The next morning, Magnus felt something was off. He couldn't quite place it as he went about his day. He frowned and glanced around the room then to his mothers room. He went in and saw her sleeping still. The young man set his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. She seemed fine.

Magnus frowned and went to the main room for a moment. He glanced around then heard something behind him. He whipped around but didn't see anything. What was wrong with him? Why was he so jumpy? He frowned and went out the backdoor to get air. He stopped as he realized it was unlocked. He tensed and saw a tiny spot of dirt.

Normal people would just disregard it, but he was a cop and not like other people. The man crouched down and narrowed his eyes. He had cleaned this area the night before and a small part of the cloth rug was moved. He carefully opened the door and looked to the steps, some dirt there as well. He moved down the stairs as he studied the dirt off the walkway. He narrowed his eyes, using a pen to move the grass blades, catching glimpse of something.

"Morning Magnus." His nosey neighbor said from the other side of his wooden fence.

"Morning." He barely muttered as he pressed some of the grass down.

"I see you're finally making sure your grass is the right length for the neighborhood." He smirked. "For a mama's boy you don't really take care of things around the house. As HOA it's my job to make sure everything is to code. The agreement is to keep the grass at one inch. Your mother's grass is one point four." He sneered a little. Magnus paused and looked up at the man then stood and straightened his shirt.

"Do you think I'm concerned about grass, when someone broke into my yard last night?" He asked calmly and the man blinked a few times.

"What? But this is a gated community and we don't have trouble makers." He said and glared darkly.

"I may be considered a 'mama's boy' to you, but at least I care about my family." He said darkly, making the man scoff.

"You don't think I care about my family?! How dare you?" He hissed angrily.

"Where was your son last night, Mr. Jefferson?" He asked. The other man hesitated, knowing he was a cop and probably knew things he didn't.

"At home. Like a good son, he wasn't in your yard at all." He defended.

"You sure about that?" He asked as he pulled the boys hat from his mothers rose bush. The other man paled and stuttered as the cop tossed him the hat. The man stuttered again then yelled his sons name as he went inside. Magnus stared with a dark expression before crouching down again.

"But it wasn't him." He muttered as he picked up an earing from the grass with his pen. He stared at it as he narrowed his eyes. He slowly stood and went back inside, locking the door this time.

That night he was on high alert and sat by his mother. He listened intently to everything around him. He had tomorrow off as well, since Careen was taking some time. He drifted and eventually fell asleep, exhausted. He woke with a start not long after, and listened intently. No night noises outside. He slowly crept to the window and peaked outside, it was cloudy and hard to see.

"Magnus?" His mother asked tiredly and looked over. He glanced to her then went to her side.

"Go to sleep. Everything is okay." He whispered quietly then sat with her until she fell asleep. He moved around the house as he listened to the sudden rain. He glanced to the backyard and saw a figure just as lightning flashed. He was still in his day outfit and he had his gun. He grabbed it out of its holster and ran out the back door.

"Freeze!" He shouted as the person ran into the woods. He glared and started running after the person. He didn't really have a reason to shoot the person. He ran the book through his head as he tried to decide.

He couldn't see very well as it rained, lightning flashed and he glanced around for the person. They were just ahead and he ran after them once more. He raised his gun but didn't see anyone. He stopped and glanced around before hearing something nearby. He turned just as a branch hit him in the face. He grunted as he stumbled then the person kicked him in the side. He stumbled back then felt himself falling. His eyes widened as he fell before everything went black.

The sound of rain and the cold water was the first sign that senses came back. Magnus grunted weakly as he felt dizzy and sick. He slowly opened his eyes and saw water going across rocks. He furrowed his brow and realized he was in a stream. It wasn't safe, this place would fill up fast with all this rain. He groaned weakly and struggled to push himself up.

There was blood in the water and on the rock his forehead had hit. He felt for the wound and assessed himself for any other injuries. He looked up the bank which was about four feet. He got up then climbed out of the stream. He felt disoriented and unsteady as he tried to head back home. He didn't get a good look of the person, nor did he know if they tried to kill him or not.

As he walked he thought he heard someone calling him. He glanced to the sky, what time was it? He shook his head and realized he was covered in mud and blood. He swayed and gripped a tree, gaining his bearings before he kept going.

"Magnus! Magnus!" He heard someone call and he frowned, seeing his mother through the trees. His eyes widened in surprise and he went to her. "Oh Magnus, what happened?" She asked as her frail hands gripped his face.

"Why are you out of the house?" He questioned as he gripped her shoulders.

"I heard someone inside and thought it was you. But it wasn't, I got scared and ran out here. I couldn't find your gun." She admitted and he narrowed his eyes.

"Someone's in the house?" He growled and had her stay by the trees so she could see the home but not be seen. "Stay here." He said, drawing his gun again and going inside.

He listened to the room and quietly entered before he glanced around, slowing his breathing so he wasn't heard by the intruder. He searched the entire house but didn't find anyone or anything. He went to the garage and found his tires slashed, but that was it. He later found that all the medication was gone. He tried calling someone but the line was cut. This put him on edge.

He grabbed a blanket, shoes and a few other items. He went back outside and went to the tree. His heart stopped when he didn't see her. He moved closer and saw her sitting on the ground, leaning against the tree out of sight. He crouched down and gently took her face in his hands.

"Are you alright?" He asked as he looked her over. She nodded tiredly and he put her jacket on her. He then put her shoes on her feet and wrapped her up in blankets. Protecting her from the elements as he picked her up bridal style.

"We can't go back inside, I don't think it's safe tonight. They might be back..." He glanced to the neighbors homes and hesitated before going to the door. He had locked their own home up but still didn't feel safe.

Magnus knocked on his neighbors door but they didn't respond, he went to each house knocking for help, but no one answered. He was growing tired and he couldn't find his phone. He needed a hospital and so did his mother. She kept drifting but he could feel her shaking from being wet and cold.

"Someone... anyone please..." he panted as he looked at all the homes in the neighborhood. "Help us... please..." he rasped. They were closed shut for the night.

He started walking and didn't stop. Determined to get them to the hospital and get his mother her medication. He didn't care about himself anymore. He forced himself to walk out of the area and down the road. Quietly asking for help as cars drove by. He knew they wouldn't hear him though.

"Stop... please... help... help me... stop...." he rasped as he glanced to each passing car. His body started screaming as pain registered. His ankle was badly sprained and he had cracked ribs. It was getting harder to breathe and he struggled to keep moving. He gasped for air as he walked and felt as if something was pressing against his chest.

"M... m... I... c... ca... k... p... u.... rk..." he gasped as his legs shook. A car swerved to a stop by them before Julie jumped out.

"Magnus!" She shouted as she rushed over. He looked at her with relief and fell to his knees. "Get in the car. Now!" She said as she helped him up again. She got his mother in the back and put him in the front. She jumped into the car and sped off driving like a mad woman out of hell.

"T... thank... you... Julie..." he managed before passing out. Too tired to try and stay awake now. Concussion or not.

"Hey! You have a head injury! Wake up!" She cried and slapped him. He grunted and blinked a few times before looking at her. "Stay awake dang it!" She cried as he tried to keep his eyes open. She kept smacking him or hitting his arm to wake him. They got to the hospital as she blared her horn a few times. People came out and got them rushed inside. Julie ran in with them and gripped his hand.

"It's okay now." She said as they put an oxygen mask on his face. She ran with them as far as she could. "You can sleep. It's okay... you can sleep now... you can... sleep now.... Magnus..." he barely heard her as he faded into the abyss.