The Matriarch

Chapter 4 Ability?

“I bet they were all surprised that you actually passed the test! They didn’t think someone of your kind would actually be able to do it, but look at you now,” his father let out a loud and hearty laugh as he kept slapping his back, seemingly happy and proud of what had happened.

It was Chris’s off on that day and he was allowed to leave camp for the time being since power users had that kind of privilege. So he decided to go home and visit his family. When he arrived a luscious feast was already waiting for him, so they ended up having lunch, since he really missed his parents' home cooking, being so far away for the past months.

“I...I don’t think that’s an issue dad,” he tries to laugh it off, feeling a bit awkward about the said subject, knowing what his father was pertaining to.

“Isn’t it? I heard they don’t treat people of the third sex very kindly son, maybe you should act more manly when you’re around them just so you won’t get their attention,” his mother says, a hint of worry was etched all over her face remembering about that thing.

It wasn’t really a secret to the people who knew him, plus he never really thought about it when he enlisted, thinking that it wasn’t really that important at the time seeing as they were at war. So he was suddenly a bit uneasy realizing the gravity of it in the army, especially since her parents were bringing it up.

“Bah, our son’s a power user, he's in a special ranking, I doubt anyone would want to mess with him.” his father quickly waves a hand dismissing the subject.

“Don’t worry mom, I try to act as straight as possible when I’m around the camp,” Chris says, seeing as it was a cause for concern.

He didn’t want to have to worry his parents over such a thing that he could easily avoid just by acting as he was expected to.

“Oh, just be yourself, son, don’t ever be bothered with those people around you, so long as you’re not doing anything wrong. Besides, you’re now a soldier, there ain’t no reason to be any prouder,” his father quickly says, nodding with a proud face.

That somehow brought a smile on Chris’s face, seeing how his father seemed to really appreciate what he did. He was also very happy as he was now able to bring something much more to their family.

“Chris, your phone is ringing,” his mother pointed seeing the flashing light on the device.

Picking up his phone to check, Chris's brows furrowed, a bit confused on suddenly getting a message from one of the officers who were handling him.

“What is it, do they have a special mission for you already?” His father's eyes grew wide, filled with anticipation at the thought of it.

“They’re actually calling us back to camp,” Chris says slowly, still a bit surprised at the sudden order.

“But you just got home,” his mom’s voice was filled with grief as she bit her lip.

His father turns to his mom with a straight and stern face. “Ma! Stop treating him like a little kid, our son’s a soldier now, he has duties to attend to,” the old man said, firmly tapping the table to make his point.

“I’m sorry mom, I’ll make it up to you when I get back, okay,” Chris quickly intervenes before an argument could ensue.

He knew how his parents were with those kinds of things and he didn’t really want to leave knowing that they were having a fight again because of some little thing.

Thankfully his parents quickly shifted their attention towards him. Mainly his mom whose face was now covered with sheer sadness.

“Just be careful when you’re out there okay,” she says, touching his face with the back of her hand.

“I will,” Chris smiled feeling her mother's tender touch.

There wasn’t much to worry about since he didn’t do much training, besides the fact that he was just there to be observed. So he was quite sure about that part.

After a few more bites of her moms, delicious cooking he runs up to his room and quickly gets his backpack which wasn’t really touched since he just got back.

“Son, your ride’s here!” his father called from downstairs.

Chris though once again a bit surprised at how fast the army was, just ran back with his bag on his shoulder.

His mom and dad were already waiting for him at the door to see him out. His father having that proud and triumphant look on his face while his mother had that teary-eyed and longing one.

“Here, I pack you your favorite just in case you get hungry on the way.” His mother had a packed lunch of several snacks.

“Thanks, mom!” Chris gave him a quick kiss on her cheeks before putting the food in his bag.

“I just wish you could have waited for your siblings, they were looking forward to seeing you today, I shouldn’t have let them go to school if I knew this was going to happen.” His mother began sobbing, wiping her face with a handkerchief.

“It’s okay mom, there’s still the next time.” Chris quickly patted her mother's shoulder to calm her down.

Even he was a bit saddened not seeing his siblings but it was no reason to let them miss school.

“Here son, a little something from us.” His father gave him a locket.

Upon opening it, there was a little picture of their whole family, making him smile and tear up at the same time.

“Thanks, dad.” He gave his father a tight hug.

“You be careful out there okay!” his old man says, patting his back all the while trying to hold his own tears.

“Yes,” that was all he could say as he too was feeling the pressure of being away from home again.

After a few more kisses and hugs to his mom, he waves goodbye to them before running to the jeep that was waiting just in front of their gates. His parents remained on their doorstep, still waving goodbye at him.

“Good afternoon sir, please do buckle up!” his driver cheerfully reminded as they were driving away.

Chris quickly turned around recognizing the voice. “Oliver, I didn’t expect you’d come to pick me up,” he chuckled, a bit happy seeing a familiar face.

“Sorry sir, I was the only one available at the moment, since everyone’s busy at the camp,” Oliver laughs along nervously.

That didn’t escape Chris. “Care to fill me in,” he immediately asks, curious as to what was happening.

“There’s been an attack on the city sir,” Oliver says with a grim tone.

“What!” A sudden panic struck him realizing the dire situation that they were in.

“Several dog-like creatures suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started attacking civilians, there were numerous casualties and it took both the police and the army to suppress them,” Oliver continued.

“Why’d they need the army for it?” Chris was now a bit puzzled about the report.

“I’m not entirely sure about it sir, but they say the dog-like creatures had armor on them,” Oliver swallowed hard, ashamed at his lack of clear information.

“Armor, you mean someone used an ability on dogs?” he tried to clarify, a bit curious with the incident.

There wasn’t anything on the news a while ago and he has never heard of anyone using dogs or animals of the sort in an attack before.

“I don’t know, they just said normal guns didn’t seem to work on them,” Oliver answered with the things that he had heard a while ago.

Chris was about to ask another question when all of a sudden he heard whispers all around them. It was like a rhythm, a mix of different almost intertwining sounds, trying to say something.

“Do you hear that?” He quickly looks around, trying to find where the sound was coming from.

As it was now bothering him since they were in the middle of a traffic jam, there was no possible sound that could have made it which bothered him.

“Hear what sir?” Oliver’s face was puzzled, now also turning his head trying to find what he was looking for.

It then dawned on Chris that it was only him who was able to perceive the said noise, seeing that no one seems to be getting bothered by it.

“That! The weird sound, don’t you hear it?” He asks, wanting to confirm what he was thinking when he was finally realizing the possibility that what was happening was a manifestation of his power.

“I-I don’t hear anything, sir,” Oliver’s eyes grew wide now managing to understand what was happening, he had this awkward and excited smile on his face all the while his eyes grew wide.

Before he could even do anything they heard a loud explosion that made the whole earth trembled, followed by panicked screams and people running. They both quickly looked in front of them and there appeared what looked like a dark spherical shape swirling into a black hole.

“Fuck!” was all Chris could say when it suddenly started becoming bigger, dragging and swallowing several cars in front of them.

A shiny light then exploded from inside of it, surprised and still quite shocked, all they could do was to raise their hands on their faces to cover it, trying to avoid being blinded by the light. A strong flash suddenly engulfed all of them, along with a loud tingly sound that blocked out all the noises around them.