Grab a janitor for directions. Got a free bath of garbage stash in return.

LANCE

"Eklektos?" I gasped. He knew it too? No way…

"How did you –"

"Woah! Such an honor, such power, such overflowing blessing! Thank the Almighty Deities I found you right away!" He jumped on his feet and grabbed both of my hands. Shaking it up and down. To the point it almost fell off my shoulders.

Who is this sicko?

"With me, you don't need to worry about a thing. At all! I shall protect you! I swear on the honor of Rankers!"

I shoved his hands away and marched inside the gate. Is he a student here? Or an escapee from a retard center?

I quickened my pace to head to the Main building, to where the Counselor's office is. I remember Ms. Greythorn said something about my class schedule to be picked up from a staff named Dorris. I don't know what she looks like but I can ask around.

Provided bullies won't find and picked on me first.

"Eklektos, wait!" I froze. Don't tell me this dude is planning to follow me to class? Oh, crap.

I waded through the thick pile of students loitering in the yard. I even get lucky to manage grabbing one in the neck to ask for directions.

"Hey, where's the Main building here?"

I was too stupid to notice it was the the janitor's collar I grabbed while he's crouching down, sorting out the trash. When I lurched him towards me, the plastic bag full of rotten canteen meals in his hand spilled...

Not on him.

But on me.

Did I ever tell you I hate smelly things? My nose is oversensitive to scent I sometimes black out whenever I whiff rotten skunk. Well, that is this moment. And just when I think the incident yesterday with Ms. Greythorn and the cornfields couldn't be more lame. I can have another round of self shaming episode in front of everyone. Hurray for Lance.

"I'm so sorry are you alright boy? Boy?!"

The janitor's pudgy bearded face blurred. That's the cue for the black out everything went dark thingy. Thanks a bunch.

***

In my dream, I saw my Mom. I was standing in what seems like a baby's room. Complete collection of fluffy bears in different sizes and color, with stars lit in neon lights above. There's a white crib with small animal toys hang by yarns.

I know Dad only show me pictures of her. Their pictures together. Then me and Dad.

Our own family picture...was never captured by the camera lens in the end. Not even when the two months old me was still in her arms.

"Sshhh, Lance baby. It's time to sleep."

Hearing her voice for the first time scrunched up my insides. Just my name coming out of her lips made my chest ache.

I always wonder what it's like to have a Mom. Who will greet you when you arrive from school. Who will rain you with kisses and hugs at morning, not bruises and scars. Who will cook you meals three times a day, showing that bright smile behind the apron and loose ponytails. Who will scold you for coming home late, at the same time cry silently for worrying her head where you've been.

I always see Moms do it to their children. Even when they grew up the same age as me. I sometimes hear them complain, while I find myself wishing I'm on their feet.

I would give anything to see my Mom again. To snuck her away from death and give her back to Dad.

Then I could have a chance to hear Dad laugh and smile genuinely everyday, not drowning himself in beers and talk about Alien Assasins every night.

"You wish to see her?" A voice so cold, it creeps my cheek. Even in dreams.

I twirled clockwise, trying to locate the owner, only to find him crouching beside the crib.

He's wearing a hood. I can't see his eyes nor nose. His lips shone down by the lamp with horse figures twirling. Its eerily purplish in color, when he grin, his teeth are pure oily black.

A low whimper came out of my throat. He's not human. At his folded knees I can see his hands, with sharp black nails, and veins in bright greenish color. Too visible out from his translucent skin.

He slowly stoods up when Mom put me down on the crib. His grinned never disappeared.

"Oooh," he cooed. "What a sweet Mom. I can tell she loves you. All Mothers do. Which makes it so entertaining when you slowly kill the son in front of her eyes."

"NOO!" I screamed at Mom and dashed to get her out of the way. But I flung through the wall. I by pass her. I can't touch her.

The humanoid creature take a step back and chuckled. When I scream no, someone's voice joined.

Mom. She...she can now see him. And she wrapped me tight in her arms. While trying to fled out of the room. But the door slammed shut and she's cornered.

"Give me your son, woman." he ordered. Mom shakes her head and almost tripped on her foot as she back away.

"No. Who are you? What are you?! Why are you coming after us?!"

"There's no 'us' in this situation mortal. I only want your son. Give.him.to.me. " he hissed.

I get up on my feet and tried to ran at her side. But with a flick of his wrist, he bind me in a white thorny rope that stabs my skin in every part it sticks to.

"Mom, run!" I squirm, I crawled like a worm, all for desperately trying to protect her. With another flick, the white rope whirred. Amd the next thing I'm cringeing, and convulsing as electric current traveled down my body. Paralyzing me. Electric shocking my heart.

"What do you want with my Mom?!"

"What do you want with my son?!"

I desperately looked at her. She can't see me. She can't hear me. I'm in a dream. I'm in the past.

I know that.

But maybe there's a small chance I can save her. This humanoid in black robes can talk to me. He can see me.

He can hurt me. Which means I can talk to her too if I found the right way.

"That son of yours is cursed." He slowly said, letting the words roll out of his tongue.

She vigorously shakes her head.

"I let you see dreams of what he's capable of. Of the lethal power stirring at his veins. What proof do you need to see for you to believe my words?!" his low voice turn into snarl.

"No...I won't let you have him. Not my son...No never. I won't give him to monsters who will take advantage of this.... curse. I will find a way. I will take it away. Just you wait."

My Mom's puffy eyes, her wild darting eyeballs. Her nervous voice which lowers everytime she speaks of something she's not sure she's capable of... As if she's convincing herself sh can do it...

It reminds me of someone.

My dad...

"Aliens are real. They're coming for us. For my son. They'll take him away. No way...I won't let you monster!"

At that moment I froze. She's saying the same words my Dad tells me every night he drinks.

'Aliens are real. They're coming for us. For you. They'll take you away. To kill. I can't let that happen.'

The humanoid creature creak his head in my direction. With a nasty jerk of his neck he crane his head at me. Bending in 270 degrees while his body stand straight.

"Be a good boy and watch your Mother falls into insanity."