Chapter 4

Hey guys, sorry about not updating. I have been doing a lot of traveling lately and having a lot of homework due at certain dates so I haven't been able to get on here and update this story. I have a lot of people looking at my story, but no reviews. I'm saddened by that because I don't know what people think about my story, so if some of you could review that would be great! Thanks guys!

I raced to my mom, she was still in the kitchen, making Trash Tan his chili. I ran up to her and tugged on her pant leg. She stopped what she was doing, which was stirring the mix in the pot. She looked down and saw me. Apparently I was freaking out because she kneeled down next to me and hugged me tightly. "What's the matter sunshine?" she asked. I was so shocked I couldn't speak, I was gaping like a fish out of water. My mouth opening and closing. Finally, she gave me a cup of water.

When I got myself to together again, and could speak. I told her, "Mom, there was a giant black dog outside!"

"Well, of course there are dogs outside. They are strays that left their home. Why is this new to you? You've seen them before." she asked.

"No mom, this dog was huge! Like the size of a car!" I said frantically.

That's when I noticed a change in my mom's behavior. She went from smiling and joyful, to serious and scared. She looked around, as if the shadow's were going to consume her. She grabbed my hand and we quickly walked to the door.

"Where are you going? Did I say you could leave?" Trash tan asked my mom.

I was going to throttle this guy, when I'm bigger and stronger. But until then, I'm going to wait.

"I'm just going to get some more meat and beans for your chili, dear." my mom replied.

I looked at my mom like she was crazy, I was not going to get this guy his meat and beans for his stupid chili. I was angry with my mom at that moment. She shouldn't have to put up with him.

"No, you and the boy can't go. I forbid you to go." Trash Tan said.

My mom hesitated, then she opened the door and we bolted out of the apartment. My mom was running so fast, it felt like she was pulling me like a kite. I felt that I wasn't touching the ground. She went down the stairs, taking two or three at a time. I was half scared and half thrilled. It was like an adrenaline rush, coursing through my veins.

We hit the bottom step and ran through the front double doors. We raced down the street, weaving in between people trying to get away from our apartment like our lives depended on it. Then I heard something I never wanted to hear. I heard Trash Tan and his buddies chasing after us. I turned back around to run faster and saw my mom's face in the moonlight that was peaking out from the clouds.

Then the clouds covered the moon again, and my hope of being free from Tanner vanished. He was gaining on us. We then planted our feet and split off into a gathering of trees that were thick and hard to maneuver through. We bolted in and weaved in between trees and bushes, hoping they would cover our tracks well. Then I felt something wet on my face. I thought it was sweat at first. Then I felt more drops, coming more often and more continuous. I realized it was rain.

Then I saw the first strike of lightning. It made my hair stand on end, bringing the smell of ozone into the air. Then I heard the crack of thunder not a half second later. I flew back a few feet from the force of the lightning and thunder. My mom came back and made sure I was alright. But I didn't hear what she was saying. My ears were ringing, and my vision was blurry. I tried blinking, but it did no good.

She started to pick me up and carry me, but it had slowed us down drastically. Then I heard something that chilled me to the bone. I heard a howl. This wasn't just any howl of a dog, this was the howl of a very dangerous animal or monster, or something that just wants to eat some human. It was so frightening I almost stopped dead in my tracks, but my mom kept pulling me along.

Finally we got to a clearing of the forest. It was about 50 feet in diameter, I know I'm too young to know that, but my mom made me learn math very early. So I can calculate an angle to shoot or throw something.

We stopped in the middle of the clearing. Rain coming down heavily, but still light enough that we can see easily through it. About seven seconds later Trash Tan and his lackeys burst into the clearing, stopping when they saw we had stopped. Trash Tan had three buddies with him like usual. When they all stopped and saw we were just in the clearing, they started to smirk and looked very proud of themselves to find us so quickly. I was angry with their faces. I was going to pummel them later on.

"Well, well, well, look who didn't get very far. 'I'm going to get you some more meat and beans for your chili.' My ass-You disgraceful little whore. I knew better than to trust you." Trash Tan said to my mom. My hands were clenched so tight, my knuckles were white. I was so angry, it seemed like I was growling. But I wasn't growling, something bigger, more ancient was growling, waiting to devour something tasty. I scanned the trees, and just to the left of Tanner, there was a pair of eyes that seemed to float in the air. But these weren't like regular eyes. They were red like lava, coming out of a volcano.

"Get behind me Duke." my mom said. I looked at her shocked, she never used my real name, she usually called me Sunshine. She was either mad with me, or scared. I was thinking it is the latter. When I didn't move, she said in a more stern way. "Duke Martin Umbra, get behind me now." That's when I actually got behind her, even though there was a guy behind us.

My fear rising in my stomach then my throat. I was too scared to talk or say anything. The rain coming down more softly and slowly almost like time was slowing down, or my adrenaline was pumping so much it seemed like it was. At that moment, the man on our left charged us. My mom whipped out a knife I didn't know she had. It wasn't anything extraordinary, just a regular kitchen knife. But she handled it like a master.

The man came out and my mom brought the knife out and slashed at the man, with an icepick grip. It was so fast I didn't know what happened until the man screamed in pain. There was a thin line of blood that was trailing down the mans arm. Then the blood started to flow faster and thicker. The man gripped the spot on his arm with his free hand and backed quickly away from us.

The triumphant smirk that was on Trash Tan's face was quickly wiped away. I looked in his eyes for a few seconds. I noticed something I had never seen in his eyes. There was fear in his eyes. His weakling of a wife, was dangerous with a knife. He motioned for the man on the right to attack us. The man did not seem excited to come after us when he saw how quickly mom made use with the knife. He hesitated, then the man behind us charged us. This guy was smarter than the other guy. He brought his own switchblade to the fight. My mom turned just in time and brought her knife at the right angle to stop the strike that was in a hammer grip compared to her icepick grip.

They were stuck for a few seconds, then my mom brought her left foot into a low, swift kick to the side of the mans right knee. He dropped, but kept his eyes on mom. She looked dangerous, angry, calm, and murderous all at the same time. It was scary, but awesome. The other guy had started to run toward us, but my mom turned around and threw something at the man. She didn't waste time in turning toward the man kneeling on the ground again, to make sure she wasn't surprised.

I looked at the man that was running to us. He had stopped and fell on his back, hard. I looked and there was another knife sticking out of the mans chest, near the shoulder. I knew he wasn't going to die, it wasn't close to the heart or any vital organs or blood vessels. He was just going to be in a lot of pain. My mom was facing the other man, he had his blade out in front of him, warily watching my mom. My mom was in a defensive position, being vigilant of her surroundings. I was so impressed with mom, I almost was caught by Tanner.

The hair on my neck stood straight up, I instinctively rolled forward and landed on my feet and turned around. I was facing Trash Tan now. My mom was still facing off with the other man. I wanted to call out to her, but I knew I would only distract her and she would be taken out. Either knocked out or killed, or she might just be disarmed and choked until she gave up. No, I had to face him by myself. It was past time for me not to stand up to Tanner.

I picked up the nearest thing that could fit in my hand. I just happened to roll by the guy that was dropped by the knife my mom threw at him. I yanked the knife out of his arm, and he gave a moan of pain, then he stopped and I glanced at him. He was knocked out cold, unconscious from the pain.

Now it was just Tanner and me. My mom was standing over the man she was fighting. He was bleeding from multiple cuts and had some bruises here and there. He was in the fetal position, holding his family jewels. I flinched slightly inside, I've experience that by accident. It did not feel good.

Tanner came at me with his fists, I sidestepped and slashed the knife in front of me. I heard a yelp of pain. It had come from Tanner, there was a thin line of blood on his leg. He clutched it tightly, then turned on me. He looked murderous, more murderous than my mom was. I was scared beyond belief now. My hand started to shake uncontrollably, my legs shaking as well, so much I could almost not stand. He came at me again. He brought his fists down, I rolled between his legs and, blindly, threw the knife at him. I heard a slight thud and groan of pain. Then the sound of a body hitting the ground.

I turned around and there was Tanner on the ground with the knife in his back, in his right shoulder. I knew I didn't kill him, but I felt a little guilty to stab him. I then remembered what all he did to me. All the beatings, and attempted rapes. I hated him so much, he had caused me so much pain and suffering. I wanted him to be on the receiving end of his torture, something I will make sure I oversee it. I went over to his limp body and started to kick his chest, ribs, legs, and once in the head. I heard his ribs crack for sure. I think the rest were going to be nasty bruises. I didn't care about the punishment later, I was satisfied with his beating that I had provided.

I was smirking and probably had a look of a mad man, or mad child in this case. My mom came over and wrapped her arms around me, and told me she loved me. I slowly melted into her loving embrace and cried a soft cry, to let her know I was still a little boy and still needed her.

At that perfect moment, something just had to ruin it. At the peaceful moment, and ear-shattering howl rippled through the forest.

I'm trying to leave you guys with something to look forward to, but I don't know what you are thinking so if you could review that would be great! Later!