Magic Children

Chapter 11 Wabash, Indiana - Vali

"Why do you expect me to believe you?"

"Oh god you're still here," Aurora went in the back for a while. Now she's back out. We're still the only people here.

"Prove to me you don't know where Angel is."

"How?"

"Tell me where you think he might be."

"I don't know okay? I don't know---I haven't seen this person in fourteen years. I have no idea where he might be," she sighs.

"Yeah, you do," I say, taking a sip of coffee. He had to have told her something. Something. She's the only clue I have. I've come so far.

"No. I don't. I've told you everything I know. You yourself said I was sent away prior to the burning of the town," she sighs, putting her hands to her head.

"Yeah. And then Angel was declared dead which was very convenient for everybody."

"What is your plan here? Sit here bothering me until I tell you things you want to hear?"

"Uhuh," I take another sip of the coffee.

"Well, it's a waste of time. I don't know where Angel is. I haven't seen him since before our daughter was born," she says, a little painfully. How sad. Not at all.

I look over at the radio. It's playing an unpleasant song. Something about days past never to return. People sing these songs thinking there's something we're reaching towards. There's not.

"We close at 11. You have to be out by then," Aurora sighs, uncomfortably. We're the only ones here.

"Then what? You go home? You don't have a man up waiting for you yet? I'd think you would."

"Angel's hard to replace."

"Mass murderer's set a high bar? Eh, honey, there are plenty of them. They're just usually more subtle about it."

"What are you going to do? Follow me home?"

"Probably."

"You can't do that."

"You'll find I can do anything I want," I say, pick up a paper idly.

Magic Children Bank Robberies Sweep the Southwest

A sixth such robbery has taken place this time at Arizona National Bank. The robbers, who identify themselves as the 'Fallen Angels Gang' seem to have no method to their madness. Witnesses do state that the gang is polite with their demands, stealing only from the bank itself. While police have not confirmed that this current robbery is linked to the previous five, witnesses have stated that, once again, the crime was committed by an adult and multiple children, at least two of whom are so called 'mutants' which Washington continues to deny remain alive on US soil. The white house released a statement today saying that any US mutants are eradicated at birth. This statement prompts discussion----

"I'll be back," I say, standing up and pushing the coffee a little more away from her so it won't be convenient to pick up.

"Where are you going?"

"Not far," I say, and then I walk out into the lonely night.