Run

IV

There were several things Mariah expected to see when she opened the garage door. The boys playing video games with her daughter, them fighting over controllers, really she was prepared for just about anything, except what she saw. A child in ragged, stained, torn clothing, with buzzed hair and scars covering every visible part of their body. Not to mention the elf ears sticking out of their head, sitting on the now visible couch was not even on her expectations list.

The four jumped as the door bounced off the wall, looking at her with fearful eyes. To be fair, she knew her face at the moment was likely terrifying, so she couldn't blame them.

"What the hell is this, Alex?! Who is this child? Why would you not tell me you had someone here who looked like that!?" She knew she was yelling, but she was livid; if it weren't illegal to smack your kid, all three of her children would get more than a screaming lecture.

"Ma! Calm down, please! We can explain!" Her son tried to quell her anger, but she wasn't having it; there was no excuse for having someone like that in her house, under her roof.

"NO, Get your shit and get in the fucking car! We're leaving!" With that, she slammed the door shut and stormed into the house. Grabbing her purse and keys before throwing her shoes on and stomping to the car. She shoved the key in and started the engine as her children, plus the tag-along elf boy got into the car. Without any words, she started driving.

Ma, please listen. Falren isn't dangerous; you can't just leave him somewhere!" Alex desperately tried to make her listen.

"Alex, you think of me that lowly? I'm taking him to get patched up; his wounds look infected, and I won't leave him like that. We can revisit whether or not he stays with us lat-" She was cut off by 'Falrens' breathing picking up.

"Wait, no, not a hospital! Please, I can't go through that again! They'll take me away; I'll leave right now. I'll never come back just don't take me to a hospital!" Tears were streaming down the boy's face. Mariah watched as her son brought the boy into a side hug directing him through a coping mechanism.

She couldn't take him to a hospital, but where else was she supposed to get the kid patched up? Her first thought would be his place, but she'd like to avoid seeing that man again if she could. Just thinking of him made her shiver. It wasn't just that; she knew she couldn't take Falren to any police or doctor. The kid had trauma; the foster system wouldn't help him. She wouldn't let her son know yet, but she had already decided that this boy would stay with them.

Looking into the back seat again, she saw Falren had cried out and was now sleeping on Alex's shoulder; Nick and Emily were looking at the pair with adoration. Mariah turned her attention back to the road. Rifling through her glove box, she pulled out a beanie, throwing it back to Alex; she spoke.

"Put that on him. It'll be uncomfortable, but we want him to appear human if we get pulled over." She watched as her son did what she told him, gently pulling the beanie onto Falrens head.

"Thank you, did anyone bring clothes? We'll be on the road for a while. If not, we have the overnight bags in the trunk that will last a while. Nick, ensure your parents know you won't be home for a while. If they fuck with you, send them my way, and I'll deal with them." Mariah watched as Nick pulled out his phone and began typing.

"Since you didn't tell us where we were going, we didn't think to pack clothes." Her son's voice held a tone of hostility. He was still mad at her.

"Yes, you're right, and I apologize. I acted rashly, but to be fair, I wasn't expecting to see an injured elf boy in my son's garage." She apologized to her son.

"I get it, Ma, but you scared Falren. I promised he'd be safe with me. I don't care who I must go against; I will ensure I keep that promise." Mariah had never heard her son so determined in her life.