unfound.

“Anna. Nice to meet you both.” Her smile was still small, but genuine. Something in her almost missed being a patrol officer, all the way back when she truly believed that the police were out there to help people. It had been too long and Anna was a different person now, but she still felt satisfied to help.

It was only Colin’s question that finally took her out of her thoughts. “Oh, that’s okay, you really don’t have to–”, but her stomach decided to interrupt her in order to voice its opinion, and a loud growl came out. Mortified, Anna looked down and pinched between her eyebrows. “Well. That was embarassing.”

.

Colin tried to turned his chuckle into a cough, but he wasn’t sure he had fully succeeded. “I suppose that means I should have offered ice cream instead of coffee? We usually do that after the park a couple of times a week, no matter how cold it is outside.” And he felt after their shared panic today, he and Simon both deserved it, although he didn’t voice as much to Anna. “You’re free to tag along. Don’t feel obligated though.”

“Well. Maybe we’re just wired in different ways, then.” She didn’t mean it as on offense by any means. Hell, it would be easier to turn off the rest of the world like this girl seemed to do with ease, but that was never who Anna was. Maybe it came from being an older sister, or her large extended family even if those were somewhat estranged nowadays. Or maybe it was simply who she was. Regardless, it was all she ever knew. “I do think you’re not entirely wrong. I just… can’t shut it off, I guess.”

.

“We are,” said Calista. “And I think that’s a nice thing. Different people and different perspectives on the world. It’s what makes each person unique and valuable.” It was the artist in her talking now, however she firmly believed in that. She firmly believed in the value of people to see things different and from another angle. The only difference was that Calista often tried to put her own thoughts and feelings on paper, making them into something more visual and tangible. “You don’t need to shut it off. If that’s what works for you, then that’s what you need to do.” She tilted her head. “I’m Calista, by the way.”

Anna hesitated for a moment before answering. “I think confused, more than anything. It’s… quite the revelation.” She then turned to properly look at her interlocutor–young and nonchalant, maybe too much so to fully understand what such a change meant to the world. “But worried, too. Are you not?” She asked sincerely, looking at the girl with her brows furrowed.

.

Calista shrugged at her question. “We were already living in this world, weren’t we? Alongside witches and wizards and magic this entire time. For decades, centuries, even, from the sounds of it. The only difference now is that it’s out in the open. Besides, not much we can do about it now, I suppose.”

“Always something.” The bitter comment left her lips unnanounced, catching Anna herself off guard, and she tried her hardest to backtrack in a way that wouldn’t hurt Aoife. She very much still had a bone to pick about Nick’s funeral, but not with her. She’s too good for the rest of them. “Um, always something to do in Ballycastle, I suppose.”

A weight seemed to drop on her chest as Aoife described her mother’s behavior. It had been a long time since the Wellings had last visited Ballycastle, Nick and her were still teenagers at the time, yet things were still obviously the same. Aoife was still treated as the lesser one in the family, like a defective thing that needed constant fixing. She genuinely didn’t know how her cousin could take it and still keep her docile, enthusiastic nature. Perhaps she was just used to it… what a sad thought. “I guess she just doesn’t have the same urban spirit as you do, Aoife.” She chuckled, hoping to keep the mood light, and then an idea occurred to her. “You know, before you and Eve go back home, you should let me take you to the London Zoo. I think you’d quite enjoy it.”

.

“Oh, Anna. Anna I didn’t mean it like that. Simone’s not just something to- to- to-” Aoife cleared her throat of the pesky stutter that had followed her through life. “To fill me time. I only meant all kind acts are worth doing all the same.” 

“I don’t think Eve would like it so well…” she said, maybe fishing. Casting her line out to see if Anna had meant the both of them, or Aoife alone which at once would be a relief and an obstacle. 

The unknown girl’s words caused a shiver to run down her body. Anna knew quite well she was also the kind of person who would have been burned at the stake or met a similar fate had she been born in the wrong–well, wronger–time. Scariest of all, though, was the nonchalance with which the girl spoke. Was that what Anna herself was becoming? Was that what the fear of the unknown was doing to her? “Effective is not the word I’d use. If anything, it makes the whole thing even worse.” She vented, still not meeting the other’s eyes, gaze still glued to the tv screens. She didn’t care about the news, however; it was merely an attempt to not look at the girl. “I suppose. But I’m surprised no one ever felt tempted to run their mouth. Or, well, that they managed to quiet down everyone who did.”

.

“Well, maybe they have,” said Calista easily. “They have real magic, don’t they? I don’t know what that means as far as their capabilities or limitations, but presumably they have ways of making people forget things or hiding things in plain sight.” Maybe Calista wasn’t worried about it all as she could be. Maybe there was something she was missing. Maybe her life being one unknown after another had prepared her for something like this. It was hard to say. “Worried?” 

If anyone asked Anna how long she had been standing in front of the eletronics store, she wouldn't know for sure. Her eyes scanned the multiple television screens, some big and some small, all of them plugged on the same news channel. "How can something like that stay hidden for so long?" It was more a loud thought than proper conversation, as she was only barely aware of the person standing next to her. "A whole parallel universe right under our noses this whole time."

WHEN: November 7th, 1980

WHERE: Central London, UK

WHO: Anna + @colinfawcett

The streets of London were as busy as ever, almost as if the entire world hadn’t turned upside down just a week ago. Bummer, Anna thought to herself as she stared at the long line for the veggie burger stand across the street. Though she hadn’t had much of an appetite these days, she still had to eat something before coming into work. With a sigh, she walked to the end of the line. Odds weren’t exactly in her favor to find an eatery in downton London that wasn’t packed at lunch time.

Before she reached the stand, though, she nearly collided with a small boy standing on his own, crying with his face on his hands. Her instincts got the best of ber and Anna kneeled beside him, giving up on that burger. “Hey, little buddy. Where are your parents?” The child stopped crying and looked at her with a shy expression before shaking his head. “I see. Are you lost?” This time he nodded, still not speaking, and started to cry again, but Anna placed a hand on his little shoulder to stop him. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ll find them together, is that okay?”

The boy hesitated, but finally nodded, and Anna smiled, taking his hand. She was about to take him to the nearest officer when her eyes spotted a man on the other side of the sidewalk, looking frantic. Following her gut, she took the child in her arms and pointed to the man. “Is that your dad?” The child’s enthusiastic nod was all the answer that she needed and Anna put the little boy down, guiding him there hand in hand. “Excuse me”, she asked, tapping the man’s shoulder so that he’d face them, “is this your son?”

.

Panic. That was the only word that Colin could use to describe the moment when he turned around, newly purchased Muggle newspaper in his hand and realized that Simon wasn’t behind him like he should have been. His eyes scanned the sidewalks, but there was no sign of where he could have gone. Visions of Simon saying something about magic to a stranger and someone who thought he could tell them all it grabbing him flashed through Colin’s mind, and he almost didn’t notice when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned, the sudden relief making him feel light headed. He scooped Simon up before he could even process the woman’s words. Simon immediately buried his face in Colin’s neck, bursting into a fresh wave of tears. “Hey, buddy, you’re alright. You’re safe now,” Colin soothed, rubbing his hand over his son’s head.

Colin settled Simon more firmly in his arms as he turned his attention to the woman in front of them. “Thank you for your help. We took a different route than usual home from the park, and I think he must have gotten turned around.” Not that Colin should have talked to the man at the newsstand long enough for Simon to wander off. It would be a while before that guilt wore off. “Are you usually out doing good deeds, or are you just a child whisperer?” Colin asked, trying to keep his tone light despite the adrenaline still running through his system.

The child nodded solemnly–a smart one, that one–and Anna got up, ready to leave when the father asked his question in a playful tone. She couldn't help but chuckle at the idea. "I wouldn't say child whisperer, no, just experience from being the eldest–" Sister? The thought downed on her so suddenly that it nearly knocked the wind out of her. No, Anna, you're an only child now. The unexpected surge of grief in her chest threatened to choke her, but she swallowed it. Not here. Not now. "Um, the eldest cousin in a large family." A couple of deep breaths before she could carry on. "But actually, I work on the bookstore down the street and I saw this little guy crying alone on the sidewalk. And well, who sees a kid crying and doesn't try to help?"

As Aoife spoke, Anna was suddenly struck with a memory of Nick talking about their cousin. She’s too good for the rest of them, he had said; and as it was for most things, he was right. The thought left her reeling for a second before she managed to regain her composture. “Well, I’m glad you like the city.” She tried to smile again, though this time it was weaker. She couldn’t stop thinking about her brother’s words; he was always so much more attentive than her. If he was sitting here instead of Anna, he would know what to say. He would find a way to help Aoife stand on her own and follow her dreams.

But alas, he wasn’t there.

“It’s a shame that Aunty didn’t come with you and Eve.” She tried, wishing desperately that some of her late brother’s sensibility would befall her. “She still can’t be persuaded to leave Ballycastle, huh?”

.

“Oh, Mammy’s got her plate full with the church auction comin’ up. Ye won’t hold it against her, will ye? She said it’s the biggest turn out of donations in a decade. I told her I’d help price things, but I saw her takin’ off a few of the stickers I’d put on and I thought I must be doin’ it wrong so I left her to it. There’s always somethin’ else worth doin’.” Quickly, this was becoming a common phrase of Aoife’s. “Besides, I don’t think the city air agrees with her the same it does me. The Devil’s Air she calls it, I reckon because of all the smog and somesuch, but I’ve been breathin’ just fine!”

A weight seemed to drop on her chest as Aoife described her mother's behavior. It had been a long time since the Wellings had last visited Ballycastle, Nick and her were still teenagers at the time, yet things were still obviously the same. Aoife was still treated as the lesser one in the family, like a defective thing that needed constant fixing. She genuinely didn't know how her cousin could take it and still keep her docile, enthusiastic nature. Perhaps she was just used to it... what a sad thought. "I guess she just doesn't have the same urban spirit as you do, Aoife." She chuckled, hoping to keep the mood light, and then an idea occurred to her. "You know, before you and Eve go back home, you should let me take you to the London Zoo. I think you'd quite enjoy it."