Not So Innocent Anymore

Things certainly changed since the last time I was here. That was 7 years ago so it should be a given. Just walking down the street feels completely different. The joy that once coated the atmosphere now oozed with hostility. The buildings definitely grew taller but the colour that attracted people to it was replaced with a bland grey. There just seemed to be no life in the street anymore. What happened while I was away?

"You're new here." A voice came out of the shadow in the alley. I stopped and turned to see who it was but whoever it was clearly didn't want to be seen. They fit perfectly in the shadow and didn't allow anyone to see them or even sense them for that matter. It was as if the person hid in a black hole.

"You could say that." I replied then put my hand in my pockets. Hopefully that showed that I wasn't a threat or looking for a fight. It definitely wouldn't look good if the first thing I did when I came to town was to start a fight and end up in jail.

"What are you doing here?" This time I was able to get a better listen at the voice. Definitely male, deep voice but he sounded a bit inexperienced so I would say that he was in his late teens or early twenties.

"I'm on my way home. Why are you hiding in the shadows? Allergic to the sun? Vampire possibly?"

"You're funny. How about I cut out that tongue for you? Bet you won't be making jokes after that." Inexperienced yes but definitely fearless. This boy had definitely been through more shit than he should've for his age.

"And here I thought we could be friends."

"Friends? Get lost dumbass." Dumbass, been a while since someone called me that.

"Very well. It was nice meeting you." I decided to continue on my way. He didn't seem like he wanted anything to do with me anymore and he definitely wasn't going to give me any information I wanted.

The rest of the street was empty but if that guy proved anything then I was definitely going to have to keep my eyes open no matter how safe I felt.

"Extreme Sense." I quietly activated the spell as I continued down the sidewalk. The spell allowed me to use the full potential of all my senses. My vision instantly sharpened, I could pick out different smells around me and I was able to hear the dripping of a tap inside the building I was walking next to. I heard the scratching of claws on top of the building then felt a pair of eyes settle on me. It was definitely the same guy that I just spoke to. Somehow he was able to scale the triple storey building in seconds and camouflage himself so that he could watch me. I didn't sense anything threatening in his actions, he was just there to watch me it seems.

I ignored him then walked past a house that I knew all to well, The Ross's. The house got bigger but the plants could use a bit of a trim. It was a double storey now as well so their family either got bigger or Elly just wanted more space to herself, wouldn't put it past her.

"I heard a rumour but I didn't think it was true." What the hell? Where did she come from? Was she able to use magic now as well? How did she get so close to me even with my Extreme Sense activated?

"It's the hair right? I had to cut it, long hair was irritating me so I went bald and I actually kind of like the short hair now. You could say it grew on me." I turned around and my eyes were immediately met with her tearing ones. She launched herself at me and embraced. I was stunned for a second before I gently put my arms around her as well. She buried her head against my chest to hide the tears wetting my shirt. For one moment, just one blessed moment, everything felt peaceful and lively again. There was no dullness around us and no unwavering hatred in my heart. With her arms around me and her head buried in my chest, there was nothing but pure and simple happiness.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was trapped against my chest but I heard it nonetheless.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I replied. She slowly lifted her head and looked me in the eyes again. Her eyes looked like they had witnessed the ugliest parts of this world but there was still hope breaking through in them.

"Hey Elly." I greeted her but we refused to let go of each other.

"Hey Red." Hearing her call me that after all these years brought a smile to lips. I didn't think I'd ever miss that stupid nickname but here I was smiling like an idiot.

"You would've kicked the crap out of me for crying when we were younger." I reminded her then wiped away a tear that raced down her right cheek.

"I've kicked the crap out of you for less." Finally a smile settled on her face. She began regaining her composure but still never separated from each other. Something about having her in my arms just felt right.

"That begs the question; why was I friends with you?"

"Because you couldn't live without me." She brought her hands up to my collar and straightened it before drawing her hands down the sides of my arms and finally settling in my hands. The warmth of her hands immediately radiated with mine. The Extreme Sense spell made everything I feel with my hands that much better. I could feel every healed scar on the palm of her hands and the blood rushing beneath the skin. This simple experience was taken to the extreme with this spell.

"You looked like you survived these past 7 years though."

"I wasn't going to waste my second chance." Her smile instantly faded once reality set in around us again. She released my hands took a step back finally allowing me to see her in her uniform. She definitely looked grown up now but I was finally taller than her so I could lord that over her.

"Looks like you went from kicking the crap out of me to kicking the crap out of criminals."

"Not as much as I'd like but being a police officer is worth it." I could tell that she was being honest so I was glad that she was doing something she was passionate about, even if it left us on opposing sides now.

"I see you guys expanded the house." I pointed out then stood next to her and marveled at the building.

"My parents sold the house once I graduated from high school. The new owners did all this."

"How are your parents doing?" Her parents were always good to me and treated me like their son so I hoped they were doing well.

"They're okay. They're living on a farm close to Trenton."

"That's good to hear." I gave her a smile but she looked past me towards my house.

"Looks like your house hadn't changed one bit." I finally looked over at the house and saw that it was the only piece of property that hadn't changed on the street. The freshly cut grass newly painted exterior were out of place in the colourless community but I didn't care. It was my house so I could do with it what I wanted.

"Yeah. I didn't want them tearing it down. I just wanted them to restore it."

"I was surprised when I heard that you hired a team to clean up but when I tried to find you then it was like you didn't exist." At least that part of my plan worked.

"If anyone knew where I was then they might want to finish the job." I pointed out.

"About that, I know you just came back but I'm going to have to ask you to come to the station with me. There's some questions that need to be answered about that night." It was inevitable that I was going to be questioned about that night but this worked out in my favour.

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Okay. Don't let go." She grabbed my hand and took a breath. "Ghost Walk." She activated a spell. Everything went blurry for a second before we found ourselves standing in front of the police station.

"What the hell was that?" I felt a little dizzy but easily recovered.

"Sorry about that. That spell takes a bit of getting used to." She released a few giggles while I gently massaged my temple.

"No kidding."

"Come on." She grabbed my arm then began leading me inside the building. I knew the layout of this building by heart so I didn't have to pay much attention to where we were going. We were probably just going to an interrogation room anyway.

"Since when can you use magic?" I asked her. The last time we saw each other, we were both powerless little idiots and now both of us developed the ability to use magic. Coincidence perhaps?

"It happened a few weeks after... you disappeared." I understood her hesitation but there was honestly no need for it. I saw the strange looks I was getting as we walked through the precinct, mainly surprise, but I noticed Elly's demeanor change. She transformed into this strict no-nonsense officer marching me towards the interrogation room like some criminal.

"Looks like that period changed both our lives." I commented then entered the colourless room. Was the whole town suddenly void of colour now?

"You have no idea. Take a seat, someone will be here to question you in a few minutes." She informed me but I could see that her mind was racing with other thoughts. I couldn't use my magic inside the building just like all other municipal buildings so my senses we're back to normal. Elly closed the door behind her so I was left alone in the room. I decided to sit down on the seat facing the two way mirror. I wanted whoever was watching me to see all my reactions.

"The prodigal son returns hey." Just the bastard I wanted to see, Captain Hutch. He was the man in charge of running this precinct but if everything went according to plan, his were numbered.

"Prodigal son or one that got away?" I stared him down while he took a seat across from mine. Every cell in my body screamed in rage as I watched him but I had to control myself. Every dog has it's day right? Fortunately for him, it was a different dog's day.

"I'm going to present you with an option since you came here willingly." He reached out in his pocket and pulled out a sealed clear container with housing round white tablets. "These tablets are known as The Truth Tellers. Whoever takes these tablets aren't forced to tell the truth but it makes lying extremely difficult. Not really 100% dependable but it's gotten the job done more often than not. Since you're not under arrest, we can't force you to take it."

"I'll take it. I have nothing to hide." I grabbed the container and immediately swallowed one of the tablets. It wasn't going to have any effect on me but it would definitely put everyone else's mind at ease.

"So where do you want to begin?" I asked as I placed the tablets between us again and relaxed in the chair. If I was going to be questioned then at least I wanted to enjoy it.

"We first need to see if the tablet worked. State your name and surname."

"Jared Broad."

"How old are you?"

"20 years old."

"What are your parents names?"

"Dr Bradley and Dr Phoebe Broad."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"A sister, Alyssa Broad."

"Were your parents able to use magic?"

"No."

"Was your sister able to use magic?"

"Yes."

"Are you able to use magic?"

"That's a difficult question to just say 'yes' to. I am able to use magic but it's not my own magic." His furrowed eyebrows and questioning eyes definitely needed an explanation but he knew that he only had a limited time to ask me what he needed to before the tablet's effects wore off.

"Can you tell us what happened at your house on May 10, 2113?" Now we were getting somewhere.

"7 men entered our house at 23:02 and attacked my parents in the lounge. They tied my father to a chair and they tied my mother's wrist and ankles but left her on the floor. My sister woke up and made her way down the stairs but she was attacked and tied up along with our mother on the floor. 2 Men went up the stairs and found me sleeping so they grabbed me out of bed and tied me up. I woke up and saw that our house was being trashed and my mother and sister were being raped on the floor. They were bound so they were unable to fight back. The rope they used for my sister must've disabled her magic somehow. They were forcing my father to watch as each one of them raped my mother and sister before driving a knife through their hearts and doing the same to my father." I managed to keep calm and composed throughout the entire recollection but it still felt like the air around me was being pulled from my lungs wanting me to stop talking about that gruesome event.

"How did you escape?" He looked up at me and began watching my every move now. He knew exactly what happened to my family that night but my escape was the one thing he didn't know and that must've driven him crazy.

"My sister mastered magic by the time she was 15. She was able to use most spells with ease. While they raped her, she chanted a spell that somehow transported me from our house to Clearfield Cove." He didn't show any emotion at my answer. It probably just filled in the last blank spots of that notorious night for him.

"You said that your sister's magic was disabled, how could she have done a spell then?" Now that was a question worth asking. No matter how much I try to make sense of it, I was wasn't able to explain how she wasn't able to use magic but still activated a spell that saved my life.

"I said that the rope must've disabled her magic. I don't know that for sure. I do know that it was her magic that transported me though." He grunted at my last statement then looked down a page on the desk.

"You said that 7 men did all that. Do you know who they were?"

"I know exactly who they are. Do you want me to tell you their names?" His immediate silence confirmed that I caught him off guard there. He probably didn't expect me to remember much about that night, let alone know who the attackers were.

"Obviously just telling you their names won't do you any good. They can just deny it."

"Do you have any proof to back up your accusations?" He looked up at me once again. Now I had his attention.

"I don't have any proof." I truthfully answered him. I didn't need to lie about that. "Would you still like to hear who did it though?"

"I would, it could possibly bring justice for your family." Justice? He was a hypocrite if ever I saw one.

"Their names are Ian Thompson, Freddy George, Duncan Adams, Kyle Williams, Monty Price, Hector Withers and Paul Hutch." He didn't show the slightest bit of emotion at the mention of his name at the end. I guess it would've been suspicious if he did act out of character now so I had to applaud his ability to stay calm under and an accusation like that.

"So I murdered your family?" The amusement in his voice evoked a smile out of me. I was actually enjoying this. Pressing his buttons was turning out to be more enjoyable than I thought.

"And raped, don't forget that."

"I don't know about the rest of the guys but I can confirm that I didn't kill or rape any of your family members."

"Be careful what you say Captain, this conversation is being recorded and watched I take it. You don't want anyone to think you're lying." I whispered.

"I think we're finished here."

"I think so too. Hopefully the next time we see each other, you won't be in handcuffs." I gave him a smile as he stood up but he finally let his anger show. The menacing look on his face could only hide the guilt he felt.

"I should be telling you that." He replied.

"Should you though?" He grunted once more before leaving the room. I released a sigh then stared up at the light on the ceiling. Everything was going according to plan so why was I still not relieved? I still felt this pain and heartbreak weighing me down.

"Jared." Elly called my name. I turned my head and saw her standing in the doorway. The look of sadness plaguing her face was is what I should've been feeling but I just felt defeated.

She silently motioned for me to follow her so I stood up and made my way out of the interrogation room. We quietly made our way through the station and back outside.

"What now?" I asked her once we were outside.

"You're free to go but... you have to be careful now. Accusing a police officer of a crime is not something that will just blow over, especially if it's the captain." I was grateful that she was worried about me but I knew what I was doing.

"I can protect myself. I also have magic now." I held out my hand between us. "Spawn: Battle Flower." I commanded but nothing happened.

"Was something supposed to happen?" Her raised eyebrows and quirky smile showed her amusement.

"Sorry, my magic isn't as strong or good as yours. I'm still practicing but let me try a different one." I took a deep breath and held out my hand again. "Spawn: Fiery Flower?" Suddenly a rose appeared in my hand.

"Well done." She released a giggle.

"Hey, this is a lot for me." I replied then handed the rose to her. "Hopefully this can make up for all the time we missed."

"It's a start." She accepted the rose and finally gave me a genuine smile. "Want me to take you back home?"

"I think I'll call a cab rather. I don't need to be passing out when I get home." That set off laughter between us again.

"Weakling." She replied. "I'm glad you're back though."

"Glad to be back as well." She took a couple of steps back towards the building so she clearly wanted to get back to work. "I'll see you around."

"Don't go getting in trouble." We gave each other one last smile before turning around and heading our separate ways.