The Missing Return

The Missing

Return

By A. W Tautuaa

For

Gina and Lote

for helping me with the first








PROLOGUE

Rusted cars piled on top of each other. It was a place of decay where once luxurious vehicles were left to rust. What was once beautiful, left to perish. It was also a place where unwanted things got left behind. This place was dubbed Manny's Junkyard.

Amongst the lost luxury and decaying beauty, a small boy of six years old sat crying. Looking at the state of the small boy, one might wonder if he had hurt himself. Did he, amidst his exploration, fall and hurt himself? What was the cause of his grief? The answer was quite simple really, he was lost. And with each passing minute the small boy's grief grew, grievous that he was and had been lost.

"David!"

The small boy's crying immediately ceased and he looked up in search of his savior. His rescuer stood on top of one of the rusted cars. Her frame was lean but strong. She was ten years old and had long red hair. She stood with the sun at her back so that a red halo shone around her red hair and her person. She left her perch to come kneel beside the small boy. Her tough exterior seemed to vanish as she took the front of her shirt and wiped away the tears on the small boy's face.

"When I told you to get lost I didn't mean for you to actually do it," she scolded.

The small boy held her hand to make her stop and smiled a grateful smile at her.

"Stop smiling," the girl said.

The small boy nodded but continued to smile.

The girl sighed. "I swear you only got half a brain. Come on or there won't be any food left."

The small boy got up and took hold of her hand, ready to be led out of his lost state. The girl yanked her hand away.

"You can walk, can't you?" she snapped.

The small boy nodded.

"Then walk!" the girl said.

Taking several steps she realized that the small boy wasn't following. She looked back and the small boy gazed back with pleading eyes.

"Fine," the girl said holding out her hand. "But only until we get out. And you better not tell anyone."

The small boy nodded and took her hand, a small content smile on his lips.