Chapter eleven
Morning came as fast as it had gone. The blue skies came to life as doves and seagulls flew overhead. Outside you could hear the chatter of the city.
"Halcyon wake up! Wake up!" yelled out Aunt Ingrid from downstairs. Halcyon was fist to wake up followed by Charity and then Aerion. When Halcyon saw Charity awaken he gasped and was about to scream before Aunt Ingrid interrupted.
"HALCYON DO I HAVE TO GO UP THERE AND GET YOU!" she screamed. Halcyon hopped out of bed and took off downstairs.
"NO Auntie Ingrid! Don't! I'll be right there!" he exclaimed with a huge smile. When Halcyon rushed into the living room, he found Ingrid and his uncle sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Quick!" shouted Ingrid as she signaled Halcyon to go closer. Halcyon's pupils shrank as he saw what was on the television. They were replaying footage from last night in Stopple City. He watched as the footage played.
The reporter was standing before the camera shouting in audio words at the cameraman. The image was very blurry. The reporter's shirt was ripped and tattered and he was covered with mud. In the background you could here gunshots and men yelling with British accents. There were also explosions that were so loud it made the TV speakers crackle. The reporter ran to a solider that was lying on the ground dead with his back turned to the camera. The reporter shouted more and flipped the body over. Fear shot through Halcyon as he saw the soldier's face. Half of his face had been shot and his skull was covered with maggots and mud. Halcyon could make out what the reporter was saying.
"We repeat! The Blitz army is moving in on the country! Look at this! This man's face has been shot of with a shotgun!" shouted the reporter. Suddenly Halcyon heard the cameraman scream. From some distant place a British man shouted.
"I fucking got one!" suddenly he camera blurred and got very clear just in time to see the reporter's head get blown of by a rocket launcher. The explosion sent the TV screen haywire. There was static before the screen returned to the actual news broadcast. The reporter frowned.
"Once again for all those just tuning in, Our country is at war with the Blitz. That was footage that was recovered in stopple City just last night. We'll go to a commercial break now, and we'll have more on this breaking news when we return; here on 96 news."
"This world's gone to chaos!" shouted Halcyon's uncle. Ingrid turned to Halcyon who was in utter shock.
"Police say we should evacuate before the morning…" she said with a frown.
"Are we leaving?" asked Halcyon taking a step forward.
Ingrid stood up followed by his Uncle Peterson. For once the old man appeared sane. Ingrid held his hands and the two of them looked at halcyon.
"Me and your uncle talked a bit and have decided to…let you choose. We couldn't make you go through the hell of moving again without your permission." She paused briefly then continued. "Are we going or are we leaving Halcyon Nunez? It's your choice."
Halcyon's eyes met with Ingrid's fearful eyes. For a moment there was silence as Halcyon thought. Then he stuttered.
"Auntie Ingrid…Uncle Peterson…you two go…I want to stay." He said.
"We aren't going without you boy. I made a promise to my brother's grave to guard you with my life and that's exactly what I'm going to do." He said standing straight like a solider.
The poor old man was so messed up in the head, that he thought Ingrid's brother was his own. When actually Ingrid had made the promise. She walked over to Halcyon and kneeled beside him.
"We're staying." She said with her voice quivering. Halcyon frowned.
"Auntie Ingrid please…listen to me just this once. Ever since you took me in I know I've made you suffer, with being an extra mouth to feed and such. But I want to make up for the time and money I've taken from you, please Auntie, go on without me!" exclaimed Halcyon.
"I will not!" She shouted back. "I have lost too much---!" She paused and then spoke with a softer tone. "I have lost to much of my family and friends. Even the heart and mind of my husband. I am not about to let you die just like that ya hear! I care too much…" she commanded. Tears came to Halcyon's eyes.
"Auntie…"
This had been the first time Ingrid had seen Halcyon cry since the funeral of his parents. She quickly reached over and hugged him. Halcyon buried his face into her shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Auntie Please! Just listen! I want you and Uncle Peterson to be happy! Just go!" this time a deep wanting was in his voice. Ingrid opened her eyes to the familiar voice and tone.
"Just like my brother…always thinking about others rather than himself." She backed away and looked into his eyes. Tears exploded from her eyes and she started crying. "He was so generous…that he gave his own arm to save six year old child from a demon elf."
She shook violently. "You remind me of him so much Halcyon…You have his eyes…those hazel eyes that amber hair…just like him." She stood up and wiped her tears. "It would be a crime for me to not give my nephew what he wants. We shall go…"