walking over to the bottle.

            “Well that’s great Balto. I’m glad you decided to drink it. Balto? Balto!” she yelled.

            Balto had fallen to the deck about a foot from the water. He was twitching.

            “Ow! It burns! It burns!” Balto howled, grabbing his side. The side with the mark.

            All three had completely forgotten the mark. Boris and Jenna ran to him. What could they do? They had no clue on what was causing this. Jenna leaned over Balto. Suddenly Balto’s expression changed.

            Balto growled at Jenna with a voice that was not his own. “Get away from me. Get away!”

            Jenna was shocked. She looked into Balto’s eyes and saw pure hatred. Balto stood up and walked over to Boris. His face had taken a different look.

            Balto gave a wicked smile to Boris, which would have sent a shiver down your spine. “Hey flatfoot. Having fun?” he said with a cocky air to the new voice that had taken his own.

            Boris was speechless, his mouth hanging open.

            “What’s wrong turkey? …Cat got your tongue?” he asked with a grin.

            Jenna finally spoke out. “Balto what’s wrong  with you?”

            Balto still had the creepy grin. “Why nothing Jenna. It’s still me.”

            “Who are you fooling!?” blurted out Boris, who had regained his speech.

            Balto looked at him. “Ya know. I liked it better when you were quiet.” He walked over to the bottle. “And I never cared for bottled water.”

            Jenna realized what he was going to do. “No wait! Stop!”

            But it was to late. Balto grabbed the top of the bottle and started to whip it around. He threw it and it hit the deck. It instantly shattered into a million pieces, and the water sprayed everywhere.

            “No!” she yelled.

            Jenna gave Balto an angry look. Balto chuckled and started to sway. He fell onto the ground. He could hear is name being called while he slowly lost consciousness and everything gave way to black.

Changed

            Balto slowly started to open his eyes. Everything around him was blurred. He could here whispers around him. And then everything slowly came back into focus. He could see concerned faces all about him and the glow of a fire. He shifted his body from a laying position to a sitting one. He took a look at his surroundings. He wasn’t at his boat. He was in the boiler room.

            He rubbed his head. “Man, what a headache.”

            He just then recognized the faces around him as Boris, Jenna, Kodi, and a few other dogs. The stares unnerved him a bit. The dogs had formed a circle around him and everyone was dead silent.

            Balto stood up. “Hey guys. What’s going on? Why am I here?”

            He took a few steps towards the edge of the circle and the dogs backed away. Some dogs even had a frightened look on their face. Balto was utterly confused. He saw Jenna give a nod from the back and most of the dogs headed towards the exit, words still not escaping their muzzles. Balto was about to follow them when Jenna jumped in front of him.

            “Balto, can you please stay. We have some questions that we need answered.” Jenna said as she walked to the middle of the boiler room.

            Balto followed Jenna and he sat down.

“Could I maybe have an explanation?” he asked her again.

“Do you remember what happened the last time you were awake?” Jenna asked.

Balto paused for awhile, wondering why she was avoiding his question, but he told her anyways. “Well the last thing I remember was having a fun time with you guys. Laughing and such. And then I went over to the water and then…”

“And then what?” questioned Jenna.

“…I don’t remember… It’s, it’s all a blur after that point.” Balto said.

The room then became silent. Jenna turned around and walked to the opposite side of the room. Balto stared off into space, but his thoughts were interrupted by Boris.

“Eh, Balto, something the matter?

 “Wha?...Oh … Um… Nothing Boris.” Balto replied.

“Well good.” said Boris. “At least you are not going like couple days ago.”

“That reminds me.” Balto began. “What did happen the last time I was awake?”

“Umm...” Boris hesitated. “Hey Kodi!” he called. “Come over here for second.”

Kodi trotted over to them.

“Yeah Boris?” asked Kodi.

“Eh, nothing. Maybe just take your father to ship.” replied Boris.

“Sure thing. C’mon Dad.” Kodi urged already heading towards the door.

Balto, stunned from the previous vision, reluctantly followed. With Kodi in the lead the two passed right by the old haunted house. Balto flinched, unable to explain how he could still remember the experience so well. But he didn’t stop and they continued to the boat. About half way there Kodi started to speak.

“Ya know Dad. From what I heard from Mom and Uncle Boris, you went a little crazy a couple days ago.”

Kodi gave his dad a look and Balto nodded for him to continue. He was finally going to get the story on what had happened.

“Yeah. If I remember correctly, you looked at Mom like you hated her and then your voice changed, and then you took that bottle and smashed it to bits.”

‘Balto was silent. So that’s what they meant.’ he thought. But how could that have happened? Then it hit him.

“The spirits.” he whispered.

“Did ya say something dad?”

“Oh no. I just need to get back to think on some things.

“Okay. Well I think you can go the rest of the way without me holding your paw.” Kodi nuzzled Balto and headed back towards Nome. Balto continued to the boat and was shortly joined by Boris. It was late evening and the two fell asleep.

Days came and went with no incident. The dreams had stopped, the noises had silenced, and he seemed like his old self. Everything was back to normal. Maybe it was just a little bit too normal.  Until the sixth night that is. Balto had thought that he had gotten rid of the dreams but he was wrong.

“Well, time to hit hay.” said Boris. “And if you make it through tonight without dreams, I would think you have been cured.”

“Cured of what?” Balto asked.

“Why your paranoia of coarse.”

“Ha ha. Very funny Boris. Next I suppose you’ll do a juggle and dance number.” laughed Balto.

“Sure, but I don’t know if you want to get knocked out by bad juggling.” Boris laughed back.

“Well, I wouldn’t have to hear the singing then.”

“You’re kindness makes me feel soo loved and wanted.”

“Yup. I’m a giver.” yawned Balto. “Good night Boris.”

“Good night to you too.”

Balto woke up at his boat. The sun was high in the sky and nothing seemed out of place. His water bowl and blanket were still there but Boris was nowhere to be found. For no reason in particular, he decided to go into Nome.

Balto stood up and daintily stepped over a sleeping Boris. He carefully and quietly walked off the boat and headed to Nome.

Balto walked into town to find no one their either.

“That’s kind of strange. Where is everybody?”

He