Two Magic Kids (Nerrison)

10.

Harrison was really excited to see his brother. It had been years since he'd seen Oliver. It was a simple magic trick that made him disappear. Harrison never forgave himself, his parents didn't forgive him either.

Nerris was also ready to meet the  young boy. Harrison had only spoken of him a couple times, and about good memories of his brother. To be exact, Oliver had been gone for five years. Harrison had to live with the guilt.

"You have no idea how amazing this is, Nerri! My long lost brother. Wait, what if he's mad at me? What if he hates me for what I did? What if-" Harrison was going to end up rambling forever. But, Nerris was smart, and shut him up with a small kiss.

"Everything will be fine. You may have made him disappear, but you also made him come back." She explained, hugging him. "Y-yeah, I know. I'm just worried and anxious. Five years with out him, you'd think I would be more excited than nervous." He said.

They both pulled away. "My parents are on their way." Nerris said, checking her phone. "Okay, are we going to tell them the truth?" He asked. She shook her head, "They'd send us both to a mental hospital."

They both laughed a little. "You're right." Harrison agreed. They continued to talk about when they were at Camp Campbell. That was when they absolutely hated each other. Now, it's the complete opposite.

They heard someone knock on the door. Harrison and Nerris exchanged unsure glances. On one hand, it could be his brother. On the other, it could be her overprotective parents. Or neither. It could be the mailman.

They got up and looked through the peep hole. "It's a small child, and the small child's parents." Nerris said smiling. "It must be them! Open the door!" Harrison yelled.

She opened the door, still smiling. But Harrison got the first word in. "Mom! Dad! Oliver!!" He said. The small boy jumped at Harrison. "Big Bro! It's been so long!" Oliver said, crushing his brother with a hug. "I know!! I missed you so much, you have no idea what I did to try and get you back." Harrison replied.

Nerris stood next to them, a huge smile on her face. The parents carefully stepped in after their youngest son. They seemed hesitant. Nerris decided to greet them. "Hello, it's nice to seem you guys again." She attempted at starting a conversation.

"Hm? Oh, yes. You too." The mother brushed off Nerris' comment like it was some dust. The couple seemed distracted. "Um, could I get you anything? Maybe a glass of water?" Nerris attempted again.

"Uh, no thank you." The dad replied. "So, Harrison, m-my boy, did you b-bring Oliver back?" Harrison nodded after letting go of his brother.

"It took a while, five years," he started with a chuckle,"but I did it. He's back!"

Harrison's mother scoffed and whispered under her breath, "It took you long enough."

Nerris heard that. "I know this isn't any of my business, but it doesn't seem like you did anything to help. After losing your youngest son, you made your oldest an outcast. Be thankful you have either of them." The girl said, annoyed.

"Nerri, I can handle this. You don't have to-" Harrison started. "No, I'm not finished." Nerris started again.

"Listen young lady. We were terrified of the fact that Harrison basically killed his little brother. Who knows what he could've done to us? We weren't going to help that monster." His mother snapped.

Nerris was about to be pushed over the edge. No one talked to her friends like that. And no parent should talk to their kids that way. "If I remember correctly, Harrison told me when he first came here, that you found someone to help with his magic. Tell me, who was that person?" She asked no one in particular.

Harrison spoke up, "I can't answer that. I've only been here for a couple of days, and I haven't seen anyone to help me. Why is that? Mom? Dad?"

This took the parents off guard. "We, uh, did find s-someone! They moved into a d-different office as soon as we got here!" The dad tried to explain. "You didn't tell me that." Harrison replied.

"Fine!! We hired a demon! We have magic too, and your dad' and my magic were to strong combined. So your magic was out of control!" His mother explained in one breath.

"You did what?"

"You h-heard your mom. And we don't regret our decision. When Oliver disappeared is when we gave up magic for good. W-we put on this act so you wouldn't blame us for your power. When y-you started breaking things around the house is when the act became our actual feelings." His dad said.

"You hired Shadow.....?" Harrison whispered, looking down. "S-Shadow? How do you know him? He said he'd remain anonymous to you while he helped you." His mother asked.

"He almost killed us! He took over Harrison and caused all kinds of pain! That was your doing." Nerris began tying everything together.

"That wasn't in our deal!" His mother raised her voice. "You made a deal with a demon, mom. As I did. He came to me, saying he could get Oliver back. But for a price. I was willing to do anything to get him back. I.... I killed someone...." Harrison explained.

Nerris had completely forgotten about Peter. Oliver finally said something, "You did that for me, Harrison......?" He asked. "Of course Oliver." The older brother replied.

The police would never find Peter's murderer. Shadow made sure that there was no evidence, not even footprints, left at the scene. They'd search and search, but they'd come out with nothing.

"Harrison..... you, actually killed someone....?" His dad said, not sure if he heard correctly. "I didn't. Shadow did. He made me. I couldn't control myself." Harrison explained carefully.

". . . . ."

"OUR SON KILLED SOMEONE!!!!" His mother yelled. Nerris face palmed, "First of all, he said it wasn't him. It was Shadow. The demon that you hired." She said, "So overall, you guys should take the blame."

Oliver stood in silence as they continued to argue. The day he gets back, this happens. When he 'disappeared', he only went a couple towns over from their old home. He found a family there. While Oliver was gone, so much stuff had arose. He was confused, so he decided to ask.

"Guys, you know I was just a few hours away, right?"

That didn't help the situation. When Harrison made Peter disappear, he went to the town park. That means Harrison knew where Oliver was. Because he knew where he sent Peter. He was able to control it. But, when the younger brother turned up missing, Harrison's family had moved. They moved farther away from the child they were looking for.

To save the struggle, Harrison lied, "You could've been anywhere, Oli. We searched all around our old town. We put up posters. Nothing came up. Until this. All the details don't matter. All that does is that your home now."

Harrison made him disappear for a reason. At the time, their parents were alcoholics. They didn't treat either of them right. He wanted a better life for Oliver. So he played it off as a failed magic trick.

Then, when they moved to Nerris' town, the parents took it as an opportunity to save themselves, and they let Harrison stay with Nerris' family. Shadow was real, though. He was summoned by Harrison's mom and dad. They didn't know how bad it would turn on them.

The door was still open, so Nerris' parents walked in and hugged her. They had just arrived back from their business trip. "Nerris the Cute!! Oh my mana I was so worried about you!" The Elder One said. Her mother nodded, "We're glad your okay."

Everyone calmed down, and took a seat in the living room. "Now can someone please explain to us what happened?" Nerris' mom asked politely.

Might as well tell them everything, Nerris thought.

"Well it all started when," Then she explained the entire thing.

". . . ."

"What?"