Returning to No Applause, Only More of the Same

Chapter 99, My Angel!

Skyscrapers and lights like stars flashed past below them. Kreig would certainly have liked to fly faster, but not with Erica in his grasp. The last time Kreig could remember flying with someone in his arms was when Peter had asked to see how it felt. At that time, Kreig had excitedly done loops and barrel rolls to make Peter scream because it was funny. When he put him down afterwards, Peter didnt want to go flying again.

But Kreig felt no such desires now. Erica was still clutching him tightly, her wide eyes lapping up the stars both above and below. Going any faster than this would be uncomfortable to her, and right now, that mattered more to him than anything else.

A trembling finger stretched out in his vision, pointing to where she knew Jay lived. Kreig had forgotten to ask why she knew this, but he could imagine that she had been worried about Jay even before this whole mess.

As for Kreig

He really didnt know what to feel. Off there in the distance, where Erica was pointing, a number of helicopters buzzed about a building like flies, pointing searchlights at anything that moved. A few of these concentrated on a certain apartment. That would be their best bet. If this was really what he wanted to do, that was.

Logically, he knew that this was the end of his happy days. He felt numb inside. With this, he couldnt teach at Painstone anymore. He wouldnt be able to get work anywhere else either. Hed still have his family and hed still have Erica, but what else?

It occurred to him that he didnt need much else.

Erica was trying to tell him something, but the rushing winds prevented her from doing so. It seemed that she was still worried about Jay.

With his wings flapping mechanically and his mind stuck in a thick fog that rendered his thoughts into silhouettes, Kreig descended towards the building. Many of the apartment doors were open, revealing nosy neighbours peeking out curiously. Several of these neighbours had exited fully, being in the middle of talking to various armour-clad soldiers. Kreig didnt care about them though, even though many had noticed him. No, the one to whom his attention was drawn was none other than a relatively young woman, clad in a strangely revealing outfit and wearing thick make-up that only barely hid the streaks of tears running down her cheeks. And yet, despite all that, when her eyes fell on Kreig and their eyes met, a fantastic smile shone on her face and she stretched her arms towards him.

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Kreig landed softly on the floor where this woman was, coming to stand right in front of her. Erica carefully stepped down from his arms. The woman didnt even glance at her.

Instead, her eyes filling anew with tears, she fell to her knees, stretching her arms to the sky again. Oh, oh! My angel! Then, she clasped her hands to her chest in prayer. Kreig felt his body grow stiff.

Angel? He?

Ericas eyes hopped frantically between Kreig and the woman before settling on the kneeling woman. Mrs Crooks? Slowly, Erica approached her. And, in a deliberate tone, she asked, Do you know where Jay is?

Mrs Crooks smile grew even wider. Yes! Of course, of course, yes! She said-, she told me, before she left, she said, Mother, your angel will come to you for guidance. And you shall tell him where I am. Tell him and no one else. And so I have done! The poor woman was on the verge of hysteria, her eyes beaming with religious fanaticism of a kind Kreig had only seen many, many years ago.

A few of the nearby soldiers approached warily, trading looks, gripping their weapons tightly. Among them, Kreig recognized a face.

Craig, Kreig greeted.

Uh, Craig replied. Is this a bad-? Erm, guys, I think Craig gestured with his hands towards the rest, moving them in a strange series of poses that may or may not have had some form of significance. The soldiers carefully backed off, seemingly returning their attention to the neighbours. Craig watched them with furrowed brows. When he turned back to Kraig, Kraig noticed a hint of fear in them. ...Will you hurt the suspect?

Kreig met his eyes. No.

Craig shuffled his feet and glanced away. Heh, well, thats good, because, well Shes only a minor, right? She doesnt Kreig made no reply while Craig fumbled for words. Well. You know.

Sighing audibly, Craig made his exit.

Kreig turned back to Mrs Crooks, whose eyes remained aglow with that frenzy of knowing youre right. Kreig winced at the sight of it. Maybe a hundred years ago he would be used to being viewed with those eyes, but nowadays he wasnt even used to being viewed with fear.

Mrs Crooks glanced to and fro quickly before returning to Kreig, apparently assured that no one was listening. She went out to the oak.

Erica frowned. The oak?

Mrs Crooks nodded deeply, sustaining eye contact with Kreig. He really wanted to ask her to stand up. Yes. Out by Undulat park. A very pretty place. This time of year Maybe a little cold. But you should have no problem with that, my angel.

Kreig turned away from her, feeling how his mind darkened. I am no angel.

In fact, trying to pose as a herald of God could only be considered a form of blasphemy. But she was too far gone to hear something like that.

Does it matter? Mrs Crooks tilted her head. Kreig turned back to look at her. You can part the night sky with a prayer. Does it matter if you are an angel or a demon? Regardless, you are worthy of worship.

Kreig could feel his brows pinch together. How was he supposed to understand that?

Before he could put any more thought to her cryptic words, a hand clasped his and his eyes met with Ericas. Her lips were pulled tight in anxiety. We need to go, she said gravely. This isnt a matter of someone hurting her anymore.

What do you mean?

Ericas grasp on his hand tightened. I think she might try to hurt herself.