Chapter 24: Subterranean Homesick Alien.

  “Trust me, Family problems kill all your happiness… but they make you damn strong.”

  August 28th, 1991.

  The clock read 4 PM.

  Link II kept dancing to the music.

  Loving each song like a queen.

  The overwhelming sounds of music filling his home alongside neighboring houses.

  But he didn't care, it made him feel human again.

  Gleefully smiling with the music.

  Just as he heard the doorbell ring.

  Somebody began to speak behind it.

  “Hey kid, i got something for you!”

  Hearing Garvin's voice from behind the door, he quickly froze the music.

  Bolting to his Walkman like an elephant and clicking the pause button.

  Sounded like that of a mouse chirp when clicked.

  Rushing to take down every decoration within a motion of his hand.

  Pulling everything down within seconds.

  Then Link II opened the door to see…

  Garvin.

  With a present in his hands.

  “Hey buddy, how's it going?”

  Garvin remarked, smiling equally to Link II.

  He held a large box, covered with wrapping paper similar to Christmas time.

  A bow kindly wrapped on top.

  Tempting, of course, to Link II.

  Asking Garvin.

  “Garvin, how did you know it was my birthday, I never even told-”

  Abruptly, Garvin interrupted Link II.

  “I saw the inside of your house as I picked up some supplies from a neighbor.

  seeing the happy birthday sign left up like… I believe it was a few hours ago?

  I don't remember but… why'd you take it down? Was it because of-”

  Suddenly, Link II interrupted Garvin back.

  “N-No! I-It wasn't because of you! I-I mean you are a good guy, but I-I-

  I never expected you to be here, that's all, I'm sorry if it offended you.

  I just… expected something more violent, rather than you showing up with a present.”

  As Link II opened up the door to Garvin, letting him in.

  Yet as Garvin entered, feeling the slightest emotion of concern for a boy that took down his own happiness in case of violence.

  Garvin sat down on the couch, setting down the present he so carefully took time to wrap.

  While Link II, behind a wall, summoned some glass drinks of water.

  Walking back with the drinks, asking Garvin meekfully.

  “H-Hey Garvin, do you want some water?”

  Then Garvin replied.

  “Uhh… no kid, im good. But thanks for the offer.”

  Just then, Link II put back the glass of water into the fridge.

  Sounding more animalistic in the silence.

  Finally sitting down next to Garvin and asking.

  “What's in the box?”

  As he replied.

  “Open your present then, Pablo.

  And see your surprise.”

  From that, Link II ripped it open without care, fingernails digging into the box like a rabid racoon.

  Eventually opening it to see clothing.

  Custom made clothing for Link II.

  Seeing the same pattern of many random colors and fabrics into each piece of clothing like an art piece.

  The same things he saw when hiding in Garvin's store.

  Each held a unique comment.

  Whether it be a joke about somebody's mom, a one liner, or just a simple joke of love.

  Just then, Garvin asked.

  “What do you think?

  I made each custom piece just for you, little man.”

  He looked up at Garvin, his hand slightly trembling from being referred to by Link.

  Afraid that Garvin knew who he really was.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Despite the mask he worked so hard on developing for a fresh start with a new face.

  Asking Garvin.

  “H-How do you know my-”

  Interrupted by Garvin yet again.

  “I always knew, Link

  From that day where you tossed my son, Dave through that police station roof.

  Landing right on a pile of pillows near the shop.

  To where I had to adopt another boy affected by your alien abilities.

  He recalled that you… brutalized his abusive parents' death.

  I always knew there was something strange with you when you bolted into my shop with a bullet wound.

  I just kept it to myself because you're a child still, despite you being an alien.”

  During his talk, Link II felt afraid.

  Feeling as if he was discovered too early.

  Frightened for his life if somebody knew he killed.

  During his panic, he heard the faint sound of something beautiful.

  The Walkman glitched.

  The song “Too Easy” by Kanye West played in the air.

  The beauty of the synths twined between the 808 drums.

  Sounding like a declaration of humbleness.

  Its braggadocio tone about loving yourself alluring to Link II.

  His feet tapped.

  He smiled like a clown.

  His wings came out like curious hands.

  Scanning, feeling the area from the song's repeated lyrics.

  “I'm gonna love me, I'm gonna love me.”

  While Garvin freaked out, screaming at the sight of white wings emerging from an alien boy.

  Asking Link II.

  “...you can control that? And what the hell is this music I'm listening to?”

  Soon, Link II began to float, wings steadily held him in the air like a bird.

  Stood in the air like a statue with bragging rights.

  Speaking to Garvin.

  “It's rap music, Garvin.

  It's rap music in the flesh.”

  An hour later, around 5 PM.

  After hanging around Link II and his beautiful music, Garvin asked.

  “Hey Link? Ever hear of a haircut?”

  Link II responded, saying.

  “N-No… I never got one anyways unless it was from my drunk guardian.

  Why?”

  Garvin froze, asking.

  “Wait-Wait just a god damn moment, what do you mean ‘drunk guardian’?

  Did you mean like your father or something?”

  Link II declined, nodding sideways.

  “No… my guardian, Samuel.

  he's been gone for a while.

  He left to fix himself in some rehabilitation facility for about 3 years.

  Back when I was five, and now being eight.

  But it's alright, it allowed me to be free either way.”

  Smiling gleefully to Garvin despite his pain.

  Yet Garvin looked horrified, asking.

  “Then who cooked for you, cleaned for you, taught you school and all that?”

  Link II pointed to himself, saying meekly.

  “I-I did… am I wrong? Am I in trouble?

  I-I have my college form already done…”

  He rushed like hell, quickly grabbing his declined form and showing Garvin.

  Each step felt like a deer running from its predator.

  Finally showing Garvin his impressive form, leaving Garvin breathless.

  When he spoke to Link II.

  “...holy shit. You really are an alien.

  Nobody's ever gotten every degree in existence when they're only five.

  And, no Link.

  You ain't in trouble, you never were.

  It's just…

  When guardians abandon their kids, they usually do it for themselves, not for the care of you or how you'll survive.

  But seeing this form made me realize, you never needed a guardian.

  Just a friend, somebody to watch over you and guide you, didn't you?”

  Link II nodded, slightly letting his form spill out.

  Hugging him tightly as he held back tears.

  During his embrace, he spoke.

  “Yeah… Samuel hasn't been back in years.

  But you're right, it isn't okay either.

  But I've had to do a lot to survive.”

  Breaking apart as he took Garvin's hand hesitantly.

  Poking to get his distracted attention and bringing him to the backyard..

  Showing how many gravestones stood behind the house.

  Some have names, some labeled as John or Jane Doe.

  Link II spoke yet again.

  “I've killed a lot of people, Garvin.

  Each person tried to hurt me, but I didn't want to be hurt again.

  So, I gave them their own memory in the form of a gravestone.

  And that's all they'll ever be.”

  He raised a hand up to the right, turning off the illusion of the house.

  Showing the burnt charcoal dug into the foundation of the home and its two gravestones.

  Garvin could faintly see them as they read.

  “John and Jane Doe.

  Young kids killed too soon, but not too innocently.”

  He shivered at its poetic tone, looking back to the boy below him.

  Who now stayed silent, staring at the damned and their damnation.

  Just then, Garvin spoke.

  “I… I don't know what to say, Link.

  This isn't something-”

  Yet interrupted by Link II, finally snapping.

  “You think I know that?

  You think I want to believe that I don't deserve this?

  I fucking do, Garvin.

  I always did, no matter how hard you try to defend me, I'll always look worse compared to others.

  I mean, for fucks sake!

  I've killed at younger ages for less than a man's body!

  You think I deserve to act human again?!

  To feel like Pablo?!

  I don't deserve anything besides suffering and death incarnate!”

  Falling to the floor with a loud thump muffled by the dirt and grass below Link II.

  He cried to himself.

  Wings covering him like something unholy was witnessed.

  While Garvin stood above Link II, horrified yet empathetic towards the killing machine boy.

  Not knowing what to do, Garvin held Link II in his arms.

  Embracing his folded form despite the tragedy in his eyes.

  Seeing what the neighborhood really was besides guns and drugs.

  A funeral pyre of death trailing to explosives like a house of balloons.

  Without a moment's notice, Garvin took Link II inside the house, setting him down onto the couch and speaking.

  Knowing how he had to calm him down like with others.

  “Kid, Kid!

  Look at me, okay?

  Try and ground yourself.

  Think of five things you see around you.”

  As Link II spoke in tears, a muddy voice.

  “I…I see Garvin.

  I see… the stained trees outside.

  I see the CD player.”

  During Link II's talking, he slowly began to calm down.

  Tears drying in his face.

  Eyes dilating back into reality like a fragile kitten.

  Then as Garvin spoke.

  “Kid, I think you need time away from… all this.

  I mean, Christ… no kid should have to bury others who were gunned down too.

  So here's what we'll do.

  I have some fabric deliveries to make to other companies, and I can't have you panic like this.

  It worries me on how fragile you are, especially with barely any defensive maneuvers-”

  Before interrupted by Link II.

  “I-Im not weak! I can kill! I've done it before-”

  As Garvin did the same back to Link II.

  “Enough! It doesn't matter if you can kill or not, none of that should matter to a kid like yourself.

  You're fucking what, eight?

  No kid should even consider taking the life of another, it's inhumane.

  So shut your bitch ass up and let me tell you what you're gonna do instead.

  You'll be picked up, we'll eat breakfast at your home as me and my sons bond with you.

  Then we'll get you a haircut while I make deliveries.

  Finally, I'll take you to the arcade.

  Seems fair?”

  From that, Link II nodded, not liking being yelled at for something he thought of as normal in the streets.

  As Garvin sighed, speaking yet again.

  “Look kid, I'm not mad at you, nor disappointed with you.

  I'm just… angry that you had to do all this murder.

  Which is normal for a parent of two like myself to react when a child's been hurt.

  But I want you to understand this, I will treat you as if you had a job.

  I won't go easy on you; but that doesn't mean I hate you.

  It means that I have a high amount of pain that's equal to yours.

  It happens to the best of us to have a tough personality

  So, to you, I'll probably act weird towards you when I pass by you without saying anything.

  But it just means I'm busy, are we clear?”

  Link II nodded within seconds, no longer interrupting the person that treated him in stern equality.

  Soon enough, Garvin hugged him one last time.

  Thinking in his head.

  “Shit… he's traumatized as fuck and an alien, how am I supposed to handle him?

  Guess I'll just go through with treating him like an adult I guess.

  Hope my parenting skills work good enough for this kid, god.”