Wolfpire Upgrade System

Home was home

"Must I always have stalkers on me?" Sunny wondered. Even though he heard no footsteps or any other sounds from anything animate, he was so sure that he was being followed. But who was it, and what does anyone want from him this time?

He stopped for a brief moment before continuing to walk down the lonely alleyway. He did not know how possible it was, but he was so sure that whatever was following him was continuously drawing nearer. He turned sharply to at least catch a glimpse of what it was before it ducked or hid, but just like earlier, behind him was an empty alleyway so silent, just as it had always been.

"What the hell, you cowardly piece of shit. If you really want to get something from me, why don't you do it in an open confrontation? Why do you prefer to hide behind me and continue coming closer whenever I turn my back? Don't you think attacking me from behind is too brazen?" He screamed but got no response asides the echo of his voice which kept bouncing back to him.

After waiting a while and still getting no reply, he continued to go towards his destination now very vigilant in case he was attacked by anything. But contrary to his expectations, he observed nothing more. "Was I really imagining things?" He whispered to himself and turned back once more to inspect the sight behind him.

Just as calm as ever, the crooked, silent, and old-looking alleyway which he had to pass through anytime he was on his way from Townside always looked like a good hideout for hideous creatures if they really existed. But despite its quite scary outlook, it brought only the feeling and scent of home to Sunny's nostrils, even when he treaded its path at night. It reminded him of how delicious his mother's last dish was and how he longed for another mouth-watering dish of hers. Home was home for its gentleness and tenderness. Home was home for its warmth, tricks, and magic. Home was home for many fine reasons, but worst of all, home was home for all the bullies it contained which he had to avoid on his way to the very place which smelt most like home to him and from which to him sent ripples of the feeling of home to every other part of his locality.

With a dull thud, he collided with a somewhat soft and warm object and turned sharply to his front. Alas, before him stood whom he dreaded all along. Even without looking up to the face of whom he collided with, the size and the sweaty smell made it clear to him that he just ran into Rover, the ruthless meat bag.

"How did he discover I have been taking this route to avoid him?" he thought, now searching his thoughts for a good explanation he could give immediately. Sunny began to speak words which himself found meaningless and funny, but Rover said nothing. Sunny was curious but standing so close to Rover, he was too scared to either move backwards, to flee or to look up.

"Sho-shou.. Am I expected to pay you now?" He stammered and drawled, knowing that there was no two ways about it. He would only pay Rover before he lets him pass without a good beating, but still, Rover did not say a word to him. Taking his silence as approval, Sunny dipped his hand into his pocket to remove more money than Rover had ever demanded, so that he as he did, he felt several drops of water drop to the back of his neck, making him look up to the sky while trying his best to avoid any eye contact with Rover.

The sun was blazing and smashing down heavily on anyone who dared to stay beneath it. Not even the clouds dared to obstruct its path and even off it's path could only reflect to the maximum the sun's brightness and were as light as ever. None was heavy or a little dark. The sun was no less a bully than Rover was.

Anyways, whatever it was that caused whatever to drop on him was the least of his worries at that moment. The most disturbing of his worries was the bully whom he had mistakenly bumped into. He needed to be in his best of moods throughout today and especially when he would break the good news he of his admission into the military academy to his mother.

His hand which he had stretched out for quite a long while was already feeling heavy but his Rover was yet to take the notes from him. It was only at this time he summoned the courage to look at his face and on looking his face was distorted a little and he did not know what his next line of action should be he lacked any ideas on how he should react to what he saw.

"What makes the ruthless cry?" He thought. Of course he didn't have the courage to voice his thoughts out.

"I never thought that they could do that to her." He finally spoke up.

Rover was well reputed as a child of the streets so these words of his confused Sunny. There were at least a dozen of girls which they had a mutual knowledge of and there were also countless other people both males and females which could do things to them no matter what sort of thing it was. "Who was the one who could really make the ruthless cry?"

"D-d-did anyone do anything to Kloe?" Sunny though it didn't make sense to him tried to act nice. Kloe was the only sister of Rover who because of Rover's bad reputation no one of their age range and even older dared to go up against; there was no one who would love to be faced against Rover's strength or tricks.

"They went to your house... your mom... she is is dying...." He could go no further than this. He was already choked by his own words but Sunny didn't need him to say more he didn't know exactly what he meant but he did not mince words when he made him understand the 'her' was his mom and he was so sure he heard him say something about dying. 

Now, even if the whole world were to stand against him, obstructing him, no one could stop him.

He swept past Rover like air in motion and even before Rover could turn, he was no longer in sight not only because he was so fast but because he had discovered a thousand and one rough short routes to his home while trying to avoid all those who preyed on him including and especially Rover. Rover could only chase after him taking the route he knew being so sure that he would arrive at Sunny's home much later.

****

"Mom!" Sunny screamed and pushed the door open so forcefully. From where he stood, he scanned everywhere and everything to check if anything was amiss but everything was just fine. Everything proved that his mother went on her normal cleaning routines while he was away at school. 

Though neatly arranged, the poorly furnished apartment they shared reflected evidently how unwealthy they were however the little they had was so finely and aesthetically kept making it look like fewer and worn property was more decorative when compared to a much more furnished room; A very good home management by a good home manager.

"Mom!" Now Sunny was more audible and more panicked than earlier. There should be nothing keeping his mother from replying his calls especially when she was obviously in the house.

She was nowhere to be found. Not in the sitting rooms, bedrooms or restroom. "Where then was she?" He was visibly shaken and feared for the worst and right in the balcony he found the worst.

His mother lay there in the pool of her own blood! 

He rushed to her. Shivering so much. Even his breath was unsteady.

"Mom." He called. This time he had lost the zeal to be audible. The only thing that left his mouth was a very light whisper but at least just as he wished it worked a little wonder. She opened her eyes weakly and slowly her stiffened cheeks bulged up a bit as she tried her best to let out a smile.

She tried to reach for his soft cheeks as she usually did but failed she only stopped her hand from falling back to the ground by gripping his hand.

"I would have died with regrets if I didn't kiss you goodbye, My boy." Her voice was barely audible but it seemed like the loudest thing Sunny had heard that day. Even the congratulatory handshake he received from the army commander who had asked him to go home and prepare for his travel the next day sounded less audible.

"What do I do?" He asked collecting himself together.

"Did you get recruited?" His mother asked. Her face twitching in pain as she spoke.

"Y.e..s." This reply only made him feel empty. It had been his greatest desire of all times so there was no way his mother could have forgotten even while she died away and even his affirmation brought smiles to her face. "How do I save you?" He made himself more explicit this time. At that moment this was his greatest desire.

"Tell Milady it was my pleasure serving her and watching you grow into a fine young man."

"Milady? Who is she?" He got ready to spring up to his feet not daring to question her reply even though he found it very weird. For all he cared, he thought it could save her.

"When you meet your Mom, tell her I tried my best serving her. She's Milady. Finally I am sorry for keeping everything from you." 

Everything was clearer to him and it pained him she was telling him that she wasn't his real mother which didn't matter at the moment instead of suggesting possible ways to save her. He didn't care who his real mom could be he only wanted to save her, the only mom he knew.

"Who did this to you?" he asked now enraged knowing that the dying woman had already submitted to what fate had for her.

"Don't hate them. I made you your favourite lunch don't forget to eat before it gets cold" She was replied with the greatest difficulty. Expending all the life she had left in her. Now what really made home home for him was gone forever never to be recovered.

"Mama..!" He cried but there was no one to reply to his informal way of teasing the woman he grew to love most.

Not minding the fresh blood splattered all over the ground and that still all over her stab wounds, he hugged her so tight and shed tears like never before ruminating on all that they had shared together. It was still incredible that she was no more. Gone with her care and listening ear, her patience, big heart and a million more reasons why he couldn't stop loving her. The only thing left for him was her smile which didn't entirely disappear from her face. This too would fade away anytime she's buried.

"Mama....!" He found himself calling with his pained voice once again.

It was no news to him that the world hated them because they thought she different if he didn't they would eventually kill her for it leaving him no one to live for.

"Since that was the case then there was no reason to live again." He realized and looked outside from the balcony. "Falling from the seventh floor straight into the floor was certainly a sure way to reunite with her with ease." 

Without much contemplation, he soon found himself standing at the edge of the balcony watching the view of home, the little town which many sought refuge within.

Rover who had arrived at his house was too shocked at what he saw: Sunny ready to leap down the balcony. He found it hard to believe he was about to watch another person he knew so well die in a gruesome manner. He was still searching for his tongue when Sunny leapt off the balcony ready to embrace his own death.