The officer allowed Hanini to sit in the front seat of the patrol car, wanting Hanini to understand that he wasn't in any sort of trouble. But that wouldn't stop the word from spreading around the school like wildfire!

"A cop took that swimmer kid Hanini away!"

"I heard he got caught trying to rob someone!"

"I heard he was a ring leader in the riots the other day!"

"He's probably one of those mutant freaks from the Big Bang!"

Of course, Hanini wouldn't be around to hear any of the vicious things being said about him. He was in for something far more difficult. He and Officer Charles approached the coroners office, Hanini's heartbeat slowing with every pace. By the time they arrived through the door, it had all but stopped.

Sensing Hanini's hesitation, Officer Charles placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's going to be alright." He said, trying his best to be empathetic. He opened the door and walked through first, flashing his badge to the attendant.

In the examination room they entered, were two tables with cloths covering the bodies that lay on them. Hanini was certain he knew the identities of both of the people hidden underneath. But even if he had been bold enough to speak, his nerves had locked his voice away in the compounds of his throat, and seemingly thrown away the key. It was Charles who spoke up first.

"Can you confirm that this indididual is Kalea Mahoe?" He asked as he pulled back the first cloth, revealing Hanini's mother. The slashes over her body had been treated, but her beautiful skin had been damaged from being left underwater for who knows how long. Hanini's chest collapsed when he looked at her, the very air around him forming a vicegrip around his lungs, and forbidding him to breathe in her presence. He didn't deserve to...

"That's her..." He barely managed to whisper. He turned away from his mother, and faced the other corpse, knowing what was coming next.

Sensing the boy's pain, Officer Charles covered her body once more. He hated this part of the job. No child should have to bury his parent. "Who is this one?" Hanini asked, eyes now settled on the other table.

The officer sighed, and walked over to the table.

"We found your in the kitchen of your home, having been slashed to death. This is the an we believe to be her assailant." He pulled The sheet back, and surely enough, it was him; The boy who Hanini had drowned. "We found him only a few feet away from your mother. We were hoping you would be able to help us I.D him as well."

When they had encountered each other the first time, Hanini was driven by terror and fear. Adrenaline ruled his movements. But now that he was calm, he could make out features in the boy that he hadn't before. His facial features suggested some sort of Latin background. His hair was dyed a faint shade of purple. And, like his mother, his skin appeared bleached after sitting underwater for hours. "What happened to their skin?" Hanini asked.

"Your kitchen was flooded when we found them." The officer explained. The age lines on his forehead grew more pronounced as he appeared to share in Hanini's grief. "Your mother had likely passed before it happened. But this guy's cause of death was apparently by drowning."

Hanini knew what that meant. It was unlikely that he killed Kalea and then drowned on his own. The police would be considering his death a homicide as well, and looking for potential suspects. 

"Have you ever seen him before?" The Officer asked. After looking at the boy's face for a few seconds, Hanini shook his head. "I don't think he went to my school." He said, cleverly dodging the question."

"I understand." The officer said, covering up the second body. Hanini hoped that would be the end of his interactions with the Officer, but there was still one thing left to deal with. "Do you have any family that you can stay with?" The officer asked.

Dammit.

"Yeah." Hanini said, eyes fixed on the ground. "I'll go pack up some clothes and go to my aunts house. He started on the way out the door when Charles caught up. "I'll give you a ride. It's not safe out there anymore..." It wouldn't have been wise for Hanini to object, so he got in the car once more.

The streets were quiet, but not as quiet as the inside of the patrol car. Officer Charles seemed like a good guy. He was clearly searching for some sort of words to comfort the boy, who had now lost both of his parents. But his mind gave him no words of condolence to offer, so like Hanini, all he could do was watch the ghostly empty roads. The idea of mutants wandering the streets must have scared everyone into hiding.

When they pulled up to the little blue house, Hanini looked up at it, knowing no one would be there to greet him. "Thanks..." He said.

 But Charles wasn't done yet. "Are you going to be alright? I can give you a ride to your Aunt's if you want..."

"No. I've got it. It's not that far a walk."

"Alright. Take care of yourself, Hanini."

Hanini had a feeling that wouldn't be his last time dealing with Officer Charles. But for now, he was glad to be rid of him. He approached his house, and prepared himself to face the ghosts that lie within.