Monster of A Mother

Amora crept into the forest, following the blood trail, however the blood trail eventually stopped, and she couldn't follow the footsteps after the rain had begun, which stopped her from seeing which direction he may have gone. She held back tears, knowing his fate may have been one of pain and death, and that he too may be gone.

She did not know, however, that it was her fault.

She fell to her knees and held her children close. Footsteps came from behind her, and she stood and quickly turned around to face them. Standing in front of her was a man wearing a mask, but not just any man, a man made out of smoke and small particles of darkness.

"He sent you... didn't he?"

"I reside in these woods, I am not here on anyone's behalf. Are you?"

"I'm looking for someone."

There was a brief pause between them.

"Unfortunately, the one you seek may be dead."

"You know that... how exactly?" She remained on guard, cautious of the man, despite meeting him before.

"A man came here to take him."

Amora sat in silence.

"My name is Mosbach, but Mos will suffice. What do you need?"

"I need to kill someone. That person is the one who killed the person I'm looking for."

"I see. I can assist, but I have some limitations."

"That's a bit dramatic."

"He's not kidding." A boy, maybe around the age of 14, messy hair and a muddy face appeared from behind Mos, a serious look on his face.

"What are you? A lab creation? Like Darkness?"

"No. I do not know whom you are speaking of."

"Great." She looks behind herself and back at the two in front of her. "So he's dead?"

"Yes."

Amora's heart sank slightly, her teeth gripped her bottom lip tightly.

"Well, just another reason to kill that motherfucker." She said, cracking her thumb.

"She's dangerous." A boy's voice echoed from behind Mos. "We shouldn't be here."

"Once upon a time, you were dangerous as well. Need I mention your school's... incident?" Mos replied, slightly tugging the boy to stay behind him.

"A child?" Amora asked, her face twisted into either a look of disgust or wonder. "What is he doing here in these woods?"

"I watch over children who do not have anyone else, children whom are lost to the world, and used by adults. He is of no exception."

Amora stepped forward, holding out her twins.

"Take them then."

"What?"

"Take my children."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because in a couple weeks, days, or even hours, I will be dead, and I will not allow them to die as well." She briefly paused. "Take them."

Mos opened his smokey arms and took the two children.

"His name is Echo, and hers is Elizabeth. He cannot see. She--well keep her and him away from each other, do not allow them to touch. She can age, and alongside that, she ages him as well."

"Strange, but not unheard of."

"Yes, yes, whatever. Just don't let anyone take them. If I do not return--raise them."

She begins to walk away, holding her hands to her chest. Holding back tears.

"You must come back for them. You're their mother."

Amora stopped in her tracks for a moment, barely turning around, and then continuing forward, her face now wet from the trees dripping rainwater, and her tears.

"I love you, my children."

***

The average sound of cars and bustling people returned to Amora's ears. She walked through alleyways and streets until darkness arrived over the city.

Once it had, she went back to her usual routine. Hunting. Preying on the city folk. Anyone who even radiated a small bit of Elemental Energy. With this, her speed increased, her elements grew in size, changing color and shape, her fire burning hotter, and her air became wild and untameable.

All night, screams would be heard around the city and its varying districts. Screams of torment.

Amora eventually passed out from over-exhaustion, waking up in an alleyway, with a lady and her daughter standing above her, their cherry-blossom patterned umbrella protecting the three from the rain.

"Ella. Step back please." The lady spoke, bending down slowly, her long black hair partially covering her face.

"Yes, mommy." The little girl with similar long black hair said, stepping back toward the opposite wall of the alleyway.

"You alive?" The woman asked, to which Amora nodded, her eyes barely open. The woman's eyes squinted slightly and then opened wide. "Akermota, Amora?"

Amora nodded her head. "Sorry... don't got any time for autographs or interviews." She said, trying to sit up, but she couldn't.

"No no, none of that. Come with me. You need to be somewhere drier, safer." The lady helped Amora up, and escorted her a bit away, the three walked slowly, with the lady leaning Amora on her side, walking, step by step, together down the streets. The lady kept Amora's face covered so as to not draw suspicion.

"Hey! You three! What's going on here?" A police officer stopped the three of them, his glare through his sunglasses was almost frightening.

"My friend just had too much to drink, that's all. Don't worry officer, I'm walking her home, nobody is drunk driving here."

"My concern is that it looks like you're lugging a dead body around." His eyes squinted, and his glare went from the lady to Amora, and then to the little girl. He lifted off his head, revealing his white, short hair and scars on his scalp and through his eyebrow.

"She's alive, trust me, I wouldn't touch any dead body."

"Hey, young lady, are you alright?" The officer asked Amora.

"Yes... just... very drunk, as she said."

"Hm. I see. Well, carry on, be safer. The disappearences around here are nothing to scoff at, and you best follow the warnings, lest you wish to be taken as well."

Amora sat silently, and the lady continued walking forward. The three finally reached a tall house on a busy city street.

"Inside, quickly." The lady told her daughter, who rushed up the steps and flung open the door quickly, taking off her shoes and grabbing towels to dry their hair.

"Thank you..." Amora told the little girl, taking a towel and slumping to the floor in front of the door.

"Mommy, is this the Amora girl?"

"Yes honey, it is."

"Did she lose her daddy too?" The girl asked.

"Yes, honey. She did."

Amora looked up at the little girl, who looked at her with sympathy and sadness.

"Do you miss your daddy like I miss mine?"

"I do. Yes, but don't worry... I'll do what I need to... to get my revenge."