Kieran's P.O.V

I felt like I was completely trapped in a thick cobweb and each struggle ended up with me being more entangled. It hooked every part of me up like shackles keeping caged and slowly taking away my sense of resistance as I slipped out of resolution.

But then, I heard a faint familiar voice calling my name which pulled on my consciousness and I desperately tried to grasp onto it but it slipped out as if it was taunting me. However, that seemed to evoke my resoluteness as I stretched out my mind towards the voice, which was now louder. Then, my eyes snapped open.

"You are awake," Uncle joyfully noted and immediately left the room.

I gingerly sat up and examined the room, realizing that it was mine. The sky blue curtains were all drawn aside, as warm sunlight flooded into the room. Presumably, it was morning.

I couldn't seem to recall whatever previous incidents that occurred. It was just like I had been sleeping for decades and now suddenly awake with blank spaces, foggy memories and images of faceless figures sketched out in my mind.

Uncle Makk reappeared with my mom, who hurried towards me. She sat down beside me and held my hands firmly as if she would lose me the minute she let go.

I observed how pale she looked; those sunken eyes and dark circles under her eyes.

"Mom," I started. My mom nodded at me.

All of sudden, those faceless figures seemed to become crystal clear as I took in its features, then mom's high-pitched scream echoed in my ear which resulted in a ringing sensation in my ear drum. I snatched my hands from my mother's grasp and clutched my head.

"Kier," my mom called softly, with worrisome eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Mom, that thing__ that hideous creature that came into our house,"

"What are you talking about?" My mom asked in confusion.

"Mom, don't you remember? There were two of them. One held....."

"Kier, it seemed like you had a nightmare,"

"Nightmare?" "No it wasn't a nightmare," I insisted

"It was yesterday's night, my birthday and.."

My mom held me with both hands, her thumb tracing my palms. "Kier, listen to me, yesterday wasn't your birthday. You fell and hit your head. So, you had a concussion and had slept for two days,"

"Two days!" I exclaimed.

My mom nodded but seeing that I wasn't fully convinced, she continued, "Just now, you said, that creature was holding me. But, I am right here with you, aren't I ?"

I couldn't go on with the argument, the sudden recollected memories now appeared vague, even the faceless figures had blurred into nothingness.

I decided to forget everything, with the hesitance I suppressed inside of me.

I stared intently at my mom. She appeared different, physically different.

She looked haggard with her collarbone more pronounced, and rosy cheeks appeared a bit hollowed.

Then, It hit me, the striking difference between my mom and I. My mom has dark eyes, which always brimmed with warmth and gentleness. It always makes me feel secure whenever I am around her. She has polished dark hair that tumbled down her shoulder.

Meanwhile, I was the lavender eyed boy with indigo hair.

My mom has always told me that it was a gift; and my own uniqueness. But to me, it was what made me look strange to other children.

On several occasions, I had attempted to bleach my hair but it was unsuccessful. The next day my hair would turn back to normal.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"What are you thinking about?" My mom asked, distracting me from my train of thoughts.

"Nothing much. I just think you seemed different,"

She was startled. "How different?"

"You have an unhealthy weight loss," I said.

My mom became silent.

"Ever since, you had a concussion, your mother had refused to touch any meal. She has been staying beside you all these few days. She even refused to take her bath. If not that, I fought tooth and nail to convince her to take her bath today; you would have seen a worse picture than this. She is so stubborn," uncle Makk complained in an unamused tone but his expression was saying an entirely different thing. He sighed dramatically.

Even uncle Makk looked tired' I noted.

I turned to my mom. "Mother, is that true?" I asked.

"How can I have an appetite when my son is lying in this condition," she said bitterly.

"Condition? Is there a need for this exaggeration, mom. It was just a concussion, it was not like I was dying or something......" I stumbled.

Concussion? Two days? I couldn't even feel any pain in my brain, it apparently shows that it wasn't serious. Why is my mother looking so worried then? The strangest part of it was that the first time I got sick, my mom didn't appear much worried about me. But now, my mother looked as if I escaped the devil's nest by hair breadth.

I touched my head to feel any bumps sustained as a result of the 'concussion' but felt none.

And my head was devoid of bandages.

For some inexplicable reasons, I had never heard of my mother's thoughts or uncle Makk. But I could sense that they were hiding something from me.

Then, I used to be grateful for not having to hear their thoughts but not now, cause I desperately wanted to figure out what the goodness they were hiding.

"Kier, what's wrong?" Mom stared at me with eyes laced with concern.

All the questions and doubts circling in my mind vanished instantly, as I gazed into those eyes.

"Mom, since I am now alright, let's go and eat. But mom, you have to promise me that no matter what happens you will always take care of yourself. If something ever happen to you, I will be in great pain,"

My mom smiled faintly and gave a nod. She enveloped me in a warm embrace.

"Am I forgotten?" I heard uncle Makk asked jokingly.

"No, you are always part of us," Mom replied. That statement reminded me that uncle Makk was the only friend mom has. And, he has always been there with us even through these incessant unexplainable relocations, he had never left, for which I am very grateful for being there for me and my mom.

We quietly moved out, not long, after I recovered from my 'concussion'.

My mom had long quitted her teaching job, back then when I realized my telepathic ability. She had homeschooled me and would also tutor students online during her spare time. So, there wasn't a single trouble moving out.

*

Just months in their new house, Kieran began to notice his mother's abnormal behaviors. She would stand dazedly for fairly awhile, doing absolutely nothing and she tends to forget easily. At times, her eyes would appear blanked out and if Kieran called on her, she would jump in panic.

One particular night, Kieran was already in bed at exactly nine pm as usual. But he kept on tossing around, unable to sleep as he thought about confronting his mother about her strange behavior and also the horrific nightmares that had persisted in his head.

Unaware, he fell into a deep trance, the foggy images whirling around in his subconsciousness was a bit clearer. He could now see more of the hideous creature, as its cracking laughter rang in his ears.

A chair was suddenly hurled towards it, and definitely hit it.

The creature was at first stunned, but later on, he lunged aggressively towards the thrower.

Kieran immediately woke up, feeling a sharp twinge on his neck. His clothes were damp with sweat. He sat up, breathing hard as he felt for the source of the twinge on his neck. He met with a warm liquid, realizing that it was blood.

Just then, his bedroom door clicked. "Mom,"

Why hasn't she entered? Or has she?

Kieran waited for her to open the door, only to hear the footsteps of someone rushing downstairs. As much as Kieran was puzzled and wanted to ascertain what's wrong , his suddenly tired body swept him down to the bed.

The next day, Kieran woke up very late in the morning, very surprised that his mom had allowed him till then. He padded down the stairs after minutes of arranging his bed and brushing his teeth.

He entered the kitchen, expecting to see his mom but he didn't. He knew fully well that his mom woke up very early in the morning. Kieran had once thought that his mom doesn't sleep; she would be at her study room when he is about to sleep and would be in the kitchen whenever he woke up.

Kieran, feeling it was unusual, went to his mom's room. He tapped softly on the door, there was silence. So, he gently pushed down the handle of the door.

There, his mom laid peacefully on her bed as her chest slowly rose and fell.

Kieran heaved down. He decided to leave her. Clearly, she was tired.

He went to the kitchen to make something edible for breakfast. In the process of making toasts, the doorbell suddenly rang. He went to open the door and was slightly surprised to see Makk.

"Good morning Makk," he greeted him as Makk entered the house.

At a closer glance, Kieran noticed that Makk looked pale, his brown hair was disheveled, black circles were under his eyes, which were bloodshot.

"Are you okay? You appeared not to have slept for days,"

"I am fine, your mom?" Makk asked him, tactically changing the topic.

"She is in," Kieran replied with his eyebrows creased in a deep furrow.

"I thought you were always busy on Saturday. And, besides you should have called mom, that's what you always do. Is something wrong?"

"No, of course. Anyway, I called but it was switched off. So, I decided to come. Where is she?"

Kieran was still suspicious of Mark's visit. It wasn't that Mark didn't visit them. The issue was that Makk was always strict with Saturdays, saying that he has important work on Saturdays. And the work was something Kieran had no idea of. So, why is today an exception?

"She is still sleeping," he answered casually.

"Sleeping?!" Makk exclaimed.

Kieran nodded hesitantly, realizing that something was wrong. Makk immediately rushed upstairs, Kieran following suit.

Makk pushed open the door and entered the room. It was fairly large with plain and simple decorations; the bed was settled at the edge of the room, against the silver wall. The blue curtains hanging down the curtain pole were shifted aside, allowing a bit of the morning sunlight which illuminated the bookcase placed opposite the bed.

A round table was placed in the center of the room with books and pens scattered around. A nightstand was beside the bed, with a phone lying carelessly on it.

Makk moved closer to Alina, and sat upon the bed, beside her. He took her hand, which was stiff and cold, and rubbed it against his. Kieran stood motionlessly, gazing at his mom with puzzlement.

"My mom, she...," He began.

Makk touched Alina's wrist, he shut his eyes and opened the next minute with a pained expression. He looked up to Kieran and shook his head.

"What does that mean? What is wrong with her?" Kieran demanded. He gripped his mother's hand, attempting to wake her up. However, there's no reaction from the former.

"Makk, why is mom not responding?"

Makk stared unblinkingly at Kieran and exhaled. "Kieran, listen to me. Your mom, she__is dead,"

"Impossible!" Kieran exploded, his eyes widened. Everywhere was momentarily silenced, the chirping of the birds were not heard either.

"Kieran, calm down." Makk told him softly.

"How is that possible? She was not sick and she was breathing when I saw her this morning. You must be mistaken."

"Kieran,"

"No__ how can she be suddenly dead? She even....."