Chapter 2
Papa returns? Back-story sadness
They made it to the apartment.
Madame Paula: Dear me, what happened to little Raphie. Did he fall ill again? Too bad his father just missed him.
Marie: What? His father came by here?
Madame Paula: Yes, about a half hour ago.
Marie: If you see him again, please tell him his son is sick.
Madame Paula: Will do deary.
They took Raphael up to his room.
Charlie: So what is this place for.
Marie: Families who need to get back on their feet and children with no home. Such as Raphael.
Charlie was a bit surprised.
Charlie: Well, I better go help my Father. See you again someday.
Marie: Bye.
Charlie left. Marie covered Raphael with his blanket. She felt his forehead.
Marie: Your head is very warm. I'll go get some ice.
Raphael: Marie.
Marie: Yes?
Raphael: Marie.
She realized he was sleep talking. She got up and went to get some ice. She came back and some man was sitting next to him.
Man 2: Don't make too much noise, ok?
Marie: O-ok. Are you his father?
Isaac (Man 2)Yes, I decided to come back. The person I work for was saying he was going to kill Raphael. I quit working for him and decided to come back.
Marie: He wanted to kill Raphael?
Isaac: Yes, I couldn't let that happen.
Marie put the bag of ice on Raphael's head.
Marie: Why did you leave?
Isaac: I wanted to help the emperor. He needed to be fully resurrected.
Marie: Why did you steal those paintings?
Isaac: So I could pay for medicine for my sick child. He would get sick so often after his mother died. When I left, I was worried he'd get sick again and I wouldn't be around to help him.
Marie: Well, he'll probably be glad that your back.
Isaac: I doubt that. What if he hates me now? I might never be able to make it up to him for those three years I left him. I heard in the news about a new thief shortly after I left.
Raphael was starting to wake up.
Marie: Hey sleepy head.
Raphael: Marie, can you hand me my glasses.
Marie: I don't think that's an option. When you fainted, you accidently snapped the bridge and the glass broke.
Raphael: Oh, oh well.
He sat up.
Marie: No, no, you must stay rested.
Isaac: She's right Raphael.
Raphael looked behind him and saw his father sitting there.
Raphael: Papa!
Raphael hugged his father.
Raphael: Where have you been?
Isaac: I'm sorry Raphael, for leaving for so long. After I found out Napoleon's plan, I quit helping him. I decided to come back.
Raphael: You need to go to the police and tell them his plan, it may help.
Isaac: The police won't be able to help against what he has in store. I'm the only one who can protect you now.
Raphael: What do you mean?
Isaac: He plans to kill you.
Raphael couldn't believe what he just heard.
Isaac: Your sense of rhythm has power as Phantom R. He wants to harvest that somehow, and then kill you.
Raphael: What do you mean my rhythm has power?
Isaac: Have you ever noticed the rainbow around you every move you take when you're dancing? He wants to take it, but I have no idea how he will manage it.
Marie: My mother told me about an enchanted sword. The one who wields it won't be able to kill anyone with it unless it's the person they most desperately desire.
Raphael: Where is this sword?
Marie: My mother told me it wos only a legend. She doesn't know where it is.
Raphael: He probably has it by now.
Marie: I believe she called the sword the Hero's Wing.
Raphael: Maybe I can go ask Émile.
Raphael was about to get out of bed. His father, Isaac, stopped him.
Isaac: Oh no you don't. You still have a fever.
Raphael: I'll be alright.
Isaac: It's too cold out right now.
Marie: I'll go talk to him. I remember where he lives. FDR Avenue, right?
Raphael: Yea. I don't want you going alone.
Fondue Wouef.
Marie: Maybe Fondue can come with to protect me.
Raphael: Ok. Stay safe.
Marie: I will. Bye Raphael.
Her and Fondue left the apartment. Isaac layed Raphael back down.
Isaac: I'll stay by your side.
He covered him back up. Raphael fell back asleep. His dad walked to the bookcase. He pulled the book that opened the secret passage. He went down the stairs.
Isaac: It's all gone. All the works. Raphael must have taken them all back.
He went back upstairs. Marie ran into the apartment.
Marie: I found the sword. The kidnapper was trying to take it from me, but Fondue distracted the man. I escaped and ran back here. It's really heavy.
Isaac: This sword will take ones soul. The smallest cut will take a small part of the soul, but only if that is the soul of the person the wielder wants. I can see why he wants it. The soul is what gives power to the body. Their life, their thoughts, their actions, and their ability to what they can do. Our souls are different because of our parents. Raphael has the thief skill from me, and the maneuvering from his mother.
Marie: He's a great dancer.
Isaac: They were always close.
Flash back.
Agatha: Isaac, look at him. He dances so well.
Raphael: Thanks mama.
Isaac: Don't start with teaching him how to dance yet, wait until he's at least seven years old.
Agatha: He just seemed so interested in the dancing I was doing for my performance coming up.
Raphael: I wanted to dance like mama, her dancing was so pretty.
Raphael hopped on the bed.
Agatha: I almost forgot, I have to go get groceries.
Raphael: See you soon.
Agatha: Bye.
She picked up her purse and went out to the car. Raphael hopped off the bed and started playing with his toys. A half hour later, there was a phone call.
Isaac: Hello? What? Ok. Thank you, bye.
He hung up.
Raphael: Was that mama?
Isaac: N-no, um. Come on, we need to go somewhere.
Raphael: Where?
Isaac: I can't explain right now ok, Raphael? Get your coat.
Raphael had no idea what was going on. Most five year olds don't. They went to the hospital.
Man 3: Your wife is in room 113, Isaac. She's in bad condition.
Isaac: What happened?
Man 3: A man rode past the red light at fifty miles per hour and slammed into the car. There is hardly any chance she will live.
Isaac: Take Raphael and watch him, I don't want him to remember her the way she looks now.
Man 3: You got it.
Isaac: Raphael, go with your cousin.
He handed Raphael over to his cousin. After a few hours, Isaac came out.
Isaac: Raphael, I need to talk to you. Listen, your mother, your mother just passed away. She's dead.
Raphael: What does dead mean?
Isaac: Means, we can't talk to her again, and she can't talk to us. Or interact with us. We won't be seeing your mother for a long time. Don't worry, she will be going to a sweet place where she can be, she is in a better place now. Our separation from her will not be forever, we will see her in due time.
Raphael: When? I want to see mama.
Raphael was sniffling and started crying.
Raphael: Why did she leave? Does she hate us?
Isaac: No, no, she loves us a lot. She just needs to go on a long adventure. We won't be able to see her until it's our time to go on this adventure. You won't be able to find her until you're very much older.
Raphael: How much older?
Isaac: I don't know. Every thing will be ok. Want to go get some icecream.
Raphael shook his head.
Raphael: I'm not hungry.
Isaac: I'll take you home.
They went home. During dinner, Raphael refused to eat. Daily he refused to eat.
Isaac: Please, eat something.
Raphael: I'm not hungry.
Isaac: Why?
Raphael: I don't know.
Isaac felt Raphael's head.
Isaac: You've fallen sick. Come on, Lay down in bed. I'll go get the mail.
Raphael went into bed. Isaac came back in. He opened one of the letters from the property owner.
Dear Isaac,
I'm sorry to hear about your wife, Agi. I am sorry to also inform you that you are being evicted from your home. It isn't anything from me against you; the government wants you out of that house. Take Raphie and go somewhere else. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news on top of a tragedy. I wish you only the best for you and your son.
Isaac: This can't be happening.
A few weeks later, Isaac and Raphael move out of their house. They move to an apartment complex that gives poor families the option to live there free of charge. Raphael gets better and falls sick again after his seventh birthday. That's when Isaac started forgery art. He started to be in a group that paid him money so he could pay for the doctors and medicine. Then Raphael was eleven.
Raphael: What is this place?
Lights came on.
Raphael: I didn't know this place was here.
He saw all the art works.
Isaac: Raphael.
Raphael: Papa, what is the meaning of this?
Isaac: I'm a forgery artist. I steal works of art, paint them, and sell the real ones on the black market.
Raphael: Why?
Isaac: For your doctors. You have been sick a lot recently.
Raphael didn't really agree with what his father was doing.
Isaac: Listen to this advice, don't take anything that doesn't belong to you.
Raphael: Ok.
When Raphael was twelve.
Raphael: Papa, wait, please!
Raphael started chasing after his father.
Raphael: Wait, are you saying, you're never coming back?
Isaac looked back at his crying son.
Isaac: Forgive me, Raphael.
Isaac stepped in a car.
Raphael: Where are you going? Don't leave me!
The car started driving away.
Raphael: Papa!
Raphael noticed a coin in the snow.
End of flashback. Raphael woke up. Isaac didn't realize.
Isaac: I don't know if he'll forgive me for leaving him.
Marie: Within time, he will.
Isaac: I hope he didn't fall ill after I left, like he did after his mother died.
Marie: How did he fall ill?
Isaac: I'm not sure, but after his mother died, he wouldn't eat. He claimed he wasn't hungry. I would put his dinner down on the table and he'd just push it away. I was worried he wouldn't live for a while, because you know what happens if you don't eat for a long period. It wouldn't take long for someone so small.
Marie: I think he's starting to wake up.
Raphael sat up, pretending he didn't hear a word.
Marie: I found the sword.
Raphael: That sword looks heavy.
Marie: Just a bit. What do we do now?
Raphael: Let's keep it in the cellar. If Napoleon tries to search this place, he won't find it.
Raphael got out of bed and pulled the book for the cellar. The bookshelf opened and he took the sword from Marie. He went down the stairs. Only Fondue followed him. He removed a few bricks from the wall and put the sword in the secret compartment. Raphael's vision started getting blurry. He bumped the sword as he was trying to steady himself.