It's nearly day break and Polo is just now walking out of the sherrif's office. They needed his statement. The woman made him out to be a hero when all he did was comfort her and walk her through a plan that paid off. Not every day is your missing child going to be in the safe hands of an officer who was already on the prow.
Now, here he is in the last few hours of the night walking through the streets of the city alone. No money until your eighteen, his mothers left him everything but he can't access it for two more years so that means no taxi, no cell phone because the battery died and he can't buy a charger, no food. What time was it last night that he went wondering off? Around six P.M. it gets dark so soon now. The sun also rises earlier too so it must be about five A.M. maybe a little later.
No cash on him, because they all agreed to let Guzman hold onto the extra funds they had had for the night. What were they going to go do, anyhow? Something about ice skating and coffee. It sounded nice in the moment but Polo's been so distracted lately. He's just underneath the Christmas lights all alone waiting for the song to stop playing in the town radio.
Sia's music is nice but so very sad. He doesn't want to be sad anymore. That cold feeling has returned to his bones. His face burns from the cold, his hands are cracking from lack of moisture, and his entire left foot is numb. Little droplets fall from his nose as he pushes through the stabbing gales of wind on his way to town. He may be able to find his way back from the hospital and signs everywhere point to Grey/Sloan.
Up ahead, in the streetlight, are two people with flashlights.
"Polo?" Calls out one of the figures, and he recognizes the voice.
Polo calls back, "Uncle Kendall?"
The figure beside his uncle becomes clearer as they get closer. It's a woman and she's on the phone with someone. They come up fast but not as fast as the car that comes around the corner. The bright Mazda comes to a stop and two doors fly open. It's Guzman and Ander and they both come running at Polo. They wrap around him they way cold hands wrap around warm mugs in the morning and Polo buckles into their grasp.
"What happened Polito?" Asks Guzman.
Ander continues, "You were right behind us."
Polo sighs, "I got lost. Then I helped a woman find her son. I've been at the Sheriff's office all morning. I'm so cold, can we go home."
The two boys laugh and hold tightly to their friend. They tell him yes and begin to help him to the car. By this time Kendall and his friend approach. Polo's almost there, he's leaning against the car and the door is open but there is something he must do.
"Ander... I know you don't know my uncle Kendall but he's a good man. Helping others helps us and people need people." Says Polo as Ander looks so passively back at him.
He continues, "Dr. Sheppard seems like a wonderful woman and I want you to live. I want to wake up every day and see your face, and I know Guzman feels the same way. I couldn't save Carla and Christian, just like you can't go back and help Omar, and heaven knows losing Nadia is eating at Guzman's soul but Ander you can save you and I need you so please. Let me and my family help you."
Guzman helps Polo into the car and the door shuts behind them.
Ander stands there in the chill with Kendall and the woman he's with. Naturally the question is raised, "Who is this."
"I am Camille Roberts, I run a construction team. Your- uh- friend Kendall here-" She begins but she's cut off.
Ander says, "Foster parent. He's my foster parent."
Camille nods and looks at Kendall who seems as surprised as she is and then she continues, "He says you've been seeing things."
"You said you run a construction team." Ander interjects.
Again, she nods, her thick black curls bouncing around her big green spectacles. Her face is pale but he can tell she's anxious. She draws in a breath through thin alabaster lips and she says, "I'm not a doctor. I'm a builder, I was given the sight as a young girl. Do you think your visions have any meaning."
"I have cancer and it feels like you're mocking me. I'm going to go with my friends." He goes to open the door.
She calls out, "Wait, do you see flames. Tiny flames, they look like they're walking? Do they appear in your visions."
He hesitates for only a moment then turns to see her face to say, "I have to go."
After Ander has climbed in the door shuts and the car drives away.
Camille looks at Kendall for assurance but he has nothing to say. After all, he knew it was a long shot. Still Ander had not confirmed nor denied the allegation. Camille's been seeing things too and if Kendall learned anything from his performance days with the boys it's that he can trust her. Camille is different and he gets the feeling Ander might be too.
Little eyes open. Ricky Harper is the first of his siblings to wake. He is one fourth of a set of quadruplets and he knows that' his sister Dawn to his left and his brother Dicky too his right. It only makes sense that the boy beside Dicky would be Nicky and he's so frightened that he doesn't scream. He doesn't call out to them. He simply hangs there by his wrists feeling the weight of the contraption on the rope that links his arms and neck with the coil laying so loose around his body and connects to the hole in the ceiling where that sharp and shiny thing rests.
He furrows a brow in confusion, his siblings always tease him about being such a nerd and knowing all he knows but he's drawn a blank here and has no choice but to dangle there and weep and stare at the white things standing up around them there on the slick floor. The only light comes from the holes in the ceiling outside of the area the four of them are in. He does recognize one thing; the position of the white figures is awfully similiar to that of pins in bowling. Except four are missing. He spies that Nicky, Dicky, Dawn, and himself are in the missing spots. A snake of chill slithers down his spine and he's suddenly remembering the awful, harrowing, holiday he and his family just had.
Thanksgiving seems to be full of monsters and after the history he learned on what his ancestors did to the indigenous people in what today is known as America Ricky doesn't mind that those monsters devour people. They've earned it. However, did he and his siblings earn the fate they got when strangers burnt down his home and snatched him, his brothers, and his sisters before the fire consumed their house and their parents? He remembers screaming then, calling out for help. Why can't he do it now.
The doors to the gymnasium swing open and two men walk into the room. The lights come on and his siblings start to awaken. Ricky tries to swallow but he's suddenly so very aware of the rope around his throat.
"Oh my... Ricky- Ricky what's happening." His sister calls out to him.
His brother's mimic her cries and it suddenly feels like he's in a zoo exhibit because the noises reflect off the walls of the gymnasium in a school Ricky Harper doesn't recognize. He has nothing to say and this only frightens his siblings more. Ricky always knows what to say.
"Hey kids..." Comes a voice from one of the two men across the slick floor, "I'm detective Carlos, I'm going to get you down okay. Just try not to move."
Behind the man who called himself a detective Ricky spots the red painting of the number; 2, and feels it's sincere mockery like a branding iron in the flesh. A detective would show up with a gun. This cop is either lying or in the same trap Ricky is in. Ricky, who at fourteen, is expected to stop the panic and turmoil in his siblings who dangle with him like pirates sentenced to hang in the town square for their crimes. They're children. They've only ever played pirates after watching the many adaptations of Peter Pan their parents had on DVD and VHS. This. Isn't. Fair.
