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Colin is taken home by the police.  They explain to his mother why they're bringing him home, then leave him and her alone.

The second they're out of site she wraps him in her arms and begins to cry.  "Oh god I thought I'd lost you too."

Colin responds weakly to her hug.

"I'm here now." he says over he sobs, taking in her warmth.

"Mom, I don't know what to think. I went out because I thought it was the right thing to do. That guy, and four others... they raped at least two girls. One of them felt a rage that would have consumed her, and the other was left catatonic, in a mental asylum. I helped them both. I helped Darla let go of her anger, and Samantha to open herself to the world again. They gave me their pain and their memories, and I promised them I would stop those guys.
I knew there was something odd about him. Something unnatural. I thought he may have been possessed, and that I could exorcize the demon or whatever out of him. I did it before.
I hoped it was this way because it would have meant it wasn't really him, but just the demon inside him.
But... it didn't work this way. The demon... it had already consumed him. I chased him away, but there was no boy left, only... ashes. But he has a mom, who saw him go out, and now will never see him go back.
I didn't want this! I wanted to set him free! I wanted him to go to the police and confess, I never wanted to kill him. But that's what I've done. I killed him.
I didn't want to, mom, I didn't want to!"

The rest is just babbling as he buries his face in her shoulder.

"We'll work this out.  Together."  It takes her some time before she can stop crying.  "Maybe you should stop, stop all this.  Try to live a norma,l life, like your father did.  Maybe you're not cut out for this."

Colin thinks about it for a while, then he lift his face to look at her.

"I can't. The visions will come all the same, even if I don't look for them. And there are those I have to help. There is no one else like me. There is only one Spirit Dancer. What would have happened of Darla if I didn't help her stop? She suffered so much she had to to let her fire out. She burned whole buildings. And Samantha? She would have spent her whole life staring at the wall, with a nurse feeding her. I can't stop. I can take some time off, but I can't stop."

His voice is very tired as he says that.

"You're so much like your father."  It's the last thing she can say before her emotions sweep over her again.

"I know. I'm sorry. I never wanted you to feel like this. I love you. And you don't deserve this. I am sorry I have to be like this."

He holds her tight, as long as it takes for both of the moment to pass.

"Chris said he can't work on this case, but that I could talk with him later. I'm going to take a bath. Please call me when he arrives."

Colin gets cleaned up, and some time later Chris arrives.  He's in the kitchen making hot chocolate when Colin comes in.

"How're you doing?  he asks, as he pours a cup, "Want some?"

Colin bandaged the blisters left by the bolt, put on his black tracksuit, and put on a beanie, since his hair was still quite messed up. He kept his collar closed and quite high to hide the fern-like mark on his right shoulder and neck. He still trembles a bit.

"Yes, thanks. Just a bit."

He sits, looking quite like a lost child, and takes a look around for his mom.

"What did Ms. Kellogg say? What's going to happen now?"

"They're still running tests and analyzing evidence.  It'c complicated, there's a kid missing, and you say that he's dead.  I'm not sure.  We'll just have to wait for the evidence to come back.

"And in the meanwhile, what do I do?"

"For now you go about your life, and try not to talk about it too much.  There will be more questions, so just tell the truth and you should be fine."

"How does it work? Will I be interrogated? Should I get a lawyer?"

He takes a little sip of chocolate.

"Do you believe me?"

"We'll see how the first couple of days go.  If the evidence doesn't match your story, then they'll take you in and interrogate you.  If that happens, we'll get you a lawyer."


"Saying you accidentally killed a boy while trying to exercise a demon seems like a strange tale to tewll, but I've never known you to lie about something like this, so yes.  I believe you."

They will be very long days.


"Accidentally." he repeats, putting down his cup for a moment, since it's trembling too much.

"He was already dead. His soul wasn't there anymore, there was only the demon that was dwelling in his body. But by sending the demon away, I killed his body. Yes, I didn't mean that. In that sense, it's been an accident.

Thank you for believing me. I wouldn't know what to do if you and mom didn't."

OOC: what time is it now in game?

OOC: Probably late evening at this point.

"Thank you for the chocolate. I'd better catch some sleep now."

He makes a few steps towards his chamber, then turns again.

"I'm sorry to be such a nuisance, Chris. I bet you'd have better things to do than worry about this stupid kid who's always up to trouble. I'm also very sorry if I made things difficult between you and mom. You've been such a good friend to me, and I did nothing to deserve it. Thank you for your time, thank you for everything. Good night."