Riddle 016: Child's Play

[questionauthority]

[If you happen to be out and about today, Mayfield, you'll find a familiar-looking ten-year-old boy with glasses, green suspenders, and an incredibly dorky haircut, wandering around while tugging a backpack that's way too big for him and mumbling to himself.]

...stupid dad, never picks me up on time...

...which way was home again?

[He looks ridiculously lost.]

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...what do you want?

[He grips the straps of his backpack a bit defensively.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger continues to say nothing and stoops a bit lower, attention focused on the kid's face.]

...Edward?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[And now he's fidgety.]

H-how did you know my name?!

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Suspicions confirmed (as far as identity goes), he straightens.]

What did you do?

[Yes, he suspects you are somehow at fault for your own... self-shrinkage.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Wh-what are you talking about?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

This... [just kind of gesturing to the whole of you, Eddie.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

L-look, I don't know what you're talking about. I---I need to go. I need to go home. Please excuse me.

[And he'll be trying to scurry off...]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[And in doing so he'll be followed every step of the way.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He glances behind him, realizing that he's still not alone. And he begins to pick up his pace.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Little does young Edward know, a hand has attached itself to the back of his book bag. Of course, keeping up with Eddie would require minimal effort, but Slugger is happier to simply coast along for the ride... until he suddenly puts on the brakes in an effort to stop them both.]

Going somewhere?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, Slugger, away from you! Or not, as Edward kind of jerks backwards once Slugger puts on the breaks, falling on his butt.]

Wh-what do you want from me?! I don't have any lunch money on me!

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

"Home" is this way. [He points in the opposite direction.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...you know how to get back to Gotham?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

There isn't a Gotham here.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...there's not?

[Gulp.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[A solemn shake of his head.]

You know where you are, but you don't remember.

It's a trick.