Chapter 3: Silent Promise

As 'Charlotte's' attack came at me from the back the serpent came at me from the front. I could only close my eyes. Awaiting the inevitable, but still a part of me was unwilling for my death but hey, I was just too powerless to do anything about it.

However the pain I was expecting from my back being torn apart or crunching sound of my body being chewed by the serpent never came.

The serpent's large body actually circled around me before using its large body to coil around me as a snake does to protect its egg. 

[Blackhole] in the form of the swirling ball of darkness designed to shred anything in its path collided with the scales of the serpent. An explosion rang out as smoke clouded the serpent's body.

Charlotte who was in the air held a bewildered expression on her face as she stared intently at the cloud of smoke for a moment. She never expected things to turn out the way they were right now.

Just where did the massive creature come from? 

However, she didn't have the time to think at all.

The next instant, the tail of the serpent whipped across the air appearing before her at an astonishing speed. 

Before she knew it her body was slapped away by the oversized tail, her body shooting away like a javelin before landing somewhere among the trees.

The smoke cleared, revealing a perfectly fine serpent. Not a single scratch on its body. The serpent then turned to look at me with its green eyes.

"Guess you won't eat me huh?" my consciousness was slipping as I felt my body topple to the side only for it to be caught by soft and smooth arms. I looked up and through my fading vision I thought I saw a familiar pair of emerald green eyes looking at me with a concerned look.

"You can rest now" a soft voice entered my ears before I blacked out.

…

My eyes abruptly opened as my body shot upwards. A light gasp escaping my lips as sweat matted my face.

I looked around for a moment before I finally realized where I was.

I was in my room, in my bed and my body was completely fine. No broken arm, broken ribs and definitely no messed up insides.

"Was that a dream?" I muttered out loud before shaking my head in denial. There was no way that was true. It all felt too real to be a dream. I felt the fear as I faced Charlotte's attacks. I definitely felt even more fear when the serpent appeared before me. I felt all the pain of my body being sent flying.

Wait Charlotte! Would I have to meet her again?

That thought alone gave me the chills. 

But first things first.

My stomach growled.

  I got out of bed, feeling my bare feet touch the floorboards. I took a step forward and I felt myself slightly stumble. It seemed as though my legs were still slightly weak. After regaining my bearings I headed out my bedroom door as stealthily as I could.

My mother was bound to be asleep so I didn't want to wake her up. She would need the sleep for her two jobs tomorrow and me waking her up didn't sit right.

My mother and I lived in a small two bedroom apartment with one bathroom. The living room space was fused with the kitchen, but regardless of the fact that we lived in this small place, it was still home and I knew that my mom was trying her best to make a living.

It wasn't easy being a single parent, especially as a single mother. Well there you have it, my father bailed out on mom when he found out she was pregnant. I don't particularly know anything about him other than the fact that my mom calls him a rich a prick.

I made my way through the tiny corridor on my tip toes, the floor boards of the apartment slightly groaning at my weight. 

I arrived before our medium sized fridge. After going through its contents, I found some slices of frozen pizza and took some orange juice. 

Minutes later, I was at the table having my 'dinner' and I have to say it tasted good. Really good, as though I haven't eaten in a really long time.

I was completely zoned in to my food that I didn't even notice any one standing at the door, looking at me. 

"Eh hem!"

A voice startled me. I looked up to find an elderly woman in a white night dress looking at me with a worried expression on her face. 

She was a woman I her mid-thirties with black long hair, black skin that complemented her looks. Brown eyes that seemed to hold the weight of the world as well as a loving gaze as she looked at me.

This woman was my one and only beautiful mother. Rose Coleman.

She was the strongest person that I knew. The most kindhearted person that I knew. The hardest worker that I ever knew. The most loving mother that I ever knew and the most beautiful woman in my eyes.

Honestly the thought that someone would actually leave my mother like that-my father to be precise, then yeah they were a prick.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked slightly embarrassed.

"Long enough to see you eat all the pizza" my mom replied with a light smile. Her words actually had me confused. What did she mean all the pizza? I was pretty sure I had only taken a few slices…

Looking down I was shocked to actually see that instead of having a few slices in a plate like I imagined, instead right before me was the entire pizza box with a really, really small piece remaining.

"Oh" was all that could come out of my mouth causing my mom to laugh lightly. 

At this point I finally realized that she wasn't sleeping in bed like she was supposed to.

"Did I wake you?" I asked in a low voice. As I looked at her in the eyes.

She didn't say anything. She didn't have to because I already knew the answer to that.

"I'm sorry" I said

…

My mom smiled as she felt warm sensation in her heart. This son of hers really cared too much for her. She usually worked two part jobs everyday so that they could survive in this town. 

In the morning she would work at a coffee shop till noon, then she'd work at a restaurant till the sun went down. So she would usually be exhausted. She often tried to hide it but of course Huey would always be able to see through her.

Often he would tell her to rest up while he did all the cooking and cleaning. Sometimes he would even give her shoulder massage.

However today, he had fallen asleep in his room and Rose didn't have the heart to wake him up so she let him sleep, deciding to order some pizza for dinner just once won't hurt.

Honestly they were both doing their best and working their hardest to make sure that they lived a comfortable life.

…

"How was work today?" I asked while proceeding to finish the piece of pizza left. I didn't notice the expression my mom made as she lost some of her composure but she quickly regained it. After all how could she tell her son that she was having trouble lately.

Leave the adult problems to the adults

"It was tiresome as usual" she pretended to smile. "What about you…how was school?"

This time it was my turn to lose my composure. I wanted to tell her what happened to me or at least thought had happened to me but I didn't want to burden her. We are already having enough problems as it is and adding more won't help at all.

Mom seemed to notice this and immediately concern flashed in her eyes as she sat on the other chair across from me. She reached out for my hand, taking in into her small, warm and soft ones. I could immediately feel the callouses in them.

"Huey I know we haven't been living the best and I also know that we are having a lot of problems as if it but…" she said in a low counselling voice. "…you don't need to hide anything from me okay?"

Her words almost had me blurt out immediately but I held it in and simply nodded.

"Don't ever feel ashamed to tell me anything okay" she rubbed her thumb over my hand. 

A warm feeling welled up in my chest as I saw her loving gaze.

"Its okay mom. There's nothing to worry about" I said reassuringly. "I'm just tired"

My mom yawned at this point before letting go of my hands.

"Okay clean up and go to bed alright. You have school tomorrow" she had gone back to her full mom mood.

"Aye aye captain" I said and imitated a salute.

She chuckled lightly before shaking her head. 

"Good night" she said as she turned away, heading back to her room. I sat silently at the table as I heard her door shut.

Mom truly is the best, she deserves the best. I thought to myself. 

"Mom I promise to give you the best life someday. Where you won't even need to work for anything ever again" I promised under my breath as I stood from the table and began clearing it up. 

It didn't take long before I was back in my room, in my bed.

The silent promise that I made still at the surface of my mind.