During those next few days, I wasn’t allowed to leave the house, mainly because the news reporters kept hanging around our front yard. Even at night, their vans would still be parked at the side of the curb, with people standing and talking in front of a camera. Mommy would pull me away from the windows, yank the curtains over them, and order me to find something else productive to do, like chores or more homework that was sitting on the table waiting for me.

But I couldn’t think properly.

The television was off limits. Mommy always asked me to leave the living room after I finished seeing my favorite cartoons so that she could watch the news.

Because of the nightmares, I was still too scared to go upstairs in the dark by myself, so I always waited for her to come with me, sitting at the bottom step, sometimes until one or two in the morning. It was hard for me to pretend to not see the pain in her eyes, because I knew that she hated what she saw; especially what the Kaver family was saying about me.

I heard it all.

Mommy still picked me up and carried me upstairs, even though she said that I was getting too big for that. Normally, I think that she would’ve scolded me for disobeying her, but she was too worn out to care. On Sunday night, even after she tucked me in bed and headed to her room, chills ran down my spine. When I sneaked out into the hallway and stood in front of her door, there were soft, quiet sobs, barely audible.

A lump rose in my throat as I slowly slid to the carpeted floor and hugged my knees, leaning my head against the wall. I closed my eyes and waited for the noise to stop, but it followed me into the darkness.

* * * * * *

Something gently shook my shoulder. I jumped, only to see Mommy on her knees next to me. Warm sunlight streamed from the windows in the hallway, bouncing off her pink robe and fuzzy slippers. Her red hair, usually in a thick braid, looked like a bird’s nest.

“Baby, what are you doing? Did you spend the night out here? I’m sorry, I should’ve let you in if you were too scared to sleep by yourself.”

I heard you cry...I’ve never heard you cry before and it scared me. It scared me so much.

I wiped my eyes and shook my head, feeling a lie form at the tip of my tounge. “I’m fine. I had a nightmare really early this morning…and...and I didn’t want to bother you, so I waited. Pa gen fantom isit la."

Mommy sighed and helped me to my feet. “How many times do I have to say that you don’t have to worry about waking me up? Do you remember what Dr. Shaw said about what to do when the nightmares come again? Tell me about them. I’m here.” She glanced at the clock. “Mr. Karin is expecting us...we’d better hurry.”

I made a face before turning back to go to my room. She chuckled and ruffled my hair, before placing a kiss on my forehead. It took me only ten minutes to get changed and come downstairs. Mommy had thrown on a sundress, which was still wrinkled from the dryer. There was barely any time to grab breakfast, since we had both overslept. I was fumbling with my shoelaces when there was a sharp knock at the door, and then a loud bang, causing it to swing heavily against the wall.

Mr. Karin stood in outside, between men that were twice his size. They wore the same black suits; but this time, their shades were a new addition. The same dark red symbol I had seen on their cars were stitched on the breast pocket of their jackets. My heart was beating like a drum, and I quickly ran behind Mommy, peeking behind her waist. She stood perfectly still, a defiant look in her eyes. There was a deep gash in the wall from the impact of the door.

“Good morning, Madam,” Mr. Karin said. “I see that you followed instructions.” He glanced at the clock. “Very punctual, aren’t you? That’s a very important trait. I was almost afraid you weren’t going to comply.”

Mommy gave an exasperated sigh. “What is wrong with you? Y’all have no right to barge in here and frighten my child. You think I have a choice?”

Mr. Karin didn’t answer, but the smile he gave her made me want to run and hide. With the snap of his fingers, the two men pointed their guns at us and gestured at us to leave. Mommy’s hand squeezed mine tightly as we stepped out into the blinding morning light and stumbled down the porch steps.

The scent of the salt water in the air made me feel nauseous as we made our way past the news crew, who had a large crowd gathering around it. Mr. Karin got into the passenger seat of one of the fancy black cars, yelling something before shutting the door.

There was too much noise and confusion. I tried to ask Mommy what was going on, but she didn’t hear me.

Several of the men with the same strange symbols on their jackets were holding them back, giving us space to walk. Mommy started to lead me into our car, but another man stepped in front of us and ushered us into one of their vehicles. When we slid in the back seat and drove off, I pressed my fingers against the window, taking a good long look at our house before it grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

* * * * * * *

It was a six hour drive.

There were no bathroom or water breaks, and by the time we entered a new city my stomach wouldn’t stop growling. It was huge, so big that Nivea could fit inside of it. I wasn’t sure how they expected us to be home on the same day. We had driven past an uninhabited area with only trees and grass, and were now passing though a large gate that surrounded the city and was was heavily guarded by soldiers, some at the top; others at the bottom. Several cars followed closely behind us, and when the gate closed shut I turned and faced Mommy.

Her face was very pale, and her eyes widened as she took in the scene. She kept glancing behind her, then at the rearview mirror at the driver, who was also wearing shades and sitting completely still in front of the wheel. I was surprised how he could drive for so long without his neck and back killing him.

“S-sir?” Mommy stammered. “Would you mind telling me where we are? I...I didn’t know we’d be this far.”

The man didn’t say anything, even though his hand hesitated as he turned the steering wheel. By now, the symbol was on flags that were hanging from the homes and apartments nearby the shops and food stands. The people in this city walked side by side, in small, organized crowds. Mommy bit her lower lip hard, and I grabbed her hand to comfort her. She gave me a small smile, but I could see the fear on her face.

We pulled up in front a very large white building, with a fountain in the middle of a wide green lawn. Several people, similar to the ones on the street, were mowing the grass and tending to the garden, which had all sorts of flowers in it. The cars circled around the fountain, and when the driver finally parked the car several men came and opened the doors, letting us out and pointing the guns in our direction. Mr. Karin waved his arm towards us, climbing out of his car.

“Follow me,” he ordered. “They are waiting for you.”

I felt like I was in a daze as we walked inside of the building. It smelled of fresh linen sheets. The men, to my surprise, remained outside. There was a beautiful chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, and the floor was made out of polished marble. The hallways were huge and filled with expensive, wooden furniture. Mr. Karin stopped in front of two double doors and knocked, clearing his throat and straightening his tie. Mommy held me tighter in her arms when a gruff voice sounded through.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, sir. I have the boy and his mother with me.”

There was a long pause. “Come in.”

Mr. Karin opened the door and ushered us through. There was a long, rectangular desk which had six men sitting on each side. In the back of the room was the Red Snake symbol, a large heavy tapestry that hung vertically across the wall. These men had the same thing marked on their forehead. The tallest one, appearing to be in his late twenties, sat at the head of the table, which was covered in maps, cups of coffee, and papers. He slowly stood up, his thick blonde hair tousled and sticking out.

“How do you do, Margaret Bueler?”

Mommy just stared at him. He began to chuckle at her reaction, and soon all the men began to join him in unison. Mr. Karin stood by the front door, a slightly annoyed expression on his face. The man grinned and stood in front of us, sticking out his hand.

“I’m afraid we haven’t met yet. The name’s Baldwin. Huey Baldwin. I’ve heard quite a bit about your own son and would’ve loved to bring you down here sooner, but you were being a bit stubborn. Moving around and all."

Mommy looked around. “I don’t understand why I’m here. Karin already told me that it wasn’t directly related to the incident. What do you want from me—“

“So rude, aren’t you? Just to start asking me all these questions. ” He glanced at two men standing guard at the doorway. “You must’ve had a long trip. Would you like something to eat? I usually think more clearly with a full stomach, don’t you say?”

“W-well..I....you didn’t answer my question. How are we going to get home soon? I have to go to work, and..how are we going to—“

“Don’t worry about it, Margaret. We just need to discuss a plan towards helping your son. I’m here to discuss your options, and as a mother, you want the best for your child, don’t you?” Baldwin asked. “Relax.”

Two maids came in with trays of food. My mouth watered at the sight of chicken tenders, waffle fries and lemonade.

Before she could respond, two extra chairs were brought in by the maids and we sat down at the table. I eagerly reached for a plate and began stuffing the meat in my mouth, not caring if it burned my tounge or not. Mommy took slow, dianty bites as Baldwin brought out a folder full of papers and a black felt pen in his hand. I slurped my lemonade loudly as he handed her the first page. The other men in the room looked slightly stressed, watching us. Baldwin handed her the pen.

“If you read over this contract and sign it, you consent to us provide training and testing for Adlai. His education, medical needs, and housing will be provided for. The boy will recieve excellent care. You will be able to visit him weekly and at the end of the month, you can take him home. You will have to bring him back here, however, for your safety and others.”

“I can’t...he needs to be with me. He won’t hurt anyone else, I’ll make sure of it. I swear—“

”Margaret, this is for your own good.”

Suddenly, the food felt like rocks in my mouth. Mommy’s eyes looked droopy, like she was about to fall asleep. Baldwin looked at the paper, then back at her. The pen hung loosely from her fingers.

“How...howmanuh...how many times can I see my son?” she slurred. “Hecangt stauhere. He need me, my baby need me...”

“Oh, Margaret,” Baldwin said in a soothing voice. “This is for his and your safety. You will have visiting rights, like I said. The Nivean Police Department and I had a little talk last week about keeping him here safe until things cool off from the Kaver incident. I’m not sure if you know where you are, but you are in Jova. Some say one of the best cities in Plod. Why don’t you do your son a favor, hmmm?”

“M-mommy?” I asked. My chest was getting tight, and I heard a guard step behind me. “Can we go home now?”

Mommy didn’t look at me; she was struggling to keep awake. I didn’t understand why. It stung, she had never ignored me before. Her hand scrawled a rough looking signature across the page, and I saw Baldwin’s face light up as she collapsed to the floor. The plate of food spilled all over her. Three manservants, including another maid, entered the room and began to carry her out. A thin line of blood trailed from the corner of her mouth and down her chin.

“Mommy!”

It came out in a gurgled cry. I was starting to feel sleepy and tried to go towards her, but the guard held me back. With a grunt, I sank my teeth into his hand until blood seeped through his skin, but he didn’t let go. Several people crowded around me, but in the middle of it all, I could make out Baldwin’s smile as he picked up the paper and studied it. I kicked and swung and bit and screamed until my throat was raw and black dots clouded my vision.

* * * * * *

When I came to, I was lying down on a large bed, bigger than the one I had at home. The bedsheets were covered in printed baseballs. The walls in the room were painted a dark blue color, and a large flat screen television was placed on the wall in front of me. There was a desk, computer, and a lamp to my right, including a dresser bulging with new clothes.

As I slowly sat up, my head felt dizzy. Everything was kind of blurry for a moment, and I could still feel the effects of the drug on my body. I jumped off the bed and pushed open the curtains, but it was pitch black outside, except for the lights in the buildings in the distance. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make the windowsill budge.

Tears threatened to come in my eyes, and I began to look around the room for something to pry it open. To my surprise, there was a tiny hallway that lead to a kitchen area that had a fridge, a table and a chair. There were two doors in this hallway, including a bathroom and a closet full of shoes and more clothes. At the very far end of the hallway was a dark brown door. When I tried to open it, it was locked.

I stood there for a moment, struggling to breathe, letting the tears travel down my face. A strange wave of energy flowed through me when there was a knock on the door, and then the doorknob began to turn. My face felt hot from all the blood rushing to my face. A gurgling sound erupted from the bathroom, and a large transparent blob of water floated in the air towards me. The hinges of the door creaked loudly as a maid stepped in with a tray of food.

"Mwen vle manman mwen," I screamed.

Her eyes widened.

I held one hand out towards her. She shrieked and dropped the tray as the water shot forward and curled around her body like a rope. My head was starting to hurt, but I welcomed the pain. In her struggle to break free, she hit her her head against the wall, causing her to go limp. I held her up higher in the air until her legs were dangling helplessly in the air, her nose starting to bleed. It was getting hard to see because the tears were clouding my vision. Her frightened cries pierced my ears.

“Don’t run from me,” I sobbed. “I want my mommy. Just tell me where she is, please. Please, please!”

There were heavy footsteps, and I saw Mr. Karin appear at the doorway with two armed guards. Their eyes were as wide as saucers when they saw the maid. He motioned them to stand back and slowly took a step towards me, with his arms stretched out, even though he was completely stunned at the sight.

“What..." he whispered. “How...”

The girl was passed out, her eyes shut. I slowly lowered my hand, causing her to drop to the floor, the water flooding the carpet. Mr. Karin flinched. My hands were shaking, and I slid to the ground on my knees, clutching my head to make the pain go away. One of the guards bent down and grabbed the maid’s hand, dragging her backwards out the room before scooping her into his arms. Mr. Karin kept coming closer, nervously looking backwards at the people in the doorway.

“Get her out of here,” he mouthed. “Now.”

One of the men nodded and took off running down the hallway. Mr. Karin turned and faced me, studying at the soggy food on the floor. I didn’t have the mental energy again to hold him in place and try to get information from him. He gave me a small, tight smile, like nothing was wrong at all or that I was crumbling into pieces. It suddenly felt cold in here, and the wet carpet stained the knees of my jeans. There was a long pause between us before he spoke again.

“I see you’re awake.”

I didn’t respond because I couldn’t stop shivering. Mr. Karin clicked his teeth and kicked at a piece of wet, smushed bread on the carpet. With a heavy sigh he propped the door open and knelt down to my level.

“Look, kid,” he said. “I know you’ve been having a rough time, but I’m going to need you to relax, okay? Nobody is going to harm you here. It’s getting late; I’ll bring you some food so you can eat it and get some rest. In the meantime, you can clean up this mess.”

“I’m not hungry,” I said. “You did something to Mommy to make her sign those papers. You hurt her. She would never leave me, never. Where is she?”

Mr. Karin sighed. “Your mother is fine, Adlai. She’s resting in a hotel room not too far from here. You’ll see her from time to time, but in the moment, I need you to sleep. Baldwin is expecting to see you tomorrow morning, so you’ll need all the energy you can get.”

I rubbed my eyes. “But I want to see her now.”

For a moment, he looked conflicted, but soon regained his composure and stood to his feet. “I hope you at least like your suite. If you need anything, there’s a cell phone in one of the desk drawers. You can call the number written on the sticky note and someone will come okay? I will be back later with some new food. Do me a favor: clean this up, and get some rest.”

The dam I had been holding back broke through, but I managed to get the words out. “Will she be okay?”

”For the second time, your mother is fi—“

“Not her. The lady that tried to give me my food. I didn’t mean to scare her like that.” My voice trailed off into a whisper. “I hurt her. Just like Alex.”

Mr. Karin stood still for a moment before turning away and clasping his hands behind his back. “Don’t worry about her. What I saw...it was incredible. You should be proud, not ashamed.” The look in his eyes were eccentric. “Her kind of people are weak anyways.”

“Her...” I tried to make sense of his words. “Her kind?”

He didn’t respond, just walked through the doorway and shut the door, leaving me in the dimly lit suite. The soggy food on the carpet clung to my hands as I finished picking up the rest of the mess. After washing my hands thoroughly in the bathroom I crawled underneath the desk and curled into a ball, rocking back and forth and humming to myself. I tried to imagine that Mommy was with me, what she would say or tell me to do. I hoped Baldwin would give me better answers than Mr. Karin about her whereabouts.

I managed to stay awake until four in the morning, huddled in the blankets on the bed, trying to ignore the shadows dancing on the walls.