"Happy birthday baby," Piper said as she pulled Chris into a hug. He tried to squirm out of her hug. He was fourteen; he was too old for his mom to be hugging like he was still a baby.
"Mom, you're embarrassing me," Chris muttered and he heard his mom chuckle.
"I'm your mother, it's my job," Piper laughed as she stepped away from her son. Wyatt walked over to the youngest and grabbed him around the head. Then a noogie followed the boys.
"I'm going to get you for that," Chris laughed as he squirmed away from his brother's grasp.
"Try it squirt," Wyatt said before sprinting through the house.
"Hey, don't run in the house," Piper called as her son's began to sprint through the house.
"Sorry mom," the boy's yelled in unison but they didn't stop running. They'd just reached the top of the steps when Chris remembered something downstairs.
"Hey, Wyatt, time-out. I need to grab something from downstairs," Chris called and his brother shrugged before leaning against the wall.
"Hurry back squirt," Wyatt called and Chris nodded before he waved. He ran down the stairs, and wound up in a battle field.
His mom was battling five demons on her own.
"Mom," Chris yelled in shock.
His mom turned around, startled and a demon used that exact moment to toss an energy ball at her. Chris screamed as it impacted his mother and sent her flying backwards. Her head hit the ground and he heard a snap. She rolled several times before landing face down in an awkward position.
When the demons saw Piper was dead they turned to Chris, an evil glint in his eyes. All he saw was red, and his mom's still body.
He waved a hand and the demons flew backwards. They slammed through the nearest wall. They were overwhelmed by the fury of his emotions. He yelled as he clenched one of his fists and the demon closest to him gasped, grabbing his chest. He then burst into flames.
The demons glanced at each other before shimmering out.
As soon as he saw the demons leave he ran to his mother's side. Her long brown hair hung over her face.
"Mom," he cried before grabbing her arm. "Mommy?"
He rolled her onto her side and he watched as her head hung to the side in an awkward angle. The tears began to fall as he realized her neck was broken. There was no chance to save her, she was already gone. His heart broke, knowing his dad would blame him, just like he did.
If he hadn't come downstairs, she wouldn't have gotten distracted, the energy ball wouldn't have hit her, she wouldn't have flown across the room, and she'd still be alive. In his mind, it was his fault.
"No," he said in a strangled, quiet voice. He pulled his knees to his chest and his face went into his knees as he sobbed for his mother as she laid motionless near him.
He knew he'd deal later but at the time he needed to mourn. He'd call for his brother. She was already dead, there was nothing his dad or brother could do. So for now, he'd wallow in self-pity.
"Good-bye Mom," he muttered before crying once more……