Fever Dreams

Chapter 13: Mommy & Me

~Ethan~

"Is there any particular store you'd like to visit?"

Kathy and I decided to go to the mall today. I was doing my best to be as patient as she was, but everything was a little weird for me. Trying to accept Kathy as my real mother hadn't been on the agenda today.

Currently, we were sitting together in the food court sharing a pizza. She'd asked me if there was a store I wanted to visit. I think she asked so she could figure out what I liked, and I commended her for trying to get to know me, even though I was acting like a brat. Yes, I admit it.

"I really don't need to buy anything today," I said. "I already spent money on Silas's anniversary present."

"How are you two doing by the way?" she asked.

"We're great," I said with a small smile. "I've never met anyone like him. He's been keeping me sane. He convinced me to come here with you, and I'm thankful that he gave me the push I needed."

"He's a very sweet boy," she pointed out.

"Why didn't my dad marry you?"

She blinked, not expecting that question. "I... I don't know. I just want you to know, though, I don't hate Julia at all. I just love your father. I never meant to hurt her at all, and neither did he. He stayed with her so that you wouldn't have to know that your father had been unfaithful."

"But if he loved you, he should've married you."

"He loved Julia too, once."

I looked down at my pizza. How fragile the concept of love is. One moment, you believe your love is so strong that nothing could sever it. The next, the spark is gone, and the one to destroy your love is you.

And that could happen to Silas and me. Very easily. He could see me tomorrow and decide to be done with me.

"Are you alright?" Kathy asked.

I returned my eyes to her. "Yes, I am... Mom."

She smiled, cupped my face fondly. I'd been so quick to judge her and my father, but I think having my real mother in my life is going to make everything okay again.

~Silas~

This is bad.

I returned home upon leaving Ethan's. Something wasn't right. There was a car in the driveway that I didn't recognize, and the front door was smashed in.

I called Ethan, then I called the police. I had a really bad feeling about this. Even worse, my mom and uncle Thomas are home.

Creeping through the doorway, I stepped over the pieces of splintered wood. Nothing was amiss in the living room, so I made my way into the kitchen. A couple pans were sitting on the floor, which wasn't particularly worrying but slightly ominous. Mom wouldn't have left those there, as you can imagine.

I slowly walked down the hall toward my mom's room. My hands were shaking, and my lungs were struggling to supply me with oxygen. Her door was wide open, which I was slightly thankful for. It's pretty difficult to sneak up on anyone when you have to open the door, right?

The first thing I saw when I entered the room was my uncle Thomas. He was laying on the floor, beaten up and unconscious. I could tell he was alive from his breathing form, and I was relieved in that regard. The next thing I noticed was my mom. She was tied up in a chair, her wrists and ankles duct taped to its arms and legs. She was bruised and slightly bloody, but still breathing, which made me feel a little better. I quickly fell to my knees in front of her and began trying to remove her binds.

She strenuously lifted her head, taking notice of my presence. "Silas, you need to leave," she whispered.

"Mom, what happened?" I asked her.

She shushed me. "He's here. You need to leave before he discovers you."

"But Mom--"

The door closed suddenly. "Look who decided to join us."

I stood and faced him, the stalker. "What do you want from us?"

"You ruined everything when you stood between me and your mother," he explained. "I want you to fucking die. I'm gonna kill you and then your mother will be mine."

"You're a psychopath."

"And you're a meddling brat. Any last words before I gut you like a fish?"

I looked him dead in the eye and said, "I may say my last words someday, but it definitely won't be today."