I find plastic carry out boxes on the shelf, perhaps it is a good idea to portion the meals.

I heard laughter.

“You can’t catch me!”

“Hey! You’re cheating!”

“Gerald! Arnold! Stop running around the house!” Francine shouts. She groans, “I’ll be back,” she sets a timer for 40 minutes and wanders into the living room.

“Can you guys behave for once in your short lives?”

“Come on, Francine! Don’t be a drag!”

“Where is Kyle?”

“I don’t know, he was with us just a second ago.”

“What?! He is younger than you! How can you lose track of him?!”

“Next time he should be faster. We told him to hurry up or we will miss dinner, we thought he was running with us.”

I walked in the room, two boys were sitting in front of a television screen watching a children’s movie.

“Who is that?” I looked at one of the boys, both were staring at me almost flabbergasted. “Oh wow! Are you a Prism Soldier?!”

“No.”

“Why are you dressed like a knight in shining armor?”

“It is the uniform of Prism. The color represents neutrality, the iron plates offer protection from any pending threat,” I say.

“Cool!” Both boys chimed with excitement.”Are you gonna fight the monsters that come from outer space??” one of the boys asked.

“Possibly,” I reply.

“David, I’m going to look for Kyle, please look after the kids for me.” Francine geared up to head out.

“Do you rather I go search for him?”

“It’s okay, I think I know where he can be--”

“Please, I am skilled in this. Just tell me any useful information so I can locate him,” I insisted. Francine paused to analyze the circumstances, only briefly.

“Okay, Kyle is a Latino child and he doesn't know how to speak English.”

“What language does he speak?”

“I think it was Spanish? I am not sure, I do not speak the language.”

“That’s fine, I am proficient in languages. Where was he seen last?” I asked the boys.

“Well, we were getting off the bus stop, I do remember seeing him get off but we started a race and never thought he wasn’t following,” one of the boys replied. Something doesn’t sound right. There is a certain nonchalant tone to their voice giving me red flags.

“Did you not just mention he was behind you just a moment ago?” I asked the boys who were growing nervous. “And you also mention you were racing to get home but you last saw him getting off the bus, did you see him?”

“Well… u-uh… Y-yeah we did see him on the bus—“

“But did he get off?”

“We think—“

“Answer the question with a straight answer.”

“No..! We didn’t see him get off!”

“We’re sorry!”

“I am very angry with both of you, You should be more considerate! What if something happens to him?” Francine scolded the boys, meanwhile I left the premises to find Kyle.

I do not see many civilians out, but I do see a lot of children heading home.

“Hey… Look. a Knight…”

“We should go…”

They ran off down the street, hopefully Kyle will be on his way home. If the child stayed on the bus that means he continued to a different destination.

…

I see a woman watering her plants and a young girl runs up to her showing her a page. I should ask them.

“Good Afternoon.”

Both the mother and the child stiffen. “Go back inside, Clarissa…”

“Mommy, what is happening… Is daddy coming home?”

“Just go inside, I will be joining you in a bit.” The girl rushed inside but I can see her peeping through the window. “How can I help you…” her voice quivers.

“Thank you, I am looking for a missing child.”

Her shoulders drop.

…

“I, what?”

“I am looking for a missing child, his name is Kyle, I am not sure if your daughter knows him.”

“Kyle? You mean the little sad boy that hangs around Arnold and Gerald?”

“Sad?”

“Well, he barely speaks… I honestly know nothing.”

“Do you mind me speaking with Clarissa?”

“W-well…”

“I am certain you rather I don’t but she may give me clues as to where he may have gone.”

“...Clarissa! Come out!”

…

The door slowly opens and the girl, Clarissa, nervously walks over.

“This man is looking for Kyle, he needs your help to find him.”

Clarissa is sweating, she is avoiding us both. “I… I wouldn’t know…”

This is very odd, every child involved tends to avoid or fear talking about Kyle.

“Honey, anything you can tell him can help find Kyle. Don’t be shy.” Hopefully the mother’s encouragement makes Clarissa cooperate.

The child’s face wrinkles and turns red. She trembles as tears spill from her eyes. “I don’t want him to get in trouble…”

“He will be if we do not find him. My priority is his safety,” I replied.

“No! The moment I spoke the truth they took daddy away! I won’t allow that to happen!” Clarissa screams and runs back to the house.

“Clarissa!” the mother is about to lose her composure, “I-I’m sorry…” she said before chasing after Clarissa.

There is something strange which is not at all clearing up the circumstances. His friends know something and are too afraid to tell.

…

I’m closer to the stop, and just in for the boarding of new passengers. Many of the civilians are wary of my presence. They either move far away from me or they stare.

…

I see a piece of cloth snagged on a tree by the stop. It is a fluorescent red tarp material. This color is illegal in Jupiter, in every Prism territory.

I am not liking this. I can only hope Kyle didn't own anything red. I should keep walking to see if I was able to see him.

…

…

…

Check Point No.4, You are now leaving Little Jupiter. I have gone too far, I should walk back.

My ears pick up a heavy drone. I scan the horizon beyond the beach and I see 5 Patron; Heavy Areal ships piloted by Special Space Ops. Normally those are common for critical invasions from Ozone Dwellers. They are also very close to shore, I should take proper measures of precaution for Kyle’s sake and see if anything is going on.

…

Blood contaminates the ocean, and there are also blood trails on the sand. Not too far I see a small boy watching the Patrons surround a incapacitated creature, possibly an ocean dwealer.

I hold the cloth up and match it to the ripped backpack the boy has. His skin is much more rich in color, It is Kyle, this I am sure.

Upon closer inspection, Kyle had terrible injuries and his clothes were ripped, almost to shreds.

“Are you hurt?” I asked him, but he never responded. His shoulders quivered, and I can hear him sob quietly.

I kneeled beside him to see his wounds, and I see him holding a massive pearl in his bloodied hands. He seemed catatonic, his gaze stared endlessly at the Patrons gathering what was left of the threat.

From what I can gather, the creature was a rare albino Void Dweller. The creator had massive wings over their head and their tail measured approximately 30 feet.

I am not close enough but I can safely deduct it is no longer a threat.

…

I look back to the boy. “Can you hear me?” I ask. My chest pain is becoming a problem. It was difficult to even form words.

No response.

“Kyle,” I called. I kept a firm gaze on the child, but I needed to reassure what I saw. For some unreason, my heart rate is… accelerating and slowly crawling up my throat.

“No…” His voice is strange, it has a strange distortion. “No…!” He shudders and his face crinkles when tears spill from his eyes.

“No, what?” I asked.

“N-no..!” he gripped the pearl, holding it into his chest. “No! No te la lleves!” he screams before collapsing into the sand. “No! No! Mama!” he screams again and I catch him in time before he makes a grave mistake.

“Dare not interfere, proceed by showing sympathy for the creature and Prism will associate you as a trator and will be terminated on sight,” I warned. The child leaned onto me and cried.

“You, Identify yourself,” I heard. I turn to look and see a troop of Knights securing and closing the beach. One in particular stood before me expectantly.

“I am, M1-0001SiO, Active Serf registered as David,” I replied.

“Who is this child?” They asked and checked the sensor on the back of my brace. There was a black feather on that Knight’s shoulder. I am slightly perplexed as to why that is.

“His name is Kyle, he is under the care of my Master, Larry Sin’Clair,” I replied.

“This child is wounded,” another Knight added. “Take him to Jupiter Sanitorium,” the knight instructed and a pair of soldiers dragged Kyle to an ambulance. With the child’s wailing he dropped the pearl into the sand.

…

…

…

I picked it up and stored it in my pocket.

“David,” the paramedic called. “Will you escort the patient?”

I can still hear Kyle screaming in the ambulance.

…

I walk to the ambulance, and take a seat next to Kyle.