Twenty-Six
Nine beat the twenty-four wooden posts into the ground and set flowers in front of each one. He thought he would be alone that afternoon but when they came and found him it was like a dream come true. Suddenly he had his childhood back. Playing football and sharing his music with Lisa, it was wonderful.
His plan finally came into place. The story was explained and he was ready to build a real life. But all that disappeared in a single gunshot, a spray of red. His entire world hit the ground face first, twelve.
Nine fell to his knees, disbelief written across his face. Agonized screams pierced the air, screams that could be heard all across the world. He desperately beat his fist against the ground. He willed it not to be true but twelve didn't jump off the ground. His body was cold now and the puddle of crimson around him continued to grow.
Nine stood on shaky feet, there cannot be a world without twelve so he decided to press the detonator. But the detective carefully shook the young boy taking the deadly signal out of his hands. And Nine knew that it was his turn to join his friend, two ravens and one dove. He knew that they would be remembered.
That afternoon there were twenty-four posts.
That evening there were twenty-six.