Ludwig led Alexander to the front of the school where a myriad of emergency vehicles were set up. Paramedics and firemen were going around treating people for various cuts and scrapes from the shattered bulbs—the police were patrolling the grounds, talking to witnesses, and guarding the school gate where a small media team had already gathered. Ludwig rounded a squad car to the front passenger side that faced away from the potential cameras and opened it, offering for Alexander to sit. “Bloody media making everything harder,” he sighed.
Alexander sat hesitantly on the side edge of the seat, being careful not to allow himself to fully sit in the car. “Um…” he began as Ludwig retrieved a lunch bag from the trunk.
“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate,” Ludwig smiled, now handing a ham and cheese sandwich to Alexander.
“O-Oh,” Alexander took the food as it was handed to him, but only looked at it with a furrowed brow. “I-I really shouldn’t…” he said, trying to give it back. “Food is expensive.”
Ludwig laughed, “Nonsense. I can’t let a kid go hungry—especially one of Van’s precious friends,” he winked.
“Friend?” Alexander stared at the sandwich, his vision blurring. “Is it really that simple?”
“Is what simple?” Ludwig asked, popping a straw into a pack of milk and handing off to Alexander as well.
“Making friends…” the boy mumbled.
“It can be,” Ludwig replied, casually taking the sandwich from Alexander and unwrapping it before putting it back in his hand. “Now, eat up. You can’t do well in school if you’re hungry—And don’t worry about the cost, Alex, I have a good job,” he added, putting up his hand as Alexander started to protest. “And,” he continued, “there was task force meeting this morning where brunch was served, I’ve already had my fill today.”
Alexander made a frustrated face, his mouth set into a line. “What is it with you and Van, it’s like you can read me like a book,” he mumbled, glaring at the sandwich.
“Well, a good officer has to be able to read people and situations,” Ludwig smiled, rubbing his chin. “I expect Van probably picked that up from me.”
Alexander looked away to the ground, avoiding eye contact, “Why does he call me Princess?” he asked finally. When he looked up again at Ludwig’s silence, he saw something sad in the man’s eyes. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” he said quickly, looking away again.
“Can I ask you to just put up with it?”
“I—I suppose…” Alexander replied.
“I’m sorry, I know it’s probably embarrassing for a boy, but I assure you, Van has a reason for it. And I know it’s not malicious, I promise,” Ludwig explained carefully. “Van genuinely seems to like you, so maybe he’ll tell you why some day.”
Alexander frowned softly, puzzling over Ludwig’s words. “Does it have something to do with witch hunters?” he asked.
Ludwig drew in a deep breath, choosing his next works very carefully. “It does,” he said after a long silence. “As I’m sure you’ve had a hard life—from what Van told me—he as well has had some… difficulties.”
“A lot of kids our age do,” Alexander responded. He still hadn’t taken a bite. “Do you think he would hate me if I became a witch hunter?”
Ludwig sucked in a quick, sharp breath, his brow furrowing. “That’s a pretty dangerous career path—why not become a police officer instead?”
“You know why,” Alexander replied after a moment’s thought. He looked up at Ludwig, directly making eye contact. “I can tell, you know. I feel it when people are walking on eggshells around me. I know when they look at me—people like Allen, or the fire witch. I know intrinsically who is going to attack me, and who is going to ignore me on purpose.” He paused, still not taking his eyes from Ludwig. “I know you’re hesitating, not just because I’m damaged goods, but because there’s something about me that just grinds your gears—Van too,” Alexander looked away finally, sadness flickering across his face again. “I know he’s not being malicious. There’s something different about the people here… You won’t hurt me, I know that, but I’m still afraid of you. I know you don’t want to hurt me, but you might end up doing it anyways out of some weird instinct, like a flight or fight response…” Alexander had started lightly hyperventilating, his lower lip trembling. “I—I’m scared that I’m some sort of monster… Something else. Something that drives people insane…”
Ludwig watched Alexander as he spoke, his own expression faltering at the boy’s words. “You don’t blame anyone for hurting you, do you,” he said finally as more of a statement than a question. “If you think like that, you’ll never end up protecting yourself,” he added. Ludwig licked his lips tentatively. “You are right about that—that there is something off about you, and I can’t place it. But Alex, if you never protect yourself, you can’t ever hope to protect the people around you that matter, you understand me?”
Alexander drew in a shaky breath and nodded, biting his bottom lip as his mouth set into a line. “Y-yes sir.”
“As for becoming a witch hunter—I suppose that will be up to Van whether he’ll accept it or not. I, personally, disagree with it. However, you have no reason to take my word into account—we’ve only just met, after all.”
Alexander nodded again, numb. “If I could just research witches without being a hunter…”
“Prrriiinnncessss,” Van practically oozed around the back of the car, sidling up to the pair, drawing out Alexander’s nickname in a sing-song tone. He leaned on the frame above the door, towering over Alexander. “School’s out for the day, probably tomorrow too,” he added thoughtfully, “so Nana and I are free to take you around town to get you some clothes and bedding.”
Alexander hunched at his nickname, frowning softly with a noise of displeasure. “I-I only need a decent thrift store,” he mumbled, flushing. He fired a glance up at Van, worried that the other might have overheard is talk with Ludwig, but if Van had, he wasn’t showing it.
Van smirked, “Nana suggested taking you to one.” He took the sandwich from Alexander and took a bite and returned it to him. He waved idly, “Now hurry up and eat. We need to have you back and be home by seven,” he muttered through mouthful.
Alexander looked at the sandwich again and then took a hesitant bite, nibbling at it. “Why seven?” he asked.
“Curfew,” Ludwig answered, watching Alexander with some curiosity before firing a glance at Van who merely shrugged and did the same thing with the milk pack—punching the straw in and taking a sip before handing it back to Alexander. Ludwig continued, “We instituted a city-wide curfew from seven P.M., for minors, nine P.M., for adults, until seven A.M. ‘til the witch is gone.”
“What’s stopping him from coming out during the day?” Alexander asked, now devouring the sandwich with increasing zeal. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he started eating.
“Well, nothing, really,” Ludwig said with a scoff. “But he’s mostly hit places at night so far.”
“That might change,” Erik arrived, now leaning on the door. Van grimaced and leaned back, scoffing bitterly at the other man’s presence. “We know what he looks like now, and he knows that to. It’s only a matter of time at this rate.”
“Yes, only a matter of time before he gets murdered,” Van growled. “No wonder he’s going to try and do more damage.”
“What do you want us to do, Guillory?” Erik said, glaring at Van, “Arrest him? He’s already killed one officer—that man’s children are going to grow up with out him now. It’s not like we can hold him either. Jail won’t work, he’ll just melt the walls and walk out, killing who knows how many others.”
“Iropa doesn’t have a death sentence,” Van argued.
“Not many places do anymore,” Erik pointed out. “But if we had a way to nullify the powers, believe me, I’d be the first to use it. I’d happily not kill anyone ever again—but until you present me an alternative option, this is how I choose to protect the people I care about.”
Their stand-off was interrupted by a slurping and they both looked down at Alexander who had his straw in his mouth. His cheeks went pink and he looked away quickly, muttering an apology. Van stifled a laugh, his smirk returning. “Well, it seems Princess is done eating. So we’ll be off,” he said as he grabbed Alexander by his upper arm again, dragging him from the squad car.
They watched Van and Alexander head off to the school gate to meet up with Nana, who handed Van’s bag off to him. Erik leaned on the open door of the car, folding his arms across the fame and resting his chin on them.
“So,” Ludwig sighed, moving to take Van’s abandoned spot, leaning on the side of the vehicle. “What’s your assessment of Evans?”
Erik closed his eyes, looking a bit more tired than usual, “Are you asking as an acquaintance, or an officer?”
“How about a concerned citizen?” Ludwig offered, sliding his thumbs into his belt.
“Your cam off?” Erik opened on eye skeptically.
“It has been the whole time,” Ludwig replied. “I wasn’t attending official business in the woods,” he added.
“Hrmm,” Erik let out a gravelly sigh. “I can’t tell for sure yet if Evans is a witch or not. He should be fine as long as Greech and Dawson don’t find out we suspect anything.”
Ludwig chuckled, “Hiding things from your superiors?”
“Those men are about as superior to me as my morning piss,” Erik muttered. “You know I only tolerate Greech because he’s hardly ever in Iropa—as for Dawson,” Erik tilted his head thoughtfully, “He doesn’t care for my rules. The nosy bastard can lie in the bed he makes himself.”
“And Alexander? If you take him on, you’ll have too many hunters.”
“Mmm,” Erik’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Central Command doesn’t have any sway in my branch. If I take on Alexander, he’ll be easier to handle than Dawson—and Dawson will be forced to leave Iropa.”
“You’re seriously not considering using a child to keep control of your branch are you?” Ludwig said, his eyebrows both rising in surprise. “And that one at that,” he added, idly waving in the direction the kids had gone.
“He wants to be a hunter. It would be better if he joined us, no?”
“I thought people couldn’t leave the Eden Society,” Ludwig pointed out darkly.
Erik closed his eyes again, “There are ways.”
“Erik,” Ludwig said with warning.
“Stop using my name, there are witches that can do me harm if they know it.”
“I doubt that’s even your real name,” Ludwig replied flatly. Erik opened his eyes again, frowning at Ludwig. “See, I know,” Ludwig said triumphantly with a listless wave at nothing in particular. “I know you well enough. The question is, do your teammates know that too?”
Erik merely scoffed. “What’s the news on the school?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“Your team probably knows more than mine at this point,” the officer replied. It was his turn to fold his arms. “Have you talked to Alexander’s guardian yet?”
“No.”
“Would you like me to?”
“Hrm. Perhaps. He asked me not to, however.”
Ludwig was silent, thinking. “I really need to know what you think of him. He saw right through me.”
“I have no doubt,” Erik smirked. “That kid is surprisingly self-aware. As for what I think, I think he would make a good hunter—a better person—probably even a decent witch if he had powers.”
Ludwig made an incredulous face, “Y-you can’t be serious?” he stammered.
“Let’s face it, I don’t know a witch with those kinds of ice powers in town,” Erik pointed out.
“And the electricity surge?”
“True, Evans does have a penchant for being caught up in strange electrical events—but I don’t know if that’s him, or others. Electricity powers seem to be more common,” Erik said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin and stubble. “This could have been anyone. Our investigation will reveal the source point, then we can isolate who was there and when using your witness testimonies.”
“You know how I feel about you using our work to hunt down and kill people, Walker,” Ludwig said with a sour face.
“And you know the limitations my team has to work within—even if your superiors don’t,” Erik replied in kind. “The children are off limits, and so are their families. However, if Alexander was the cause of this event, that puts him in a precarious place. He’ turns eighteen next year—and if he does have two powers…”
“It would be unprecedented,” Ludwig finished, gripping his upper arms.
“If he goes feral…”
“I know. I know,” Ludwig took off his cap and ran his hand through his hair nervously. “I just don’t want to see Van hurt again.”
“I’m willing to be your son’s public enemy number one, Ludwig—if it means keeping the world safe from Inferi.” Erik finally looked away, “Speaking of which, I would tell your son to avoid Evans until we take care of our current target. He seems to be following him. We’ve spotted him near the school gates several times already, watching the dorms.”
“And you haven’t taken him out yet?”
“He’s more dangerous when it’s not raining,” Erik said darkly, meeting Ludwig’s eyes. “I don’t want to lose anyone else either, you know.”
Ludwig sighed heavily, “I’ll speak with Van. Knowing him, he’ll just carry on as he does, probably even more-so if he knows Alexander is in danger.”
“As long as he’s aware—then he can make the decision to run if need be—I just hope he’s fast,” Erik said, sighing as well.
“He and Nana are on their respective track teams, I’m sure those two will be just fine,” Ludwig smirked warily, pushing away from his car. “I have to get back to work,” he added, setting his officer’s cap back over his snow-white hair. He gathered the trash left behind by Van and Alexander and pulled his door away from Erik, shutting it. “Try not to use the poor kid too much, Walker. I would hate to see anything more happen to him.”
Erik sighed, pocketing his hands into his usual black coat. “I’ll do what I can. Also, it’s supposed to rain in the next couple of days, make sure you’re fellow emergency agencies are ready. There will be damage.”