𝑚𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠

3

~ colby's pov ~

I lost my real father before I was born. He was a coward. He wasn't "up" for the thought of having a child so early, so he left, abandoning me and my mother, Alyssa. They only dated for eight months.

I was quite mature for my age, according to my mom. I had already known, at nine years old, that I was an accident. I had ask my mother multiple times, "where's dad?" She never told me.

All the kids at school bullied me for not having a dad. I would ride by their houses on my bike, watching them and their fathers "playing catch in the backyard," or "playing frisbee." I never had that. Mom was always so busy at work, she never had time for me. I tried to make friends, but they said they had no room for a "no-dad, shaggy haired kid" in their group. I cried for hours after that day. Mom worked super long hours at work, and tried to hire baby-sitters for me, but they all left, since I was "too loud," or "too emotional."

My step-dad, Ross, came when I was in ninth grade. There was something about him that was suspicious, shady, even. He would act so nice around my mom, so sweet. But around me? Not so much.

My mom had met him at work, at their lab. They worked together. Then. That day. That changed my life forever. That's where it happened. The day that ended everything. My purpose. To keep my mother safe. What I can't forget . . .

I followed my "father" to work at his and mom's lab. Apparently, it was "bring your kid to work day." I wouldn't consider myself a kid, but was scared, and didn't want to go. Some thing about my step-dad was off that day, and I couldn't look him in the eyes. My mother wanted me to go, as it was my 16th birthday next week, and she wanted me to spend some time with him.

He grabbed and clawed at my arm tightly, not letting me go. We entered the building, the smell of burning plastic and hand-sanitizer wafted into my nose. "Ross, where are we going?" I looked at him with glazed over eyes. "To see your mother." He told me, not stopping.

I followed him into a room containing a wooden desk, two little folding chairs, and my mother sitting at the large desk. Ross sat me down on one of the chairs, walking over to my Alyssa.

"Sweetie, I'm going to go meet Keegan, okay?" He said, kissing her on the fore-head.

"Oh, of course. Take Colby with." She said, smiling at me.

I looked back at her shaking my head, trying not to let Ross see.

"Sure, hon." Ross said, grabbing me by my hood, yanking me out of the chair.

I looked back at my mother, only to see her head buried in mounds and mounds of papers and folders. I hung my head and followed Ross. The lab hallways reminded me of a hospital, but worse. The walls were painted a sad, dull gray color, with white tile floors. There were stains here and there, which I guessed were from the various chemicals and experiments they do here. From what I've been told, the workers study plants, but I felt that that's not the truth. Ross dragged me into a slim, dark hallway. The hanging lights above us flickered, sending chills up my spine.