Chapter Six

It was past four days since the news of Max's family's death. Liz had followed every news outlets

that ran through the whole story. She had seen the remains of the ruins of Max's house, Max's

parent's burnt bodies had been found but no one had heard a thing from Max. The whole

community was till shocked at the news of Max's family then uncle David's body had been found

in his kitchen. The police had come around for some questioning, the first time, they had asked

her so many questions about Max, if Max was capable of killing his parents, she had shook her

head all through out questioning, she couldn't just find the words to say. Knowing that she

wouldn't see the first family she had ever met in West high hurt her so much, or because the

CCTV footage had been empty so they relied on human witness for their investigation. What

broke her heart was the assertions the police were making about Max's disappearance was that he

had been kidnapped by the people who killed his parents or that he had ran away after he had

killed his parents. Liz had refrained hard from telling the police what she had seen, they wouldn't

believe her anyways. Magic was supposed to be a mere fantasy but it had been real, more real

than she could ever comprehend.

Just when Mike and Dorothy's death was hitting her so hard, the woman that cleaned up uncle

David's house had found his body, the police had become more intense in their investigation.

They had asked her questions she didn't know the answers to and questions she knew answers to

but she had shook her head either ways. Apparently, a knife had been thrust into Uncle David's

throat and the police hadn't found a clue about who the killer might be. This time, the police had

asked her "Did you see something? Did you notice some strangers around the house?" Then she

had stopped listening to their questions at some point. This time, the police had seen the footage

of a young girl with scarf tied around her head. When she asked if she could see the footage

herself, Liz's mouth got dried, only one person walked the way the girl had walled in the footage.

The girl walked like Max. Her mother talked about her fears, the house was no longer safe for

them anymore, and they needed to leave as soon as possible. Her mother had ranted about what

the police were insinuating. The police could be right at one thing, Max couldn't have killed his

parents but the footage of the boy in disguise was definitely Max and she dreaded at the thought

that Max could have killed Uncle David. Liz's mother had disagreed with the police's assertion

"That boy was sweet, he couldn't have done that". She allowed her mother answer all the

questions the police asked. Liz was sure Max wouldn't kill anyone; he was the nicest boy she had

ever met. Whatever was making Max go on the run, she was sure he was running for his life. She

shook her head whenever the police asked her questions about everything, even the ones she

knew the answers to. Liz faintly heard the words of the police. "There are police on patrols, if

you see anything strange, please call the cops". Her mother had thanked the police and she had

taken more precautions than ever. She slept less, woke up in the middle of the night to double

check the door. Two days now she had woke up with dark circles under her eyes. Liz couldn't

sleep too, her mother's insecurities made her lose so much sleep. She had stopped going to

school for the past few days, her mother had told her they needed to be more careful.

Her mother had told her they were moving again, she couldn't risk their lives any longer. "We

can't stay here any longer, it's not safe". Her mother was holding a cigarette; she smoked

whenever she was nervous. "We just moved here Mom" Liz protested. She watched her mother

pace up and down the kitchen, she put the remains on the cigarette in the ash tray and she took

another cigarette stick from the pack. "Did you not know what happened? This place is crazy".

She lit the cigarette. "Three deaths in a week honey. There could be a serial killer here or

something". Her mother concluded they'd go to her cousin's place for some months till they

found a good house to move into. Liz knew there was nothing much she could say to convince

her mother, they were moving again, she knew she couldn't see Max again, she wouldn't catch

him steal gazes at her anymore and that haunted her more than knowing he might be a killer, it

haunted her more than anything else.

*********************

He had easily found his way to the restaurant than he had thought he would. He had told a

waitress he needed to see his mother in the kitchen, he was glad she didn't ask further questions.

"The kitchen is at the back". She tilted her head towards a door opened with black heavy curtain.

The kitchen was busy; everyone moved up and down, carried this or that. He stopped a woman

coming out of the store room. "Hello, I err... I want to cook". He saw the look on the woman's

face but she didn't ask him any further questions. "Follow me". She dropped the stainless plates

in her hands; he followed her through a room with lights only bright enough for them not to

stumble on some planks. She opened a door to a huge space, it was a facility. She led him past a

room filled with different people, young girls and boys about his age, women breast feeding their

babies, little kids playing with balls, old men and women who looked older than their age. The

waitress knocked on a cubicle door, a tall beautiful woman opened the door, and she had his

mother's eyes. "This young boy said he wants to cook".

"Hello Max, come in". The waitress shut the door behind her. "Come on, sit down". He didn't

need anyone to tell him the woman in front of him was his mother's sister. "I'm Diana, your ---"

"My mother's sister". He cut her. She nodded. "My parents are dead".

"I know" she looked up at him.

"How did you know?" He couldn't trust anyone.

She smiled. "You wouldn't be here if they aren't dead". She added. "I'm sorry Max". He

responded with a nod.

Max searched her eyes for a flinch of doubt but he could find nothing, he wanted to be sure he

wasn't walking into another trap. A headache hit him when he tried to read Diana's mind. "You

can't read my mind young boy, don't try it". She grinned.

"Who are they?" He could see the other people through the transparent walls. "People like you

and I". She replied, Max looked again.

"Why are they here, hiding?" She could read every ounce of fear of his face.

She ignored his question "I should show you around'. She picked up Max's bag.

"You haven't answered my question". Max raised his voice. "Why are they hiding?"

Diana turned abruptly; the bag fell off his hands. "They are hiding because of the same reason

you are hiding" She picked up the bag again. "Let this be the last time you will ever raise your

voice at me. Understood?" Max nodded.

Diana took him into a room; it had singular bunk beds in it. He would be sharing the room with

someone but he only saw his clothes lie around. Someone called Diana's attention; he had first

noticed the huge physique he had. Diana's attention was interrupted by the broad chested man.

They talked silently, Max tried to eavesdropped but there was some magical blockage, he

stopped trying after trying once more. The man finally shut the door behind them. Max was

startled at the sound of the water rush in the bathroom. A boy came out of the bathroom. His

room mate. He guessed. ''You must be the new guy, I am Alex" Max took off his shoes. ''I'm

Max".

"Max Fallaway?" he saw the shock on his face. "Yes", max replied.

"The Savior with the evil blood in him"

"Excuse me" Max was confused.

"That is what they call you. You are the only one that can restore the magical kingdom to what it

used be". Max listened to Alex repeat the same thing his Bunnies had told him. "Everyone knows

the story".

"I guess" Max murmured.

For dinner, everyone lined up for their meal. The number of people seated at the opened place

had multiplied, he sat next to Alex but couldn't help but notice all the eyes set on him before or

after they whispered to one another. "Why are they staring at me?"

"I told you, everyone knows everything about you". Alex assured him. Max decided to feed his

curiosity. "What did they say about me"?

Alex was silent for a minute. "The seers have prophesied, different seers, same prophesy". Max

fixed his gaze on Alex.

"What did they say about me"? Max asked.

Alex searched his face, "You don't know?" he swallowed his meal. "You have both bloods in

you, you are meant to either bring peace to the two world of destroy one of the kingdoms" he

paused again. "The evil blood is dominant in you, your father's linage. It was prophesied that you

will join forces with Danny Fallaway and our magical world would crumble in your hands".

"That's why they all keep staring at me?" Max demanded.

"If you saw someone who was prophesied to kill you, you'd stare at them too".

All through the meal, Max thought about how all of them knew about his bloodline, his abilities,

his doom and the prophesies they had made about him. "Everyone knows everything about you".

How everyone thought they knew everything about him, but they had no clue about what he had

done. Then maybe the prophesies were right after all, he would find the people that had killed his

parents and he would not stop until they stopped breathing.

That night, he watched the ceiling fan till dawn. He had started another phase of his life and he

was not sure if what he was feeling was fear or anxiety. But he knew he was anxious, he didn't

know if he was capable of doing what everyone wanted him to do, if he would survive or if he

wouldn't be eloped by the evil they all feared. He was sure, like he had survived the attack; he

knew the bridge would be crossed eventually. Max finally closed his eyes at the thought of Liz,

when all of these were all over, he would find her.