"Hey!"

"Fuck."

"What? I only said hi."

"Yeah, that means my day is about to get very chaotic."

"Why thank you!"

"Not a compliment"

"You're boring"

"Great, leave me alone"

"No."

"Yes."

"NO,"

"Y-E-S, yes. you will."

"I won't. Besides, I have a question,"

" Fine,"

"What does snow look like?"

"How should I know? We live in Ravenwood, I'm pretty sure snow is illegal here,"

"That is sad"

"Suck it up buttercup."

"Why?"

"Because life isn't going to change anytime soon,"

"Says who?"

"Uh—"

"See? You don't even know."

"I do know,"

"Liar"

"Fuck off,"

----------------------------------------

Ren stared at his mother, his walk turning into a run, then a sprint.

"MOM!" He shouted, running to her, his eyes wide with shock. It had been, how long? Seven? Maybe eight years, since he last saw her? His heart pounded in his chest as he hesitated, unsure whether to approach or retreat. The world around him seemed to blur as emotions swirled within—a mix of longing, disbelief, and a desperate need for answers, anything she could say to him about her disappearance. With hesitant steps, Ren edged closer, his breath catching in his throat.

"Mom?" He said slowly, his voice trembling ever so slightly. He touched her arm, and she turned her eyes wide in surprise.

"What? Can I help you?" She asked, her voice showing no remorse or affection. Her soft blue eyes met his dark ones, and not even a flicker of recognition was in them. She looked the same, all these years did not change her. Yet why did she look at him like that? Why did she look at her son with the eyes of a stranger? Something inside of him recoiled, as if he had grabbed a flower but had been pierced by the thorns. Something.....something was very wrong.

"Mom, its me! Ren! Your.... son?" He cried out, his voice trailing off as nothing changed in her face. He scanned her features desperate for any sign of recognition or acknowledgment, but there was none. No cry of relief or embrace, not even a smile. It was as if he had been completely forgotten.

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. I am not your mother," his mother said gently, she had noticed his pain, and just like he remembered, she put a hand on his shoulder in a comforting way.

"No, I swear, I'm your son! It is me! You and Dad disappeared like seven years ago!" he protested, his voice straining slightly.

"I don't have children," was her only response, along with a sad smile.

Ren's heart sank to the bottom of his gut when she turned away. His heart began to pound, panic settling in. He couldn't lose her again, not when he finally found her. Not again! Why didn't she remember? His heart jolted when she began to walk away, leaving him behind.

"No! Wait! Mom! Come back!"

She turned her eyes flashing with slight fear,

"I'm sorry! But I don't know you!" his mother insisted, her eyes wide with fear.

Ren shook his head and grabbed her arm,

"No, seriously! You just don't remember!"

"Please let go!"

"I can't! I won't let you abandon us again!" Ren yelled his eyes wild with desperation.

By now they had gotten the attention of the entire market, thousands of eyes were watching the two of them, hushed whispers filling the air.

His mother yanked her arm out of his grasp, stepping away hurriedly.

"Wait!" Ren shouted, about to chase after her again. But, before he could even take a step, cold metal hands clamped around his shoulders. Turning around quickly, he gasped as two clunkers approached, their smooth metal faces flat and devoid of emotion. They moved just like humans and talked like them too, yet Ren knew, deep down, they were nothing more than mindless machines following orders.

The clunker in the lead grabbed Ren by the arm again,

" Ren Fieldings, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace and acts of terrorism." It said, its voice masculine in nature. Ren shivered at how realistic it sounded.

"Terrorism? I didn't do anything!" He protested trying to escape, but it was futile, they were going to take him away.

"Resistance is a stupid idea," another Clunker said, almost sounding annoyed.

The first Clunker whirled around furiously,

"Silence BU00790!" it growled, almost glaring at the second Clunker.

Ren managed to rip his arm free, running for his life. His feet pound against the burning hot stones of the streets, his breath coming in rapid gasps. He could feel his heart pounding beneath his ribcage as he fled for his life, no he fled for his sister. he had to warn her, he had to tell her! No, he wouldn't die like this, he couldn't! He sprinted away, shoving people and passersby aside, in his desperate attempt to return home.

His legs ached, they felt like lead, and his lungs burned, screaming for air. But he didn't stop, he couldn't afford to. He was so close, the familiar rusted tiles of their home in sight. But, just as he reached the door, something hard hit the back of his head, and all went black.