Contemplative Sensitivity

The Black Parade

It has been five years since Erwin graduated Arlert Academy, and he wasn't fond of cellphones. 

Erwin was aware that they were an ever evolving technological advancement. However, he didn't like them. They used to be big, bulky, ugly things that people could hardly afford. And he felt that people shouldn't have the ability to call you on your own time--there was a house phone for a reason. Nevertheless, about two months ago Levi and Mike dragged him cellphone shopping--their reason being that it was a secure line that no one could eavesdrop on. He acquiesced and purchased a green flip phone, and the three of them exchanged numbers. Levi told Erwin that he was always on his speed dial, but Erwin was hardly phoned and so he didn't really master the device.

So when Levi dialed him this one morning at 2:34am, Erwin was in a tizzy. He was startled and fumbled with the phone so violently, he almost dropped it on the wooden floor.

"What's up?" Erwin blinked twice, trying to shake off the sleep.

At first there was silence. Not even breathing but then Levi asked Erwin to turn on the local news.

"Okay," He said with mild curiosity. "Why are you up this late? Is it another commission?"

"It was...turn to channel eight" Levi sounded off. 

Erwin turned his tiny television on and flipped channels until he found what he was looking for. Before him, a female reporter was on the screen. Erwin couldn't even hear what she had to say because behind her was a car up in flames. Even though it was dark, he recognized the blue car. He had been a passenger on more than one occasion. He saw the fire fighters and the paramedics, and then he saw a young woman lying a few feet from the car.

Her red hair was unmistakeable.

"What the hell??" Erwin leaped up, nearly stepping on his lesson plan binder. "That's ISABEL!!"

"...I thought you'd tell me something different," Levi's voice cracked. "I didn't want to believe what I'm seeing." There was a small pause before Levi hiccuped. Erwin stiffened--Levi never cried. "I-I only turned on the news because I was up painting. I didn't want to use my Walkman and then I see her lying on the ground."

Erwin stabbed the power button on his television and began to put on his pants. "Levi, get ready. And call Mike, Cecily and Niles. We're all gonna head up there."

"I think I see Mrs. Church in the front seat... Please, hurry. ," Levi said breathily. "I can't believe this is happening. Shit! There are pulling Farlan out from the back."

"Turn off your television! Don't watch it anymore," Erwin commanded. Then, more softly, he added, "Pull yourself together. I'm literally walking out of my front door. Call the others."

"She's dead..." Levi mumbled almost inaudibly, before the line went silent.

Erwin flung open his apartment door and almost smacked into his car window. His adrenaline was high. His tongue felt thick in his mouth and he was tense. Erwin's hands gripped the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles were white and the veins in his arms bulged in consternation. Erwin prayed a silent prayer of thanks that no one was on the road--he was gunning it. He arrived at Levi's apartment in no time. Levi stood, swaddled in a thick jacket, his head low. Erwin chastised himself; he was so shocked he left the house without his own jacket.

"Mike is on his way," Levi said flatly. His grey eyes had no gleam. "But Nile and Cecily aren't even in town. It'll just be us three."