Samtastic, Thank you for giving me the idea! I hope you liked the way it was introduced. KJ4, I wonder, is Dash being more likeable a bad thing or a good thing? Hopefully it's good! Haha enjoy this chapter!

Nine

"Just let the boy grieve! Honestly, Helen, he just wants to be alone."

"How can you be so sure? What if he needs someone to talk to? We can't just let him sit there and wallow in his sorrows and pain!"

"If he wants someone to talk to, he'll come out here and talk!"

From inside the bedroom he had when he was a child, Dash listened to his parents argue about him. Since returning home, he had been locked up in his room, refusing to leave, even for meals. He hated the fact that he was just lying on his bed missing the woman who had nearly destroyed his family, but he couldn't help it. Kyler had meant a lot to him. She was the first serious relationship he had in a long time. She wasn't just a fling like so many other women had been.

This would be my luck… he thought sadly. Just when I thought I had found someone nearly perfect…

Dash ran his fingers through his blonde hair and sighed. The whole situation just refused to sit comfortably with him. Besides Kyler's betrayal, something wasn't right. Dash sat up and looked out the window. The sun was slowly starting to descend, coloring the sky with an array of oranges, pinks, and purples. He noticed that his parents were no longer fighting in the hallway, and figured that they had retreated to the dining room for dinner with J.J.

I might be crazy for doing this, but I have to know, or I'll never be happy.

Dash jumped off the bed and grabbed his black hoodie off his desk chair. He pulled it on and then moved to the window. As he opened the window, he mentally thanked his parents for buying a one story house. He hoisted himself over the windowsill and fell a short distance to the ground. He took a deep breath and began running away from his house, on his way to see an old family friend. The cool air whipped at his face, but Dash ignored it. He was too busy hoping that he still remembered the address to where he was trying to go.

After a half hour of running, Dash's legs were getting tired and the young man knew he was soon going to need to stop. Otherwise, he would probably end up collapsing from exhaustion. Dash ran a few more blocks and then finally slowed to a sluggish walk. He wiped sweat from his brow and panted heavily, trying to regain his breath. He looked around, trying to find a certain street sign, but the darkness of the night was making it a little difficult. He squinted his eyes to read one of the signs and let out a sigh of relief when it was the one he had been searching for. He turned down the street, practically dragging himself to the house on the end of the street. He reached the front door and leaned against it for support while he composed himself. When he was finally collected once again, he rang the doorbell.

A few minutes later, a middle aged man answered the door. He smiled when he saw Dash. "Dashiell! How are you doing, man?"

"I'm good, Warner," Dash replied. "Is your father available? I have something very important I need to talk to him about."

Warner's face grew serious and he nodded. "Come on in. I'll go get him for you."

Dash followed Warner into the house, which was warm due to a fire burning in the fireplace. Warner gestured for Dash to sit down on the couch, which he did. An old western movie was playing on the large screen television in the background. Dahs paid no attention to it though, for his mind was on more imperative matters. A minute later, an elderly man walked into the room. Dash stood up and stuck his hand out to the man, who grasped and shook it vigorously.

"Hello there, Dashiell."

"Good evening, Mr. Dicker," Dash replied. "Thank you for seeing me."

The two men sat down on the couch. "Don't mention it," Rick Dicker replied. "You know I would do anything for you and your family."

Dash nodded. "It means a lot, Mr. Dicker."

Rick smiled. "I do what I can, which isn't much nowadays… But anyway, what can I do for you son? You seem very determined to find out something. What can I help you with?"

Dash sighed. "Mr. Dicker, I need you to release some information to me, concerning someone we had a problem with many years back. I know it might seem like a long time to remember, but anything you can tell me will be helpful. Mr. Dicker… I… I need you to tell me about Syndrome. I need to know everything that happened concerning him after the plane accident. Where is he buried? Where is Mirage? Please, it's very important that I know these things."

Rick looked at Dash with sad eyes. "That may seem like a long time, indeed, but I will never forget that year. I can tell you what you need, but I have to ask, why do you want to know?"

Dash looked away from the old man. "Personal reasons," he mumbled.

"That was your first job as a hero," Rick said. "I can understand if you're doing this just for nostalgic reasons. Is that what this about?"

"Not particularly," Dash replied. "If you don't mind, Mr. Dicker, I'd rather not state my reasons for asking about all of this. Like I said, it's personal."

Rick nodded. "Very well. I trust you, Dashiell, and so, I will tell you everything you want to know. Now, tell me your questions once more please. I am an old man, and my memory is no longer at its peak."

I'm really interested in what you have to say and what you think will happen. Also, suggestions are always welcome! Please, tell me what you think! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update. Thanks for reading!

Mew Painappuru