Hi. I'm Alex Walker. Ten years old, all elbows, and the strongest thing about me used to be my smell.

No parents. They left me a box and disappeared. Inside the box was a ring. The ring shook. I told myself I was tired.

I was not tired.

Now there's a girl living in my head who won't tell me her real name, a screen in front of my eyes with numbers that go up when I eat things I really shouldn't be eating, and a lot of monsters who'd like a word.

Is it gross? Yes.

Does it work? Also yes.

Go from walking lollipop to something the Hunters can't explain, one bad meal at a time.

...What do you mean, "what's the catch"?

"Two DAYS? You haven't eaten in two days? This forest is full of food!"


"It is full of rabbit." Kanos put him down and looked offended. "And a deer, with thin legs. A red does not hunt weak things. Mother said so."


"Your mum said don't kill them for fun! She didn't say starve!"


'It is not the same,' said Luna. She sounded like she was trying not to laugh, and something else as well.


Alex dug a ration out of his pack and held it up.


Kanos sniffed it. "What was it, when it lived?"


"A red does not eat bean." He folded his arms again. "First we fight. Then we eat something big. You promised we would play."


"He says he's delighted to see you again."


Chapter 121 - Chapter 121 - A Red Does Not Eat Bean