When the rains may come (Science Fiction)

54. Powerful Friend

Daisy glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's quarter past two. School must be over now. I should probably get going to pick up Art--Aaria." She sighed and rose up from the sofa.

Marie nodded. "My son said he would be back by now too so–"

There was a knock at the door.

"Oh, it must be him," Marie said, opening the door. Zack stood glaring up at her. And there was a girl in a straw hat standing behind him. Marie was puzzled but before she could say anything, Daisy gasped behind her.

Marie turned to the woman who had gone parchment pale. Daisy's terrified eyes were dead set on the girl behind Zack. Marie didn't need an explanation after that. She soon recognized the child whom she'd met at the shoe store a week ago. The child who'd lied about being a boy all along.

Zack stepped into the room, still glaring at his mother. Aaria followed him in. "Why wouldn't you tell me the truth?" He said, his fists clenching.

Marie frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well!"

"Zack, calm down." Aaria put a hand on his shoulder.

Now Marie was shocked at the name by which girl called him. What the hell had these kids been up to?!

"What did you two do?!" Daisy cried out.

"Shut up!" Zack yelled. "I'm sick and tired by the games you've been playing with us!"

Aaria put both her hands on his shoulders now. "Zack, calm down, please!" He shrugged her off and glared at his mother again. "What have you and dad been up to? Hasn't it got something to do with that man Eli Hodges? You are involved with the people who tried to kill him, aren't you?"

Daisy and Aaria both froze at the last statement. "Gloria, what is the boy saying?" Daisy said.

"Zack, what are you even talking about?" Aaria said.

Marie was now flabbergasted. Zack kept telling at her.

"Isn't that why we were allowed to come here?! Because you and dad agreed do whatever dangerous thing they asked you to. Isn't that–"

Marie shut him up with a smack across the face. Zack stumbled backwards, gripping his cheek. He stared at his mother, stunned. She stared back at him, bewildered.

This was the first time Marie hit him. But Marie was still too appalled from all the statements the boy had made, still too blinded by the rage at his recklessness.

Zack's initial shock wore off. He scoffed and rubbed his sore cheek. Then he started to laugh. As if they weren't already confused enough, Daisy and Aaria were rattled even further by the boy's reaction.

Zack jabbed a finger at his mother. "This is all you can do. You are so afraid of the truth, you won't even let me speak it. And when I try to do it, you just shut me up."

"Yes!" Marie snapped. "Because you don't understand the gravity of the situation!"

"Then make me understand!" Zack's face was flushed with anger but Marie saw another swirling within his eyes--disappointment "You never tell me anything! You are always risking yourself doing god knows what. And you just expect me to run with it. As if I'm a baby!" Now the disappointment in Zack's eyes turned to sadness. Tears burst forth.

Marie stopped breathing in that instance. She finally seemed to realize what she had just done. What she'd always been doing.

Zack didn't say anything more to her. He just buried his face in his hands and tried to suppress his sobs.