HEAVY MANE

Rainfall: 1.700 inches

Paper can be as soft as a feather. Sometimes it can cut as deep as a sword.

This particular sheet of paper cut me so badly I probably needed stitches.

I stared at the letter on the table. The same table that Ethan and I sat at only a few days ago. I found it in the pile of ‘bills’ from the day before yesterday. The contents of the letter left me speechless.

When the parents came home from church,

all their children were gone.

They searched and called for them,

they cried and begged,

but it was all to no avail.

The children have never been seen again.

Just what the hell did that mean? Whatever cruel message it was trying to hint it flew by my head, except for the obvious fact it was related to Shaun’s disappearance. Unfortunately it was way too cryptic to get anything out of. Maybe there was something in the envelope. Inside was a ticket to a locker for Equestrian Railways.

The same train that hit Shaun was from that railroad.

I still had to check it out. It was my only lead.

I started to put the letter back in the envelope when I heard something from outside. When I moved the curtains to get a peek, a horde of camera flashes nearly blinded me. Shit! Now how was I going to get to my car? I could try going out the back, but my car was parked out front...

I’d have to face the paparazzi. I slowly opened the door and trotted down my walkway.

“Ethan Mars, I’d like to ask you some questions!”

“Mr. Mars, just a minute of your time!”

“Tell us about your son, Shaun!”

“Is Shaun’s disappearance related to the Origami Killer?”

“Do you still feel responsible for Jason’s death?”

Every single syllable stung as I stepped towards my car. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t an Earth pony... I could’ve easily flown away if I was a pegasus or used an invisibility spell if I was a unicorn. I sped away as the rants grew distant and I began to forget about it entirely.

Jason’s death might’ve been my fault, but I wasn’t going to let the same happen to Shaun.