Another day wasted and I still can’t find anything out about where Vermillion has gone. It’s been over a year and a half since he disappeared, there should be something. Anything, damn it. My gut tells me that he has at least been to the Galactic Police station outside the system. So I went to the municipal center to see if I could find a link to the station. I could ask the bartender I met during my class’s field trip a year and a half ago; when I followed Vermillion around the station after he disappeared from the group. It was funny cause all Lilly, my teacher, said when she saw that he was missing was “You’re up, I suggest you keep him in line. I’ll send a mail when we are ready to leave.” It’s always up to me when it comes to Vermillion. And I’m useless at providing information to anyone about him as well.
Now, here’s my current problem. Am I awake? All these colors I see flying in front of my eyes. Maybe, I do hear music. But then again I hear music in my dreams all the time. Ah, the brief interlude where you learn the names of the songs just played. I’m awake. If Rachel wasn’t off seeing family in another town, I’d go bug her for a while. Knocking? Knocking equals door, “Coming!” I yell to the mysterious knocking. I run to the door and open it, “What can I do for you?” I ask a man that is clearly not from this planet. What mostly tipped me off were the ridges on his scalp. He is kinda nerdy looking too. “Are you Mrs. Kurasawa’s daughter, Nagie?” He asks in a calm tone.
“Yes I am,” Right now I’m feeling really confused, a bit worried but mostly confused, “Is this about my mom?”
“No, it’s about a friend of yours. A boy named…” Great, now he’s gone and done it. Being the topic of many worry attacks, just the mention of someone that could be Vermillion got my blood flowing. So, stressing out already, I overly dramatically grab his hand and ask, “Is he okay? Have you seen him?” The man looked like he wanted to laugh, I don’t blame him. “He’s fine. It’s okay.” Yeah, perfect. I just embarrassed myself in front of a stranger. I don’t know about you but at this time I felt the best course of action was to hear the man out. I closed the door behind me and felt like going for a walk. “Your mom said you two were close?” The man asks.
“As close as anyone can get with him.” Ain’t that the truth.
“What do you mean?” His tone of voice hasn’t changed at all.
“Why do you want to know?” And don’t lie.
“When I met him, I thought it was a bit weird that some kid was alone on the station.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“In the temple.” Well, at least he is not that bad. But still. A light breeze blew in my face, chilly. I look around, everyone was going about their day as usual. The winter festival isn’t till Sunday, so most are being lazy and haven’t started to prepare. I look back at the man, “So you are one of us as well?”
“I like the belief of this religion.” The man scratches his head, “But if I remember right, your species is not a big follower.”
“Vermillion welcomed me on a field trip a few years ago.” I look the man over, he is rubbing his wrist, “You work there, don’t you?”
“How do you know that?”
“Your watch, everyone who works there has one.”
“Good observation.”
Back on subject, “So when you saw Vermillion, he looked like this.” I take out my ‘have you seen this boy?’ picture from pocket and show it to the man.
“Yes.” His head wandered, he is probably thinking, “Wait, you’re shape-shifters. Now I get why you asked.”
“Yeah, so I don’t know, I just find it weird that he would be careless like that.” Actually he can be at times. That’s why I carry the picture.
“Imagine my surprise seeing a young boy alone, praying. I guess he was praying for you.”
“But I still don’t get the interest.”
“I talked with him a few days, it was hard to believe that he really is nine.”
“I’m nine.”
“Yes, I can see that. But he didn’t talk like he was. I know your species it more advanced in thought than mine but he was talking like he was in his twenties.”
“Yeah, he’s that way. It annoys the hell out of me too sometimes.”
