Retribution

Chapter 2

It is almost noon the next day when he finally makes it into the urban neighborhoods. The night had not eased his anxiety but it did help with his energy as there was no heat to weigh him down. Just himself, his worn out hiking boots, his water jug, and his overstuffed backpack.

He is walking in the middle of a two lane street. There is sheer silence everywhere aside from his footsteps. The lawns of every home he passes is overgrown and many have garage or front doors open, revealing belongings in a mess. Clearly, this area has been abandoned for a while. Still, he can faintly hear the sound of children playing ahead of him.

He reaches an intersection to find the roads to either side of him are full of cars. Some have their doors open and a few have broken windows or flat tires. It looks like something desperate has ensued the area. Still he hears the children. He is anxious and every step closer he can faintly hear the buzzing sound in his ears.

He continues on regardless and finally reaches the home that the sound is coming from. The children sound so happy. He has to go see. Even as all his muscles tighten and his stomach pain grows worse, he goes on. He has to see them. If but one last time.

Reaching the backyard, he thrusts open the gate to find two children swinging on a swing set. The backyard is well maintained and the sun shines strong. One is a boy about the age of six and the other a girl the age of eight. They stop swinging upon seeing him and smile. All of his issues melt away. They are so beautiful.

"Papa!" Yells the boy happily.

"Will you push us?" Says the girl.

He nods smiling and makes his way behind the swing set. He puts his empty water jug and backpack down. The children patiently wait for him to begin, not moving or saying another word.

He starts with the boy first, grabbing the chains near his waist and pulling back. He pushes the swing with reasonable force and the boy swings forward and up. As the boy begins his swing backwards, he suddenly disappears. The dirty empty swing hits him hard in the stomach. The girl makes a piercing scream at the same time. She is now gone too. All that remains is a shaded, empty swing set, vines and tall grass growing all over it.

His breathing is erratic as he takes steps backward, mortified by what had just happened. He feels like sobbing and yelling at the same time.

"Concentrate." He hears a woman whisper.

Almost on autopilot, he goes over to his backpack, undoes a clasp and it bursts open. A few devices the size of a tissue box fall out. He grabs one of the devices and places it on the swing the boy had been sitting on. He places the fallen devices back inside and forces the clasp on with a click. He puts the backpack on with a grunt, moves away from the swing set and towards the backyard gate. The buzzing in his ears is gaining volume.

He makes his way to the front of the home and she is there, waiting for him. Her arms are on her waist as if she is upset but her face is still kind.

"What are you doing?" She asks.

"Lizzy, our children..." He is barely able to speak. His throat is very dry.

"They are gone now. Concentrate!" She says sternly.

Eyes downcast and sobbing quietly, he continues his trek back onto the road towards the downtown area. Towards the tall buildings. His breathing eventually calms, but the buzzing never stops. Neither does the tense pressure of his entire body. He can still hear the very faint noise of children playing as he continues around empty cars on the roadway.