A Missing Mother

Morning came and Edward awoke to see his mother wasn't home, he didn't think too much of this because of the nature of her job.

Sometimes her clients pay for her overnight services but he did find it strange she didn't tell him beforehand, she always found a way to relay the fact that she would not be home.

Maybe she forgot? Edward was not one to overthink things so he brushed them under the carpet. A banging on his door reminded him of the appointment he had with Michael but he hadn't even gotten dressed yet.

Michael kept banging and it was beginning to irritate Edward so he opened the door to let him in but braced himself for the incoming complaint of his friend.

Michael stared at him and just like Edward expected, the look Michael gave him was one of disgust.

"You fucking stink man!" Michael said, covering his nose to exaggerate the smell prompting Edward to roll his eyes in irritation. Michael was dressed surprisingly nicely, he had on black shorts and a white shirt embedded with a yellow smiling emoji with brown crocs.

It was a simple yet catchy mash-up, but he was more surprised that Michael was putting this much effort in.

"You look good Michael," Edward complimented his friend, but Michael cringed in response.

"Are you coming onto me?" Michael asked and Edward chuckled upon hearing this.

"You fucking wish!" Edward retorted, walking away from Michael with the latter shutting the door behind him, he noticed the house was cleaner than it was the last time he was here and upon noticing this, he removed his crocs before walking to the sitting room.

"Go shower dipshit," Michael said, dumping his weight on the couch in the sitting room.

He noticed his mother wasn't home but unlike Edward, Michael found it strange.

However, it wasn't his place to pry so he let it go, flipping through the stations on the TV.

Edward's home had other stations, not just the free stations but others. Despite his mother's occupation, she was one of the better moms that Michael had known.

"There is nothing ever good here!" Michael complained, but a TV station soon caught his attention. It was a station about the smaller superheroes, the news had always reported about the top heroes but the coverage of the smaller heroes was almost non-existent.

"What the fuck is this shit?" Michael cussed out because not only did they have the lamest of names but their costumes were wack as fuck, it was no wonder the media hid them as if they were dirty laundries.

But it was fascinating nonetheless, seeing people that looked just like them but then it happened, he saw a face that seemingly triggered him. Michael knew this person was familiar, and he felt uneasy.

It was the face of a chubby man in his mid-twenties, he had a distinctive scar across his nose, and Michael correctly guessed he had gotten it in one of the many fights but what was the most fascinating thing about him was his superpower.

"Fear manipulation," Michael muttered under his breath, it was strange that their abilities were displayed for all to see but this made Michael understand why he was so scared at that moment alongside the begging of the person he had killed.

It wasn't because he was scared of the man, but because the man made him scared.

Did this mean this man called X-Factor knew he was there or did the ability affect all that looked at him? If it was the former, then why would he let a witness live when he didn't care who died in his wake, maybe that was because he fed off fear.

"Oi! Michael! Are you spaced out again?" Edward called out, Michael snapped back to the present, and an aching pain around his butt-cheeks soon ensued, the couch was anything but comfortable. Michael got to his feet like an old man, he saw what Edward wore and just stared at him with disappointment.

"What, don't I look good?" Edward asked, but Michael didn't say a word and just burst out laughing, he laughed so hard that he could barely breathe.

Edward stood there awkwardly, watching Michael have his moment but he also started second-guessing what he put on. Edward had initial doubts but he wanted to try this little experiment that was shot down by Michael with ridicule.

"Screw you," Edward said right before returning to his room.

"The internet will love you. #OnlyInOhio!" Michael teased, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Edward had worn a suit, a fucking suit to an eighteen-year-old birthday party like he was her Amish cousin. There was no way Michael was going to let that slide.

Edward soon came out and he dressed like a normal teenager. He had on a white cap, a grey long-sleeved shirt, with a brown loose sport trouser.

Michael gave him the thumb up and Edward kissed his teeth because Michael had teased him earlier but he was also glad that Michael did not allow him to embarrass himself.

This was his first time having this experience and didn't know what to do.

"Okay! Let's go!" Michael exclaimed, flipping the phone out of his pocket to tell Elizabeth that they were ready and it took less than five minutes for a car to arrive.

"Wait!" Edward requested, he took a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.

"What are you writing?" Michael asked, strutting to Edward's side.

Edward was writing a note to his mother and one thing Michael never did was make fun of their relationship as he knew boundaries that shouldn't be crossed.

"I will be out for a bit, I know you worry about me but I promise I will be fine. I love you," The note read, he placed it on the table with a cup placed on the edge so it remained there as both boys left the house. Little did Edward know about the fate that awaited his mother.