SCP 1471 [An anomalous life]

XV

Getting up so quickly felt like a stab in the stomach.
I doubled over a bit from the pain, grimacing as I held my stomach with one hand.

-Ow, ow..

Quickly Mom and Mal0 approached me.

Although Mal0 realized that being so close to her would frighten her, so she backed away and sat back down, a little nervous.

I still couldn't believe Mal0 was here, physically next to mom.
We were supposed to keep her existence a secret, but I wasn't able to...

-Quentin, sit down! -She exclaimed, helping me sit back down on the couch.
-I shouldn't have listened to you, we would have gone to the hospital.... -She muttered when she saw my pained expression.

-I'm fine, Mom. -I replied, smiling through the pain.

All the while I was looking at Mal0 from the corner of my eye, who was peeking her head behind my mother.
I was still hoping that this was all a dream, and I would wake up in that dirty alley....

(On second thought, that wasn't a favorable alternative either).

Mom seemed to realize this and turned to look at Mal0, who immediately froze.

-I still can't get used to your...
-...
-Forget it. -She added, as Mal0's tail fell limp behind her.

-...
-Anyway. -She added, clearing my throat.
-Quentin, I told you to get some rest, but it seems you still have energy. -She said, turning to look at me.

-Not quite, but...

-Please tell me Quentin.
-What's going on?

-...
-Mom...
-That...
-I can't tell you.
-I can only tell you that everything's fine, okay?

-Quentin. -She said, standing in front of the couch and looking me in the eyes.
-Tell me the truth. -She added, placing her hands on my shoulders.

-That is the truth, mo--

-Quentin.
-Don't lie to your mother. -She said, her eyes looked like she was about to cry.

...

I didn't have the heart to keep lying to my mother's face, but I also didn't want to risk her any more than I already had through my own incompetence.

-Im really sorry.
-I can't tell you...

-Quentin! -She exclaimed, pressing hard on my shoulders.
-I'm afraid that one day you'll end up badly hurt because of all this, and I won't be there to help you!

-What will happen when my son comes to the door of his own house, bleeding to death? -She cried out, holding her head with both hands.

-...
-It won't happen again, I promise.

-Quentin, it's already happened.
-Twice in fact.
-And I'm not counting the three months you were missing.

The mention of that made the guilt build up even more in my stomach.

She'd been looking for me for three months, while I was in the containment chamber at the foundation, doing stupid things and running tests.

-...
-I didn't leave on purpose, Mom. -I answered.

-...
-I know Quentin, I know.
-I didn't want to talk about that, because I was afraid of making you uncomfortable.
-But I get frustrated with that helpless feeling I get every time something happens to you.
-...
-I'm your mother, and I can't always be there to help you.

-...
-I know, but everything always worked out fine for Mal0 and me.
-Even when things got bad...

I saw her expression change all of a sudden, as if I had said something I shouldn't have.
Mal0's ears perked up as my mother turned to look at her.