Seeing is Believing

For some they must see something proven for them to believe it to be true. But what happens when what we see is proven false? Should one kling to only what they can prove? Or should we embrace a beautiful lie when we rather not see a harrowing truth?For each person the answer to these questions may be different. I'm getting ahead of myself though, in order to receive answers one must first ask the question. On that note our story begins on a stormy night. The rain slamming down onto the stone laid road of a city in England. The sound of frantic footsteps of a young girl barreling through fresh puddles rings out into the night. The young girl smiles wide under the hood of the jacket protecting her from the elements. She thinks to herself " Finally,... Finally I can set things right for you mom and dad. But I need to hurry before they leave." The rain hid the tears of joy and sadness simultaneously streaming down the girls face. But there is another who lies at the center of this story. A man performing for a sparce audience in a rundown theatre. He is performing classic magic tricks such as pulling a rabbit out of a hat, making fire appear in his hands and making water disappear into a newspaper. In the crowd are two families, an old couple, and a couple consisting of a sleazy man eating a snack he snuck into the theater very loudly, The women sitting next to him on her phone that wasn't silenced. She was overly made up and reeked of over priced perfume. She leaned over to her partner and made no effort to go unheard as she spoke. "This show is a total snooze fest I can't believe we paid money for this kiddy show." The rest of the adults in the room had their attention forcefully drawn to the rude couple in frustration, Especially the man on stage. The rude man spoke " Man this is stupid everybody knows magic is fake." The children in the audience faces twisted in shock and then sadly look to there parents. The man continues " Honestly does anybody even go to magic shows anymore. Everybody knows how the tricks are done and they all bin done to death. You see one magician at a birthday party you've seen it all." The woman snorted than laughed " Yah honestly would any of these people be here if weren't raining cats and dogs outside. This guy lucked out." At this point the man on stage's professionalism had run out and a angry grin appeared on his face as he addressed the crowd. " I thank you all for coming out tonight. I know magic maybe be done to death." He shot a glare at the couple and continued. " But as a true thank you for your patronage I would like to show you one last spell of mine. I say spell because there is no trick it is honest to goodness real magic." The children in the audience were excited was the rude man wrong was magic real. These thoughts rushed through there mind. The rude couple grimaced for being called out in such a public way. They were ready to heckle whatever the man did. The man began doing the normal levitation trick where he would stand on one foot and would be assisted by a lift behind the curtain and lifted off the ground. Just as the man was about to start running his mouth, the magician took a step forward. Just when you would expect the man would fall to the stage below his foot landed on air. He began walk forward over the crowd. The children were in awe, the adults were in shock, and the rude couple were freaked out. They couldn't explain how he did it, if it were wires he would dangle not walk like he was on the ground. No matter how they racked there minds they just couldn't think of a way. The magician smirked and leaned over them before saying " Now tell me have you ever seen this done to death anywhere." The couple just fled from their seats mouths agape in shock. They quickly ran out of the theatre into the storm waiting outside. The rest of the Audience began to applaud. He waved his arms in a magnanimous manner and bowed twice. "Thank you, thank you your all two kind. Your all welcome to stay in our lobby till the storm passes." The people nodded in gratitude. Let check back in with our other protagonist. She was running down an empty street toward her destination. Her thoughts were racing, Joy from finally finding a lead, anger that she had to be the one the bring this person to justice rather than the police. anxiety and fear that she wouldn't make it in time and that they would be gone. She made it to the corner she had been told about. There they were to men clad in black with white mask on there face. They were dragging a middle aged woman into an alley way between a deli and a run down theater. She dropped the book bag she had been carrying to the ground and hastily unzipped it and rummaged inside. She pulled out a billy club and put her bag over her shoulder. She ran towards the alleyway as she approached she saw one of the man standing threateningly over the women who was against the wall. She quickly rushed the man and struck his head with her club. He dropped to the ground before he realized what happen. The young girl turned to the women and yelled." Run get the police." The women quickly vanished around the corner. The girl was giddy with adrenaline. She thought to herself "This isn't so hard I can do this." Just as quickly as she thought this the other man grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the brick wall of the deli. Her head throbbed in pain as the other man got back to his feet rubbing his own head. "Your gonna regret that girly." It was now that she realized that the men's mask weren't completely white they had a domino like series of dots strewn about them. The man began to constrict her wind pipe. She struggled to no avail. Was this to be it. She thought to herself was she going to die chasing a bad lead. was all her effort for nothing. We're her parents deaths going to be in vein. We're they doomed to go unavenged. She struggled and struggled but the man was too strong. She began to feel her mind fading. Just then when all seemed lost she heard whistling and felt the man's grip loosen. She looked to where the whistling came from not realizing the men were looking too. A man dressed as a magician was carrying a bag of garbage to the dumpster in the alley. He noticed we were all looking at him and he spoke. "Don't mind me just taking out the trash." He dropped the bag in the dumpster and then began to walk away. The thug went back to choking the girl when suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder. " And I do mean all the trash" He quipped before slugging the thug in the mask. He yanked the young girl away in the thugs moment of shock. After they collected themselves one of the thugs barked. "YOUR ABOUT TO BE IN A WORLD OF HURT MAGIC DUMBASS." His partner interjected " Yah there's two of us and one of you." The magician grabbed the base of his neck and swung his head from side to side. " I suppose your right let's fix that hey Guys need some help out her." the magician made a large sweeping motion across his chest beckoning help from the theater's back door. For a moment the girl could of swore she saw a wire wrapped around his pinky. After that the thugs grew fearful one man and young girl they could take but how man would come out. Then a few men came out of the theater entrance. The thugs panicked and began to flee the alley yelling. "WE'LL GET YOU BACK FOR THIS NOBODY MESSES WITH THE DOMINO GANG AND GETS AWAY WITH IT." Once the thugs were gone the girl notice all the men were identical to the magician. "Ok guys back inside" After the magician said this the others started walking back inside . "What are you guys quintuplets or something?" the girl exclaimed as she rushed into the theater following her saviours. Now sooner had she entered had the men the magician called for help turned flat as a board. "Not quite " The magician remarked with a smirk. Now that she had more time to look at him she had to say he wasn't the typical magician you would picture in your mind. He look to be in his mid 20s above average in appearance. He wore a white button up shirt under a black and red vest. He wore black slacks and was currently untying what appeared to be a wire from a gloved finger. The gloves he wore were leather with steel fingertips. The wire was attached to each of the cardboard standees that were moving a moment ago. The magician disappeared for a moment into a room nearby. He came back out brushing the water out of his short black hair with a towel. "What's up kid cat got your tongue?" He says as he tosses the girl the towel. Startled she fumbles with it not realizing she was starring. "You can dry off with that I have a disposable umbrella you can use to get home. It's getting pretty late bet your folks are starting to worry. I know it's not my place but you should leave the crime fighting to the police." She cringed at the mention of her parents but she doesn't have time to get hung up on that. She realized just now that she can chase leads all she wants, but if she doesn't have the muscle to dish out justice. " I appreciate what you done. Seriously thanks for that back there. But you can do real magic you handled those goons like they were nothing. Listen both my parents are dead. I've been tracking their killer for years now. Please I know I have no right to ask you this we're complete strangers but please help me?" She looked down a painful expression on her face waiting for his answer. "No" That one word shook her to her core. "WHY?" she shouted out in anger and shock. Instantly she had an apologize look on her face for lashing out. The man breathed deeply then spoke."It is tragic what has happened to you. You have my sympathy. Neither of us are law enforcement. My magic isn't all powerful and has many limitations. Not to mention it is supposed to be a secret. Me doing it Infront of few people isn't a big deal. if they told anyone they believe they were crazy. But if I get involved in something like this the powers at be might try and investigate me, And finally catching who ever this is isn't going to bring your parents back." She knows he's right and so hard to fight all the logical arguments he's made but she has to steel her self. "I understand what your saying and I'm not doing this for revenge. I'm not that naive. My parents were investigators they dug into one the most corrupt criminal syndicates in the world. They gathered the evidence necessary to convict there leader. They brought it to Scotland yard." The girl grimaced the painful memories painted across her face. He could tell she was struggling and placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. She continued " The yard destroyed the evidence and told them to let the case go. But my parents refused if the law wouldn't punish a criminal they would expose that corruption to the public. After that my parents were killed by hitmen and I've been trying to keep their justice alive." The girl finish and the man was visibly sympathetic. " I see that's quite and admirable goal. Although I'm sure your parents would have wanted you safe. Do you have a place to stay?" She responded " I sold our house and I've used the money from that and the left overs of my parents savings and life insurance, to rent motels and fund my investigations." The man puts his had to his mouth. "My name is Marco Vanguard, listen I'm not helping bust up any syndicates but I have a spare room in my apartment if your going to be here awhile your welcome to use it." While she is saddened he isn't willing to help her out. Staying here may give her time to convince him besides free room and board is nice. He seems trustworthy." Fine your a tough nut to c***k you know that. But it'll be nice having a roommate for a while. The name is Rosaline Rose.' She jutted her hand out for a hand shake. " You sure are and interesting one kid." He met her hand with his and shook it. "Listen don't call me kid I'm 18. Unless you want me to start calling you old man." They smirked at each other, and just like that there fates were intertwined.