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icrayon · 9 months ago

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Red

TW: Verbal / Physical Abuse, Blood, Violence, Panic Attacks, Death

Summary: Follow a mother and her son as they go on, a seemingly ordinary day disrupted by tension and turmoil. With their trip to the park gradually reveals, the complexities of their family dynamics. When a violent confrontation suddenly unfolds, exposing the dark reality of their home life of a controlling husband. Yet, amongst the chaos, the mother's unwavering commitment to protecting her son shines through. Just how far will a mother's love go?

Note: Please read the warnings, since this will be going into the subjects as stated. If you are uncomfortable, I apologize you are free to skip. Also, I would like to give a big thank you, to the people who encouraged me to do this. I hope you enjoy the story.

A buzzing noise echoed around the room, as a pair of eyes glared at the numbers from the red alarm clock 7:00 am it read. Shutting off the alarm, the figure dragged themselves out of bed, tugging their red blanket over their shoulders. Heading towards the kitchen, they hid themselves behind the wall, of the entryway and heard the sounds of moving plates. Pulling over the blanket to conceal themselves, they peeked over faintly seeing, an outline of a person through their blanket. Jumping out of their hiding spot, with a loud thump the figure jolted at the loud noise. Slowly they turned their head, with one hand on the counter looking down at the source of the sound. The woman's eyes softened noticing what it was, striding forward she knelt to their level. Pulling the blanket back, revealing her son’s curly dark brown hair, his brown eyes peering up at her. “You scared me, I almost dropped your breakfast ” she chuckled, removing the red blanket and setting it aside.

She smiled with her red lipstick smudged across her lips, “ Now that my little Adam is out of hiding, why don't we eat pancakes''. After hearing his Mother's words, he bolted towards the table while his Mother trailed behind laughing. The boy struggled to get on the chair before he was gently lifted and placed on the seat. She then turned towards the counter, grabbing two plates and setting them down. She set a small glass of apple juice for him, then sat beside her son. Sipping coffee out of her cup, she glanced towards her son noticing he was pouring a large amount of syrup. Thinking quickly on her feet she plucked it out of her son’s hands, who looked at her with wide eyes. “Don't give me that look, you have enough on your plate now save your Mother some won't you ?” she grinned. With that said she placed the bottle next to her, finally eating their breakfast after Adam mumbled an apology under his breath.

Finishing their breakfast the Mother looked at her son, “ Why don't we go to the park ” Adam smiled and tightly hugged his Mother. Failing to notice her twitch in his hold, her smile faltering. Gently prying her son off and slightly massaging her arms, Adam looked at her confused when she spoke, “ I see you’re excited, why don't you get dressed while I get ready ”. He nodded, going to his room and getting dressed in his long-sleeved red shirt and black pants. Leaving his room he saw his Mother with her blue sweater along with her jeans. Her face was cleared from the smudged lipstick, and her curly brown hair rested on her shoulders. “Alright let’s go, we have to hurry if you want to play on your favorite swing ”, she said standing by the doorway. Adam ran towards the entryway, with his Mother opening the door, and led her son outside where he soon started to sprint towards the car. Looking behind him, he saw his Mother speedily walking in the same direction while looking at her watch. Which Adam took notice of, how frequent it was but brushed it aside.

Approaching closer, she goes to open the passenger side door. Leading Adam to his seat, and helping him with his seat belt. Afterwards, she entered the car herself and left the driveway. Adam looked out the window, seeing all the colors and shapes that were passing by just how fast they were going. While they were playing “I Spy” he saw the park come into view. Adam unbuckled his seat belt, once the car stopped he stepped out of the car and started to run towards the park, dragging his mother along with him. Reaching a familiar place, made Adam let go of his Mother’s hand. Turning his attention toward the swings, before choosing the one on the right side. He finally took a seat waiting patiently for his Mother, to push him as she walked behind him. “Tell me if you are going too high alright”, “Okay” he replied while tightly holding onto the bars of the swing. “You ready ?” with a firm nod, she began to push lightly on his back as he went higher and higher. Adam had a huge grin, yelling for her to go higher with his Mother acknowledging his excitement, and laughed while pushing him more. Hours have passed, with the two playing various games together.

Now it was noon when his mother called, to him since he was just a few feet away from where she was. He ran over, finally reaching his Mother who sat on a bench she began to speak, “Mama has to make a phone call” his head tilted to the side “Why ?”. She sighed “You don't have to worry about that sweetheart, why don't we go to the drive-in diner after Mama’s done with her phone call, how about it ?”. He smiled waiting for his mother to get up, as the two left with Adam holding his Mother's hand. Walking towards the nearest phone booth, she crouched down to his level “Wait here okay, don't move until I'm done” with a nod he stood beside the booth. Hearing the glass door close, he looked around the block taking notice of people walking by doing their day-to-day.

A couple of minutes passed, turning his head to the sound of the door opening and saw his Mother. Who absentmindedly looked ahead of her, with a neutral expression on her face, taking her hand he gave it a gentle squeeze. She glanced down, at her son standing in place by the sidewalk. Adam tugged on her hand, breaking her out of her trance to which she gently squeezed back taking a deep sigh. Walking hand in hand, they reached the car, entered the vehicle, and drove towards the diner. Adam looked out the window, looking every once in a while toward his Mother who drove in silence. Soon arriving closer to the diner seeing its neon lights shining up ahead, pulling over at the establishment she stopped sitting back on her seat.

Gripping the steering wheel tighter and tighter, mumbling incoherent words under her breath, the ringing in her ear becoming more apparent. Adam looked concerned, trying to figure out how to help his Mother. Deciding to gently place his small hand, over her’s “Mama?” he called out to her softly. She flinched as her grip on the steering wheel loosened, and her hands gradually stopped shaking. Facing him fully she gently grabbed his smaller hand into hers, her gaze focused on her son. Adam felt shy under her gaze, turning to face the ground when she touched his cheek gently. “Mama’s okay sweetheart, have you decided on what to order ?” Adam nodded quietly. She finally let go, turning her attention away from him, when a waitress appeared asking them for their order. His Mother started to order, both their food. Soon the waitress left to start their order, the car fell silent and the Mother became aware of her son’s quiet demeanor.

Who was looking up at the sky at the various shapes the clouds took, she took it upon herself to accompany cloud-watching with him. Resting a gentle hand on his shoulder, “What do you see Adam ?” she asked softly. Adam peeked over and pointed at the fish-formed cloud, with a small smile on his face. His Mother giggled, spotting another cloud taking the shape, of a feather and pointing it to him. Both gazed at the sight, catching glimpses of oddly shaped clouds laughing together. The food soon arrived, and both started to eat. After finishing their food she glanced down, at her watch noticing it was already 3:30 pm. “Let's head home Adam you must be tired” with that said the two drove away, joking with one another.

Arriving closer to their home Adam noticed his Father's car, in the driveway he moved closer to the corner of his seat. His Mother noticed and tried to console him, but he curled into himself trying to seem as small as possible. Once reaching a stop, the Mother heard her son’s cries. Unbuckling her seat belt, Adam heard this and pushed himself further away. Disheartened by his reaction she gave a soft sigh, “Adam” she asked quietly trying not to scare the boy. He shook his head, blocking out his Mother’s words till he felt a hand on his head. Flinching he spoke ��Please Mama don’t take me there” his tone filled with fear. “Don’t worry Mama won’t let anything happen to you” she reassured him, Adam slowly started to relax wiping away the tears. “Promise ?” he said in a meek tone holding out his pinky, his Mother gave a small grin holding out her pinky and interlocking it with his “I promise”. Adam soon faced the car door and grabbed the door handle with clammy hands, turning once more towards his Mother as she held her door handle. Opening the doors together, she stepped out first. Walking around the car and seeing that Adam had not moved, she crouched down holding out her arms. Waiting for Adam, “I know you're scared, but I’ll be with you just like I promised” she spoke softly to him.

Adam stayed quiet momentarily, staring down at his pants his fists clenching the material. Tightly as his fists started to shake from his harsh grip, slowly looked back up at his Mother with tears streaming down his face. He held out his arms, towards her who in turn looked at him in worried. Before gently taking him in her arms, she stood up with him and headed towards the door, where he shrunk in her arms. She sighed opening the door with Adam burying his face on her shoulder, hearing the soft tune of music from the record player and smelling the faint smell of cigarettes. Turning the corner and seeing a tall man, sitting on a chair with a newspaper in his hand. Feeling a presence he stopped folding the paper neatly, before placing it beside the stand.

Turning his sharp gaze towards her and then to his son his dark brown eyes narrowed. The Mother held Adam tightly, as she felt her husband's gaze on him when the husband took a deep inhale of his cigarette. Before exhaling “Where were you” he stated calmly. The Mother spoke “Just out on the town Joseph, nothing more” her husband raised a brow, combing back his black hair and sighing deeply. “Nothing more you say, perhaps you should enlighten me about your day” he stated putting out his cigarette from the ashtray beside him. Soon glancing at his son, who tucked himself further into his Mother, “But besides that, we have other matters to discuss alone”. The Mother stiffened looking towards the ground gripping her son closer, before deciding to put him down. But the boy clung on tightly, not letting go no matter how many times his mother tried to reassure him “Do what she says boy”, the Father ordered firmly.

Adam started to tear up, “Stop it you're scaring hi-” but the father cut the mother short. “If I want your input I will ask for it” his tone was sharp and unforgiving, and the Mother looked towards the fireplace not meeting his sharp gaze. Adam embraced her tightly, as she slowly gained the courage to look at her husband. “Let me take him to his room please,” she said softly. The Father huffed “He’s old enough to go on his own, now let go of her boy” he ordered stepping closer to the two. The Mother held her son tighter, shielding her son, “Please Joseph, I’ll just take him” she pleaded. “Very well make sure the boy is in his room until we are done” he sighed, she only nodded back as she quietly walked past him. Towards their son’s room, she was still feeling the lingering gaze of her husband even once they were out of sight.

Once reaching the door, she gently set him down she stayed crouched down patting her son’s head. “Adam listen to me, I want you to be strong for Mama okay ?” she said. He could only nod as he wiped away his tears, the Mother smiled “Good, now I want you to lock your door, and don't open it’’. “Okay” is all he could say, before being embraced by his mother “I promise you, I’ll get you out of here” she reassured him. She sent him off to his room when she heard a small click, of the lock and headed back towards the living room. She gave one last look at her son’s door, before continuing to walk to her destination. Adam stood in place, looking at the door before hearing his parents through the thin walls.

“Now tell me why, I got a phone call from your Boss that I had to leave my job ?” the father questioned. “People are leaving and we’re severely understaffed, and people are forced to work overtime, and if we don’t get enough sales. The building would be up for lease, by the end of two weeks”. The Mother answered, and the Father sighed in frustration “That still doesn't explain why you got fired. If you’re forced to work overtime, it wouldn't be a problem unless there’s something else you're not telling me ?” he interrogated. The Mother stayed quiet “Look at me,” he said firmly garnering no reply. “ LOOK. AT. ME !!! ” he yelled harshly, his voice carried out throughout the home. “ Tell me the reason, don’t lie to me either,” he demanded. “Please Joseph, you must understand there’s only so much I can do, there’s just too much on my plate right now” she reasoned. There was a brief pause “Get to the point” he said sternly “The hours are getting too overwhelming, it’s getting in the way of my son” she replied.

The Father huffed “ Think about this Joanna if you're not working, how can we support the boy”. She spoke again “I'll see what I can do Joseph, I can find another publishing job just give me some time please” she pleaded. “How long will that be Joanna, you make it sound like it’s easy to find a job, but we both know that isn't the case. By the time you find a job we will be far behind on bills !” he shouted. “Don't yell Joseph, please be considerate if I took the hours it wouldn't change the outcome. But the time I would've spent with my son I can't take back, because of that job I don't even know my son!” she screamed as her voice cracked at the end. “Don’t raise your voice at me, that is still no excuse to do that you foolish woman” he countered. “No, Joseph you don’t understand how this affects our son. He’s only eight years old, eight years old Joseph we forget that he’s just a child. What kind of child is supposed to understand any of this ? ” she replied. Suddenly there was a loud strike followed by a yelp, then a loud thud, “Enough of this nonsense you’ve never been grateful for the things I’ve given you. Instead, you're always on my back about everything involving the boy. I'm sick of it” the Father said.

The Mother’s words cut through the quiet room barely audible “Don’t talk about him like he’s not your child Joseph he’s your son”. The Father scoffed “ My son ? Let me remind you, that you wanted this child. Yet, you persisted and now look at us, is this what you wanted ?”. Silence enveloped the home, “ Answer me, woman you wanted this didn't you, this family life, even the boy I have the shame of calling my son” he said in disdain. Soon there was a sickening crack that reverberated throughout the home, followed by screaming and a thud. It was becoming louder which was paired with a loud squelching noise. The sound continued for what seemed like hours, as Adam was hidden in his closet with the blanket over his head. It abruptly stopped, with the only sound being the soft record player playing the same note repeatedly. Adam suddenly jolted at the sound of slow methodical footsteps, reaching his bedroom door. His heart beating faster the closer it came, curling closer to the far corners of his closet. It soon stopped, and all was quiet when he heard light breathing from where he was. All of a sudden, there were slow rhythmic knocks one after another. Staying frozen in place, only moving an inch when he heard a barely audible voice call his name. Again the voice called to him, until he finally recognized his Mother's voice. Her tone was light and soft, beckoning him to open the door. Getting out of his closet with his blanket still over his head, he crept towards the door, creaking it open just a sliver.

Noticing under the low lighting, a pair of pants speckled with red he looked further up taking note that his Mother was covered in speckles of red. Her blue sweater now turned crimson, and her face disheveled. With her lipstick smudged across her lips, her wide eyes looked vacant as she stared down at her son. Going down to his level, she took a deep sigh then taking her hand she pulled away the covers. She was placing a gentle hand on his cheek, smudging something wet on his face. Caressing his face, she placed her forehead on his. With her eyes closed her posture relaxed. Adam scrunched up his nose at the harsh metallic smell, invading his nose not looking away from his Mother.

He stood still as his Mother’s hand started to tremble, “ See Adam Mama kept her promise, and I'll always keep it no matter what” she reassured him. But deep down she knew these words were for her reassurance, then glancing down at her form. Noticing she was covered in blood, various emotions washed over her at that moment. Slumping over, her mind was in disarray that her hands instinctively pushed back her hair tugging at it harshly. Mumbling to herself, she lowered her head even more only hearing her rapidly beating heart. Forgetting that she was in the presence of her son, who looked at his Mother concerned. Tugging at her hair more harshly, letting out choked sobs when she felt a hand being placed over her’s. She unclenches her hands and looks back up at her son wide-eyed.

Adam still with his hand on top of hers, gave it a gentle squeeze, lowering her hands from her hair. Tracing circles on the back of her hand, she gave back a gentle squeeze before placing her hand once more on his cheek. She let out a deep breath caressing his face, further smearing the blood on his cheek. Pulling him into an embrace, cradling his head leaving the blankets to fall to the floor. Silent tears began to fall from her face, embracing her son tighter. Pulling back from the embrace before catching sight of her son, covered in blood she then took a deep breath. “ Adam, why don’t you go wash up, while I go clean up okay? ” she asked gently. He nodded she smiled standing back up, she ruffled his hair turning to walk towards the door. Adam just watched as she left but she stopped, as she had the door open just a jar. Slowly turning to face him “Don’t come out of your room until I’m done cleaning” she instructed. “I understand,” he said softly picking up his fallen blanket and observing the red color of the blanket. The same color his Mother was now wearing, before turning back to briefly catch a glimpse down the hallway of his room. Accompanied by the low lighting, he saw red smudges along the floor before the door was closed enveloping the room in silence.

#my writing #original work #Original characters #horror #Horror genre

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