Avenging Maria

Chapter Seven-Find the Key

Ezekial

Ezekial stepped off the bus and breathed in the crisp Virginia air. It was Christmas Eve, and as he walked down Main Street, store lights twinkled and groups of carolers were scattered all about. A light snow was falling, reflected by the golden shine of the street lights. Ezekial smiled at the sight and hummed along to the hymns as he walked to the friendly brownstone. He paused in the driveway, looking into the family room window.

The Christmas tree was shining brightly, and he could see Mx. Reynolds, Rachel, and Charlie placing presents under the tree. He couldn't see Mazon, but he figured him and Eli were talking in the armchairs, eating Charlie's Christmas cookies. Ezekial smiled at the sight, took a deep breath, and walked up to the door.

He knocked, and there was a rush of footsteps that followed before the door swung open. He was met with a beaming Elijah, whose face fell the moment he saw Ezekial.

"Is Maze with you?" Eli asked, looking past him and down the driveway.

"He isn't here?" Ezekial responded, shocked. "Where is he?"

"He went to Arizona," Elijah said. "He went for you."

"Shit." Ezekial turned and began to go back down the driveway, but stopped and looked back at Eli. "I need a faster way to get there. Where's the nearest airport?"

Elijah stepped outside and closed the door behind him. "I'm going with you."

"No, you're not," Ezekial told him. "When was the last time you heard from Maze?"

"A little over a week ago," Elijah replied. "Look, I'm going with you. I have to, he's like a brother to me, and I need to know he's safe."

"I'm sorry," Ezekial said. He knew Elijah wouldn't stay unless he forced him to. Ezekial sent a strong wind to push against him, not strong enough to hurt him, but strong enough to keep him in place. Ezekial began walking, and whispered, "I'll bring him back safe, I promise."

Ezekial went up to the gas station on the corner and asked for directions to the nearest airport. He was told it was at least an hour--by car. Ezekial sighed and went back to the bus station, buying another round trip ticket. The bus left at midnight, which was a few hours away, so he sat down in one of the chairs and waited.

When he got on the bus, he asked to borrow the person next to him's phone, and he attempted to call Mazon three times. He cursed when Maze didn't answer and handed the phone back. Ezekial needed the bus to go faster, but he had no way to do that from inside the bus--he'd need to get to the engine and pedal controls, and he couldn't even begin to visualize those without seeing them. Eventually he gave up and shrunk back into his seat, staring out the window the entire drive.

When he rolled off the bus three days later, he immediately boarded another one to Sedona. This time he sat next to no one, and he yet again stared out the window as his childhood town flew by.

His father had many locations throughout the country, all of which were in small towns and separated from the rest of the world. He left no trace between all of them, no correlation, and anytime one home became too suspicious or dangerous to stay in, he'd move to another.

Sedona was the most common home, though, and because of that became one of Ezekial's favorites. Ezekial strived for control and familiarness in his life--sometimes extensively, and he tried to get better, but he figured as long as he was self aware, it couldn't get too bad.

The bus came to a stop a couple hours later, and he got off, glancing around at the shops he had never really seen as a child. He used to go to the school and come home--he wasn't allowed to talk to anyone or go out. He walked up to the schoolhouse, and then took the ever familiar path back to the small house in the field. He looked from afar, and saw that his father's car was still in the driveway. Ezekial went up to an old tree and climbed up into the lowest branch where the leaves shaded him from view and waited.