The Sage and Shield

Chapter 1

Mikey Arclight's feet flew through the apartment complexes after hearing the sound of police sirens.

"Again?"

The young nine year old danced through what was considered the bad side of the neighborhood, dashing past those who seemed like bad inhabitants much older than him with no fear, some of whom noticed a strange bag.

The young boy with dark skin shining in the bright September glow picked it up.

"Get out of here, I'll handle it!"

While they all fled, he took the bag with no fear of the police sirens closing in, heading to an open window in his apartment to make a mannequin hold it, attaching the fake body to a hang glider, and let go.

His older sister sucked her teeth more annoyed a s cops came to their apartment one by one while he hid his parents extra surplus.

What happened four months ago to make them want to show up now?

She grabbed to him overhear the cops going around asking people including their neighbors, threatening they were gonna bust down the door.

"She's got a heart condition," rushing out despite her protests, confronting the cops outside.

"I'm the guy you're looking for. Leave them alone you blue pigs."

She followed him. "Please come inside, and let them breathe officers."

The one he called mean cop had to get convinced by the one who he called lean cop came inside.

"So you're saying everyone kept seeing bags like that show up randomly across this apartment but it never belonged to anyone? If that's true, why do you keep getting rid of it."

"Cuz it's drugs in those bags, stupid! No body's momma or dad do those things here and they kick their own kids out if they do. That's why it don't happen!"

"Kid has a point, these incidents can't just be episodic."

"Kid should be in school. Mom," being rudely corrected by her. "Sister, Hela is it. You seem to be in charge of the boy. You're aware that's grounds for neglect."

"Save it. Too many bullies and violence, caught someone throwing the first punch. I show up to get his work at the end of them and cover what they know."

"Why not go to another nearby school?"

"They're all bad. One a few blocks away had someone throw a chair at a teacher."

"Funny, we called the school asking about students who weren't there," said mean cop. "Mikey wasn't it? You didn't show up for most of last year."

"She already told you why. They're all monsters. Sides' I'm scored higher than most of them."

"Seventy's barely passing."

"He loses points for class participation. I let him show for the state tests and exams, our parents agreed to that."

"And what do you do when you're not babysitting him? GED?"

"Alright meathead, graduated from Franklin years ago. Content creator pays more than you crime targets."

"Still, we'll have to ask your parents for questioning."

"They've got work, and travel around so I'm in charge. Talk to me."

"Then work something out with the police or we can charge you-"

"You're blackmailing my sister?"

Lean cop brushed mean cop aside. "Now hold on, there's another way to settle this. Do you know this girl," showing Mikey the image that wowed him.

A dark skinned girl with braids for hair, wearing light breathable clothing that looked like for another country, curious with the designs and blue pigtails. "Who is she?"

"Any time people have seen those bags around, we've asked witnesses that say she's around them. We did some digging and found out her parents moved her around the same time they showed up. I know Miss Sister's about to say that's not enough to assume, but we think you could help."

"How?"

"She's going to your school. Silver Wood School this year. The last school she went to said she gave them no problems during her time, but all of her alibis add up."

"So you want me to go back and see if she's the one responsible," staring at his sister, and thinking of the mean cop's thoughts. "Fine, I'll do it."

"What? Are you sure? Mikey, you don't have to do this!"

"I don't want them to lock you up because I can't handle a couple of jerks the school won't do anything about. But you all back off me and my sister. She's done nothing wrong."

The lean cop nudged his partner for his response. "Fine."

"And leave the people in this apartment alone. If she does something, I'll let you know."

They gave him and his sister a contact. "Let us. Now head to school."

As the two left, Hela blew a sigh of relief.

"I can't believe those pricks tried to threaten me. I'd sue them."

"With what money?"

"True, if you go back I could make more videos while you're out. Fine," nudging her brother on his face and handing him extra body care. "This was going to come eventually. Remember the plan?"

"Write down what gets said, don't throw the first punch, stay in control, pay attention, and keep at least one friend." He sighed. "It'll be a pain, but I'll get through it."

She nudged him on, looking at the time. By then, class was about to start as he got on more formal clothes and a bookbag with his supplies nearby while she whipped up different food from the fridge and cupboard into his lunch box.

"Put on a good show."

The siblings bumped fists before he hustled down the stairs, racing through the shining sun warm enough to quell the breeze. The shock on the security guard's face to see him and his race up to the third floor left him finding the classroom and sliding into the appropriate room.

There were old and new faces shocked and confused as his gaze matched the girl from the photo face to face.