ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Thirty Two - Truths

Truths

Bane tossed and turned in his sleep.

An image of a lost child walking around the market square in the midst of strangers flashed in his mind. The blonde little boy was no older than five and Bane could feel his battle of emotions; the pumping heart, the rush of fear and threatening tears. In the distance they both heard the faint cries of a mother's distress. The boy ran off with a smile upon his face in the direction he thought would take him to his mother. He called out again but there was no familiar reply to be heard. Whichever way he turned in the crowd he could not find her, it was all so confusing, with so many people rushing to and fro. Bane screamed out trying to break free of the nightmare as a tall blonde headed man leant down on one knee and smiled at the boy.

"Little Johnny!" he stated placing one hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't you know not to run off away from your ma and me?"

The boy threw himself into the man's outstretched arms. "Daddy! I'm sorry, I got lost."

A great wave of calm fell over the boy like an invisible cloud. He looked up into the man's smiling face no longer feeling afraid. The cries of his mother were also far removed from his consciousness as the man ruffled his blonde hair.

"Well come on, let's find your mother before she gets worried. But first I think we shall buy you an ice-cream to put a smile on your face, hey son?"

The boy let out a whoop of laughter as the strong man hoisted him upon his shoulders and walked away from the commotion of the markets and the distant pleas of a mother calling out for her lost child. "Where are we going now? The ice-cream man is back the other way, Daddy."

"I think we should play a game, I have another surprise first, Johnny. Just close your eyes and think yourself in a magical place where only the most special and bravest children get to visit, doesn't that sound like fun?"

"Yes! Will there be other children there? Will we all get ice-cream?"

"There sure will be plenty of ice-cream for everyone. Now close your eyes like I said and we'll begin our journey."

The boy did as he was bid as the man carried the child through the poor area towards the Warehouse District. "Is mama coming to this magical place too?"

The man laughed lightly. "Not today son. This is a special place just for brave men like you and me, it will be our secret."

"I won't tell nobody, promise!"

"That's a good lad."

The boy peeped out of one eye at the long line of old buildings with various coloured doors. "Is our magical place in there, Daddy?"

The man nodded and stepped before the building with a red door. "Through there I think we will find our magical gateway that will take us to our treasure island."

"Yeah! A treasure island! I want to go to a treasure island! I want to be a pirate and find lots of gold!"

"That you will, Johnny."

As they stepped through the door of the warehouse the man posing as the boy's father closed the door and put the boy down from his shoulders. He pulled a small metal device from his coat and proceeded to press a series of buttons oblivious to the boy looking on with wide eyes as it started to beep. An aura of light surrounded the man and boy illuminating the empty warehouse building. The buzzing that now radiated about them brought shivers to Johnny's bare arms. "Wow, what is that, Daddy? I've never seen such a thing before."

"It is what we will use to travel to the treasure island I spoke of. Only special pirates get one of these."

Johnny's eyes were wide. "You're a pirate daddy?"