Somewhere at Lakewood, on the peaceful day, Carol and her son Ko are in the woods, walking; enjoying the scenery. In her hand is a basket along with a red and white checkered blanket while holding her son in her arm.

As Carol continue to walk to their destination, she breathe in the fresh air then let it out. Listening to the birds chirping, she began to hum a tune, swaying her head from side to side. Meanwhile Ko, her baby boy, is sleeping peacefully, nuzzling his head on her shoulder. She smile softly at her sleeping son before kissing his little nose, which made him whine a little but stay asleep. 

She chuckles, shaking her head while being mindful of her son, before stopping. In front of her is the clear area of the woods with a pond, koi fishes swimming in the water. A beautiful ray of flowers basking in the sunlight and the smell of fresh air, all of it add a peaceful atmosphere around and that just what she needs for her and Ko.

Carol walks around the pond, staring at the fishes before stopping just couple inches away from it. Looking around and admiring the view, she smiles before looking at Ko and without hesitation, she raise a finger and boop his nose. That one simple action has cause the child to wake up, who whine as he slowly open his eyes.

"Good morning goofball." Ko yawns, stretching his small arms. He rub his eyes to help him wake up more.

"Are we there yet?"

"Yes peanut. In fact we're here." The moment Ko turn his head, his brown eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as he survey the area.

"It's pretty."

"It sure is, peanut. You wanna to go exploring a little while I set up the picnic?" Ko nodded "okay down you go sweetheart but stay where I can see you." She said, bending down while he nodded.

He was then gently put down and as soon as his little feet touch the grass, he ran off to explore the area. Carol smiles, standing up; watching her son before setting up picnic.

The little child walks to the pond and stare at the fishes, eyeing them in awe. He watch them swim around, almost in a trance like state before he gently and calmly dip his finger in the water, but his aquatic friends pay him no mind and just keep on swimming. He moved his finger back and forth, feeling the cool water.

One of the fishes swam by his finger, catching his attention. He stare at it with curiosity in his eyes, observing them like they're the most interesting creatures. A giggle escapes him when the orange and white fish went up to him, and bump into his finger. The fish brush against the finger then stops before poking its head out the water, staring at the small child. He blink his eyes, tilting his head while the fish continue to stare.

As they have a stare off, somewhere in the area, in the tree is a pair of eyes staring at the small child. Curiosity filled those eyes as it continued to stare, watching his movement. As it stare, the eyes blink for a moment when it saw Ko began to lean forward. Right when he got close, the fish went back under the water, splashing some on his face. He yelp in surprise then giggles, wiping his face. The eyes blink again but then close and moving in a up and down motion like it was giggling.

"Ko! Sweetie, time for lunch."

"Okay." The eyes open itself then watch Ko stands up and walk to his mom. It tilt sideways before disappearing from the tree.

"Hey peanut. Have fun with the fishes?" She smiles when she saw him nod "that's good. Now ready to eat?" He nodded again before handing him a sandwich, cut in four before he took one and ate it.

Carol smiles before eating her sandwich, happy that her son is smiling. Far better from yesterday. Now the question is, what happen? If she can remember, her son was playing around in the sand, playing with other kids his age and then... what happen after that? She couldn't remember but all she remember was that she told him not to leave her sight, had a nice conversation with someone and then he was gone. After that, she went to go find him and almost ten minutes did she found him inside the dome, covered in dirt.

So what happen? What happen during those time and what happen to Ko? Did something bad happen? Did someone mess with her child? Her precious baby? Her little sunshine? Who would do that to her child? 

Some many thoughts went through her head, and the more she thinks about it, her mood starts to slightly change from confusion to frustration. Frustrated that she couldn't figure out the problem. Frustrated that someone would harm her baby. Most of all, she's frustrated that her baby is hurt. She shook her head, wiping away the thoughts. Now it's not the time to be angry, she's here to make Ko happy. She sigh before smiling, looking at her son as he finish his sandwich. 

"Finish?" He nodded "want some juice?" He nodded. Carol giggles before handing him his sippy cup filled with apple juice "here you go, peanut." Ko smiles, grabbing his cup before taking a sip. Carol smiles before looking at the scenery. 

It's so peaceful here. Relaxing even which makes it even better to meditate. An idea struck her. Meditation! That's it. Maybe a little meditation can make her baby feel better and if it works, her little peanut can tell her what's wrong. With that thought, Carol nods before looking at her son "say peanut." Ko looks up at his mom "wanna meditate with mommy?" 

"Yeah!" Ko cheers. Carol took off her shoes then helps her son before placing them in front of the blanket. After standing up, they walked onto the grass and sat down few feet from the pond, sitting in a lotus position and closed their eyes. 

"Just keep close your eyes and your mind quiet,  Ko." Carol said "if a thought pops into your head." Ko open one eye to look at his mom "just let it go." Ko close his eyes then nodded. Suddenly, a little fly flew in until it landed on his cheek, making him open his eyes and look down. He stick out his tongue, slowly raise his hand then...

Smack 

Ko lift his hand and frown when he see that he missed as the fly then landed on his hand. Raising his other hand, he concentrate before smacking his left hand. Again he missed. Getting a bit annoyed, Ko tries to catch the pesky bug, smacking around. He stops, sad that he didn't catch it until he notice the fly; which landed on his nose. He growls before yelling.

Sensing something is wrong, Carol open her eye and look at her son who is now punching the ground, throwing a tantrum before he fell down. He cried, upset all cause he couldn't catch a bug. Carol walks over, bend down and picks up her son. Once he's on his feet, she gently lift up his chin "this stuff can be pretty hard sometimes, huh?" He sniffs then nodded.

"Mmhm." 

"The path to greatness is hard and long, and even boring sometimes." She said "but there's no shortcuts. So you have stay." Right when the fly flew in, she caught it in her hand, eyes never leaving her son's "focus." Ko gasp in awe, watching his mother let go of the fly.

"Focus." Ko look at Carol who had went back to meditating before he sat down, resuming the position before closing his eyes "focus, focus, focus."

Crybaby

A small gasp escape causing him to open his eyes and looked around. Once he sees it was clear, he closed his eyes. 

In

Out

In 

Out

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Ex-

Loser

A frown appears on his face as he tried not to listen, shaking his head a bit. Suddenly, he's in some kind mindscape being surround by dark shadows, each one had cruel smiles on their face. He look at them with fear in his eyes.

Loser

No he's not a loser.  He's going to be a hero someday just like his mom. 

Loser baby

He is not a loser baby. He step back, shaking his head before he was pushed; hitting the floor.

Crybaby~ Crybaby~

He is not a crybaby. Soon more mean words was thrown at him. Each one being meaner and harsher then the other.

Pathetic kid

Wannabe

Who want you as their hero?

You're a whiny baby!

You don't deserve to be a hero!

You're a nobody!

Ko gritted his teeth as he tried to shut down the insults 'I am not.' The boy sat up, clenching his  fists in anger.

Yes you are and you will always be a nobody.

'Shut up.'

Look the baby is upset.

Aww gonna cry~

'Am not.'

Yes you are cause you're a crybaby~

'Stop it.'

Crybaby~

'Stop.'

Whiny baby~

'Shut up.' 

Unknown to the mother and son, twelve pair of eyes are watching the scene in front of them, staring at kid. They watch as the boy had a inner battle inside in his head. Deep frown on his face along with narrowed brows. One of the eyes blink then open to reveal white pupils. Inside the mindscape, Ko whimpers, trying and failing to rid of these awful words. He clutch his head, slightly pulling on his hair as tears escape his eyes. 

He's crying now! 

Hilarious!

See you are a baby.

'Be quiet.'

No one wants you.

'Shut up.'

You're nothing but a pathetic

'Shut up.'

Whining

'Shut up.'

No good

'Shut up.'

Little crybaby

'Shut up.'

You will never be a hero

'I said...'

Ever

"SHUT UP." 

"KO!" Ko open his eyes and looked around, seeing there's no shadow taunting him. No mean smiles. No darkness. Just trees, pond and bright sky. He panted still feel a bit out it "Ko?" Turning his head, he looked at his mother, a worried expression on her face. Her hand is raised, hovering over him but not touching "are you okay, sweetheart?"  

It's like something inside him broke as tears welled up in his eyes. His mother frown in concern but before she can say anything, he lunged himself into her arms and broke down crying. He cried and cried and cried his little heart out as his mother hugs him, whispering comforted words into his ears. As she comfort her child, she try to figure out what cause him to freak out like that. Did he had a nightmare? No they were meditating not sleeping. Maybe he had a bad thought but if that was it then what cause it? What's it about?

Carol frown 'Oh my poor boy.' She looked up at the sky and sigh. Well it seems they won't continued this anymore. Looking down to check on her son, she blink her eyes before smiling. It seems while she was in her thoughts, Ko must have fallen asleep in her arms. She giggles then planted a kiss on his head. Putting him down, she starts to pack up, making sure everything in place. Once she has everything, she picks up Ko then the basket before leaving the area. 

As she walked, she couldn't help but feel like something or someone is watching her. A slight shiver went down her spine but she kept on. It wasn't until she got to the car that she turns around. She looked around, trying to find the culprit but couldn't find them. Not wanting to stick around, and more worried about her son, she puts the basket and her son in the car. Once she was sure he's secure, she closed the door before getting in the drivers. Buckling in her seat belt, she looks up at Ko sleeping soundly in the car seat. She smiles softly before putting in the keys.

Right when she's about to start the car, something caught her eyes. In the rear view mirror, staring at her, are one pair of eyes. Carol froze as she stare in disbelief. The eyes stare right back at her, not blinking before slightly looking down. Carol follow it line of sight before realization hits her. This thing is staring at her son. Her son who is sound asleep. The eyes blink, continuing looking at Ko before looking up at Carol. After staring for a few more seconds, a grin appears, showing its teeth before disappearing. Carol breathe out some air like she was holding it in as she tried to figure out what the heck she saw. It was bizarre very bizarre. Whatever it was, she don't want to know, and so without wasting any time, she starts the car before driving off. She took a deep breath then sigh, calming her nerves before looking at Ko. After making sure he's okay, she smile as she continued driving.

As the car drove off, a mysterious smokey silhouette is watching the car. It blink its eyes as it continued to stare before looking up. As it stare at the sky, a huge grin appears on its face, watching the sky before giggling. Suddenly its disappear into thin air, leaving no trace that it was there except for the weird marking on the ground.