*Hey guys. To let you all know that I did make some edits to the previous chapters so you might see slight changes that will make it better for you all to read. So, this is published on January 11, 2020. The next episode will come out next weekend. Thank you all so much for your support and reads. If you like this part or any of the parts, please give it a vote and/or comment. The intro song is always One Foot by Walk the Moon. Have a blessed day! Enjoy!*

Flashback:

Fifteen-year-old Sam followed the mysterious man through the abandoned building out in the country and away from the crowded city, his shoulders tensed throughout the building. He noticed a hooded man watching him closely as he trailed behind the man with red fur into his yellow house behind the abandoned house. The man opened the door for Sam to walk through. Sam entered the house warily, rubbing his arm nervously.

"Let me guess," The man began while turning on the lights in his house. "You ran away from somewhere? Home, I'm guessing?"

"I-I don't have a home," Sam uttered sadly while taking a seat on the yellow couch in the living room. "I never had a home in the first place."

The man didn't seem phased by Sam's words, but it did get him to think. "I see. No mother or father--?"

"No."

"Hmm...so an orphan...? Tell me, boy, were there any people who you considered friends and family?"

"What does it matter to you?" Sam snarled a bit, raising his brow to question why the man was in his business.

The man sternly stared at Sam and sat on the couch across from Sam with the wooden coffee table between them. "I see that look in your eyes when I found you in that alleyway and you followed me here for a reason."

"What were you going to offer me?"

"A job."

"A job?"

"Yes, you're the perfect fit for the job."

"What kind of jobs are we talking about?"

The man curved up a smirk at Sam. "Something that'll make it worthwhile."

The man tossed a tiny purse of brunkels on the coffee table in front of Sam. Sam bulged his eyes out while hearing the clings from brunkels inside of the purse. He picked it up and examined it.

"It can buy you anything you want...even happiness."

Sam sternly gazed up at the man. "Who are you?"

"I want to ask the same about you."

Sam paused while hesitating. "Sam."

"Abbot...Jeckles Abbot."

Sam stared at the small purse full of brunkels for one last time then shifted his focus on the man known as Jeckles Abbot. "When do we start?"

~.~

Unlike Guy, Sam never participated in school or anything. He began participating in robbing banks, making up many aliases so people can easily take in his charm, and earning enough brunkels to just order green eggs and ham. He never hesitated to jump into opportunities that were risky to take while working under the most infamous crime boss in all Florianna, Jeckles Abbot. The thing to know about Jeckles Abbot was that he's cold. His heart was cold and hardened when looking into the eyes of humanity. And--

Sam, now an adult, strolled through the discreet hideout underneath an abandoned building to see his boss.

Oh! This was where Sam was assigned something that changed his life forever.

Sam walked into Jeckles holding a pistol at the man's head, with the man trembling and tearing up.

"Please," The man begged, causing Sam to softened his gaze with pity. "Please, don't do this! I have a family...I need to take care of them...Please, just give me a chance to make it up to you--"

Jeckles pulled the trigger and ended the man's life, causing Sam's heart to sink. But he hardened his gaze to make it appear that he had no emotions to Jeckles. Jeckles chuckled while putting his pistol away.

"Sam, you're just the person I needed," Jeckles ignited the conversation.

Sam glanced back over at the dead man. "What's going on over here?"

"Idiots not doing their job. However, his family will be off the list soon enough. So...since this idiot won't do this assignment because it's too 'complicated', I trust you to this assignment."

"Anything for the brunkels."

Jeckles smirked at Sam's response. "I like your enthusiasm, I Am. Which is why you will be going to Glurfsburg."

"Glurfsburg?"

"Yes, to the Glurfsburg zoo specifically...you must collect one of the rarest animals in the whole wide world."

"You want me to capture an animal?"

Sam had a small weakness for animals but maybe it will be something worth his while as long as he doesn't get to kill it.

Jeckles nodded his head. "Yes. There's a collector who is willing to pay double the brunkels you received on a daily basis."

"Alright. What animal am I looking for and who am I selling it too?"

Jeckles widened his smirk. "Straight to the point? The collector's name is Mr. Snerz and the animal you will be collecting for him is a rare species called a Chickeraffe."

"Interesting."

"You will go to Glurfsburg and make your way towards Meepville. Don't let those...what do you call 'em? The B.A.D.G.U.Y.S. catch you."

"I won't. Consider the job done."

"I will believe it when I hear Snerz's satisfaction. You got it?"

"Got it."

"Good. Now, go, you got a train to catch," Jeckles informed as he tossed Sam a train ticket to him.

Sam nodded in understanding while about to strode off to exit the lair.

"Sam."

Sam turned around to face Jeckles.

Jeckles curved up a smirk. "Have a travel buddy with you."

"Why?"

"Well...that way you can use him to your own advantage--get your buddy to trust you and they will do whatever you tell them to...but whatever you do...don't get close with them...you know what will happen--."

"I understand, boss. I won't let them get close."

"Good."

Sam exited out of the lair, leaving Jeckles alone down there with a hooded man standing beside him from the shadow.

"Watch him for me, will you? He never has a partner in crime. Make sure he's doing his job," Jeckles instructed the figure. The figure nodded and followed Sam without being noticed.

~.~

Present:

Sam woke up to the smell of green eggs and ham. He snapped his eyes open with pure excitement but was quickly surprised by the surroundings he was in now. He knew he traveled throughout the foggy desert to find Guy or Michellee...or even E.B, but he never knew it would come to him passing out in the middle of the desert from exhaustion. Wait, was he dead? Sam checked his pulse and looked around the dark isolated bedroom. It reminded him back when he's an orphan...how much he spent in the cold room alone, awaiting his mother's return but he knew she couldn't come to him.

Sam shivered in the cold while sighing deeply, creating a frosty air. He noticed a light that revealed there were the stairs that led downward. Sam decided to check it out and investigated the light. He warily stepped down the stairs, with the scent of green eggs and ham growing stronger and stronger the closer he got to it. He peeked around the corner into the kitchen to notice someone familiar woman cooking green eggs and ham. She had dark yellow fur with a green tank top and no hat this time. She's humming a song, seemed to be spaced out.

"Gluntz?"

Gluntz quickly turned around to notice Sam staring at her with confusion. "Hey, Sam! I didn't hear you get up."

"You're cooking green eggs and ham?"

"Yeah, I thought I would try them. It doesn't hurt to try, right?"

Sam edged a surprised smile while stepping into the kitchen. "Yep, I like the way you think."

Gluntz chuckles nervously. "Hehe, it's just something I want to do. I'm almost done."

Sam looked around the kitchen with a raised brow. "Question, how did I end up here?"

"I saw you past out in the middle of the desert while driving back home. But, for a split second, I don't have any idea if I should help you or not. Well, because you are a criminal and all."

"I was a criminal. But that's done and over with."

"I'm just saying. I don't know you personally. The two things I knew about you are that you like Green Eggs and Ham and you're a criminal. But, I figured McWinkle cleared out your records for a reason and you do look hungry and thirsty--."

Sam's stomach growled aggressively, interrupting Gluntz.

"So, I took you in and let you rest upstairs in my room," Gluntz continued with a smile.

"Thank you, Gluntz...quick question, though. Have you seen Guy, Michellee, or E.B while you're on the road?"

Gluntz pondered for a moment and shook her head. "Nope, haven't seen them."

"Okay. Have you seen a random stranger or--?"

"Nope."

"Cool."

Gluntz noticed Sam having a worried stare set on the counter, softening her gaze. "Why don't you take a seat at the kitchen table? I'll bring you the food."

Sam smiled sweetly to her. "Thanks, you're a peach."

Gluntz blushed slightly while Sam walked towards the dining chair and sat on it. Gluntz had the food ready while she placed it on a couple of glass plates and carried them into the dining room. She set one fo the plates down in front of Sam, who swiveled his tongue in delight.

"This looks delicious," Sam complimented Gluntz's cooking while savoring the smell of it.

Gluntz set the plate down in front of her chair and took a seat with a chuckle. "Well, don't just stare at it. Dig in!"

"That won't be a problem." Sam smirked while chewing a piece of one of his eggs. He swallowed down his throat and examined it deeply, puzzled.

Gluntz took notice of Sam and raised her brow. "Did I fail at making them?"

Sam snapped out of his trance while shaking his head quickly. "No, no, no, you didn't fail. They taste great but...these eggs...just reminded me of my mom."

Gluntz softened her gaze while leaning in close to listen to Sam. "Do you miss your mom?"

"Well, I never saw my mom."

"What?!" Gluntz gasped while becoming baffled for a moment, "Wait, what about the times where you yack about how great your mother is-?"

"I made all those up."

There's a distant pause. Gluntz exhaled deeply while gazing at Sam softly. "You're-You're an orphan?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, Sam...I haven't looked at your record-." Gluntz immediately had a light bulb in her head.

Sam noticed Gluntz pondering for a moment. "What?"

"Records! Records!!! I have your records from your birth!!! We can find out who your mother is!! And where she is!!"

Sam bulged his eyes up, hope twinkling in his eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Gluntz nodded with a bright smile. "I think it might be here somewhere!"

Gluntz zoomed out of her seat and searched through her house. Sam waited patiently and continued to eat his supper. He saw Gluntz sprinted back to the dining table while carrying a big box with the first names that start with 'S'. She browsed through the names until she picked up the folder that had Sam's full name on it.

"There you are!" Gluntz announced as she opened up the folder. Sam stared at it to notice the useful information about him. The certificate read:

Name: Sam-I-Am

Birthdate: November 12, 1989

Siblings: None.

Mother: Ava-I-Am

Father: Stan-I-Am.

Location: Unknown.

Sam gasped while reading this, tears edging out of his eyes. "My mother--her name is Ava. And my father's name is Stan? Are my parents together?"

"I don't know." Gluntz shrugged her shoulders.

Sam gazed up at Gluntz, desperately. "Do you have any files of Ava and Stan?"

"I have both files for your mom and dad. Hold on!"

Gluntz zoomed out of the dining room and searched through her house again. Sam waited while looking over his information thoroughly while smiling excitedly.

Sam can't believe he just discovered the name of his parents. He wondered what they are like. What do they look like? The only parent he remembered was his mother...if he had the information about her and his birth father...he might find them both.

Gluntz returned to the room with two files that labeled 'Ava-I-Am' and 'Stan-I-Am'.

Sam analyzed his mother's file first. The file stated:

Name: Ava-I-Am

Birthdate: August 12, 1970

Spouse: Stan-I-Am

Siblings: Unknown

Children: Sam-I-Am

Location: Florianna.

"Florianna?" Sam questioned out loud. "I-I thought she's at East Flurbia. And she has siblings?"

"Yes...but we don't know who they are," Gluntz answered with a shrug.

Sam shifted his glance over to his father's file while informing:

Name: Stan-I-Am

Birthdate: May 23, 1968

Spouse: Ava-I-Am

Siblings: None

Children: Sam-I-Am.

Location: Florianna.

Cause of death: Vehicle accident.

Sam gasped while examining the file. "M-My dad...died?"

"I guess so."

Sam sighed sadly while caressing the paper of his father. "Well...I guess there's no point in finding him then."

"He's buried at Florianna--"

"I can't go back there...not after I double-crossed Snerz."

"Why?"

Sam paused himself while glaring ahead of him. "I know someone from there...and he'll kill me if I ever set foot in Florianna. He'll kill me and Guy...along with Michellee and E.B."

Gluntz narrowed her brows together. "What's his name?"

"I can't tell you his name...he'll kill you too if you knew."

Gluntz chuckled. "Really? Do you think I should be afraid of whoever he is?

"I'm serious, Gluntz...I don't want anyone to get hurt...all I can tell you is that--he's worst than Snerz."

"I can tell. Is he rich?"

"No...he-he's a crime boss in Florianna."

"A crime boss, eh? I can handle crime bosses."

"He's different."

"Still. I can handle him."

Sam rolled his eyes at Gluntz's confidence. Suddenly, there's a knock from the front door of Gluntz's house. Gluntz zoomed towards the front door and opened it with a dramatic gasp.

"Hey! I haven't seen you in a while!" Sam heard her shout excitedly.

Sam walked through the living room towards the front door to notice Gluntz hugging McWinkle.

Wait! McWinkle is alive!!! How?!?

Sam widened his eyes while staring up at McWinkle.

McWinkle groaned irritably a bit at Gluntz. "Gluntz, you know I don't give hugs."

Gluntz smiled faintly and zoomed back away from him, rubbing her arm bashfully. "I-I know that, sir. Uh...well...I--"

McWinkle strode through Gluntz's house while she closed the door behind him. "No time for social activities. We got a problem."--McWinkle noticed Sam while taking his shades off--"Sam, you're just the person I want to see."

"Wait a minute...what's going on?"

"The Ghost...there's never one person."

"What are you talking about?"

They heard a knock again while McWinkle smiled in relief. "Just in time."

"McWinkle, what's going on?"

McWinkle had his hand on the doorknob while glancing at Sam. "He's going to explain the rest to you."

McWinkle opened the door to reveal a figure...but Sam recognized the figure, which brought him a relieved smile as well.

~.~

He's only watching the camera screens of every corner throughout the country in the darkroom. The room itself was huge with endless screens. He's standing on the platform, watching that particular house in Dewhill--a two-story house that revealed to belong to Gluntz's. He heard footsteps coming up behind him. He turned his head to notice a hooded assassin approaching him.

"The assassination is done, boss."

"How sad. Didn't even show that he still has a soft spot for his big brother. Thank you. Now, continue on with the mission."

With that command, The assassin disappeared into the shadows without a trace. That's when the boss curved up a smile. He used the remote to move the platform towards the left side to see all the cameras for transportation. He found the orange-fur man he's after while widening his smirk.

"I guess there's a reason why Sam gave up the crime life," He muttered to himself. The orange-fur man sitting on the bus was Guy himself. And Guy was staring back at the camera watching him.

~.~

Dave, the muscular man with bright blue fur and red and black checkered flannel shirt, drove his red truck through the desert. He had the music blasting since there's no one here in this country road in the dead of night. His headlights were bright so he can see the street clearly...clearly enough to notice two strangers wandering around the desert night. It's a brown-haired woman with her purple beanie and dress with a young daughter, assuming to be hers, ambled aimlessly through the room. Dave widened his eyes while slowing his truck down to approach the ladies. He rolled down his passenger window and lowered the volume of the music. The adult woman noticed Dave leaning forward a bit to talk to her.

"Hey, do you ladies need a ride?" Dave offered, noticing that the woman's brown hair had been messy.

The woman raised her brow. "No, thank you."

"Mom...we don't even know where we are even going! We can't just stay stranded like this--"

"E.B, honey, it's dangerous to hitch-hike with a total stranger. We don't even know who this man is--"

"Dave," Dave introduced politely with a soft grin. "My name is Dave. Yours?"

The woman hesitated a bit. "Michellee. This is my daughter, E.B."

"Hi," E.B greeted while waving.

Dave tipped his head respectfully. "Top of the evening. Are you sure you don't need a ride?"

Michellee ignored Dave. "Yes."

"Okay...I'm just going to tell you that there are poisonous snakes out here."

"Snakes?!" E.B. gasped, clinging onto her mother.

Michellee sighed irritably. "There are no snakes out here."

"How do you know? Have you been here before?" Dave questioned Michellee, raising his brow.

"Why don't you do me a favor and stop scaring my daughter?"

"Hey, I'm just spitting out the facts," Dave replied honestly with a shrug. Although, he did notice something slithering up to the ladies. "Uh...something is behind you guys."

"Really?" Michellee snarled while crossing her arms. "We're not playing games."

E.B. heard hissing sounds while she quickly turned her head to look behind her. "Mom! Snakes!"

"Wha--?!" Michellee screeched while realizing that there is a group of rattling snakes coming up to them.

Luckily, Dave popped the door open quickly. "Get in!"

Both Michellee and E.B. hopped into Dave's truck while Michellee slammed the door shut. One of the snakes began climbing with its sticky belly up to the open window. Michellee rolled up the passenger window door quickly to prevent the snake from coming into the truck. Dave slammed his foot onto the gas pedal and the red truck sped away from the group of snakes. The three of them looked up at the sign that reads:

Welcome to The Desert of Snakes.

E.B. and Michellee shifted their gazes at Dave, who just chuckled.

"Huh...even the sign says it."

"Thank you for saving us back there," E.B. thanked Dave.

"No problem. So...where are you ladies heading?"

"Anywhere but here," Michellee sighed while looking outside into the dark night.

"Well...it might take a while to get out of the desert but I'll see what I can do," Dave determined as he drove the truck through the desert in the night. 

To Be Continued...

End credits song will always be Whispers in the Dark by Skillet. 

https://youtu.be/ZRG5oOL5WO0