Chronos Shift

Arronn Abbott: Origins

Arronn Abbott: December 25, 2002

 Sweater-clad Arronn slumped his head on his stacked arm nestled on the windowsill. Snow fell in a sluggish pace that covered the front lawn with a thick, white sheet, to which he eyed with a wide grin on his face. The window reflected the image of his parents, his father hugging his mother from behind as they smiled at their son.

 Arronn turned around with an expectant gaze at his parents. The two broke their hug and rushed to his side, enveloping him in a tight embrace. A joyous gleam in their eyes as the dulcet Christmas melody hummed in the background.  

 Arronn shifting his gaze to both of his parents. “Mom, Dad, let’s go to the mall today!”

 The parents looked at each other, with a bright smile on their faces. “Sure sport!” The father answered. 

 Arronn leaped in joy and rushed to his bedroom. The parents stood up and cleaned the dining table with every food wiped clean. As the mother placed the dishes on to the sink, the father crept behind her and wrapped her in a longing embrace. The two shared a laugh.

 The mother opened the sink, grabbing a sponge soaked with dishwashing liquid. “I wonder what toy he wants to buy right now.”

 “Coomee onn!” Little Arronn wearing a dark blue coat lined with faux fur, along with winter boots.

 The two broke their loving embrace and chuckled. The mother whisked her hands, and the two head upstairs to change. Arronn goes back to the windowsill and admires the falling snow.

 After awhile, they all wore matching winter outfits. The father opened the door, Arronn charged through knocking him aside. He trudged through the thick snow on his way to the garage. Gloved hands in their pockets, the couple followed him shortly after. His father crouched down to open the garage, which housed a standard dark blue Sedan. He fished out his car keys and opened the doors with a click of a button. Arronn ran inside the passenger seat, fumbling with the seat belt until a soft click was heard. Chuckling at their son’s visible excitement, they matched his energy by hurriedly climbing into the car.

 The mother pressed a button in the car’s sound system and played a soft tune about Christmas. Stepping on the accelerator, they were off to the mall.

 They parked near the entrance as their giddy son immediately released the seat belt. His hands rested on the window along with his nose as the father removed the key from the ignition. His parents stepped out of the car and opened his door. He jumped out and held both of his parents hands. He gets lifted by his parents as they walked through the glass doors, him swinging in eagerness.

 Routine inspections from the guard as she pokes her metal detector inside the mother’s handbag that emitted a hushed beep.

 “Merry Christmas!” The guard said to us.

 “Merry Christmas too!” Arronn’s high-pitched voice earning an ‘aww’ from the guard.

 They ventured inside the well-lit mall. A bright chandelier hanging on the center, above a large, marble fountain with an audible babble. Arronn walked hand-in-hand with his parents as they strolled to the fountain. It’s been a tradition that he would throw a coin on the fountain and say a wish.

 His mother gave him a coin. “What will you wish for, sweetie?”

 “That–that my mom and dad will live forever!” He threw the coin with such height that it made a slight splash in its departure.

 His parents smiled and led him to the toy store that was on the second floor of the large mall. They passed by boutiques of popular brands, food stalls, and benches where some couples sat, along with other kids with their parents.

 “Mommy, mommy, I want a shield as a Christmas gift!”

 “A shield! What kind?” His father asked.

 “A veeery big shield! So I can protect myself, and–and you and mommy!” Arronn’s hands flailing about.

 The family strolled to the toy shop and let him pick what shield he wants. Venturing inside, he found shields of varying sizes and color. Some with a splash of red and blue, some medieval like with dragon symbols, and then his eyes met with a simple, faux metal shield that had a kite shape. He thrust his small hands inside the strap and held it as if someone is attacking him.

 “Mommy! Daddy! I want this one!”

 He glanced around for his parents, but to no avail. A small commotion in front of the toy store prompted shield-wielding Arronn to look at what was happening. He walked on the tiled wall near the entrance of the toy store. As he walked closer, the sound of loud screams and shouts echoed inside the establishment. He saw his mom and dad, on the floor kneeling with their hands behind their heads.

 A look of horror flashed in his parents’ faces. Arronn tilted his head in confusion as he walked closer to them. The parents mouthed a NO with widened eyes, gesturing their heads for him to go away. But, Arronn walked forward, with a smile in his face with his new found toy.

 The four men clad in charcoal black suit, wielding shotguns caught wind of the parents’ acts. They followed their gaze and saw little Arronn with a shield in hand walking towards his parents. One of the men wearing a fedora grinned with malicious intent as he meets Arronn midway, whispering something as he pressed two fingers on his ear. The parents screamed in terror as the man c****d his gun to his temple. Arronn eyed the barrel of the gun, tilting his head with his brow furrowed.

 “NOO!” His father shouted.

 He charged to his boy’s side. Not minding the men who’s guns are all pointed at him. The man in the fedora holds up his hand and the other men’s guns were lowered. The father tried to tackle the man but he moved to the side, then hitting the butt of his gun to his father, wincing in pain as a gash formed on his cheek.

 “Daddy?”

 The father stood between the man in a fedora and his son, his arm scooting Arronn behind him.

 “Move, we only want to boy.” A low commanding tone by the man wearing a fedora.

 “Over my dead body!”

 “As you wish.”

 The man reached inside his coat and retrieved a silenced pistol. He aimed for the father’s head and an abrupt thump incited a scream from his mother.

 “ARRONN!” The mother sped to his side.

 The man in a fedora shook his head as he did the same.

 Two bodies a top each other, blood seeping through their forehead as their eyes drained of life. Arronn crouched down and looked at his parents, he shook them. “Mo–mom?…Da–dad?”

 Wielding his shield, he shook them vigorously and tears started to prick his eyes. He sniffed, and tears streamed down his face as he tried to wake them up.

 “Mommy, Daddy look!” He showed them his shield.

 No response.

 “Mommy, Daddy!” He shook them repeatedly.

 “Come on, let’s go.” The man gripped Arronn’s arm and dragged him away.

 Arronn winced in pain. “Oww! Mommy! Daddy! He’s hurting me!” He squirmed to break free.

 The men along with Arronn left the toy store. He glimpsed at his parents’ lifeless body piled on top of each other.

 Consecutive shots echoed with in the vast mall. The pain in his arm lifted as succeeding thumps hit the tiled floor. Men in black attire with bulky vest and black tinted goggles, and large guns stormed the area. They rushed to Arronn’s side and carried him far away from that place, with the shield strapped on his arm.

 Memories blurred in his mind as he sat on a lounge chair underneath triangular-shaped ceiling lights that complemented the exquisite place.

 His mind wandered into disarray. Glimpses of his boyfriend’s lifeless body piled with the other’s. Him standing with a shield in hand gazing upon a barrel of a gun, stationary. He can’t handle anyone leaving him anymore.

 He stood up, and walked towards where he came from. The wall parting with a whoosh and the squeaking of sneakers echoed in the gym. He sat on one side, observing each and everyone. His body jerking at the faintest of missteps, outstretching his hand as if it can do anything.

 But one thing’s for certain, a minuscule lick of blue flame alight his palm.