Keys // Nicolas Brown

Act. 9 Love Can Make You Do Crazy Things

Doug's POV

I jerked awake, feeling an emptiness in the room. The first thing I did was check next to me, the bed empty with just me.

Mom?

Where'd she go?

Probably just the bathroom, my mind always goes crazy if I don't see mom for like five minutes. Laying back down, my eyes passed over the bathroom door as I sat back up in an instant.

The lights were off.

Maybe she got something to eat? Like went downstairs to the kitchen? Yeah, that's what she's doing. I'll just go downstairs and find her and then yell at her for scaring me like this so early in the morning.

Making me worry so much will get me gray hairs, and she says I stress her out. Standing up, I got off the bed as I felt cold metal press against my chest, tags clinking together. Holding them in my hand, I looked at the new engraving, running my finger over them.

Did mom put them on me when they were done?

Letting them fall, I hurriedly threw on a jacket over myself, rushing out the room. I stumbled through the hall, jumping over the railing of the stairs.

Frantically looking around, I didn't see her in the main room or the lounge area. Going into the kitchen, she wasn't there either and I started panicking.

Turning back around to search for her, a firm hand came over my shoulder.

"Kid, t-"

"Where is she?!" I screamed, slapping Paulklee's hand off of me.

"Who?" She groaned, turning back around to walk away as I followed her.

"Mom! You know what I'm talki-"

"She's gone."

"W-what?" I froze as she turned to face me.

"She left. She was called for business and had to go to attend," she cleared up as I stared at her. "And before you ask, no. I don't know where she is," she turned back around with a huff as I collapsed on the floor.

She's gone?

She left?

What was she called for?

Why'd she have to go?

"Fine. Just what business was she called for attending?" I looked at Paulklee's back as she stopped walking.

"Ergastulum government."

My eyes widened as she walked away.

Mom went there?!

Every time she had to go to government business, she would come back barely alive. And with the midnight attack she just had, there's no way she'd survive the hell they put her through this time.

I had to go to her.

Standing up, I slid my shoes on before a voice called out to me.

"I didn't let you to go after her, so sit your self back down, kid."

I felt anger boil through my veins as I clutched my tags.

Fine.

She must've forgotten that I was raised by a key.

I don't back down.

Going up the stairs, I went back to the room and grabbed my knives. Fixing them into my jacket, I changed my shorts and fixed my shirt. Tying my shoes and adjusting my tags, I stood tall, ready to leave.