'I'm just a guy looking for someone,' the stranger answered. He looked about a few years older than Brendan, if not the same age.
'Who are you looking for specifically, kid?'
The stranger chuckled, 'Do I really look that young?' he asked Brendan as he walked towards him.
The stranger's face reminded Brendan of someone. The smile was cold as if it knew no laughter or love at all and his body looked starved thin. He had never seen him before so who was he?
'Today I'm nineteen,' the stranger said.
'Well, you look my age or just a year younger.'
'And looks can be deceiving…anyway, scrap that, it's my turn to ask questions. What are you doing here and how did you manage to throw that tree like it was just a pencil?'
'I didn't throw anything…you must be drunk, man we don't live in "La La Land", do we?'
'Kid, don't play stupid with me.'
'I'm not. I'm just stating the sane here.'
'I'm not the guy you would want to be involved in a fight with, kid, I could…'
There was a disturbance in the bushes not too far away from where they stood. Brendan clenched his fists and the red-haired stranger did something out of the ordinary. His pupils washed completely red and he began rubbing his hands vigorously then he blew air into them. When he pulled them apart, there were orange flames in his palms. Brendan returned his attention to the rustling in the bushes. Both now had their attention fixed in the same direction. A man tripped and fell in front of them.
'Mr. Price?' Brendan was flabbergasted.
'Jack?' The stranger recognized him too. His pupils had returned to their normal blue color and his hands had dropped to his sides, the flames no longer in his hands.
'You know Mr. Price, kid?'
'Hey, I am not a kid! Stop pissing me off or I'll have you hurt in seconds,' the stranger fumed at Brendan.
'That's funny, kid,' Brendan said to the stranger before turning back to Mr. Price. 'Mr. Price, what are you doing here?' He noticed that he looked even paler than before.
He began dusting his white suit. 'Hello, Brendan, Flick…uh, stranger.'
'Wait a minute. Mr. Price, this guy knows your first name but you don't know him?' said Brendan.
'Maybe he's heard of me or something and… why aren't you in school, Mr. Eriksson?'
'So that's your name, huh?' The red-haired boy seemed intrigued.
'Well I was at school, but…' He began trying to think of an excuse. 'I was about to ask you the same thing.'
'You can't answer a question with a question, Brendan.'
'Hey, keep me in the conversation,' the stranger hissed at them both.
There was a brief silence from all three of them.
'This is not getting me anywhere,' the stranger broke the silence. 'I have to keep moving.' He began walking away from them.
'Wait!' Brendan shouted after him.
The stranger turned and faced him.
'You didn't tell me your name.'
The stranger gave a chuckle.
'You already know mine; you can at least tell me yours.'
He began tapping his chin with his forefinger, as if he was thinking about it. 'The name's Flicker,' he said at last.
Brendan thought it to be a weird name and he couldn't also help the fact that this strange boy reminded him of someone he knew. If only he could place his finger on it. He watched the boy walk further into the bushes before he was swallowed up by the thickness of the green. Brendan was now left standing with Mr. Price.
Mr. Price said, 'Okay, Brendan; no word about seeing me here to anyone and I'll cover up for you playing hooky.'
'Deal.' They shook on it.
'Now, if you'll excuse me, I also have to keep moving.'
'What exactly are you looking for?' Brendan asked him as he watched him walk away.
'Nothing special,' he answered him, taking the same direction the red-haired boy had taken.
Brendan's guess was that they were both looking for the Finch and he knew that if they were, then they were definitely heading in the wrong direction.
He embarked on his own journey too to find the Finch.
He had increased his pace now, turning his gaze behind him after every few steps to make sure he was not being followed. As he walked, he also kept thinking about the stranger, Flicker. Who was he? Where did he come from and what did he need the Finch for?