MEMORIAL

The sky was dull and grey, the clouds rolling overhead as rain threatened to fall as the Family, Amy and Andrew stood at the memorial site. No one else knew what these three brave people had done for their city, but that never stopped Andrew from arranging the memorial statue. Vivian, Vironica, Darcy, Sienna, Rachael, Chloe, Nicola and Mikayla all bowed their heads in mourning. No one came over or interrupted them in the graveyard, which was strangely busy due to the many people burying their loved ones after the killer's attacks. "You know…they saved a lot of lives even if they weren't in the final attack," Andrew said to them all as they stared up. The statue had been raised on a large slab of concrete, the three marble figures all standing higher than the Family. Luke was crouching down, a quizzical expression on his hard face while Leila pointed in the distance as though spotting something interesting.

Finally, Jacob stood tall, his arms folded as he stared at something seriously, as though considering how much of a threat someone was. There was a sign at the bottom, made of copper that shone in the dim light of the day. Rachael looked down, read the sign twice-over and smiled. It was true, what the sign read. The truest thing she had ever read. It fit the three perfectly as they stared ahead at something invisible to everyone else, as though preparing to face down a threat that was unseen and undetectable. "They gave their lives to keep us all safe," Nicola whispered, finally breaking the silence. "The least we can do is get people to recognise everything they've done!" The Family agreed, even Andrew murmured words of encouragement. "Unfortunately, it is not that easy," came an unfamiliar voice, and a man stepped out from behind the memorial with his hands in his jeans.

"Dad!" Sienna shouted, quickly running over to give her father a tight hug, who chuckled and hugged his daughter back tightly. "Why isn't it that easy?" Chloe demanded, a look of fury passing over her face. Nicola hurriedly patted Chloe over the head, calming Chloe down instantly and then linking arms tightly with her, smiling soothingly at the other girl. "Because the people didn't know them or anything at all," said Sienna's father, Mike. "They need a symbol. Something to teach over the years and something to live hope by. If we release this to the public, and they realise that your friends gave their own lives, they will not have as much hope. They will realise people die during these things, and they will become scared. Will there loved ones be the next ones to act heroic and perish? So, for their protection, we simply cannot announce this fact."

Slowly, the Family nodded as the common sense kicked in. It was the most reasonable course of action. "But I am here to pay my respects. Your friends…they saved a lot of lives. You should be proud," Mike said, smiling as he took his place beside the Family and also stared up at the monument. Hours later, they departed. They had spent as much time as they could in that graveyard, paying respects to the three who had given up everything. Rachael cast one last glance at the sign before she departed, her arm looped around Amy tightly and protectively. As they walked away, a figure crouched in front of the memorial, his blue eyes twinkling as he gave a small smile. "I'll keep watch over them…until the time is right," Jacob whispered, and then he turned and vanished amongst the trees.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

LUKE, LEILA AND JACOB

THE THREE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR YOUR FUTURES

2006 – 2025, 2007 – 2025, 2005 – 2025