Chapter seven;

There was a man standing in the corner at least six feet. With black hair and a rough face bending on his stick for support. He was lame, though in a high fabric suit. Tony's eyes lightened up when they met with his structure as he smiled back at him while he opened his arms wide to embrace him. 

“Father!”

Tonny hurriedly hugged him in a tight grip. His excitement was more as the grin on his face earlier showed  that he recognized him. He didn't ask him who he was and he rubbed him back slowly. After a few minutes, Tonny pulled away from his hug with a grin still filled on his face.

 “There he is! Mr. Chad.” Cynthia to spoke Tonny's Father. “Your son!”

“Thank you for everything Cynthia.” Mr. Chad spoke as he turned to Tonny holding both his hands while he leaned on his stick in the armpit.

“Walker, look at you! All grown up. We should find a convenient place and have a conversation. I've not been there for you as you grew up. But I am here now. I want to make it up to you. ” Chad spoke in his crackly deep voice. 

Tonny could feel the strong grip of his father, he had missed him for sure. Even though he was old, he had some energy still left in his arms. A grin still filled Tonny's lips as he felt the aura and got comfortable. It still felt like back in the days.

“How come you still remember me? Mother even called the mages on me.” Tonny spoke in a giggling tone. It was hurtful when he had to go through it but right now he thought it was something funny he could laugh at. 

“Son! There are a few people who can remember the previous world and you are going to meet them soon.” Mr. Chad spoke.“Buanita, she is among the people who can't remember what happened in the previous world.”

Mr. Chad was now caressing Tonny's shoulder as he was all had now.His wife couldn't recall who he was and he could only watch him from a far and pretend that he was just a friend. 

“I sent there Cynthia to keep an eye on her.” Mr. Chad spoke reassuring Tonny.

Tonny's eyes drifted back to Mr. Chad's leg, when his father had an accident,  he was fine before.  Was what he was thinking right? He had to overcome his curiosity and ask.

“Father! What happened to your left leg?” Tonny questioned as they walked slowly away from the prison building. 

Mr. Chad face frown as he opened his mouth to speak but was immediately interrupted by Cynthia.  

“It was the mages. They used him as a bait. And his leg got injured. Luckily he survived.” Cynthia replied.

“They will have to pay for what they did to you.” Tonny scoffed.

“You cant do anything. Do not get yourself killed son.” Mr. Chard spoke as they boarded the bus.

Tonny had just been staring at these black buses from a far because he could not afford them. Mr. Chad had some money on him. Tonny could tell by the fabric he had on. He was a non-mage but he looked expensive. He was reacher than some of the mages that were there.

They got on the bus, Mr. Chad sat nearby the window, Tonny sat next to him while Cynthia sat on the seat that was in tha back row. There was a long silence on the bus as Tonny stared at his father's stick. Thinking about what the mages were more capable of. 

He had to stand up for the non-mages since the mages didn't care more about the non-mages' well -being.  It was even easier now since he guessed his father had some money. He would intervene.

“I am so glad you are here. I wish your mother had a memory of what had happened before. We could be a complete family by now. It's so sad that she can only see us as strangers.” Mr.Chad spoke.

Tonny felt sad at his words. He missed that feeling of having a  family around again. The last time he ever saw was when they said goodbye to him as they were going on a business trip. They had wanted him to join them but he instead had a fight with them and they decided to leave.

“What happened before you came into this world?” Tonny asked as he turned to his father.  Quietness had filled the bus as everyone was already dozing off except for them. He was now sure no one would bother listening to their conversations as some of them would think they were crazy.

Mr. Chad turned around and found out everyone was fast asleep on the bus. He then turned to Tonny letting out a heavy sigh as he laid back on the seat adjusting his cowboy cap to his eyes. 

“I wasnt in that car when it got an accident.” He spoke.

“Whh…a..t?” Tonny spoke louder, that some of the bus non-mages woke up. His heart skipped a bit.

“Shh…sh. You need to be quiet, Tonny.” 

The bus drove as they waited the passengers to drift back to sleep before continuing with their conversation. Tonny was nervous though and wanted to knows. 

“Father!....You were alive when most of everything happened. Why did you hide from me all this time?”  He was now speaking in a low yet rough tone that a startle in his father's eyes could be seen. Tonny had started putting the pieces together. 

“Your mother  and I had a fight in the car. So I got out in the middle of the road. I was impulsive by then, young probably.” Mr.Chad spoke as his eyes were forcussed on the seat but his thoughts were far away.

 “Why didn't you come to me? Do you know what I had to go through without you both? Why did you have to hide from me father?” Tonny snarled, hitting the car seat.

“I felt the guilt.  I couldn't face you. But I always looked out for you Tonny.” He replied. 

Tonny now remembered all the creepy times he always felt like someone was following and watching him. Tonny suddenly stood up in a rage. The mages on the bus who were keeping order walked towards them to make sure that everything was alright. 

“Son, sit down. We can talk through this.” Mr. Chad spoke. 

“All this time I had believed that you were dead. Do you know what I had to go through in all those years?” Tonny spoke.

The bus came to stop at the non mages residences, Tonny had not realized it until the bus halted and he looked around seeing  the  chubby houses and old cars. He turned around and walked out of the bus. Mr. Chad followed behind him trying to keep up with his speed but his sick leg could only allow him to make a few steps. 

Cynthia followed behind them hurriedly too.

“Listen, son wait. Please hear what I have to say.” Mr. Chad spoke.

“Tonny,” Cynthia's soft voice spoke from afar as she reached them.

Tonny had halted in his steps as he watched a larger bus than they were in across the road. It was black in colour with rusted metal on the lower parts. There were the non-mages lined up each having a handcuff that was joined to one long big chain. His eyes met Buanita who was in the middle of the line.

“Where are they taking them? Where are they taking my mother?” Tonny asked as he ran across the street while Cynthia and Mr. Chad chased after him. 

They wanted to stop him from causing chaos with the mages or else they would end up arresting him again. 

“Stop! Tonny.” Cynthia got to him first and got a hold of his hand and pulled him back to the back side of the bus. “ What do you think you are doing?They are going to use them as baits. Cmon, let's go home Tonny. You can do nothing about it.”

“Yes I can!” Tonny shouted in frustration. “ I can not let my mother die while am watching,  am going there right now.”

He spoke pointing at the line, passed his hands through his hair and moved to where the mages where.