Unexpected Allies

Chapter 13: Comfort a Nightmare

Manette's POV

I sat down, my breath quickening as Mom paced back and forth, tears sliding down her face.

He was gone. Dead. Killed in the halls of the Queen's palace by an unknown enemy's hate. Dozens of others had perished, poisoned by their coffee.

Mom's sobs filled the room and she crumpled to her knees, striken with grief and pain. I wiped away the small wet spots around my eyes and walked to her.

"It'll be okay, Mom." I whispered, hugging her.

She hugged me back and cried, "I'm so sorry, Net. I'm so sorry."

"Shh. You never did anything wrong. I love you." I told her.

"I love you too." She replied, her voice cracking.

Suddenly the door flew open and we turned in surprise. Seven or so men and a woman walked in, black masks concealing their faces from the various cameras we had hidden around the house.

"Mrs. Pennyworth, step away from the girl." One of the men ordered.

We stood up quickly and once again, Mom looked like the strong woman who raised me.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Mom demanded.

The only woman in the group flicked her wrist toward us silently and the men rushed forward, swords coming unsheathed from their backs.

We jumped forward, doing our best to defend ourselves, but there was too many of them. If Dad had been here, we could have taken them.

But he was murdered and so, ironically, we would be dead soon as well.

The woman grabbed me, pulling me back. I watched in horror as a single blade found it's way through my mother's back. She gasped, blood trickling from her mouth.

"MOM!" I screamed, lurching forward.

The woman held me tightly and I tried desperately to escape her hold, screaming relentlessly.

"Move!" She ordered, dragging me out of the house.

I screamed. Mom laid on the floor, a hand over the wound in her chest and she choked, blood gurgling out of her lips.

The woman put a gloved hand over my mouth as we exited the house. Continuing to back away, I watched as several of the men threw black boxes into the windows, shattering the glass.

I tried to bite the woman's hand, but her hold was tight and the gloves were thick.

With a sickening boom, one of the rooms exploded, followed by a chain of explosions destroying the house. My screams of terror were muffled by the woman's hand but the terror itself was only growing.

"We have what we need." The woman declared before letting go.

I stumbled forward in surprise before they began to run away. I stared after them for a moment, not yet comprehending what just happened.

The scream of sirens suddenly assaulted by ears and shook me out of the daze. I turned around, hearing the crackling of flames.

"No, no, no." I whispered, running forward.

Right as I reached the front porch, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Calm down!" The cop ordered, pulling me away from the burning build.

"Mom. Mom! Mom!" I started yelled, trying to get out of his arms.

I slammed my elbow into his face and ran forward again, but a firefighter grabbed me and together, the two of them brought me to an ambulance.