Chapter 2: A Mother's Fury

Selene ran towards her son, her arms open wide, and enveloped him in a warm embrace. "Mali," she whispered, her voice trembling with worry. Malakai hugged his mother tight, his small body shaking slightly.

Selene held her son's face, her eyes scanning every inch of his features. That's when she noticed it - a faint bruise on his left cheekbone. Her heart raced as she felt a surge of anger and fear. "What happened, m'ijo?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Malakai remained silent, his eyes cast down. Selene's gaze shifted to the old lady, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "What happened to him?" she demanded, her voice firm but controlled.

The old lady snorted, her expression twisted in disdain. "Your thug son got into a fight, and I warned you that this may lead to expulsion." Her words dripped with venom, her eyes filled with a deep-seated dislike for Selene and her son.

Selene's face twisted in anger, her hands tightening around Malakai's shoulders as she pulled him behind her. "Malakai is no thug," she spat, her voice low and menacing. "I don't care who you are, but you cannot treat my son like that."

The old woman sneered, her eyes glinting with malice. "Either way, he'll end up like one," she muttered, her voice dripping with contempt.

As if on cue, a door creaked open, and a portly man with a receding hairline and a thick mustache entered the room. His eyes locked onto Selene, and he couldn't help but stare at her with pure lust. His gaze roamed over her body, lingering on her hips, her chest, and finally, her face. He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a perverse excitement.

Selene's face scrunched in disgust, her skin crawling at the sight of the principal's lecherous gaze. But she knew who this man was - the one person who held her son's future in his hands.

"Ah, Selene, still sexy as ever," he leered, his voice dripping with sleaze. He turned to the old lady, his tone commanding. "You hag, bring me a chair."

The old lady didn't protest, her eyes cast down in submission. After a minute, she returned with a worn chair, which the principal took with a flourish. He sat down, his eyes never leaving Selene's face, his gaze burning with an unspoken threat.

Selene's heart raced with anger and fear, her mind racing with the implications of the principal's words. She knew that she had to tread carefully, but she couldn't help but feel a deep-seated loathing for the man who seemed to take pleasure in her son's misfortune. Little did she know that this was only the beginning of a long and arduous journey, one that would test her resolve, her strength, and her unwavering dedication to her son.

"Your son got into a fight, now I know you are struggling as a single mother, so I helped, although I could not stop them from asking charges, I did help lower it," he said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction. "I'm a Saint, I know."

Selene took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the principal's smug face. She felt a surge of anger and frustration but kept her cool, her grip on Malakai's hand tightening. "Now, it's not a big price, just $700, and it'll be covered," the principal continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "Of course, if you need help paying it, you can find me in my office."

He struggled to stand up from the chair, his eyes lingering on Selene's chest before he turned to leave. But he couldn't resist taking one last look, his gaze lingering on her body before he finally exited the room. The old lady had a wide smile on her face, her eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. "Sorry, but you have to leave. School time is over, and we don't accept visitors, so can you please leave the premises?"

Selene didn't fight it, her eyes fixed on Malakai's face. She could see the fear and uncertainty in his eyes and knew she had to stay strong for him. "Vámonos, m'ijo,"(Let's go, my son.) she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion.

As they turned to leave, Selene felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew she had to get Malakai out of there, away from the principal's lecherous gaze and the old lady's condescending smile. She tightened her grip on his hand, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to stay strong, for Malakai's sake, and she was determined to do whatever it took to protect him.

The rain outside was now only just drops, as if feeling pity for the mother and son. She walked with him, her arms wrapped tightly around his small body, her heart aching with a mix of fear and protectiveness. She didn't question him about why he got into a fight or yell at him for getting them into more debts, as she knew that this was one of the principal's vile schemes. Although still dark, she held her son close, not wanting anything to happen to him, as they walked back home.

As they turned a corner, a figure, then two, then three suddenly appeared, two lurking in the back and one stepping forward. "Look at here, boys, we've got ourselves a big booty Latina," they joked, their voices dripping with malice. Selene's heart raced as she tightened her grip on Malakai, her eyes fixed on the trio.

"I'll give you anything, just let us go," she pleaded, trying to keep her voice steady. The bold guy in front frowned, his eyes scanning her and Malakai with a calculating gaze. "Haa, they're not fun enough. Come on, okay, give me your phone, wallet, and yeah, that's it."

Selene didn't antagonize them, knowing that resistance would only make things worse. She handed over her phone and wallet, her eyes never leaving Malakai's face. The trio quickly disappeared into the night, leaving them shaken and vulnerable.

Malakai's hands were clenched into fists, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and helplessness. He was only 12, but he knew what had just happened. He felt powerless, trapped in a world that seemed determined to crush them. He had always wished that he and his mom could escape to a better place, a place where they could be safe and happy. His mom had taught him that heaven was the greatest place, and he should pray for it. But right now, heaven seemed like a distant dream, and the harsh reality of their lives was all too real.

Selene didn't wait anymore, she dragged Malakai along, her heart racing with fear. She didn't want to encounter those thugs again, especially if they decided to come back for more. They arrived at their house, the exterior worn and battered, with cracks and water bullet holes visible on the walls. She pulled out her key from her breast pocket, a habit she had developed after countless break-ins. Sometimes, they would take her keys along with her valuables, leaving her stranded and vulnerable.

As they entered the house, Selene locked the door behind them, her hands shaking with anxiety. She led Malakai to the sofa, trying to compose herself. "I'll be back, okay? I'll make you dinner," she said, attempting a reassuring smile.

Selene headed to the bathroom, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't hold them back anymore. She burst into sobs, her body shaking with grief and frustration. She wiped her face, trying to erase the evidence of her tears. As she heard a sound, her head snapped towards the door. Malakai stood there, his eyes wide with concern.

"What are you doing here, baby? I told you to wait for me," Selene said, her voice trembling as she tried to hide her tears.

Malakai opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, a loud crash echoed through the house. A window had shattered, and the sound sent chills down Selene's spine. Her heart raced as she rushed towards Malakai, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger.

"Get down, Malakai! Hide!" she whispered urgently, pulling him towards the floor.

As they crouched together, Selene's mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Had those thugs followed them home? Were they breaking in? She held Malakai close, her heart pounding in her chest, and waited for whatever came next.

She rushed Malakai into the bedroom, which was next to the bathroom, her heart racing with fear. "Hide under the bed, baby, and don't come out until I say it's safe," she whispered urgently, pushing him towards the bed.

Malakai's eyes were wide with terror, but he didn't hesitate, scrambling under the bed as fast as he could. Selene knew she had to act quickly, her mind racing with the thought of those thugs breaking in.

She opened the wardrobe, her hands shaking as she reached for the revolver she knew was hidden there. It was one of Carlos's guns, which he had left with her for protection. She had never thought she'd need to use it, but now it was her only hope.

As she grasped the cold metal, a sense of determination washed over her. She would not let anyone harm her son. She checked the chamber, her heart pounding in her chest, and slowly moved towards the door.

The sound of breaking glass and footsteps echoed through the house, getting closer and closer. Selene's grip on the revolver tightened, her finger hovering over the trigger. She knew she had to be ready, her eyes fixed on the door as she waited for the intruders to enter.