So you know that message I got from Belau last time?

You know the one saying he wanted to meet?

Turns out, big surprise, it wasn't from him at all.

No, turns out it was from three guys in ski masks and bulletproof vests who showed up with really big guns.

Oh, those poor stupid guys.

They had no idea what they were dealing with.

This is Spines. This is Spines. You know, Right after my last message, after I mentioned Bilal's name, stuff started showing up in the place I've been living.

The first time it was three willow leaves on the doorstep.

There aren't any willows around here, so I knew someone had to have left them there on purpose.

The second message was a frog in my living room.

That probably sounds gross, but he's actually really cute with these little gold speckles.

I got him a little pool to play in and some crickets, and I named him Akira.

He's not in a cage.

I figure he'll stay as long as he wants, or as long as Bilal wants.

I don't really know how I knew these messages were from Bilal.

I just felt sure of it, the same way I felt sure about Carson and the sculptures.

It's like there are some memories I don't quite have, like they're under the surface,

but they still nudge me in the right direction sometimes.

That said, those submerged memories aren't perfect.

I misinterpreted Bilal's messages at first.

I thought they were warnings, or maybe calls for help.

They're not.

...