Alone

---------Corneria City---------

Ten year old James McCloud was walking along the sidewalks of Corneria, carrying a bag of groceries he just bought. Since his mother was ill, he had to be the man of the house. His dad had died from a freak accident caused by some mad scientist named Andross. This man was responsible for most of the deaths in this city. Now he was on the run, and nobody's been able to catch him. Whenever James had to go outside, he always looked out for this guy. He was scared to death of him, thinking this man might kill him the same way as his dad. But he had to help his mother.

He was stepping onto the driveway when he saw it. The house was on fire! Firetrucks drove in and firemen started hosing water into the flames. He looked in horror, realizing his mom was nowhere in sight. She's still in there... He ran into the burning building, ignoring the firemen's shouts and the blinding smoke. He needed to save her! He looked around, shutting his eyes from the fire and smoke everywhere. He couldn't believe that this place he lived in for ten years was burning to the ground. He looked in the kitchen, which was where he found the source of the fire. The oven had been left on. His mom was nowhere to be seen. He ran upstairs, tripping on the last step. He picked himself back up again, rubbing his nose, and started looking in rooms that weren't on fire.

"MOM!" he shouted. No answer. "WHERE ARE YOU?" Drenched with sweat and coughing, he kept looking around desperately. Just when he was about to give up...

"Help..."

The voice was weak. Please be okay. "Mom?"

"...in here...

James ran into the bedroom, the bed and curtains on fire. Sure enough, there was his mother. Her brown hair was badly burned, with some skin showing. He ran to her, kneeling down and crying. He hoped to God she wouldn't die. It was bad enough losing his dad. Now his mom? This can't be happening.

"Mom...You'll be alright..." his voice managed to cough out. The heat was relenting and he was feeling lightheaded.

"Honey..." He looked into her eyes, his vision fading to black.

---------Outside---------

James woke up, lying down on the concret. His head was hurting. Coughing, he got up. The house was reduced to a heaping pile of black rubble. A fireman came to help him. He gave him a cup of water.

"Kid, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay...where's my mom?"

The fireman looked at him with sad eyes. He pointed to her, lying on the ground. "Oh no..."

James ran to her, with the cup of water the fireman gave him.

"Mom?"

"There you are..." Her voice was silent. James had to lean close to her just to hear her. But it was a sweet voice. Her eyes started to tear up.

"Mom? What is it?"

"Son...I want you to..."

"Huh? To what?"

"...run away."

James looked confused. "What? Why?"

She just stared at him, eyes watery.

"No..."

She went limp, drool running down her chin. James looked at her one final time and ran, dropping his cup.

"Hey, kid! Wait!" The firemen called after him, but James didn't stop. He kept running, just like his mom told him to.

The medic checked on his mother.

"How is she?" the fireman asked.

The medic was silent, shaking his head.

"My God..." He looked at the spilled cup.

---------A Dark Alleyway---------

Nighttime. James was sitting there out in the cold, crying. He's never going to see her again. He hated being alone, and this was just killing him. Rain started pouring, causing him to get up, and start walking somewhere else. He saw a foster home, and some open windows. It looked cozy. This was the only foster home in town. Maybe he should go in...

Then he heard crying. A kid was running away. He could see it all from the open window. The kid was crying. Then there was a teacher, dragging him away. He could hear the kid yelling in pain, and the teacher laughing. James was horrified. He had no idea they could treat kids like this. That's why his mother told him to leave. They would've stuck him in that foster home if he stayed put...

Thanks, mom...

To be continued...