CHAPTER THREE:

 

AC 187

St. Gabriel’s Orphanage:

 

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are…

 

Duo sighed as he leaned his head against the windowsill. There weren’t exactly stars in the colonies, but Duo could always pretend - just like in those books that Sister Helen always read to him during story time. It was his favorite part of the day. He would always sit in front of the group on the floor of the playroom and listen to her sweet voice tell of many wondrous things and about a special place called Earth.

 

He could remember the day he had asked Sister Helen about Earth, and had listened in rapt attention to all that she had described. There were blue skies and birds on the Earth. There were oceans and lakes and streams and beautiful people and beautiful things. He wished he could go to Earth. He had told Sister Helen that and she had smiled in return, smoothing his hair and telling him that maybe one day he could.

 

One day, I will go to Earth and get to see what the ocean looks like.

 

He could hear the church bell chime for the midnight hour and he crawled back into his bed, pulling the blanket over him as he tried to will himself to sleep. But he was afraid, for he knew that once he closed his eyes, his other side would come back and do all of those horrible things. He shivered lightly as he muttered out a quick prayer, clutching the rosary that Father Maxwell had given him to his chest. He couldn’t afford to sleep.

 

He…just…couldn’t…afford…to…go…to….sleep….

 

 

 

 

The old man saw the little boy standing in front of the toy store and smiled softly to himself, before shaking his head as he glanced at his watch. Good Lord! What was the kid doing out here at this ungodly hour? Walking towards the motionless figure, he called out softly.

 

“Hey, kid. Don’t you think you should be at home? Or do you even have a home?”

 

L2 had no shortage of orphans.

 

The boy did not reply as the man took in the barely covered boy in the white sleep shirt, bare feet, and the long chestnut-colored locks fluttering around the cherub face with eyes of violet that seemed so far away. He tried again much louder this time. “Kid…don’t you have a home to go to…argh!”

 

Without turning away from his gaze at the toys in the window, Duo had pushed with his mind, and was currently squeezing the life out of the man’s heart. He frowned a little as he increased the pressure; aware that the man’s choked sobs of pain sent a warm flow of delight into his brain.

 

“Shouldn’t you be minding your own business?” He replied coldly as he gave a final twist, before the sound of the body hitting the ground caused him to relinquish his grasp. Relaxing his tense body, he gave an idle glance at his handiwork and walked slowly away with a brown teddy bear now clutched tightly in his grip.

 

 

 

“Duo! Duo, wake up! We’ve gotta go!”

 

“Nnnh…leave me alone…I don’t wanna.”

 

“But, Duo! Sister Helen’s gonna leave without you. We’re going to the park today, remember?”

 

The longhaired boy sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes, yawning as he finally opened them to focus on the hazy face of his best and only friend. “Hey, Solo…what’s up?”

 

The dark-haired boy with similar long locks, only his was in a neat braid, smirked and placed hands on his hips. “Sister Helen is about to have a bird. She says she’s about to come get you herself if you don’t get up! Hey…where did you get that teddy from anyway?”

 

“Huh? What teddy?”

 

Solo raised an eyebrow and reached down to pick up the medium-sized brown stuffed animal that had been lying on the floor to wave it in front of puzzled amethyst depths. “This teddy bear. Did you steal it again?”

 

Duo frowned and snatched the bear away from him, staring at it with widened eyes. “I didn’t…steal it…”

 

“Duo…”

 

“I said I didn’t steal it!!”

 

Solo cringed back at the yell and stuck out his arms in surrender. “Okay, okay. You didn’t steal it. But you can be sure Sister Helen’s gonna want to know where you got it from. Come on, get dressed let’s go!”

 

Duo jumped off the bed and reached for his clothes, only to find to his horror that his jeans and shirt were no longer there. “What happened to my stuff?”

 

“Oh, yeah.” Solo said carelessly as he reached for the black robe that hung over his chair. “She says you have to wear this.”

 

Duo blinked at the outfit in disbelief. “I am not wearing that! It’s a dress!”

 

“So, are you saying that Father Maxwell is a girl? Hmm?”

 

Duo flushed in embarrassment. “No…but, but…”

 

“Oh, come on already, just wear it. It couldn’t hurt.”

 

“But they will all laugh at me…” he murmured in worry.

 

Solo placed an arm around the smaller boy and grinned brightly. “Hey, don’t worry about a thing, Duo! If anyone dares laugh, I will give a good whack on his head for ya!”

 

Duo just had to laugh at the image and with the smile still in place, he reluctantly slipped into the priestly robe, slipping his feet into the provided flat soles that he was forced to wear. Moving back to the bed, he sat still as Solo brushed out his hair, while shoving the teddy bear underneath his bed.

 

“Braid?” Solo asked.

 

“Sure…”

 

That done, the two boys stood in front of the small mirror and grinned stupidly at each other. “We are one heck of a team, huh, Duo?”

 

The smaller boy nodded. “We sure are, Solo. We sure are.”

 

 

 

The other kids wouldn’t play with him and he was used to that now. Besides, Solo was all he needed at the moment. Everyone else could very well go to hell. It didn’t help that he was dressed in the priestly garb today, which earned him even more snickers and looks from his fellow orphans. Pouting, he stalked off to a corner of the large playground and made himself comfortable in a sandbox. A bit damp from either rain or dew, Duo, absentmindedly, picked up a small stick nearby and began to draw. What he drew, he had no idea, but the circles and triangles and little odd shapes that he created seemed to consume him, his hands flying across the sand as his face became one of intense concentration.

 

So engrossed was he in his work, that he never noticed the silent figure that stood by and watched him. Suddenly the loud cry of ‘Sister Helen, Duo is drawing that weird stuff again!!’ snapped him out of his reverie and caused him to drop the stick in horror. Glaring hatefully at the girl that had squealed on him, he tried desperately to wipe it off, but to his chagrin, the young nun had already reached him and he had to lower his head in humiliation as he waited for the admonishment. The last time he had done such a thing, he had been made to spend an hour in confessional and that was no fun.

 

Helen stared at the symbols and connotations on the sand with her heart racing a mile a minute. Stooping down to Duo’s level, she held onto his shoulders and shook him a bit roughly. “What do you mean by drawing this again, Duo?! What did I tell you about drawing strange shapes on the ground?!”

 

“You told me never to draw them again, but I don’t know why I do it, Sister Helen. Honest!”

 

Helen’s heart melted at the look of pure contrition on the heart-shaped face and pulled him into her embrace in a fierce hug. “Oh, Duo! Duo! Duo! What am I going to do with you? You break my heart every single day, you know you do.”

 

“I am sorry, Sister.”

 

She pulled back to stare at his face and brushed away the loose strands that framed his face. “I forgive you, just as the Lord always forgives you. Now go wipe that out and then we can all get some ice-cream, okay?”

 

Nodding in happiness, he quickly did as he was told with the help of Solo. The children dutifully lined up and walked after the young nun ahead of them as they made their way towards the ice-cream parlor.

 

Back at the playground, at the exact spot that had held the drawings, three dead dogs and two cats would be found slaughtered the next day.

 

 

 

Father O’ Brien listened to Father Maxwell’s words with solemn intensity. “So, you say, you want the exorcism, although you want to wait for a little while, am I correct?”

 

“Yes. He has been on his best behavior since the incident…”

 

“But I thought you told me that Sister Helen said he had plans to destroy the church? Perhaps the demon wishes us to think that all is well and good for the meantime…”

 

“I doubt it. Duo has been well-behaved and has taken all of his prayer and study sessions quite seriously.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Another tense silence fell before O’ Brien spoke up again. “An old man was found dead right in front of a toy store yesterday. You wouldn’t happen to know how that happened, would you?”

 

Father Maxwell narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to suggest? Do you think that Duo had anything to do with it?”

 

O’ Brien shrugged and got to his feet as he paced towards the windows. “I am not suggesting anything. Only saying that the toy store is not very far from here and that a witness in the area said that they noticed a little boy…walking away…holding a teddy bear. Does he own a teddy bear?”

 

“All toys are donated to the children and each child is allowed to pick one favorite for his personal use.”

 

“That doesn’t answer my question. Does he have a teddy bear or not?”

 

“No, Father O’ Brien. Duo did not select any toy for himself.”

 

“Have you searched his room?”

 

“I beg your pardon?”

 

“You heard me, Father Maxwell. As the head of the orphanage, it should be your responsibility to make sure that the children under your care are checked at all times. Who knows what they may be hiding?”

 

The good Father pursed his lips in irritation but remained impassive. “I will have one of the Sisters check out his room, if that will satisfy you.”

 

“This is not about me, Father Maxwell.” O’ Brien corrected calmly. “This is about the devil amongst us. Just you remember that.”

 

 

 

Duo licked off the vanilla from his fingers, hoping that it didn’t mess up his new robe. He held onto the blue balloon that Sister Helen had gotten for him as he watched the other children run around the park in front of the store. Solo had tried to get him to play tag, but he had refused, insisting that he finish his ice cream first.

 

Unfortunately, a plop of the creamy ice did splash on his robe and with a small cry of dismay, he bent down to wipe it off, only problem was that his balloon got loose and began to float away and further away from him.

 

“No…my balloon…”

 

Tossing his unfinished ice cream away, he ran after the elusive ball of air, his braid dancing behind him with each step he took. “Come back here, Mr. Balloon! Come back here!”

 

Not looking at where he was going, he found himself running into the nearby woods and standing stock-still as he suddenly realized that he was lost. Biting his lower lip, he closed his eyes and tried to will his thudding heart to relax. How else was he going to find his way out if he lost his cool? Finally getting his emotions under control, he began to make his way out of the thicket of trees with his eyes still closed, before his feet came in contact with something round.

 

Mr. Balloon!

 

He opened his eyes in anticipation and quickly felt his hopes deflate as he saw that it was only a rather large red ball. Bending down to pick it up, he bounced it lightly in his hands before he felt the eyes of someone staring at him. Spinning around sharply, he came face-to-face with wide dark green eyes in a pale face. The other boy was about his height and had hair as bright as the sun. Duo ran his eyes down the expensive-looking pink shirt and dark shorts complete with shining new sneakers, as the new kid twiddled his hands in nervousness.

 

Several tense minutes passed as the two boys stared at each other in mute fascination. Suddenly, Duo spoke up rather rudely. “What do you want? And what are you looking at?”

 

The boy jumped up in surprise, as if he couldn’t believe that the figure before him was actually human. “Umm…that ball belongs to me, please,” he said quietly. “Could I have it back now?”

 

Duo stared at the ball and then back at the boy. “This ball? I found it, so it belongs to me now!”

 

The blonde-haired boy looked like he was about to cry. “But that’s not fair!” he cried out in desperation. “My father gave me that ball and it is new and if I lost it, he would spank me for sure.”

 

Duo snorted and placed his free hand upon his hip, while he continued bouncing the ball in the other. “Finders keepers. I found it, I keep it. End of story…”

 

“Master Quatre! Where are you, master?”

 

Both boys spun around at the sharp call, and Duo had to blink at the funny-looking man with the funny-looking clothes with the funny-looking hat. “Wow…didn’t know the circus was in town…”

 

The burly man with bushy sideburns ignored the jibe and walked up to the smaller boy. “Master Quatre, is everything alright?”

 

Quatre shook his head and pointed towards Duo. “No, Rashid. That boy has my ball and won’t give it back.”

 

Rashid turned back to face Duo and placing as warm a smile as he could manage, he stuck out a hand to him. “Hey, little boy. Why don’t you give back the ball? I am sure you can find plenty more at your home.”

 

Duo’s eyes narrowed. They were laughing at him. The Quatre boy and his Rashid were laughing. He could hear it loud and clear in his mind. They thought he was a nothing. Well, nobody laughed at him. With an angry growl, he pushed violently, causing the towering man to suddenly find himself several feet in the air and tossed painfully against a tree. Quatre gasped in fear, noticing the deadly look that had come into the gleaming amethyst eyes. Shuffling backwards slowly, he stammered out weakly.

 

“Ple…please don’t…don’t hurt me. You can have the ball if you like. It’s an old ball anyway.”

 

But Duo wasn’t quite done yet. Pushing again, he lifted Quatre into the air, ignoring his squeals of terror as he smirked in satisfaction. He was getting a bit tired, lifting people had never been his forte but he stubbornly refused to let the blonde-haired boy down and poor Quatre dangled his hands and feet in the air begging and pleading for his life.

 

“Please, let him go,” Rashid begged weakly, a trail of blood beginning to seep from a gash in his forehead. “He is just a quiet little boy and as he said, you can have the ball if you like.”

 

Seeming to give this a thought, Duo finally conceded and dropped Quatre to the ground with a loud thump. Grinning widely, he bounced the ball in his hands again and saluted smartly, albeit mockingly.

 

“Thanks a lot, you guys. You don’t know how much this means to me. I have always wanted a ball for my own. Catch ya later!”

 

And with a jovial wave, he made his way back into the woods, leaving two very baffled visitors behind.

 

 

 

Father Maxwell stared at the teddy bear and the red ball before placing his gaze on the innocent-looking boy sitting before him. Sister Helen stood beside him as they waited for Duo to provide them with an answer.

 

“Well, Duo,” Father Maxwell asked calmly. “Are you ready to tell us where you got these things from?”

 

Duo sighed and began again. “I told you a boy in the woods gave me the ball. And I don’t know where the teddy bear came from.”

 

“A boy in the woods, Duo?” Father Maxwell asked skeptically. “Boys do not hang around in the woods, Duo.”

 

“Well, this boy was and he gave it to me. He said he liked me so…”

 

“What is this boy’s name, Duo? What did he look like?” Sister Helen asked.

 

“He had blonde hair and green eyes and his name is Master Quatre.”

 

Both clergy turned to glance at each other before Father Maxwell sighed in defeat. “Duo. I try so hard to raise you like my own son. How can I trust you when you are not willing to trust me and tell me the truth?”

 

“But I am telling you the truth!!” Duo shouted in exasperation. “I swear it!!”

 

“You do not swear in the house of God, Duo, remember?” Sister Helen chided softly.

 

“I will bloody well swear if I like!!”

 

Twin gasps of shock filled the room as the adults stared at the irate child in slight worry and sorrow. “You know what this means, don’t you, Duo?” Father Maxwell said a bit sternly.

 

“I am not going to confessional!!” came the angry words. “I am telling the truth and you won’t believe me!!”

 

“Duo, you are going to confess your sins to the Lord…”

 

“I don’t give a fuck anymore!! There is no God!! And I don’t fucking believe in him!!”

 

“DUO!!”

 

“You can’t do anything to me!! I am stronger than you all!!”

 

Father Maxwell closed his eyes and clutched the cross in a tight grip, his lips mouthing a quick prayer while Sister Helen picked up the phone to call for help. In seconds the parish’s doctors came into the room with a syringe filled with the appropriate sedative that was to calm the troubled boy. Unfortunately for them, Duo was more than ready this time, kicking and lashing out at the hands that tried to hold him down, he screamed even louder as the lights in the room and indeed the entire building began to flicker on and off.

 

Sister Helen could only watch helplessly, her eyes brimming with tears as more volunteers came in to curtail the wild child. She ducked from a flying picture as several other items in Father Maxwell’s office left their positions to crash to the floor in broken pieces.

 

“Christ forgive you and all your transgressions!!” Father Maxwell bellowed out sharply as he brought out the small vial filled with Holy Water and splashed some upon the thrashing boy.

 

Fighting the urge to cover his ears at the unearthly howl that emanated from Duo’s mouth, he waited and watched with abated breath as the wild thrashings gradually subsided into a limp and exhausted body upon the floor. As usual, the braid had come undone again, as Sister Helen pushed the men aside and reached down to pick the boy up herself. Sobbing quietly, she croaked out weakly.

 

“I will take him to his room.”

 

And ignoring the inquiring looks she received, she made her way back to Duo’s sleeping quarters and placed him upon the clean white sheets on the narrow bed. She smoothed his brow and wept even harder, her sorrow threatening to consume her. She was losing her boy and there was nothing she could do about it.

 

Oh, dear God, if there is anyone that can help him, please…please send him to us! I cannot lose my baby! I just can’t!

 

 

 

                                   

Somewhere on the streets of L1:

 

The lonesome figure on the run-down street stopped in mid-stride and raised cobalt blue eyes to the heavens.

 

And nodding once in acceptance, he lost himself in the shadows.