Gunpoint Avenue

Chapter 3: The Grieving Child

"Is everything alright, Agent?" Agent Snipe asks.

"No. I used my silencer gun to stop the bad guy because I thought he was going to hurt the little kid that was still in the room. Plus, he was pointing a gun at me. Then, the child revealed that the man was his father and he died from my gunshot." I tell him.

The child continues crying. The crack in his voice is soul-crushing. He is holding onto his lifeless father and not letting go.

I did not know that he was his son. Honestly, no one knew that they were related or even knew each other. This is a shocking revelation to everyone.

"Was that the little kid?" Agent Snipe asks, overhearing the child and tearing up.

"Yes," I reply.

"What is the child doing right now?" He asks. I look at the kid and analyze his every movement. He has his hands around his father's chest. Still mourning the loss of his father.

"He is crying and hugging his deceased father," I tell him.

"What is his name? What's his age? Do you got any information about his Dad?"

"I don't know the name of the child, but he is ten years old. His father was Julian."

"Did you get his last name?"

"No"

"What was his reasoning for the kidnappings and trapping them in this building?"

"He said that he was throwing a birthday party and all the people he kidnapped were guests that he knew."

"Really? That was his reasoning?" Even my boss could not believe it. How can anyone? Only a lunatic would say something ridiculous like that.

"I was bewildered as well. I thought he was lying." I say.

"Let me speak to the kid" Agent Snipe demands. I bring my radio to the child, but not too close so that I won't be invading his space.

"Hello, my name is Agent Snipe. What's your name?"

The kid does not respond to him.

"That's fine if you don't want to talk to me. I understand that this is a traumatic moment for you. But I need to let you know that your father was not a good human being. What he did today put a lot of innocent people at risk. Thankfully, none of the victims got hurt." He tells the child.

There's a dead silence spreading through the room as it's uncomfortable and depressing for everyone.

"Listen, kid, since your dad is gone and we have no idea if you have other family members, we have to look after you until another family decides to take care of you.

I know it's scary being with a new family, but it's better than being alone. We will make sure you are fully sheltered, fed, and do whatever makes you feel happy. We will make sure you never get hurt again. You matter to us and the world." He sincerely tells the kid.

The child stops crying and wipes his nose with his shirt. His eyes are red from the number of tears that dropped.

"What about my father? He's gone and never coming back." The child asks.

"We will lay your father to rest. If you want us to do a funeral so that you may say your last goodbyes to your father, we can. It's up to you!" I try telling the child.

"Why are you talking to me? You're the one that killed my father. Now, I'm all alone!" He lashes out at me. I should not be surprised since he is emotional, but it caught me off guard.

"I understand that you're mad, but I didn't mean to-" I get interrupted by the child.

"Didn't mean to kill my father? You murdered him and he did not do anything wrong. He's not a bad guy, so stop besmirching his name. He just died and you are treating him like a monster." The kid yells out, looking and sounding furious. I had never seen a child this angry before. It's scary and sad at the same time.

"I'm sorry to let you know but your father is not a good guy." I try to reason with him.

"How would you know that? Have you spent years, months, weeks, and days with him?" The child questions me.

"No. But I do know that what he did today was not something a good sane person would do." I respond.

"Can you all just leave? I do need a lecture about how my father was evil, even though he is not. Please, leave me be!" The child yells at the top of his lungs.

The look he is giving me is full of rage. It looks like he wants me dead and gone. I had never seen a kid so angry before. I understand why he is furious at me because I did kill his father. But I had to protect myself and others before he shot anyone.

Knowing that the kid is putting all the blame on me for his father's death is soul-crushing. I love children and never want to hurt them. But knowing that I killed an important person in his life and he is going to be all alone is terrible.

An orphan child growing up in New York without no parents or guardians is terrifying. New York is one of or if not, the most dangerous places in the world. Yes, there's a lot of beautiful scenery, but there are plenty of crazy people roaming around the streets. I'm afraid that the child will get taken advantage of, hurt, or die.

I should not worry too much because Agent Snipe did say that we will provide foster care for the child. Hopefully, this will make the child feel better.

"We need to go. Staying in this building is not good for anyone." Agent Graves says and I could not agree more.

I walk towards the child to see if he's okay now. But he backs away slowly thinking that I might harm him.

"Hey kid, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know your name." I'm making sure to be friendly as possible to not anger the child anymore. All I want is for everyone to leave this building and get home.

"Why should I even speak to you? I have nothing to say to you. Plus, my name would not matter to a monster like you." He dismisses me harshly.

"I get that you're angry, but you don't have to vilify me. I had to do shoot him before he shot anyone else." I tell him.

"Can we just leave? I'm tired of talking and looking at you. Plus the amount of disrespect you have shown my father is unforgivable. You should feel ashamed about what you did. I hope you're happy that you forever ruined a child's life." The child stops talking after this. He gives his deceased father one last hug and walks out of the building by himself.

I never wanted any of this to happen. My only goal was to keep everyone safe and keep their sanity. I did manage to accomplish that with the victims. But when it comes to the little kid, I messed it up. I have to live with the fact that I killed his father, but I destroyed his life forever. I have no one to blame but myself!