The Outcasts I - The Beginning

And So It Begins...

(TW: Missing child, panic attack)

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S MISSING?!" Ms. Kelley roared as the panic, rage and terror set in as she realized her youngest son was missing.

Karma had taken her outside in the backyard to break the news to her so no one else would hear and panic further. It was deep in the night, but Karma could see the fire of rage burning in his mother's eyes.

Karma backed away from her, frantic to reassure her, putting his hands up in defense, "I-I'm sure he's just hiding somewhere in the playroom! I can check again-"

"WE CHECKED! WE ALREADY FUCKING CHECKED, AND NOW YOU TELL ME MY BABY IS MISSING?!"

"Mom, please-"

"NO! WHERE IS HE?! WHERE DID HE GO? WHERE DID HE GO? HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN MISSING?"

"I DONT KNOW!!" Karma snapped, tears in his eyes.

Ms. Kelley stopped, realizing she was scaring him. She took a deep breath, holding herself to stop her shaking and backed off.

She took a deep breath, "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I just... fuck, how did we not notice?"

Karma took a deep breath, wiping his eyes, "I don't know, we just... a-after the streetfight, I guess we didn't look close enough, and- and we must have left him, or something. I don't know where he is. I'm so so sorry."

Ms. Kelley covered her mouth, taking deep breaths to stop herself from hyperventilating. "So... so that means they could have taken him."

Karma's eyes went wide as he realized this. "Shit." He whispered, "Shit, shit, SHIT!" He kicked the tree in a rage, "FUCKING DAMN IT! I'LL KILL THEM!"

Ms. Kelley quickly ran to him, "Wait, Karma wait-"

"I'LL KILL THEM! I'LL-"

Ms. Kelley quickly wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him down, "Karma, hey, hey. Hey."

Karma trembled, but very gently pushed her away, "No. No, no, I can't let you. I can't believe we let this happen, oh fuck..." He shakily whispered, covering his mouth.

Ms. Kelley let him go, gently patting his back, "Baby, it's ok... we'll figure it out. We'll put in a missing person report, I'll talk to the hospital, and we'll hunt the other gang down tomorrow. We need to sleep to be able to find him properly."

Karma nodded, wiping his eyes again. "Okay. I... okay. How- will we tell anyone?"

"Yes. The teens will know, the kids will not. Anyone 14 and older will know, and they will not tell the children." She explained, beginning to gently rub his back.

Karma sniffled, leaning onto her, "Ok, that sounds good... I'm so sorry. I have no idea how this could have happened."

"I don't blame you, baby. All of you should have been watching better." She said blankly.

The disappointment from his mother radiated clearly, and it was crushing. He just nodded and trudged back inside.

Ms. Kelley sighed, wiping her eyes as she followed him back in side. Once she was calm enough, she went in and shut the door behind her, locking it.

Kaleb, noticing his boss was upset, approached quietly. "Martha? Is everything ok?" He asked in a low voice.

Ms. Kelley shook her head, "Tian's missing." She whispered, covering her mouth as tears filled her eyes again.

Kaleb's eyes widened in fear, quickly rushing to comfort her as he wrapped his arms around her to hold her steady and keep her up, "Oh- whoa, hey, Martha?! What do you mean he's missing?"