The lullaby

The valley was full of blooming white flowers as two chromati can be seen from afar, a beautiful woman and a small boy. The two of them look awfully similar; the same nose, sharp eyes, beautiful smile and vibrant long hair. The woman gently holds the boy's hair and starts braiding it in a precise manner, creating a unique lock pattern, just like hers. The boy smiles innocently as a warm yet fierce voice sings in soft notes. A familiar tune embraces the valley as they start singing together in harmony.

- Mom; voiced the small boy.

- Go on, tell mommy what's wrong; smiled the woman.

- Teach me how to fight; asked the boy bravely, interrupting her intricate work.

-And why would such a young and presentable boy like you need to fight?

-I just want to become as strong as you; pleaded the young one while leaning against her chest.

- Is that true? Well I could teach you, only if you do something for me; she agreed then gave him a head pat.

- What is it? Tell me, tell me; he questioned cheerfully.

- Lime, you have to stop picking a fight with the officers' son? His dad told me he came home a few days ago with a missing tooth and bruises all over.

- I knew that punk would run his mouth sooner or later. I didn't even hit him that hard, he's the idiot who started it; he pouted angrily.

- You thought I wouldn't find out huh? Also mind your language; she replied while pinching his cheeks.

- He just wouldn't stop bothering Lilac. He deserved it; he reasoned while pulling away and rubbing his red cheek.

-Is that so? Even so, you should be less impulsive when it comes to matters like that.

- But he's so mean to everyone just because his father is the principal; he sighed as he started doodling into the mud innocently.

-That doesn't mean you need to punch his teeth out on a whim. If you want to become strong you need to learn how to control your temper; be nicer to other people, you don't know what they've been through . This is not how I raised you, young man.

- But it's not fair; he tried to argue but got distracted by what his mother gave him.

-Eat this; she suggested gently.

The boy was taken aback but gave in to his sugar cravings in seconds.

- This tastes like... blueberry; he voiced but in a matter of seconds felt the urge to throw up.

- What's wrong? I thought you liked blueberries; she said while rubbing his back.

Everything just flashed before his eyes; the fight, the lunatic that he kissed a while ago, the unbearable pain... all he could do now was to try to hold his tears in. The time seemed to slow down as he felt short of breath. A sudden blast of cold wind came out of nowhere. Lime embraced his mother tightly and closed his eyes in fear; she reciprocated the gesture and carefully wrapped her arms around him. Then something just clicked, she started to squeeze him harder and harder. Lime sensed that something was off and looked up only to find his mother grinning menacingly.

- Mom, are you alright? Say something; he asked with a worried look on his face, trying to loosen her grip.

- I'm better than ever, dear; she smiled while her appearance started to shift in a gruesome way. Lime also seemed to have gradually taken his adult form back as the whole thing unfolded. Something was clearly off.

 He came to realize his dream was turning into a nightmare as he noticed who the woman he holds dear had turned into.

- Aw shit, you just had to ramble through my mind as well. Couldn't you at least let me get a breather? We just fought moments ago; he cussed after coming back to his senses.

- Well, you seemed to have a great time a while ago when you clearly crossed the line, so I thought I could return the favor and ruin one of the few peaceful memories you have; she reasoned while pinning him down forcefully.

- First of all, you're the one who forced me to do such a thing. I, for one, did not intend to do such a gross thing on my own volition. Second of all, it was also one of the most unpleasant experiences since you ruined my love for blueberries; he argued while trying to overpower her.

-Oh, so you don't even feel guilty for what you've done. How disgusting; she muttered in disbelief.

- What are you doing? Stop; he said while she slowly sunk her nails into his flesh.

- Why would I stop when I'm having so much fun? You didn't stop back then either. What if you killed me? You have to take responsibility for your recklessness; she suggested while blood rivers began to stain the lilies across the valley.

-You're nuts; he pleaded in pain.

-And you're going to be dead soon; she laughed once more.

-You're forgetting one thing; he whimpered as the entire valley had been covered in blood.

- What are you boasting about? Spit it out already; she demanded aggressively.

- You're in my mind and, fortunately for me, I'm the one pulling the strings here. I hope you enjoyed the short-lived moment of fame, because things are about to change; he smirked while slowly sinking in the ground.

- Get back here. I'm not done with you; she shouted as she frantically dug through the frozen soil.

- Good luck finding me you whacko; his words echoed through the whole valley.

The surroundings shifted and Lime is now in an underground cave, trying to catch his breath.

- I almost forgot about the backlash for using this damn ability. I would rather sustain physical damage than have this lingering parasite ramble through my mind until I fully consume it. Too bad I don't really remember how much of her core energy I consumed to begin with. I'm hoping less than half. But then again, I just had to snoop around that shady alley like I owned the friggin place and get into the fight just because didn't I? Couldn't I just walk by without butting in? Why did I have to blow my only chance into joining the academy like an idiot; he questioned himself as he started breathing heavily again.

Lime simply tried to stand still for a while, in an attempt to calm down and proceed with his next move. The cave had a subtle glow that was engulfed by the growing shadows and moist air particles. His breathing rythm became steady again as he got up and stretched his sore muscles. He seemed to still be in deep thought. His face suddenly lit up as he mumbled:

- If I could do this in a real battle I should have a winning chance against that nutjob...How did I do it though? Was it a survival instinct, a trigger word? No, surely that sounds far to cliche; could it be a hand gesture instead or anything like that? Maybe I can try to replicate the feeling instead!

He bursted excitedly as he closed his eyes smirking, a few seconds go by in silence that was broken by a savage growl as he flailed his hands towards a random rock in hopes of turning it into something else. He proceeded to do the same movements a few times while using different words that made no sense and trying to punch the rock instead but this only resulted in exhausting himself. He continued to mutter senseless ideas to himself again while pacing back and forth until he found himself crouching in frustration while carving circles in the ground with the tip of a sharp pebble. He punched the rock one last time then pitifully groaned in pain:

-Was I getting cocky for a mere coincidence during that moment? I'm never gonna be able to get rid of that icy wench at this rate. 

 Soon enough the whole ground was covered in childish doodles that made no sense. Out of frustration he ended up throwing the pebble against the marked rock and a projectile flew towards his back from out of nowhere.

- Dang it, what was that, he complained as he looked around in confusion, only to find that it was the very same pebble he tried to get rid of. He picked it up and analysed it for a brief moment then he tried to replicate the same action as before and aimed towards the rock. He was focusing his attention towards the object as it was launched away. The pebble flew into the same spot, in the middle of one of the circles and vanished at the point of impact and a split second later hit the back of Lime's head. He rubbed his head and looked back where another circle was doodled. The conclusion finally came to him as he stepped back and excitedly did the same thing as before in order to prove his theory.

- It worked, so that was it huh? Who would've thought; he laughed to himself. 

Just when he was proudly snickering upon his discovery, everything quieted down as a cold breeze of snow started to seep through the foggy cave. She wasn't far from where Lime was and inevitable she will find him. 

Startled, he looked around then locked his eyes onto one of the circles he doodled, grabbed his pebble and sunk into the thick fog with yet another devilish smirk. He was onto something, whatever it was that he had in mind, it better be a genius move otherwise he would end up as a decorative ice sculpture in a matter of seconds. 

- You cocky rat! Show yourself before I find you! When I do, it's gonna get real ugly; she frowned while huge ice shards started to form around her. 

 A blast of cold wind cleared the fog, she began to look around for any signs of Lime's presence and found herself surrounded by the countless doodles he previously sketched. She was already weary of her surroundings and even more ice shards started to form around her as she adventured deeper into the caves.

-You can run all you want but hiding will only postpone the innevitable death that's awaiting you; she threathened while chaotically aiming with ice shards everywhere.

-It's funny that you say that. I told you before that I have the upper hand; his voice echoed through the vast passages.

- Found you, you little mongrel; she sneered just as she was about to slash him open.

-Whoa, whoa... let's just pause for a bit. What do you say?

-I say you better shut that mouth of yours; she said while trying to keep up with him.

-I was trying to make a peace offering since I felt so bad for what happened a while ago, but I realized that nothing gets through that thick skull of yours; he added mockingly just as he evaded all of her attacks.

-Oh I'm just getting started; she responded after backing him into a corner.

- Me too; he smiled after infusing a pebble with his energy and shooting it towards her.

-Is that all you could come up with? Pathetic; she remarked after avoiding the tiny projectile.

- On the contrary, it's all according to plan; he responded while taking a step back as the pebble got sucked into one of the portals.

 He then melted into the wall just like before and before she could even turn around the pebble riffled through from above. Before she could regain composure, Lime popped out from bellow her feet and punched her continuously. Pushing her back towards the center of the cave. She tried to resist the incoming attacks however Lime was much faster than before and his eyes glowed brightly again.

- I think you've lingered through this realm long enough; he stated just as he delivered his final blow. 

Lime suddenly ran out of breath and felt a piercing pain overwhelimg him. As if his energy levels were being drained right this instant. He was barely standing just as the wench regained composure. 

- If I'm going down... I'm taking you with me she laughed just as she gripped his neck firmly in order to strangle him.

-What did you do!??

-Wouldn't you like to know? It's just as you said, I stayed here ar too long; she smiled just as she pinned him down once again. 

The pain becomes so unbearable that he lets out a scream.

Out of nowhere wakes up terrified in a hospital room, surrounded by nurses and doctors. 

The silence is somewhat eerie but reassuring since he finally woke up.