Rebecca shrieked in laughter as Detective Spencer pushed her. "Higher!," she screamed and then shrieked again. A group of small boys played tag near by. Two mothers sitting on a nearby bench eyed both their boys and the handsome man pushing the girl on the swing. They assumed that he was the girl's father. A red wagon was parked next to the swing and the man watched it carefully. One could tell that underneath the wool blanket it was full of packages.
Detective Spencer continued to push Rebecca. He had enjoyed their past few months in Central City. Rebecca's laughter reminded him of his youngest daughter. He had not seen her in over a year. He let his thoughts drift to her, his other daughters, and then his wife. All of his daughters took after their mother, except for his youngest. His youngest daughter took after him with her blonde hair and blue eyes. His other daughters had brown hair and brown eyes. His heart started to ache again but with another shriek, Rebecca brought him back to the present. To his fellow Tin Men at the Precinct she was a cousin's daughter. He told them that she was staying with him until his cousin recovered from her illness. The story was a stretch but fortunately none questioned it. Most knew that he had no other brothers or sisters so a distant cousin was the next best thing.
He looked down at his watch and then he slowly brought Rebecca to a stop. "Daniel," she started to whine, "I want to keep swinging." Detective Spencer looked down at her. There was no way that he could be angry with her today. "Rebecca, let's go downtown and get a hot chocolate. Doesn't that sound better than swinging on the swing?"
"Hot chocolate?" she asked. Then her expression changed again, "YAY!!!"
As Rebecca jumped off the swing and reached for Spencer's hand he said, "After we get some hot chocolate then you can sell some more candy for the school. Does that sound okay too?"
Rebecca looked up at him, "I like to sell candy for Mrs. Flanigan. It helps to buy things, like Benjamin."
Detective Spencer grasped Rebecca's hand and took the handle of the red wagon in the other. "Benjamin? Whose Benjamin?"
"That's our hamster." She replied as though Detective Spencer should have known that already.
They passed the two mothers sitting on the bench. One spoke, "You have a beautiful daughter. She seems so happy." Spencer paused and replied, "Yes Maam, she is very special." He quickly turned away. He did not want them to see the tears that had started to form in his eyes.
It was during the lunch time period and downtown Central City was chaotic. Since it was such a beautiful winter day, most of the city workers were out for lunch.
Jeb and his two other men, Captain Bower and Lieutenant Miller had no problems keeping near the princesses. Some of the populace took notice and if they had time, either bowed or curtsied slightly. Most took no notice since they were in a hurry to grab a bite to eat and then return to work. It was such a drastic change from nearly a year ago. Back then there were protests or even full-fledged riots every time Azkadellia made an appearance in public. It would have been impossible to guard her with only three men. The long, short hair fur coats that the princesses wore were fairly common among the more well off, and Jeb made sure that he and his men dressed in civilian clothes. Their guns were hidden but easily accessible under their clothes. This was a little shopping trip in to the city and there was no reason to wear formal attire.
DG and Azkadellia laughed a lot as they walked down the street. Jeb couldn't make out all what they were talking about but he knew that it had been a long time coming. The first six or seven months after the Witch was killed had been pure hell for Azkadellia and the rest of her family, and it was good to see her get back to some sort of normalcy. He knew that Dr. Addison had a lot to do with it and that is why the Queen and Lord Ahamo kept up his services. He personally did not care much for him. But he guessed that all that mattered to the royal family was that Azkadellia was getting better and if they had to put up with Dr. Addison then it was worth it.
His thoughts were interrupted by another round of shrill laughter and DG motioned to him that they were going to go into another store. It was a lingerie shop. He groaned, and both the Captain and Lieutenant gave him looks of "Do we have to?". He growled, "Follow them in."
Cain and Jill continued to walk towards downtown. She breathed the crisp winter air in deep in order to try to get herself calmed down. Cain did not say anything the whole time but he seemed like he was walking closer to her than what he had done before. But it might have just been wishful thinking too. They came to one of many intersections. Cain finally broke their silence, "Which way do you want to go?" She looked around and saw food trucks across the street. A faint breeze came from that way and it smelled like sausages and peppers. Her stomach growled and it took her by surprise. The smell reminded her of the Hewitt's hot sausage stands during the county fair and she suddenly felt very homesick. It didn't help matters any that she also remembered that Craig liked hot sausages too but always without the green peppers and onions. Her face felt hot and she blinked back the tears that briefly formed. She swallowed and then motioned over to the trucks, "Why don't we keep it simple and go for the sausages and peppers?" Thankfully Cain didn't notice and only said, "Sounds good to me."
Jeb, Captain Bower, and Lieutenant Miller stayed near the front of the lingerie shop. There were a few shoppers but they did not feel like they had to stay close to the princesses, especially in a place like this. Lieutenant Miller was young and every now and then Captain Bower would nudge him and ask him his opinion on a certain item. He was doing it just to make him turn red and finally Jeb told him to stop it.
DG and Azkadellia slowly walked around the tables at the back of the store. Every now and then either one would pick up a piece and hold it up for the other to see and comment on.
As she held up a small pair of black panties, Azkadellia finally asked DG, "Do you still love Glitch?"
DG dropped the lacy green bra she was holding up to look at. "What kind of question is that?"
Azkadellia merely shrugged and continued going through the pile of panties, looking for her size. "I figured that if you were still in love with Glitch then you would have accepted his marriage proposal by now."
"Of course I still love Glitch." DG quickly replied. She took one last look at the lacy green bra and decided that she did not want it. "Anyway, Glitch only asked me the other day to marry him." She walked over to another table that was full of clearance items.
Azkadellia pulled out a few pairs of panties and laid them aside, trying to make up her mind which ones she wanted. She took a glimpse over at DG, "Most girls I know say yes right on the spot."
"Az, it's a big decision." DG turned away from her. She had put that terrible day behind her when Cain told her that he was leaving. Glitch stayed behind and comforted her. Their friendship grew and then they realized that they were in love. Then he proposed under the full moonlight. That's how all happy endings go, right?
She picked up the panties that she wanted and walked over to the same table that DG was at. "If you love him as much as you say you do you should marry him. At least Mother and Father approve of him."
DG did not say anything more but she picked up a few corsets and started back towards the dressing rooms. She despised the things. They were instruments of torture but unfortunately some of her formal attire required them. This shop had the best ones since they did not make one feel like you were in a straight jacket.
One of the attendants unlocked a dressing room and both DG and Azkadellia politely declined her assistance.
As DG undressed, Azkadellia pulled up a chair and continued their conversation from outside the dressing room door.
"Glitch told me that he asked Father's permission to marry me," DG said through the door. "So I knew that both he and Mother gave their okay." There was some more rustling of clothes. "Why wouldn't they give their approval? He used to be one of Mother's advisors." She looked at herself in the mirror. It was white, boring, and completely for-functional-use-only. "He and Mother even had their portrait painted together."
Azkadellia pressed more, "You know, you haven't seemed like yourself since Cain has been back in the city."
DG tried to downplay what Azkadellia was starting to imply, "Cain's just a good friend who's been through a lot these past couple of months. Who wouldn't be concerned?"
Azkadellia continued looking through the door, "For being such a good friend you've gone out of your way to avoid him. Didn't I tell you that he asked me the one day where you were at?"
DG grew annoyed. "I haven't been avoiding him. He was kept busy with the hearings, then he went on vacation." Why is Az being such a freaking pain? "And I was busy that day too."
Azkadellia merely nodded though DG could not see it. "Then why were you so surprised to find out that he was back early?"
DG sighed and refused to answer her. She knew what Azkadellia was implying.
There were a few minutes of quiet. The only sounds were the rustling of clothes as DG was getting dressed again. Azkadellia felt like she had to ask one more question, "He doesn't know that you and Glitch are in love, does he?"
DG looked at herself in the mirror to make sure that she did not dress herself inside-out. She opened the door and looked at her, "No Az, I'm pretty sure that he doesn't know," She shut the door. "Are you ready to go?" This was supposed to be a fun trip, why did she bring Cain up?
Mercifully for Jeb and his men it did not take much longer for DG and Azkadellia to make their purchases and exit the shop. As the three of them stood on the street, waiting for the princesses to decide where to go next, they glanced at each other and silently understood that it was going to be a very long afternoon.
Throughout the hustle and bustle no one noticed anything unusual about the man in the long coat and hat and the small child beside him. The man was pulling a red wagon and held the child's hand in the other. Every now and then the small child would start to skip down the sidewalk. She looked lovingly up at him. They looked like any other father and daughter out for a mid-day walk.
They came to an alleyway and they took it. He led her through some other side streets and finally stopped halfway in another alleyway.
Detective Spencer looked down at Rebecca. She seemed so small but he knew that she could pull her red wagon easily enough. They had done it many times before in the park. She looked up at him with her blue eyes and said, "Is it time to sell my candy now?" Then the one eye started to drift off to the side again. Spencer knelt down to her level and brushed the yellow curls out of her eyes. "Soon, Rebecca very soon. You're going to sell a lot of candy today." He left his hand drift over the mark that the Father gave to her before they left Oradour a few months ago. It was near her hairline and the Father had sealed it with a kiss as he declared her love for her.
He looked down at his watch. It was time. His own mark from the Father started to burn. He knelt one last time in front of Rebecca and gave her a big hug. He took off her scarf. "It's time Rebecca. Go ahead and sell your candy like you've done before. Make lots of money for Mrs. Flanigan."
Rebecca gave him a huge hug and said "Okay!" Spencer held onto her for a little while longer and finally let go. It took a little more effort than usual to get her wagon going but once she did she had no problems. Her yellow curls bounced as she walked. She had a slight limp but it was hard to notice unless you paid close attention to her gait. She got to the end of the alleyway and made a left in order to stand at the corner of the intersection. Detective Spencer followed up from behind but stopped at the end of the alleyway. He made sure that she reached the corner. The corner was on 41st and Main, the heart of downtown. She was easy enough to see; she was the only one who had on a bright red long felt coat. He watched her carefully remove the blanket on top of her candy boxes and set up her cardboard sign, "CANDY For Sale. Proceeds go to Anne's School of Special Education". As she put the sign up, some adults already started to stop. She held her head up high and looked so much like a little entrepreneur. He could tell that she was enjoying the attention.
Detective Spencer stopped watching and quickly walked down the street the other way. The tears were starting to form again but he took the back of his hand and wiped them away. He walked for five minutes and then stopped. No one took notice of the small device he pulled from his coat pocket. He quickly pulled the antenna and pointed it in the direction that he had just walked from. Then he pressed a button. Nothing happened. He waited another moment and pushed the button again. This time it fired. The explosion rattled the windows as far down as he was. He shoved the device back in his pocket and mixed in with the dazed and confused crowd.
The princesses, Jeb, the Captain, and the Lieutenant stood on the street again. By this time, Lieutenant Miller had no choice but to hold most of the princesses' purchases. He was the lowest ranking guard present. Both Jeb and Captain Bower grinned at him to which he responded with a glare. Both Jeb and Captain Bower knew that if they had not been in the immediate presence of the princesses and if he did not have his arms full the glare would have been a hand gesture instead.
"Hey DG, why don't we head down that way? There's a little girl up there selling something and I want to see what it is," said Azkadellia. DG was still feeling a little hurt from their conversation in the lingerie shop but she said, "Sure Az," She took Az's hand, and then she couldn't help herself. She turned around and mischievously asked Jeb, "Having fun yet?"
Jeb never got out his response.
Time seemed to take on a whole new meaning. It was quick and slow all at the same instant. They all saw the white flash. Then the magic between DG and Azkadellia roared to life and formed around them, Jeb, and Captain Bower. It was a warm translucent blue that would have been considered pretty if had not been the only thing between them and hell. Lieutenant Miller was close but yet so far away. There was no more chaotic din of the city. Only the sounds of death rained upon them. Azkadellia screamed in terror as the rolling black air mixed in with burning embers, debris, and what was left of the crowd hit them. DG screamed out for Azkadellia to hang on and not to let go. Captain Bower dropped to his knees and it was all that Jeb could do to continue standing. Jeb looked off to the side and to his horror realized that Lieutenant Miller was outside the magical sphere. He instinctively went to reach out to him but pulled his hand back. He did not know if he could even break through the sphere or if by doing so, cause it to collapse around them. In less than the blink of an eye Lieutenant Miller was gone.
And then it was over. The sounds of death were replaced by the sounds of the dying.
Jill was content. She had stuffed herself on the sausage and pepper sandwich and while she still felt a little homesick at least she was no longer hungry.
She had just turned to Cain to ask him about what he and Sergeant Costello talked about when they heard the explosion. It thundered through both of them and then came the debris cloud. Cain grabbed Jill and tackled her to the ground. His arm pushed her head uncomfortably into the asphault. The air rumbled above them and Jill could feel bits of rubble pelt her back. The air was thick with dust and ash and both of them coughed hard.
Then it was over.
Cain helped Jill to her feet. "Are you alright?" She was shaking and her knees felt weak. She had to force herself to speak, "Yeah." She carefully took off her glasses and looked at them. The one side looked a little bent but she thought that it would be okay. She blew off what dust she could from them. Then she tried to brush off most of the ash and dust from herself and continued to cough.
She looked at Cain and saw that he was covered as well. People around them were slowly getting up. Those that could not were being helped. Cain turned to her, "Jill, I have to go to where the explosion happened." He hesitated, "I'm sorry but you're going to have to come along. I can't leave you here alone." She looked at him and just simply nodded.
With that they started to jog through the crowds and debris towards 41st and Main.
Detective Spencer started to jog through the confusion. Then his jog turned into a flat out run. He couldn't stop. He had to get away from downtown.
He found himself back at the park. It was deserted. He could see the smoke from the explosion in the distance. It was a constant reminder of what just happened. What he just caused to happen.
He sat down in the swing. It was the same swing that Rebecca had been swinging in earlier. He let the tears flow freely.
Her scarf was still balled up in his hand. With his other hand he reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a picture of his wife and daughters. It was torn and faded; having been taken some years before. As he looked at the picture he knew that they were now safe. He allowed his thoughts to drift once again. He had worked as a Protector for the Father for years. He had fled to Oradour after the protection ring surrounding the Mystic Man broke. Zero not only came after each member, but took advantage of his position to take vengeance on those who were with him in the Academy. He escaped and it was in Oradour that he met his wife. But then the Father dropped his bombshell. The Father rescued Zero. And as He brought him before the Protectors, he cowered in fear. He cared not if Zero killed him out of vengeance, but not his family. He silently damned the Father to hell.
In exchange for his family's safety he agreed to do this one task. Now they would be protected; He would protect them, forever. Never did he realize what ultimate price he would pay. There was no way that he could explain what he had just done out of his love for them. It was better for him to die and never see them again then to live as a monster and feel their hate forever.
He put the picture back inside his coat pocket and took out another one. It was another very old photograph that was torn and faded. But it was of him, Paul Costello, Wyatt Cain, and Dale Corter. Except back then they were not detectives, sergeants, majors, or former solders for the Witch. They were just four guys enrolled in the Academy. He looked at Paul and Wyatt. He never was as strong as they were. He briefly wondered if they would even begin to understand what he had just done out of love for his family. And then there was Dale.
Detective Spencer caught himself. He had not called himself that for a very long time. His name was Zero. He put the picture back in his coat pocket. He reached into the same pocket and pulled out his wedding ring. He had not worn it for a long time. He put it back on his finger.
He stretched out Rebecca's scarf and folded it up carefully. He placed it in another coat pocket. Then he pulled out his hand gun. He stood up off the swing and walked out towards the field. There was still some snow on the ground but by now it had been trampled by all of the children. He sunk to his knees. He uncocked his gun and put it in his mouth. He almost gagged on the taste of cold metal and burnt gunpowder. He took it out of his mouth and shuddered. Had he become such a coward that he couldn't even do this? He swallowed the bile and put the gun back in his mouth again. Then he pulled the trigger.
His blood splattered on to the dirty snow.