whatever you want because you know there won't be any consequences? Hmm...

Stomach is feeling a little better. Maybe it realized I'm in a dream. All right, this is kinda cool. A springy, cotton candy-like ground, cats that swim in midair, spirally sculptures, and pink palm trees. And what are those things? Huge pink seashells? With doors on them. Shell houses? All right, I can dig it.

Who's in this house? ... No one. How 'bout this one? ... Empty. Hmm. Where's everyone gone? Oh well. I'm just glad my stomach's sorted itself out. My head still feels a little weird, though. Man, this place is full of shell houses. Are they all empty? And there are more spiral towers lined up all around like a makeshift fence. Oh, I see a break up ahead. Guess I'll head out.

Hmm, another big spiral fence is up ...north, is it? Looks like some people are guarding the gate. What the hell, I'll chat 'em up. Maybe they can teach me how to fly.

Huh? What's that rustling over there in the bushes? Oh, a little snail. Nice shell - it looks like a candy cane. Shit! It spit on me! Ack, it's in my eyes! Where's that handkerchief?! ...Okay, that's a little better. Yeah, I can still see. But what did I land on? It feels like fur...

A ...bear? Well, it looks pretty friendly. ...Does it have wings? Maybe it will teach me how to fly.

Aaahhhh, shit! That damn flying bear sliced open my arm! Oh god, so much blood. Wait, this hurts. And my arm is really bleeding. What? Why haven't I woken up? I always wake up if I hurt myself this badly in dreams. Unless this isn't a dream after all. No, no, that's insane. Ugh, that feeling in my stomach is back. And my head. Ugh, please, please don't pass out.

...

"Captain Harper?"

Someone's calling my name. No, I don't wanna open my eyes.

"...Captain Harper?"

Ack, something's touching me! Get off! Oh, it's a little kid with glasses. Huh? He looks familiar. And he's with another kid wearing a baseball cap. I don't recognize that one. They're both out of breath.

"Captain Harper? Are you all right?"

Four-eyes is talking. Yeah, I think I've seen that one around town. He's looking nervously at his friend now. Oh shit, haven't I answered yet?

"Yeah, kid, I'm fine." God, but I don't sound fine.

"But your arm, sir! Your arm is bleeding!"

Oh, shit, so it is. I don't see that damn flying bear anywhere, but I can still feel the cotton candy ground beneath me. What the hell is going on? Damn, my entire body is aching.

"Where am I?"

"Ninten, I think Captain Harper found your Onyx Hook."

The kid isn't making any sense. What's an Onyx Hook? Does he mean that black fish hook?

"Captain Harper, sir, I'm going to get you to a hospital."

The kid in the baseball cap is talking now. What did four-eyes call him? Ninten? That's a weird one.

"Lloyd, grab his unhurt arm and hold on tight."

Lloyd, that's four-eyes' name. Yeah, I remember now. He's the little genius who's always causing trouble at the Twinkle Elementary School. Too bright if you ask me. It's obvious the kid's just bored and needs to be challenged more.

Huh? Something's got my arm. Oh, it's Lloyd. He's got a comforting look in his eyes. They said they'd help me to a hospital. Yes, I could definitely use some very strong painkillers right now. I don't think I can even make myself stand up. How will these two weak boys be able to carry me all that way? Does a hospital even exist in this cotton candy land?

"I'm going to stand you up now, Captain."

Ninten's got his hands on my waist. Okay, my legs still work a little. It really hurts to stand. The kid isn't letting go of my waist. Shit, now what's happening? I can't feel the ground anymore. Ugh, so dizzy. Ugggghhhhhh...

...

"Captain Harper?! Captain Harper, sir?!"

That's Charlie. What the hell's he yelling about? Shit, too many bright lights. Oh great, where am I now? Smells like disinfectant and... something I don't even want to think about. Wait, I know that smell. I guess I made it to the hospital. Did I pass out?

"Captain Harper?!"

"Damn it, Charlie! Keep it down!"

My head is pounding. The kid isn't looking too good, either. His hair's all messed up and his eyes are bloodshot. What the hell happened? What's with that look in his eyes?

"Charlie, what happened?"

"Captain Harper, you're awake!"

He's scared.

"Charlie, what happened? How did I get here? I need a doctor, my arm is... oh."

My arm's in a bandage. It's been expertly wrapped and it doesn't hurt anymore.

"Captain Harper, you've got 18 stitches in your arm."

"What?!"

"I received a frantic call from a nurse about 2 hours ago. She told me that two young boys dropped you off at the ER and then high-tailed it out of the hospital before anyone could ask them any questions. No explanation of what happened, where they found you, or how they got you here. You had a huge gash in your left arm."

"What? But wasn't that a dream? What time is it, anyway?"

"It's 6:58 pm, sir. You've actually been missing since lunchtime. I went into your office to ask what you wanted for lunch, and you were gone. I'd assumed you'd stepped out when I was in the restroom, but then you never came back."

Charlie's looking worried and relieved at the same time. It's kind of disturbing.

I don't get it. What happened to me? Was that a dream? But I knew that Lloyd kid. And my arm is all messed up. Wait a minute - the fish hook! Lloyd called it an Onyx Hook, right? Oh, but I'm wearing a hospital gown.

"Charlie, where are my clothes?"

"Right here, sir."

Somebody's folded them up neatly and laid them down on the only chair in the room. Why isn't Charlie using that chair? He keeps leaning over me as if he's my mom or something. Ah, but the kid's just worried. Don't judge him for that, Harper.

"Charlie, can you check the pockets? I was carrying that hook with me. Y'know, the one brought in by that old lady."

He's checking, but I can tell he'd rather not. He's still scared of the thing. Oh, there's that smile of his.

"No, sir, no hook."

He's happy that I lost the hook. Where'd it go?

"Excuse me, sir, visiting hours are almost over."

A woman's voice. She must be my nurse. She's talking to Charlie now. I can't hear what they're saying.

"All right, Cap'n, I'll be leaving soon. You take it easy, okay?"

"Charlie, will you come back tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir, as soon as visiting hours start."

There's his goofy grin again. I'm really starting to like it. The kid didn't need to watch over me, and yet here he is. Gotta respect that.

"Bye, Charlie."

The nurse is fiddling with my IV drip now. What's she putting in there?

"How's your arm, Captain Harper?" She's got a nice smile.

"Feels fine, all things considered."

I'll smile and try to look brave, even though today's events are still a complete mystery to me. Was a dream? A terrible, hangover-induced fever dream? But... my arm! I don't wanna think anymore.

Oh, that fuzzy feeling is back. Ahhhh, now I know what she put into my IV drip. Yeah, that's exactly what I need. A good night's sleep. Preferably one without candy snails and flying bears.