The next day as Mireya was driving back, her phone blared the amber alert. She was back in the area code, it makes sense. She picked it up once she hit a stoplight and looked "Name: Kyle Meminger, age: eight years old, sex: male, height: 4'4", weight:60lbs, hair: blonde, eyes: blue, race: white, additional features: freckles, birthmark on outer thigh and chest. Last seen near 10 Lanes Bowling bowling alley wearing a blue tank top, jean jacket vest, and cargo shorts. Any details please contact- oh my god poor thing."

Even though she hated that wretched child he was still that, a child, all she could see was Miracle in the amber alert. Oh his poor mother, she must be terrified she commiserate before there was a beep and she started driving again. She didn't doubt that she would become a suspect, they probably already interviewed and they probably blabbered about all potential enemies the boy could've had.

She parked in her driveway with a heavy heart I can see so many people wanting to kidnap Kyle but why? Ransome? Revenge? I don't see a good reason other than torture. She looked towards the sky relieved that at least her child was safe.

"Hey Chief, Chief Brown!" The two officers knocked on the door with new information for the missing child case, after a week it had gone cold. The door creaked open after the fourth knock, the two looked at each other and drew out their guns and flashlights. Stalking inside they looked around "Chief Brown?"

"Stanly! Are you in here?" The second officer looked into the kitchen and gagged "Ron call back up!"

Stanly was slumped against his kitchen counter, head turned towards god stuck in horror as a corkscrew was lodged into his eye, wine bottle and glass left untouched on the counter. He made the first shot, he's the first to go. It was a quick death, which gave the two officers some form of relief but to see their chief like this shook them greatly.

"Why him? Why him out of everyone?"

"Maybe someone is trying to hide something, but what?"

"Maybe it's the kid?" David suggested.

"Why because it's the most recent case? But man, this feels" Ron paused as the memories flashed back to that night. "This feels familiar."

"No, there's no-" he looked at the body, "there's no way."

Once the crime scene was photographed and cleaned up the team was split into two. One now investigating the death of Chief Stanly Brown and the other investigating the disappearance of Kyle Meminger.

The knock on the office door filled Mireya with dread. She knew who was looking for her "hey , there's police in the lobby" Mireya nodded and thanked her coworker. It was rare she'd work in the office and she wished she didn't today. Mireya stood up and stretched her back, her heels cracked on the floor as she walked down the hallway to the lobby. She wasn't a scared college student anymore, she was a fucking mother.

"Hello, Ron, David, '' she greeted coldly. They immediately recognized each other and the tension became thick. Weighing on everyone like lead.

"You were expecting us?" Officer Ron crossed his arms.

"No, I just remember the stench of asshole and knock-off Gucci cologne." She also crossed her arms asserting her dominance "why are you two here, I have important work to do."

"We just want to ask you and your son questions." David crossed his arms behind his back.

"Fine, but this time I'm bringing my lawyer." She would've spat at them if she could, how they humiliated her was still burned in her memory. She went to her office and grabbed her purse and things before leaving to get Miracle.

The awkward silence fell between the four. Miracle sat between his mother and her lawyer and one officer on the other side of the table. Mom and lawyer were in suits and with his pajamas he felt underdressed.

His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty, did they find the body? Was he going to jail? Then he felt his mother's hand pat his knee for comfort.

"Miracle, how old are you?" Ron started.

"M'eight" he mumbled, he still had sleep in his eyes and morning breath.

"Wow you look twelve, you are very tall. Do you know why you are here, Miracle?" The boy shrugged his shoulders at the question, play dumb boy, play dumb. "Your friend, Kyle Meminger, went missing about a week ago." He slid Kyle's yearbook photo towards him.

"He's not my friend." Was that the wrong answer?

"Miracle you don't have to speak more than that." The lawyer hushed.

"A lot of people said you two were the bestest friends. And hung out all the time" Ron pushed to get a reaction.

"You're lying to me, aren't you? No one really said that." He felt it in his gut, it was too outlandish.

"Oh? You caught me, sorry bud. Just your momma here, reported him attacking you with paint balloons the day before he disappeared. And we were curious if you'd know anything about that. C'mon, you aren't in trouble."

"I don't know how he found out where I lived. I was so scared. Next day mom sent me to my godmothers for a few days so I could feel safe again. That's all I know." He shrugged again, he didn't seem to care that his bully was gone. Ron chopped it up to a child not understanding the severity of a situation.

"Miracle, can you think of anyone in your neighborhood that's a little weird y'know who maybe saw the attack and really didn't like what Kyle did." The boy shook his head avoiding eye contact.

"Miracle, look at me" he only glanced for a moment. "Kyle has a mom, a dad, and a big brother. They all miss him so much. How would you feel if your mom went missing and no one helped? Can't you think of anyone?" Another headshake.

"Why would mentioning 's report be of any value here? She reported it because she needed a paper trail to get a restraining order on Kyle Meminger. Kyle has relentlessly harassed Miracle for the last school year and even in his neighborhood. was afraid for her son's safety and left him with a trusted relative. Miracle is a proven pacifist by his upbringing and he isn't the only one Kyle harassed. You won't get any valuable information here." The lawyer stated with such anger, this whole interrogation was unnecessary and ridiculous.

"Then why does the boy look guilty, can't even look me in the eye." Ron pointed out, he was only half right though.

"Miracle Esperanza has a disorder, it has a very common symptom of not being able to make eye contact and fidget around as he does. Your conclusion is preposterous" the lawyer stated quickly to shut the officer down. "This interview is over. Good day officer." He stood up and opened the door for Mireya and Miracle. As they stood up David came in the door.

"I have important information to tell you. You three stay there for a moment, we will be right back."

That's when the news broke, Kyle Meminger was found dead in a storm pipe. Now that changed everything, it changed everything indeed.

Silence filled the room as Ron walked back in and slowly closed the door. He then sat down in the chair in front of them. He looked over at Mireya before he spoke "you killed him, didn't you? Makes sense, if someone was bullying my kid to the extent that I needed a restraining order I'd kill him too. Makes the process a lot easier." Mireya's face fell.

"Excuse me? I wasn't even in town the day Kyle went missing. What the hell?"

"Then where were you?"

"At work then right after I picked up my son and we went straight to his godmothers. I can show you my debit card purchase history and security cameras from my office if you think I'm lying." She snapped.

"That is a very baseless accusation based only on assumptions. This interview is over. Come on and Miracle." They quickly left.

Miracle laid in his bed terrified, he couldn't eat dinner but Mireya wasn't suspicious of it. He did just experience something extremely traumatic, who could honestly blame him?

He finally threw the covers off and Lake yelped as he flew into the air to land back on his pillow. He opened his window and crawled out onto the roof, the cool breeze in the summer night helped ease some of his nerves. He laid back on the asphalt shingles. Due to the roof being a dormer with a wrap-around porch, it was easy for him to get a secure footing and enough confidence to even get on the roof.

The sandpaper feeling he hated against his skin was awful but it was a good tradeoff to look at the clear sky. Being far from the city meant it was pitch black out other than the half-moon and milky way to light one's path. His heart and stomach started to calm down, he felt whole in his body again. Not like a broken vase stuck together with threads being forced into a dryer. He softly grinned at his relaxation. All he could think about was flying through those stars like a superhero, fighting evil aliens that try to destroy the clouds that would prevent rain on such a hot day.

A shiver crept up his spine which caused him to sit up. He glanced around the dark field, he wasn't alone and he knew it. Was there a detective there trying to spy? Was it his mother catching him out of bed? Or was it the woman's voice finally taking form? He froze when he saw it. What he will soon call Tree was staring at him. He cast a long shadow in the field, standing taller than anyone he has ever seen before.

"Now it's time to go inside" he trailed off and slowly scooted towards the window. Tree only turned around and walked away. Petrified Miracle crawled quickly into the window of his bedroom and shut it, locking it tight.

"Who is that?" He whispered, afraid to alert the man outside, he shut his blinds and laid in his bed grabbing a Jack Skellington pillow and hugging it tightly.