Short Stories

The Thief

He ran the streets. He took on a name that spoke horrors into children's ears or parents. He was a drug dealer, a murder and a strategical man. He leaned against a brick wall, his hands in his pockets as a small child, approximately thirteen, trying to get food from a vending machine. The teenager who leaned on the wall, looked around, seeing no one around. He walked up to the kid, kicking out a foot, hitting the machine hard enough for the food to drop.

The kid looked at him, his eyes wide with suspicion and awe. His clothes were new, pressed and ironed. The teenager grunted softly, this hit was going to be a fight.  The little boy titled his head, his dull brown eyes narrowing.

The teenager smirked and lowered himself to his height, becoming face to face with the little boy. "What are you doing by yourself?"

The little boy shrugged, his eyes darting around him. "I lost my parents in the crowd. I wanted something to eat." Glancing down at the kit Katie in his hand.

The teen shifted and smiled at the boy, charming. "Want to be by yourself? No parents or grown ups?" The little boy's head jerked up, awe glazed his eyes. He gave a sharp nod, eagerness burned deep in his eyes. The teen gave a soft laugh, a dark sense of humor crossed his mind. He held out his hand to the thirteen year old. "I can lead you there."

Surprise and wariness settled within the boy's mind, the teen could see him wrestling with his choices. Finally he shook his head and stepped back. Anger flooded the teen, he lurched forward and grabbed the boy. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered, "No one will notice you've gone." Then hit the back of the kid's head, knocking him out. Smiling in satification, the teen pulled the child over his shoulders. He grunted with effort and began his journey home.

A clue laid within the scene. The lonely kit kat fell from the kid's hand, onto the street, right beside the vending machine.

~~~~●~~~~~~●~~~~~~

The captain and detective of the police department, George Hook, settled beside a kit kat that was found where Jonny Hillson was last spotted. The clue wasnt enough for Hook to go on, not against the man behind this. He shook his head and stood up. The others that surrounded him were looking at him, waiting for his next move.

Hook nodded towards the scuff marks near the pavement by the road. It matches the same man who took the three other boys. No one believed him, or rather just thought he was going crazy. But that night three years ago when his own son went missing, Hook never stopped looking, not when he caught a glimpse of the corporate.

The police among him muttered and dispersed as Hook studied the foot prints. The foot prints were deeper in the somewhat dewy mud. It basically indicated carrying a heavy load.

He shook his head, worried about the boy he took with him. A glitter of movement caught the edge of his eye, qs two people forced their way into the scene. He sighed and came up in his feet.

The mayor and his wife stood there with their arms crossed. The wife looked upset, her eyes puffy and red, dried tear tracks rolling down her cheek. Johnny was their boy, the mayor's son.

The wife caught his eyes and she practically snarled in anger. "Why havent this corporate been caught and my son returned?!"

Calmly, Hook responded. "I only found out this morning that your son was taken, Mrs. Hillson. I'm going to do everything to put this man behind bars and get you your son back."

The mayor, Carl, glanced at his wife and was visibly relieved when he saw her calm. He turned back to Hook. His eyes wet and glistening. "We were at the store for a few minutes and he went the vending machine. I... I didn't think it could happen that fast. I'm calling a meeting with the town tonight. Tell your station to be there for protection."

Words crowded his mind, but Hook kept a straight face and nodded. "This man has been taking kids for years. He's been silent for a year now and then your boy was taken. He goes by the name Peter Pan."

The mayor's wife snapped to attention again. "You mean, this happened before and he wasnt caught?" Hook nodded sadly and shamefully. Camille took a step forward, her whole body trembling with rage. "Then how can you bring my boy home if you couldnt do it for those families?"

He stood tall, his anger and fury at this man taking over. "I'm done waiting him out. This will be the last boy this sadistic man will take." Hook growled the sentence into the air. Satisfied with himself, Hook stormed away from them and to his car. Before he did so, some messed up dirt caught his attention.

He stepped toward it, his heart hammering. When was able to read it, the fury that shook his body was unthinkable. He was being toyed with. The man knew Hook was coming for him. He climbed into his car and slammed the doors. Trying to forget about the note scrawled in the mud.

One down. How many kids will it be this time, Hook?
-P

He called his station, letting them know the Mayor wants a meeting in the town. His emotions felt raw and exposed as the anger rocketed through him.

~~●~~●~~●~~

The meeting square was filled, but it wasn't hard for Peter to hide in the crowd that the mayor called. The hood covered most of his face, knowing Hook would be there. A picture formed into Peter's head, he stifled his snicker as the Mayor walked onto the stadium.

"Welcome, City of Neverland. I wanted gather you and be with you in this time. My son was taken from me last night." Peter tensed, the memory of the expensive stuff the boy wore and almost laughed out loud, ecstatic about the gift he had just been granted. The mayor continued. "I have heard some others were taken a few years ago and the corporate not found and neither your children." Peter grew more amused. Just boys, not children.

The crowd grew angry with the news of his boy. As well as the others that were taken. Only Peter stood there and smirked from under his hood. His felt a pair of eyes on him and he looked up, but their eyes never catching his. Hook stood there, his lips pursed in thought and eyes dark ith worry.

Why grow up to be like him?

Peter shook his head and ducked out, all the with Hook staring at him. He crept away and into the secret tunnel to his place. The cells that lined the wall, made Peter smile. He slipped into the little one where Johnny slept. He nudged him harshly, the needle glinting in the dim light.

The kid awoke, his eyes groggy. Peter gave him a wolfish smile. "Time for your next dose."