Exile

Chapter 6 - How...

"I... I... I really should go..." Belle stuttered. She left without saying anything or giving me time to ask her to stay.

I should probably get to work anyways...

Walking down the street to work, my usual useless thought are otherwise occupied.

How does that work...

It doesn't make sense-

How can one person,

One SINGLE person...

caused all this damage.

It doesn't fit.

There's no way...

Arriving at work I still had more then one thought on my mind. I decided to do my best putting it all aside and focusing on making sure the kids did okay. I remembered all the names of the kids I was in charge of. I had ten. Nellie, Phoenix, Griffin, Jef , Tyler, Shaun, Olivia, Forest (a strange name for a child), Jasmine, and Hermione (named after the one and only).

Of course, they all had nicknames. Nellie's was Nells. Phoenix's was Fee. Griffin's was Grif. Jef's was Jef With One 'F' (the longest of the nicknames). Tyler's was Ty. Shaun's was NZ (I have no idea why he likes it but I'm not going to argue). Olivia's was Liv. Forests' was Fort. Jasmine's was Jazz. And Hermione's was Minie (pronounced like 'mine' but with a 'y' at the end.)

After checking on Nells, Fee, and Grif, I checked on Jef. He was a little behind and I feared for him. All the other kids were already on stage 4 and he's still on 2. I checked his forehead and asked the usual questions. After checking the time, 4:21, I realized it was almost playtime. I quickly rushed through the other kids and lead them, holding that little rope we all remember from preschool, to the play room. Immediately after telling them they had an hour and a half, Jef and Nellie went to the art station; Fee, Grif, Ty, and Jazz went to the building blocks and other building materials; Liv, Minie, NZ, and Fort went to play with the cars.

I watched them play for the hour and thirty minutes they had. Jef creating a drawing of what seemed like a space ship with everybody (including me) heading to a different planet, a better planet. And Nellie drew a rose. She was only 8 but was surprisingly good at drawing and coloring. They handed me their paintings and I hung them up to dry. Phoenix, Griffin, Tyler, and Jasmine went Godzilla mode on the mini-city they created and Liv, Minie, NZ, and Fort neatly parked the cars in the 'parking lot'.

I checked the time; 5:55.

I lead the kids back to their respective rooms, they all say their good byes as they leave each other, giving out their hugs.

Walking home I feel unsatisfied.

I have to know how one person

ONE person.

Could do so much damage.

I had to know.

I go to the cafe Belle and I usually meet at. She said her house wasn't very far from here. And there can't be to many places that have horses. I take a walk down what used to be State St. I see a circumstantially big house and what looks like a garage next to it. That must be the stable. I snoop around for a door that isn't in front.

What am I doing?

I see one in the back, just as Bob leaves through it.

Here's my chance

I run to the door and catch it just as it's about to close.

Okay I'm inside now.

I didn't think this through at all

Shit.

Time to go.

I run right back out and head on home.

I didn't think I'd get that far.

I have to know the answer to my question

How?