Nightmares

Emotions are for Children

Mentions of death/minor gore

"Mommy, can we get some ice cream? Pleaseeeeee?" My twin brother Cadin begged, gazing up at my mother with large green eyes. His sandy brown hair moved gently in the ocean breeze. He clutched a plush of our father in his hero costume to his chest, tugging on my mother's pale hand. She gave a soft laugh that sounded like glass chiming together beautifully, her long black hair swinging by her waist as she looked at my brother with soft grey eyes that matched mine.

"Maybe, my little hero." She promised. I clung to her leg, gazing warily at the people around us. Someone shouted, making me jump and clutch her leg tighter.

"It's okay Ray!" Cadin smiled, letting go of our mother's hand to grab mine. I offered a shy smile, releasing my hold slightly. "Ohhh! Look! A spider!" I let out a shrill shriek, trying to climb my mother's leg to escape the creepy crawling critter in front of us. She just laughed, picking me up and carrying me a short ways away.

"It's okay, my little darkling." She pressed a kiss to my head. "You are much bigger and stronger than that silly little spider!" She declared, smiling. I nodded slightly, hiding my face in her shoulder.

"Mommy why is Ray-ray so scared of everything?" Cadin asked, grabbing my hand as we walked.

"Hey! I'm not scared of everything! Mommy, bubba is being mean!"

"He isn't necessarily scared of everything, dear. He is just being cautious." My mother smiled as we walked into the grocery store.

"When is daddy going to be home?" He asked as she put me into the cart.

"In time for dinner, little hero." She pinched his cheek, making him giggle. We wandered the isles, picking up groceries, when I noticed a tall scary man.

"Mommy, that guy scares me..." I whispered, watching him warily. He stared right back. She glanced over at him, and I could feel her growing concern. She picked me up and placed me on the ground.

"We are going to play hide and seek, okay? Go hide, and I'll come find you!" She whispered, smiling. Cadin cheered, taking my hand.

"Common, Ray-ray!" He pulled me away as my mom moved towards the man. Everything happened so quickly. Sirens erupted, people began screaming. I heard my mom shouting, even brave little Cadin looked worried. We hid under a produce table, watching people flee the room. Someone fell to the ground and stopped moving. I watched fearfully as my mom was thrown through a couple shelves, landing near us. I watched as the Gravitator, unmasked, basically threw a chunk of the ground at the villain. But it was cut cleanly in two, and fell to the ground with a dull thud. The man moved quickly, and red bloomed from the Gravitator's chest as he slumped forwards. The man turned to my mom, looking even more scary. My ears began to ring, making me curl up and whimper as I clutched my ears. I watched through tear filled eyes as the man stabbed someone else.

"They need a bandage!" Cadin whispered, looking concerned. The man kicked my mom through another shelf. "Mommy!" He shouted, frightened. He ran out, standing in front of her with his arms out as if to protect her. "Leave her alone, you naughty villain!" He shouted.

"There's one of them." The man growled at the same time my mom shouted "Cadin! No! Go hide!" I watched, frozen, as Cadin refused to move and the man grabbed him. He struggled in his grip, kicking and screaming as the man tried to hold his wriggling form still. He bit the man, causing him to howl and throw him against the shelves a few feet from my mom. He hit the shelves and I heard a crack as he fell to the ground with a dull thud, no longer moving. My mouth fell open, and I could feel hot tears running down my face, but no sound came from me. I couldn't move. My mom screamed, scrambling to his side to cradle him gently. She murmured his name over and over, tears falling freely down her face, dripping onto Cadin's face.