Author's Note
Thanks for all the positive response on the last chapter and the whole story in general.
I hope you will like this chapter too.

As always all mistakes are mine
Warning! This chapter may contains triggers. The trigger is written in the end, as to not spoil what happens for others.

CHAPTER 3

"Neal"

The soft,loving voice called out for him and he ran towards it. She was standing in the kitchen, cutting some vegetables when he came running. She turned around and smiled at him. Her soft, chocolate brown curls framed her face and sapphire orbs peered down at him.

The boy threw his arms around her and she let out a surprised giggle.

"Hi baby. Wanna help me set the table?"

He walked over to the old, broken cabinet where they kept their plates and grabbed two of them.

"You need three baby"

She called out and Neal sighed as he grabbed a third one. He placed the plates on the small table before grabbing three glasses and three pairs of silverware.

He was served rice with the same old stew that they always had, not because it was that good but it was cheap. It was important that it was cheap, after all money didn't grow on trees.

She sat down beside him, looking longingly at the front door before she faked a smile and started to eat.

When they were finished she looked at the untouched plate.

"Looks like daddy didn't make it home today either"

She said, her voice quiet and somber. She was like that his mother. Everyday she placed a plate on the table for his father and almost everyday she was disappointed.

She really loved his father, deeply and unconditionally. She waited for him everyday and when he came home, most of the times completely hammered, she greeted him with open arms unlike Neal who ran and hide.

His mother took the beatings and called it a show of love while Neal wasn't brave enough. He hid in various places but his father could always find him, it was like a terrifying game of hide and seek.

His mother once said that she wouldn't be able to live without his father, she wouldn't bare being without him. Neal could never understand why she loved someone who hurt her all the time.

He was standing in front of his parents' bedroom door all of the sudden. It was his fifth birthday and his mommy wasn't making his special birthday pancakes. His stomach was growling as he knocked on the door but he received no answer.

The boy opened the door and saw his mommy sleeping in the bed. She had been sleeping a lot since daddy disappeared. His mommy had been crying saying that daddy wouldn't come back home, he was going to live somewhere else now. Neal hadn't been sad, because it meant that his daddy wouldn't hurt him anymore.

The small boy heaved himself up on the bed and looked down at his mother. She was fast asleep, looking peaceful and beautiful. His mother looked like an angel. Next to her was her orange bottle of pills, the pills that helped mommy sleep. It was empty even though it was full yesterday. Neal frowned before shaking his mommy's shoulder.

"Mommy! It's my birthday, you gotta wake up"

After shaking her several times without receiving an answer the small boy slowly got more desperate. Why didn't she wake up?

Neal abandoned his spot on the bed and ran out the front door. He made his way to the neighbour's door and after a few desperate knocks, the door flew open revealing a pissed off, exhausted woman. Their neighbour Ellen worked night shifts and had probably just gone to bed.

"What do you want,brat?"

She asked, clearly irritated at the young boy that had disturbed her sleep.

"Mommy won't wake up!"

He said and Ellen rushed to the bedroom and his sleeping mother.

Neal didn't feel worried until Ellen crouched down in front of him, looking him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry Neal. Your mommy won't wake up, she's with the angels now"

It was difficult for the woman to find a good way to explain what had happened , but Neal knew what it meant. His grandmother was with the angels, as well as the cat they once had.

When someone was with the angels they were gone forever, never to come back.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and Ellen lifted him up, carrying him out of the room. Just as they reached his own bedroom a noise was heard from his mommy's bedroom. His mommy wasn't with the angels, no she was still with him. He broke free from Ellen's grip and ran towards his mother's room.

There she was, dressed in a light blue nightdress and her fluffy bunny slippers, but her face wasn't hers. No she looked like those horrible monsters Neal once saw on TV, the monsters that ate brains and growled like wild animals. His mother growled before she reached out for him, opening her mouth and exposing a sharp set of teeth.

Neal woke up with a scream, tears escaping his eyes as he looked around in the dark warehouse. His memories had combined with his fears and created a horrible nightmare. He found himself longing for his mother, he missed her comforting hugs and the smell of vanilla that always seemed to follow her. The warehouse suddenly felt so much darker and scarier than ever before. Maybe he should've taken Mozzie up on his offer, even if he was unsure about Mozzie's intention he at least wouldn't be alone.

Neal didn't sleep more that night, it felt like there was a monster in every corner and he swore he heard something growl. As soon as the first ray of lights shone through the dirty windows the boy felt a little silly since the warehouse was empty, not a single monster in sight. Neal left the warehouse, not really wanting to be alone any longer, and headed to the park, hoping to run into Mozzie again.

It had been hard just letting the child leave yesterday, but Mozzie didn't want to scare the kid away by following him or forcing him to come with him. By letting the child decide he hoped to establish a trust between them, even if it was hard for Mozzie,

As he made his way to the park, he found himself hoping to see Neal again. The man was slightly confused by this since normally he wasn't one to befriend strangers in the park, especially not children. Perhaps it was his own childhood that made him sympathize with the boy or maybe it was the child's great mind that had connected with his own. Whatever the reason the man could see Neal as a future protegé, someone to pass on his skills to and perhaps plan his greatest con with one day.

Mozzie stopped as he sighted a small figure sitting on a park bench, shivering and close to sleep. He looked like he'd been here for a long time.

He sat down next to the child who looked up at him in alarm before realizing who it was.

"Mozzie"

He said, his smile bright as the sun and Mozzie had to admit that seeing the kid happy made him feel warm inside.

"How about some breakfast?"

The boy nodded and they walked towards the diner again.

As the evening came Neal had close to mastered the pickpocketing skill after training for what felt like centuries with Mozzie. The man had even taught him how to read some of the words on the diner menu.

Neal was sitting down in the grass, fascinated by a beautiful butterfly circling around them, while Mozzie observed the kid.

"My offer still stands"

Mozzie was not heartless, he couldn't let the child spend another cold night by himself without at least offering a safer, warmer home.

Neal bit his lip while he considered Mozzie's offer. Finally he nodded, accepting to follow Mozzie home. Maybe it was his childish need to be cared for or just the fear of being alone that made him forget his doubts about the man.

As the darkness slowly started to fall over New York the two made their way to Mozzie's apartment, unaware of the man in the shadows that was watching them with a close eye.

TW Suicide