MAP OF THE PROBLEMATIQUE

Chapter 12: City of Delusion

Nodding, I allowed him to lead me away, and as we made our way back to the chopper, my eyes took in one last look of the area around us. Despite the depressing and decaying atmosphere of the place, it actually was quite beautiful. Something caught my eye. Movement. Feet.

"David?!"
"What?! Where?"

"There!" I pointed to a ledge high up above us, looking out over the drowned city. He wasn't moving much, and I had to wonder what he would be doing all the way up there.

"Get in!" Joe commanded, and I did as he said, leaping into my seat in time to watch David lean foward and let himself plummet down, down to the murky water below. He landed with a splash and began to sink fast.

"David!" I shrieked. "Oh, my God, Joe, go!"

"It won't start!"

"What?!"

"I said, 'It--" ROAR "Nevermind. Here we go! Buckle up!"

We launched foward and as I struggled with my belt, I gave a cry. Our chopper was headed down for the water, and fast. I had to get that belt on before we hit. I was lucky I made it because when we did make impact, I was thrown against the door, slamming my elbow into the sidebar.

"SHIT!" I screamed in pain, clutching my arm.

"Sorry, love!"

"I'm fine. Just find David!"

He'd barely fallen out of our sight; we followed the trail down until the bright morning sun was reduced to nothing but an eerie blue glow. Coney Island came into view. We passed old rusted bumper cars and candy stands, toy booths and soda fountains until we came to a massive ferris wheel at the center of the park. That's where we found David, seated in front of a beautiful statue a woman in a long blue ballgown. There was a look of pure adoration on his face.

"There's some sort of arm on this thing, I think....."

"Yeah, here," I pointed to the joystick to his right.

"Yes, that's it. Okay. Let's hope this gets him, huh?"

I nodded, holding my breath as Joe reached out and plucked the boy from his place at the sculpture's feet. "Oh, good," I breahted. "Now let's get out of here, please. This place depresses me."

"I agree, love. Let's go."

Trailing David behind us, we made our way back up to the surface. I climbed out in a hurry, whirling around to pull David from the water. Joe was at my side in an instant, clutching my arm as I checked the boy. "Hey, are you alright?"

"David, you know we don't swim. You could have fried your circuits."

"I found her, Joe. The Blue Fairy."

"Listen, kid, she--"
"The Blue Fairy! I need to ask her my wish!"

I sighed. "Oh, God, Joe, what--" I was cut off in an instant by the sound of a wailing siren, and my heart literally stopped for maybe two beats as I screamed again.

"No!"

"Joe!" David shouted, and our companion turned to him.

"Remember me to the ladies when you're a real boy." Hitting a few buttons on the chopper, the machine whirred to life again, preparing to submerge.

"Oh, Jesus!" I swear it felt as if my brain began to fall out. I couldn't handle it. "David!"

He looked at me and smiled. "When I'm a real boy, Wendy, I will ask my mommy for a sister as wonderful as Lydia, and an aunt as pretty as you."

"David...." I sobbed again.

"Goodbye, Wendy. Joe. I'm off to see the Blue Fairy!"

The chopper closed for the last time and dove down into the depths once again. All of a sudden, my necklace began to ascend off my neck. At the same time, Joe gave a tug on my arm next to me as I realized, to my horror, what was happening. The cops had turned on their magnetic fields. Joe, being Mecha, was being pulled right towards them. They didn't even have to leave their chopper. I screamed again, grabbing hold of him and trying to pull him back, but it was useless. We went up together.

"Please," I begged once inside. "Don't do this."

"Who are you? Mecha or Orga?"

"Orga. Please, you need to let us go."

"Well we can let you off in Rouge City, but your friend here is wanted for murder."

"He was framed!" I shrieked. "Joe, tell them! Joe!" I grabbed his arm and gave him a shake. The look on his face, I couldn't describe it. It was as if he were giving up and shutting down completely, and this drove me crazy. He knew he was framed, he knew who did it, and yet he did nothing! "Dammit, Joe!" I shook him again. "Oh, my God...... listen, we can prove it! Eddie Bevins, his name is Eddie Bevins. Joe came to me last night and told me everything!"
"Okay, lady, alright," the cop sighed, aggrivated. "Listen, we're going to the station anyway and if it would make you feel any better, we'll see if this Bevins has a file or not. I'm not making any guarantees but to be honest, lady, it doesn't look good for your friend here."

"Oh, God...." I buried my face in my hands.

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Music: Named after yet another song by Muse, "City of Delusion." What?! They're inspiring!! :D LOL