UnTouchable, Vol 1. Dreams, Boys and Creatures of The Night

Chapter One: Welcome Back Fletch

Local Paper, Sydney Telegraph. June 30

Early yesterday morning, Tia Mooney was found dead in her home. Police investigates say that there was no forced entry and no suspicious evidence of foul play. It was Tia's home cleaner who found her dead and alone in her room, she immediately called for an ambulance. Baker says that she had a key which Mooney had given her to do early work. Mooney would usually greet Baker at breakfast, but when she didn't awake by 9.30 a.m, Baker investigated and found what was to be, a suspicious death by her employer. Neighbours say they heard no ruckuss or cause for alarm, the Saint Vincent Police Department have made a recent statement saying "For anyone who was in or around Parson's Blvd late last night and heard any struggles to please contact Crime Officials on 134513." A recent investigation has found no witnesses.

- Susan Evans

2

It was the longest sixteen hour flight, and Ashton was tired. He was in economy, the food was tasteless and the bathroom was scary. He was given headphones and a tablet when he got bored, and the flight attendant was flirtatious, unaware that Ashton was under age and out of her league by a long shot. The airport was cold and musty, the rain from the previous night was puddled on the floor as passengers ran quickly to their terminals without even wiping their feet. He pulled is bag off the carousel and pulled it's handle up. Sighing, he walked into the greeting rooms where passengers would meet with their loved ones, usually. But nobody he loved was waiting, his parents lived in a totally different city and were aware that he travelling away for reasons of his destiny. His mother would stop by in two weeks to give him fresh clothes and see if his toilet operated functionally. He was ready. Ready to see the people he was told would continue his fate. He wasn't given a photo or a name of any of these people he was going to meet. He was just cautious to who he would take seriously. His past, Dahak and even the witches council were on his mind from the past year which would have him up in arms.

He saw it.

A boy holding up a sign that read IRWIN. The boy looked almost Filipino, but he wasn't, he was... He couldn't make up his mind what this kid was. Maybe he was born in New Zealand, maybe he's got a rich heritage. He didn't know. But he kept walking toward the boy. He nodded his head as the cute boy smiled.

"You're Ashton?" he asked.

"Apparently so." Ashton replied, the boy took Ash's bag and pulled it behind him as he threw the sign on the benches nearby. Continuing to walk, Ashton followed and tried hard to keep up.

"Aren't you from Duxton?" the cute boy asked, Ashton nodded and gripped his backpack tight.

"Yeah. Well, I was." he stammered, "I did the whole student exchange thing and kinda stayed in a small town in West Yorkshire. In the county of Beverly, just upon Angel Hill."

"I have no idea where that is, but I'm guessing it's quite British." the cute boy said, smiling quite profoundly. "Well, welcome to West Sydney. I'm sure it's no different to Duxton, just less gang related violence and a whole lot of bogans."

Ashton laughed.

It had been so long since he did. About thirty two hours. He missed his friends so much while living in a motel room and waiting for a taxi to arrive, he forgotten what it was like to smile. The motel room was small, and it didn't have much. Just a large bed, covered in plastic that smelt like piss and cat vomit. A small retro TV. Ashton forgot how bad analogue television was. He missed everything, right down to his best friend's voice. He missed it all.