X_X_X
The man on the roof heard the screams and heavy thumps below. Cautiously, he lurked over the edge of the roof in time to see Aliss stumble down from an abandoned construction ledge. She tumbled over the edge, long, soft curls whipping about her face. The drop was softened by a large, homeless black man catching her in his arms. Her delicate face crinkled at his smell but the man on the roof watched as the big man sat her down gently among the left over plastic Easter grass that had been used in a past Mardi-Gras party. The pair trudged off toward Madison Park oblivious to the man on the roof watching their every move. The man seethed with anger. His perfect prey had been within his reach and she had slipped right past his searching fingers. The man angrily stalked toward the pigeon pen he kept, plans starting to formulate with violent speed inside his head.
X_X_X
"Looks like whoever has been killing those girls has been on watch for a very long time." The Inspector walked away from a bloody pile of pigeons laying in the corner of a pen. On the roof was a hammock, several canteens and wrappers of food. A young police officer followed nervously behind the Inspector.
"I think he might have been at this for a while, sir."
"Anyone could deduce that, Jenkins, in fact I believe that's what I just said., but only an officer of my experience could gather that the man is heading in the direction of Madison Park."
"W-what made you realize that, Inspector?" The Inspector calmly pointed to the giant map on a make-shift table with a red slash right across Madison park. The Inspector kicked a stray dead pigeon away from his newly polished shoes, "thank God that woman didn't come up here with us. She would have panic attacked herself into a coma. Lets go Jenkins." The Inspector turned and walked away from the map. The younger officer looked at the map. Criss-crossing over the map were several slashes. Most were haphazardly placed but towards the Sunny Side Apartments the slashes started to form a grisly cluster.
X_X_X
Aliss, the 'Queen', the Dodo's and Flamingo all rose and clapped for Griff. So jubilant was he that he launched right into another recital:
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:-
"That's enough, Griff! You did wonderful. Now it is time for me to call mama. Shoo shoo!" The 'Queen' grabbed for a small plastic phone with a snapped plastic cord and began to punch in numbers. Griff grabbed Aliss's hand and lead her out of the castle but before they were out of ear shot Aliss heard clearly: "Mama they found a home for me, and a new friend. Yes, mama." The voice sounded very lonely and very small. "Yes, mama I'll be good. I love you too mama. See you soon."
X_X_X
"Aliss, will Aliss be my friend? Forever?" Aliss looked up at her big companion. His scraggly poof of hair and big innocent eyes made him look smaller than he really was. Aliss smiled warmly up at him and nodded her head.
"Forever."
A scream and then a shot. Griff and Aliss turned back to look at the castle.
"MAMA!" Griff roared. He pushed Aliss behind a tree and charged back to the castle.
X_X_X
The man wiped blood from his face and snuck out behind the castle. Lucky for him it was almost dark, and no one really visited the park in the middle of February. He quietly crept along the edge of near by hedges until he had a position directly behind Aliss. In one swift move he had her by her hair, hand firmly on her mouth. Aliss kicked and screamed and wriggled until the man's grasp on her had loosened somewhat. She took this opportunity to do what her sister had taught her and bit down hard on his hand. The man bellowed in pain and Aliss screamed for all her seven-and-one-quarter-year-old-lungs were worth.
X_X_X
"That's my sister! I know it!" Loraly wrenched her seat belt off and sprinted across the park parking lot and onto the grass.
"Miss Little, get back here! I will not have you jeopardizing my duties!" A nearby police officer spun the Inspector around and decked him squarely in the eye. Someone had finally had enough.
"When that man started killing YOU no longer mattered. Get some therapy for your narcissism, you worthless sergeant." The Inspector gaped at the older man who had punched him. He swallowed the lump rising in his throat. No one had ever talked to him that way before.
"A defenseless citizen is going out there to do YOUR job and you care more about your quota and promotion than you do for the life of a civilian." The Inspector wilted under the harsh tone of the fellow officer. Buckling down he stared the man in the eye then turned to run after Loraly.
X_X_X
Two seconds and the Inspector had caught up with Loraly. She stood frozen as she watched a giant black man with the poofy hair stand over the body of a limp and broken man. Aliss stood behind the black man crying, clinging to his sleeve.
"Is Griff okay? Is Griff okay?" Aliss sobbed and latched on tighter to the man's coat-sleeve. The Inspector reached for his gun but Loraly stopped him.
"No, he saved Alice. That man had her by her hair and was," Loraly choked on her words. "He came out of no where from that play-castle and grabbed the man by his neck and shook him," she sobbed, "just shook him like a doll." Then the inspector did a very out of habit thing and pulled Loraly close. Loraly bawled.
X_X_X
A few months later, David was holding Lori's hand. "How is she doing?" Loraly looked outside to see Griff and Aliss playing in the green grassy fields of their new home.
"She's better. Her medicine is working; it's a new prescription, helps to keep the symptoms under control." Lori looked out over the fields. "She's much safer here than in that big city. She's recovering but who knows what the future will bring. Schizophrenia is a serious condition and rare in someone so young." David tightened his hold on Lori's hand gently.
"And how are the panic attacks?" Lori smiled. She looked better than she had when David first met her. Her wilted flower look had been traded in for one of vibrancy.
"Well inspector, why don't you deduce that for me?" She teased. David sighed comically.
"Well, if you insist," he swooned back and pretended to have been hit by the all knowing force.
"Since your sister has gotten better so have your anxiety episodes," he cooed in an over dramatic voice. "And when your up to par so am I. Not so narcissistic am I?" Loraly chuckled and shook her head.
"No love, no you're not."
"Do you think we've found our wonderland?" David asked, smiling down at Lori. Lori pondered this. So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland,
"Yes, I do."