"I've seen most of my friends - some before school, even. Or was that a not-too-subtle hint that I ought to go?" He smiled thinly. "I...am sorry about your brother, Dennis. I know it is small consolation, but I do understand, a little. My sister was injured, when they came for me. She died while I was away." His eyes were very distant as those words left his mouth. Like he was trying to be someone else or just not there at all. "I did not find out until much later. She had nothing to do with any of this."