Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"I am Draco Lurie. I have been a member of this congregation all my life. I have sat in the first row and listened to The Creator's words all my life. I was born with privilege and yet, still I listened with wonder at The Creator's teachings, I knew I could do better. I know The Creator spoke the truth.

This hall is vast. The Town Hall must be the biggest in our country. When I was ten-years-old a special person was brought into my life. My father, the High Lord Lurie, had found Miss Cecil. She lived with her family in The Labyrinth, a place I had yet to know much about. It was she, who opened my eyes to the world. I saw how The Creator touches everyone, people materially and emotionally worse off receive so much help and guidance from him. At the age of ten, I didn't see the rest of you but I do now.

I see you, sat at the back, listening to me, someone who you can hardly see, let alone relate to. I will go back to my loving family and you may go back to your hard life. My friend, Miss Cecil, believes in you. She believes that we are all good and I believe that too.

Yesterday, we were struck by tragedy. Confusion and fear linger in its wake. As a Home Security Officer, I understand. I was there. I felt that terror first hand. My home, my familiar setting, our Market Square, suddenly turned into a nightmare; I looked the demon in the eye and I was afraid. I was afraid that this was really what the world was like; there was evil just waiting there in plain sight. That I was on my own. But this is a lie. People are good. Good people rose up against evil yesterday, they shed their fear and outnumbered the demon, one to dozens. You defeated the devil.

We were warned, we acted and this is the retaliation of a weak enemy. We must continue to work together. Though we may not have an otter by our side to guide, we have our morals. The lessons we learnt in these very walls are instilled in us, innate in us and when challenged we will do the right thing. We will do the right thing. You will do the right thing."

The applause was passionate from the Luries around and just as inspired by the rest of the elite. Draco came down off the stage modestly, a picture of graceful but strong man. Darlin embraced him and then was told to sit down by her father. Draco continued to his seat. His father gave him a slight nod as they passed each other. Draco sat down and Francis glanced at him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear.

"Why? I told you, you could," Francis shrugged and turned to listen to his father.

Draco was put onto more patrols. He was expected to attend every event by his parents' side and keep Captain Randall's company. One day he was taken to the holding cells within the Town Hall. The glass cells continued many strange things; from animals to people to what seemed to be empty air. Captain Randall showed him some of his favourites; a boy was sat with his head in his hands. He looked up as they approached, he had one bright green eye and the other was so dark it looked black. Draco watched as Randall tapped on the glass, the boy stood and approached them. Randall raised a finger, gesturing for the boy to turn around. The boy did as he was told and Draco found himself looking at a brilliant pair of wings. They looked like long tresses of cloth, green in colour, that hung from his shoulder blades like a cloak. Randall banged on the glass violently and the material bristled, seeming to fragment into feathers but then acquired a sheen. They had gone brittle and transformed into wing's similar to that of an insects, instead of feathers made up of little slates.

"His mother believed he was an angel," Captain Randall laughed.

"Will he go to the Information Units?" Draco asked. Watching the wings melt slowly back into being useless.