The house is covered in yellow tape but I ignore it and step across it and open the door with my powers. I creep inside trying not to touch anything, I wander around the house, the scenes of yesterday playing in my head, how my mother had been washing up inside when a replicant had caught her off guard, they asked her where I was and she begins to run towards my room, there is a struggle and then Fawkes bursts into the room, fangs bared jumping on top of the replicant, when he is suddenly thrown to the side like a rag. My mind flashes to the barn, when the other intruder enters the barn and Dad runs at him with the pitchfork as he hears Fawkes barking and my mother's screams from my bedroom window. The blood begins to seep out of the replicant who just stands there grinning with the pitchfork hanging out of him, he takes it out of him and plunges it into my father and then leaves. I close my eyes and open them again, shaking off the feeling, the farm no longer feels the same it did, as I turn to go upstairs I hear a creak outside in the hallway, I grab my baseball bat from my room and quietly sneak downstairs, I reach out with my mind its Fawkes. He looks up at me and whines and I drop the bat and reach out to pet him «I'm sorry bud » and with that the two of us hug each other as I cry into his fur. We walk around the house once again, taking the last look at our home. I know that we can never stay here again and it breaks my heart that I will never see it again.
We leave the farm and head up the side road back into town, we are barely past the farm when a car rolls up beside Fawkes and I. I look into the window and Dad's face pops out, « Hey guys, need a ride » I look down at Fawkes who had still been limping and Dad gets out and picks him up and lays him in the back while I quietly slip into the front. As we head back to the motel, my Dad doesnt question me directly but I feel his questions in his mind « I had to go back one last time I needed to, both of us did » I say into his mind he smiles down at me and nods and he places his hand on mine and says « I know »
As soon as we get back inside the motel room Mom throws herself at me, picking me up into her arms as Dad puts Fawkes back onto the ground, she looks at Dad and he just nods at her as she kisses my forehead, she knew in her heart where I had went to, but at the same time was worried incase the replicants were still hanging around. That afternoon Mom tells me that we are staying in town until the funeral is arranged, there is no family left on either side of my adoptive parents, so it will be just me and the townsfolk and of course Mom, Dad, John and Monica. Two days pass, we visited my adoptive parents lawyer Mr Reynolds, he had contacted me saying that I had inherited the farm and everything that they had they left to me, I wanted all the animals to go to the neighbouring farms and have good homes, the farm would itself would be placed into the market to be sold after the funeral and everything within the house was to be kept and put into storage and sent to Vancouver. Thing like photographs and every possession in the house were to be kept and all the items in my room were to be shipped to my parents house in Canada. The day of the funeral finally loomed, Fawkes who I didnt want to be given away, was to stay with me, he was the only family link left I had to the farm and had been with my parents just before I came to be with them. He knew parts of them, that I hadnt and that was the way I wanted to keep it. Everything had been arranged and Fawkes was beginning to heal, the house was to go onto the market and their deaths were seen as sucpicious, the house was fine and the police and investigators left. I awoke the next morning to Mom nudging me awake. « Come on sweetie, its time » I got up and went to the bathroom to get washed and dressed, I had picked out my Sunday church outfit to wear, my mother always said I looked smart in it. I fixed my tie and came out of the bathroom. Dad and Mom were to ride in the cars with me followed by Monica and John. Fawkes wanted to come, so he did, he sat in with us solemnly. As we pulled up to the church, and went inside I saw the car pull up, and Fawkes licked my hand as I looked down at him. « Come on boy, time to go inside » he followed me down to the front. The police had stationed guards at the doors to the church incase of any trouble, they knew it was my life at risk. As the pallbearers came in with each of their coffins, I could feel my emotions begin to bubble to the surface, my legs felt like jelly as Dad and Mom held me up. All the townsfolk came, and I was happy to see that so may of them came. The coffins were placed down and the minister came out, For the first part I had requested that we sing « Michael Row the Boat Ashore » it had been my mother's favourite and she used to sing it to me as a lullaby. Towards the end the minister drew me up to the stand and said that I was going to deliver the eulogy. I turned and looked back at the coffin and the family photo that I asked to be placed at the coffins. I looked to my Mom and Dad and the others and began.
« I would like to thank you all for coming here today, for those who may not know who I am, I am William the son of Bob and Nancy Van De Kemp. I would like to say a few words about who my parents were. My parents were not my birth family, I came to them when I was ten months old, God had found me a family that could love me until the time came for when I was ready to know the truth of who I was. Everyday I thanked God for sending me to them, in a way if it hadn't been for them, I wouldn't have found my birth parents. For all I am to become I will always remain their son, and love them forever for being the best parents a kid could ask for and I will always love them for giving me a home, and letting me into their lives. I love you Mom and you Dad » I say wiping away the tears that sting my eyes. The coffins are then picked up by the pallbearers and head out towards the graveyard as they play Michael Row the Boat Ashore again. The minister conducts the ceremony and as I pick up a handful of earth and scatter it onto both of the coffins and place a rose on each that I begin to feel my resolve weaken. I begin to cry as they are finally laid to rest. « I will always love you » I say as the crowd begins to break away. Mom and Dad have let me and Fawkes be alone by their graveside. He whines and I pet him. « I know that maybe talking to you like this is too late now, I wish I could turn back time. I never wanted for me to cause you both pain or this, I am the result of why you are gone. I will always be your son and do the best I can to find those who killed you, thank you for giving me the chance in life that my birth parents could not give me, you will both forever be in my heart for now and always. »
Fawkes begins to lead me away back to the car and my parents who wait with John and Monica . As we begin to drive away and back to the motel to change to go to the airport, I realise this is the last time in a long time that I will be in the town again. This is a closing chapter on my life here, and a fresh start with Mom and Dad, We get to the airport two hours later and as I settle into my seat and knowing that Fawkes is safe in quarintine for the time being. As the plane takes off I begin to feel a little better, as John and Dad say its good to talk about my adoptive parents, I talk about how we used to camp out underneath the stars. Mom and Monica smile as I tell them stories too.
Monica and John say they have to go back to Washington when we swap over planes. I hug them both tightly. « Thanks for all your help, I love you guys ». Monica brushes back my hair as she holds me and kisses my forehead and I hug her back. « Anytime, little man » says John as he hugs me. My parents and godparents hug each other goodbye one last time. « We'll be in touch soon »