Mommy
Wrath woke suddenly and shot upright in his bed.
His hands were squeezing the blankets and his heart hammered in his chest.
A cold sweat was smothered on his forehead.
He pulled his knees into a tight hug as tears began to weld on the edges of his big, purple-blue eyes.
He had seen it!
That blasted Gate!
He was there even though he was promised he never would again. T
hat cold darkness, the endless void between this world and who knows what.
And those eyes, hundreds upon thousands of eyes staring at him.
He could feel their penetrating stare even now in the safety of his room.
I'm scared!
He jumped form his bed and hastily opened the door.
His bare feet pounded on the wooden floors as he raced down the hall, not caring if he woke the rest of the family up.
He needed comfort, the safety of knowing he was alright, and that nothing could hurt him.
He needed her to tell him that. To hold him and make him feels protected in her slender arms.
Wrath opened the door to Sloth's room.
It was dark, but he could make out the outline of his foster mother sleeping soundly.
He inched closer to her and stood by her bedside, watching.
She was hugging her pillow and her brunette hair cascaded behind her head, the single bang tucked behind her curved ear.
She was wearing a nightgown the color of snow, a drastic change from her usual attire of a purple, spaghetti-strapped dress.
Her purple lipstick was no longer applied, revealing their natural shade of a deep rosy red.
Wrath tentatively reached out with one finger and poked her bare arm, half-hoping to wake her.
"Mommy," the boy whispered, poking her again.
Sloth grimaced and shifted in her sleep, but did not wake.
Wrath gently touched her shoulder and shook it lightly. "Mommy."
He took a step back when she woke, raising herself on her elbows.
Her purple eyes were half-closed and she looked like she was just disturbed from a peaceful sleep.
Wrath suddenly felt bad he woke her up.
"What's wrong, baby-doll?" she asked in a whisper.
She rested her chin on the palm of her hand.
Wrath suddenly felt tears come to his eyes as he remembered the Gate.
"Can I sleep with you?" he asked. "I'm scared."
Sloth smiled and moved over a bit, raising the covers above her.
Wrath climbed in bed next to her, inching as close to Sloth's chest as possible.
She laid the covers over him and out her hands around him.
Settling her head next to his, she sleepily asked, "Why're you sacred?
Wrath closed his eyes and tucked his arms under his head. "I saw it," he whispered fearfully.
He snuggled next to her, burying his face into her chest. "It was coming to get me."
"That Gate?" Sloth asked quietly.
Wrath whimpered against her and cried into the fabric of her nightgown.
Sloth warmly smiled and stroked his long, dark hair, placing a lock behind his ear. "Shhhhhh. It was just a bad dream."She tenderly kissed her spot his forehead. "You're safe now. You're not going beyond the Gate anymore."
Wrath settled down and nuzzled his mother, the last of his tears washing away. "You promise?"
Sloth rested her cheek on the soft, rugged curtain that was his hair. "I promise," she vowed as they both settled down for the rest of the night.