Heathens

(I)

I turned my head towards the tinted window of my car, fallen remains of what was once an apartment complex to over hundreds of people. In the drivers seat was my partner, Detective Smithe, listening to a news report from a day ago. "....suspects for the explosion of the apartment complex are the notorious group of terrorists: Heathens. CCTV footage shows two hooded figures that all residents claim they haven't seen before are shown exiting the building an hour before the explosion. Although their faces were not captured, the tattoos on their body match those of 'Viper' and 'Ox'. The true identities of the perpetrators remain unknown but leading detectives Smithe and Emin are currently on the cas-," the feed cut off as Smithe pulled out his air pods.

He had a stony face, pale and strong, his eyes were like sapphires that had lost their shine. He had dark brunette hair and a seemingly permanent poker face. He glared out the window, a glint and red fury present in his eyes. "I saw the footage," I started. "The suspects carried nothing and the tattoos were barely visible.". A bead of sweat drooped down my face as Aidan Smithes' glare was directed to me, before it calmed down to a slow sizzle. "It was them."

"Excuse me?" I wasn't sure I heard him correctly. "I know it, it was them." His monotone voice had an underlying tone of venom, and his face (though it seemed the same) had a burning gaze of hatred and determination. "I don't know how, but it was." Smithe plugged his air pods in his ears and lowered his volume. Great, I thought, Way to go Noah.

I stepped out of the patrol car, my badge on display as I surveyed the rubble. A woman in her mid thirties was holding the hand of a girl who seemed to be four or five. Mineria Miller, and her daughter, Melisa Miller.

"Hello," I greeted, startling the woman. "Mineria Miller?" she nodded and hid her daughter. I crouched down to Melisa's height as she shied behind her mother. "Hi," I whispered more softly. I brought my hands out in front of her, and reached behind her ear. As I pulled my hand away, a coin was pressed in the tips of my fingers. I opened my palm and the coin dispersed, only to reform in my other hand. Melisa stared wide eyed, trying to understand the trick she saw before her. Then I closed my hands and replaced the coin with grape flavored candy. She reached her hand out hesitantly and took the candy before unraveling it and putting it into her mouth. Mineria chuckled lightly as her daughter's eyes lit up from it's flavor.

I stood up fully, Ms Miller looked up, her guard wavering. "Ms Miller, my name is Noah Emin, I'm one of the detectives for the investigation regarding the building you lived in." Mineria looked up at me, she wasn't that short but I towered above her. "I have told the police many things, but they aren't solving anything. They are not giving us a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear. When we lived there Melli's clothes and shoes... all the money I had saved...." her eyes looked feral. "I am mad at the ones who bombed us, I am angry at what they are putting us through and though I am grateful for you trying to catch the people, I am far more upset at you for not protecting us in the first place." I stood in silence. 

"Do you know who they were?" She glared, her eyes went back to defensive, "I might,".

Melisa looked up at me, her eyes, hazel like her mothers, but warm and comforting. She put her hands out, and stuck her tongue. It was dyed purple like the candy, her teeth were slightly lighter but fully covered with the purple hue. Her black hair was tied in two short pigtails, her face was small and round, her eyes like almonds and her lips formed an adorable pout. "She wants more candy," Mineria spoke. Melisa nodded furiously. "She's mute, so she can't tell you that herself.".

I reached into my pocket and pulled three more candies, mango, apple and strawberry. I placed them in her hands as she scampered away. "Ma'am," I started, "I understand how you feel, but we really are trying to help, so if you know the whereabouts, or even the identities, of any of the Heathens, please tell us." Mineria scoffed. "I don't know who, or where, they are, but I do know this," her hazel eyes stared intently at me, daring me to argue against them. This look I remember getting as a child, mostly when I was caught doing something bad by my mother.

Mothers are very good at scaring children.

" The old world will fade, and those who won't leave it will disappear. I for one, will not leave Melisa here," if she hesitated while saying that, neither her voice nor her face betrayed that. "Of course, my apologies for bothering you Ms Miller," I grabbed a small bag from my pocket, 'Assorted Fruit Candies' was written on the label. The bag was newly opened and showed a picture of three children with colored tongues on it. I gave it to Mineria and added, "For Melissa, she should try enjoy the 'fading' world while she can."

I walked away from Mineria and trudged, defeated, towards the car. Melisa ran towards me and beckoned me closer to her. I crouched, once again, "I'm sorry, I gave all the candy to your mother,". I had thought that would get rid of the little girl, but she stayed and beckoned me once again. Her pale face had rosy cheeks and her almond eyes seemed to view the world through bright and vibrant colors. She ushered me closer, and I could see the hazel in her eyes was tinged with the slightest of blue. She held out her palm and a neatly folded piece of paper has placed itself there. I smiled, took it, and thanked her, but she didn't leave. "Excuse me, your mother is going to get mad at both of us," I scolded. She smiled, it wasn't the smile a child should have. It was cold and close to lifeless, her eyes seemed pained, nearly tired. The look in them seemed old, as if Melisa had this conversation over a hundred times in her life. I stared at her as the wind blew a whistle through my ears, "All you need is within your hands," I jumped. It was the voice of a little girl, light and without care. I rubbed my eyelids, frustrated.

Surely that couldn't have been Melissa? She was mute, and her mouth hadn't moved. I opened my eyes to ask her, but Melisa and Mineria Miller were no where to be found. I opened the piece of paper, in it was a drawing of a symbol, no, a tattoo.

It was a rooster, cared neatly in black with lines that seemed to be made of fire. Next to the image was a turtle with wave like curves along the delicate shell. Underneath both was an address, a dinner I had visited as a kid. Addy's Chicken. I got back into the car and passed the note to Detective Smithe. "Whats this?" he asked. I smiled contently and chirped, happy to be ahead of the slightly older man, "I hope you brought your appetite."

"Emin," He growled, "What is this," I sighed relief for the first time in a while, and enjoyed the surprise of Smithe's face as I told him two words. " A lead."

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