For a moment, Scaramouche didn't say anything. He just stood there, the lines of his expression unreadable. Then, he sighed, sinking down beside you. "What happened?"

You shook your head. "I don't know. She's back... and I don't know what to believe anymore."

There was a long silence. The kind that stretched so deep, you wondered if either of you had any idea how to fix what had been broken.

Finally, Scaramouche spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. "She's been hiding something, hasn't she?"

You closed your eyes, the weight of his words sinking in. You had known that much, but you didn't want to admit it. Not yet. "Yeah," you murmured. "But... I don't know what."

Just then, a sound caught your attention. The unmistakable screech of tires on gravel. The low hum of an engine that didn't belong.

Scaramouche's gaze snapped toward the window, his body tensing. "Get up. Now."

Without another word, he yanked you to your feet, his movements fast but measured. You barely had time to process before he shoved you behind the nearest piece of furniture, his hand covering your mouth.

"You stay quiet, understand?" he whispered fiercely, his face close to yours, eyes darting toward the door. You nodded, heart pounding in your chest.

From the other side of the door, you could hear a muffled voice. Then, a loud knock.

You held your breath, waiting. The voice grew louder. A few more knocks.

And then, the door crashed open.

The door slammed against the wall as some woman stormed in, eyes burning with anger. "Where is she !?" she spat, her voice rising. "I KNOW she's here...."

You barely had time to react before her gaze landed on Scaramouche, who was standing by the doorway, looking at her seething with rage.

Her face was drawn, her body stiff with tension, but her eyes....Familiar, but with a pain that mirrored your own.

"Who do you think you are.. HUH???" She said loudly.

It's by then you finally realized.

"M....mom.....?"

Your mother's voice was cold and unforgiving. "There you are."

You flinched

"I left you to die in that house for a reason!" Your mother snapped, her fists clenched. "You made my life MISERABLE."

The room felt like it was closing in, your chest tightening with the familiar sense of loss and anger you'd grown used to. You stepped forward, wanting to say something, anything, but the words stuck in your throat. Your mind screamed at you to run, to get away from the rising storm that you couldn't control.

"I..."

"Shut up." She cut you off

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH Y/N."

Your eyes widened and suddenly you became angry

"What... what I put you through? No. It's what YOU put me through." You clenched your fists storming up to her, Scaramouche standing infront of you.

"I went through years of your abuse and torment while you treated my sister like an angel. THEN you tried to kill me in the house fire. You can't tell me I've done shit to you when every time I look in the mirror all I can see are past wounds YOU gave ME."

"YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT. I BROUGHT YOY INTO THIS WORLD YOU TREAT ME WITH RESPECT."

"I dont have to do anything. You're not my mom, not that you had ever treated me like your kid anyways. Piss off"

"I DIDNT EVEN WANT TO HAVE YOU ANYWAYS. It was your idiot of a father who insisted I have you.. and when he died I still had no love for you."

You could feel your heart breaking, you knew she didn't love you, you knew she didn't want you. But hearing it come out of her was a whole different level of realization.

"That's enough." Scaramouche finally spoke up "what kind of mother are you. I'd suggest you leave. NOW. Before I beat the crap out of you."

"You... I remember you.." her eyes widened and she smiled "you're that child she always hung around, aren't you."

Scaramouche hadn't said anything, preparing himself to fight.

The woman lunged towards the two of you.

Scaramouche knocks her off balance sending her to the floor.

Yoimiya rushed in, you weren't expecting to see her again so soon. Before anyone could say anything she had tackled your mom on the ground, kicking away the knife she had hidden in her sleeve.

The door flew open again this time not with a knock, but with the unmistakable thud of boots stomping on the old wooden floor. The group of men stepped inside, their faces cold and unrecognizable. They wore dark clothes, their eyes sharp with malice.

"We've been looking for you, Yoimiya," one of them said with a sneer, his voice dripping with contempt. "Didn't think you'd have the audacity to come back here. And.. what's this... your mother? Oh yes. I'll take out all of your family in one go."

"Are you kidding me!!!" Yoimiya's face paled, but she didn't move. "I'm not running anymore," she said, her voice shaking, but her resolve clear.

But before anyone could do anything, the men surged forward. Chaos erupted in the room. You barely had time to register your mother's scream before she was pulled into the fray, her hands clawing at the air in desperation.

"Stay back!" you shouted, rushing toward her, but Scaramouche grabbed your arm, pulling you back as he stepped in front of you. "No! Stay down! Don't—"

A gunshot rang out.

Your heart stopped. Everything around you felt like it was in slow motion, the sound of your mother's cries drowned out by the ringing in your ears.

She collapsed, blood spreading across the floor.

Time snapped back into focus. You couldn't breathe. You couldn't think. Your mother, she was gone. That horrible woman who had been so cruel to you. Her blood was on the floor.

Your eyes widened and just looking at it made you want to throw up. You couldn't move. You couldn't—

The sound of sirens suddenly blared from outside, police lights flashing through the windows.

"They're here," one of the men muttered, eyes narrowing in frustration. They turned, but it was too late. The police rushed in, securing the room in seconds. Guns raised, they shouted commands, and the men were quickly subdued, their hands bound.

You stood frozen in the center of the room, your gaze locked on the lifeless form of your mother. The world around you blurred. The only thing you could hear was the steady thrum of your own heartbeat.

Yoimiya stepped forward, her hand reaching out to you, but you didn't move. Ei soon appeared as well, she was the one who called the cops.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I swear, I never wanted this."

You didn't answer her. You couldn't.

You only had one thought in your mind: Your mother was gone. And you had no idea what to do next.