Edward In Danger!?

Edward sat in silence in the car that Elizabeth had instructed to take them back as most cabs didn't go to that neighborhood, as Michael was busy on his phone, typing away at it.

"Say, Edward, who put their hands on you?" Michael asked out of the blue and Edward immediately tensed up, how did Michael notice? Edward was sure Vlad left no bruises so there was no way for him to know.

"Before you answer, I hope you don't plan on lying to me," Michael said, his fingers suddenly stopped moving as he raised his head to look Edward right in the eyes.

"I-It is nothing Michael, you don't need to worry about it," Edward was hesitant with his answer because he knew what Michael might do if he found out.

"I didn't ask if it was nothing, I asked who did it?" Michael's tone was becoming more aggressive and Edward knew he had to calm him down.

"It was some guy in the toilet," Edward surrendered, he didn't have any reason to withhold the information from him and simply told him because there was no way Michael could pick him out among the crowd.

"Is that why we left? You were scared I would hurt him like I did those two?" Michael continued with his interrogation, Edward knew he had to endure it because if he didn't give Michael answers, Michael was sure to find other ways.

"Hurt him? No, Michael. I was worried you would kill him," Edward said with a sigh that carried all his frustrations, it wasn't a tone of judgment.

Michael cackled upon hearing this, tearing up in the process because he knew Edward was right, he made the right decision.

"You are probably right. Anyone that hurts you, in turn, hurts me," Michael said as he returned to pressing his phone. He was glad that Edward didn't lie to him because, in actuality, he already knew who it was, it was easy to spot Vlad coming out of the toilet.

"What the fuck is wrong with kids these days? Is this what they fucking talk about now?" The driver thought to himself as the car's speed increased.

But was he going to let Vlad be or did he have nefarious intentions for him? That was yet to be seen.

-

The boys arrived later than they would have liked, this was because of the traffic that they had encountered but they didn't mind.

Edward said his goodbye to Michael, it was kind of a downer being back here but he was happy he was in familiar territory where he didn't need to try and fit in like he attempted Elizabeth's birthday party. He couldn't help but wonder what his life would be like if Michael moved away because it was looking more likely that whatever Michael auditioned for was legit; he was surprised that such a scheme went unnoticed but the lack of superheroes in the slums made this an endless resource for recruitment.

Edward doubted there was something even called supervillain groups as they were mostly independent of each other, the majority acted alone, or at least that was what Edward's research has told him.

He dumped the house keys on the table but the door was unlocked. It was strange because the paper he had written was still on the table in the exact position.

The sun was setting and he knew if his mother wasn't back by now, he should be worried but it was unlikely considering the door was unlocked.

"She probably was in a hurry," Edward thought, leaving the piece of paper as he stumbled into his room to rest up and ponder on the events that transpired.

Edward heard footsteps soon after.

"Mom?" He called out, hopeful for a response but none came, the footsteps only becoming louder and louder. Edward didn't think much about this but he was cautious on the off chance it was something he should be wary of.

The footsteps soon stopped, prompting Edward to venture out of his room into the parlor, it was dark as the curtains were down, and for some reason, the electricity wasn't working.

He could, however, see the back of his mother's head from behind the couch and he was relieved she was back home. Edward assumed she was exhausted, she did spend the night out after all. He was sympathetic to her hustle and he knew she couldn't keep going like this.

Edward walked further, he wanted to whisper words of affirmation to his sleepy mother but what he saw next horrified him.

He saw only her head, propped up by a spike running through what was left of her neck, and being rooted in the cushion of the couch for support.

Edward stumbled back, sights becoming blurry as he suddenly couldn't speak.

"Mom?" Edward called out in disbelief, shuffling his body weight along the ground but his back hit something, it was the feet of a person.

Edward looked up and he saw a man in a mask, a featureless mask. He was still reeling from his mother's death and the emotional overload was far too much. His breathing became heavy and his hands began trembling.

"Fear, it is such a wonderful thing, isn't it?" The Slasher spoke to him in a calm indifferent tone.

"Fear tells us we're alive and right now, at this very moment. This is the most alive you have felt," The Slasher was a strange killer, he didn't just kill his victims, but he always presented them with an opportunity to live and right now, Edward was in that game.

Edward's eyes turned to fury, his anger and bloodlust oozed from his body.

"Fascinating…" This was the only word that left the killer's mouth.

-

Michael returned home and his mother passed out on the bed, Michael was used to this so he did what he always did and that was sitting in front of the TV until he fell asleep.

But what was this overwhelming feeling of impending danger, Michael was unknowingly sensing Edward's killing intent, every fiber in Michael's body told him to go to Edward right now! Michael didn't know when he moved but he found himself dashing to Edward's home