Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

Flawed

April 2013,

12-year-old, blonde-haired, underdeveloped Alexander Williams just finished breakfast. His parents are sitting by his side, having their coffee, in their shabby, two-bedroom apartment, on the seventh floor of an old building in downtown. The television is on, keeping them company, when the news breaks in. An attack on the Ariston community. Everyone is dead.

They get up and rush Alex to finish breakfast. He changes to some jeans and gray shirt, grabs a coat and they enter their car, driving off to meet the others.

When they arrive at the Moore's house, Amy Anderson is already there. The Williams ask Alex to meet Rachel upstairs. Both he and Rachel pretend to be in her room and instead eavesdrop.

"The president has already blamed us," Matthew says.

"Let's make an announcement denouncing it," Amy looks to Amanda.

"What good would that do, my dearest?"

The Williams exchange a look and stay silent. Amanda nods whenever Matthew speaks.

"Are you willing to bear responsibility for the massacre of our own people?"

"Xiutzchatl was gonna give himself in. They betrayed us! Made a pact with the president! I told him what would happen. I warned him. He didn't listen. Surprise, surprise!" Matthew shouts and Rachel and Alex take a few steps back. Realizing he isn't coming their way, they go nearer again.

"They betrayed us," Stephanie Williams repeats.

"They aren't our people!" Matthew shouts again.

"Not being your people, Matthew, isn't the same as not being our people," Amy scoffs.

Matthew's eyes open wide and he takes a step closer to Amy.

"Careful now, dear. No need for more bloodshed," he laughs.

"I agree, especially since you'd be the one bleeding," she shows him a pocketknife she carries, "which one of us would be faster at activating our power?"

Matthew laughs and takes several steps back.

"They are deviants... they were massacred... the government blamed us. If what you are saying is truth, they did it. Why do you want to leave it that way?" Amy shakes her head.

"Oh, no, my dearest. I don't want to remain silent. I want to admit it. I want to say to the entire world that Rachel is... what is it called... the Angel of Death? Yes."

Alex looks at Rachel. They had seen the video, seen the power the Angel of Death had.

"I want every single deviant in this country to understand who we are, what we are capable of. I want them to fear us, like they should," he smiles, the Williams smile back and Amanda's eyes glow.

"Fear can only do so much," Amy rotates her knife on her fingers.

"I want them to understand that if they aren't in favor of us, they are against us and that we have the power to end them if we want to. They should beg for our mercy. I want every single human in this country to know that one day we'll be coming for them."

"Do you honestly believe that any deviant will support you after this? And I mean you, Matthew. There's no us here. This isn't a decision of the Five."

"Let's vote, then, Amy. Majority rules like a good old democracy, dear," he smiles. "All in favor?"

Matthew, Amanda, and the Williams raise their hands. Amy rolls her eyes and leaves the house. Noticing her niece and Alex hiding, she tells them with her head to go to the room.