A young women is seen preparing dinner. She stirs and adds vegetables, although there was not much she could put in considering her circumstances. This was the last of their savings, and she was using it to buy vegetables. Fidelia would rather buy cigarettes, but she had a kid to care for after all.

"Dammit...he better feel greatful..."

A sudden snap could be heard from her hair. The

band she had used to tie her hair together had gave way. Causing her hair to fall into the dish. She removes her hair from the pot.

Fidelia sighed

"Maybe that'll add more...flavor"

Picking up a rag and drying her hair, she turned off the stove and started walking towards a run-down door. Her house was dirty, smelly, and small. Living in this city was no way applicable for a child. But there was really nothing she could do, except live.

Opening the door, she saw her son. He was sleeping on a mattress that was on the floor. The room had no windows therefore she had to turn on a light. It was a small and rundown room.The wallpapers were torn, the carpet had stains and was moist in some places.

Walking over to her son, she started to shake him awake.

"Hey Quinten...Quin...wake up"

He was in a deep sleep. Starting to get frustrated, she shook him more frantically.

"Wake Up!"

Quinten shot awake, startled by the sudden yell. He backed away from her shaking. He looked tired, with heavy bags under his eyes. He regained his composure and stood up.

Fidelia waited impatiently

"Come on. You know the drill"

She watched as her son moved closer to her. He started taking off his clothes, leaving only his underwear. Fidelia grabbed his clothes and tossed them to the side. Kneeling down, she started to carefully inspect his body for any markings.

'Come on please...just have one Beyonder marking...'

She kept serching his body for any Beyonder markings. Her son was a too young to have any if those markings, but maybe some miracle would happen, and he'd be granted one. All she had was hope, that maybe one day, her son would be able to get them out of this shifty lifestyle.

She frowned

"Put you're clothes back on, then come out for dinner"

***

The Beyonder markings were a boon for poor families. If you were poor and your child or yourself suddenly got one, then you were basically guaranteed rich.

The first markings started to appear in the late 1940s. Along with them came The 4 Beyonders, these enigmatic godly beings. People who were marked started to develop strange and unique powers. It had seemed that these 'Beyonders' granted humans these powers via their markings.

Fidelia was unfortunately passed the age range to be granted a Beyonder, her son however was almost in it. But their was no harm in checking early. After all, that was their only ticket out of this place.

'Maybe he'll get one soon...'

Fidelia grabbed the pot full of vegetable stew and set it down on a small table. Next to the pot was one small spoon, the only cutlery they had. Her son had finally come out of the room fully clothed, he immediately sat down next to her.

The house was small so the kitchen was right next to the living room. They didn't have a TV or furniture. The house looked the same as the bedroom, if not worse.

Fidelia sighed

'This place is shitty...'

She grabbed the spoon and fed Quinten some stew. By now the stew had cooled down, so she didn't need to blow on it. Fidelia made sure to keep him somewhat healthy, it was important for him to grow strong, if was going to get a mark.

Fidelia eats some stew

"Quin torrmow the ladies want to meet up. So I'll have to take you okay"

Upon finishing that sentence, she noticed his facial expression change. The calm look on his face turned into one of fear. She noticed this look, but didn't care, that was their only way of making money.

Fidelia smiled

"Maybe this time you'll earn enough money, so we can buy a book"

Although she was trying to reassure him, it clearly didn't work. The look of fear still evident on his face. She went back to eating, hoping that'll he would stop worrying.

"We could buy a sign language book for you. That would be good right?"

Quinten reluctantly nodded

Standing up, Fidelia covered the pot, saving the rest for later. She walked over to the bedroom and gestured for Quinten to follow.

"You still look tired. Let's get some more sleep"

Closing the door behind them, they both got into bed. Trying to ignore what would happen tomorrow, Fidelia pulled Quinten closer to her. She noticed he was shaking and very uncomfortable.

She whispered

"Don't worry...I'm not gonna do anything tonight. Let's just go to sleep. Goodnight"

His shaking had stopped a little, but it was still evident. With a sigh, Fidelia stopped hugging him and turned the other way. That worked and Quinten's shaking had stopped. Fidelia let herself fall asleep.

***

Loud noises could be heard from outside the room. Fidelia stirred awake, rubbing her eyes, she tried to feel for Quinten, but he was gone. Fidelia stood up and started walking towards the door cautiously. Upon opening it, she peaked her head out, looking around.

Assuming it was safe, she stepped out and began searching for the source of noises.

She frowned

"Quinten! I know it's you. What are you doing?"

No response

"Quin! Where are you!"

Fidelia started getting angry, it wasn't like Quinten to do this. She had made sure he would always listen to her and respect her. She was his mother after all. All kids are required to listen and do as they're mother tells.

It was dark, so she couldn't really see anything clearly. Fidelia walked over to the light, switching it on. Now being able to see clearly, she scanned the room. From her position, the whole house could be seen. The perks of having a small house I guess...

Fidelia gritted her teeth

"Quin! Come out in 10 seconds or else!"

Fidelia started counting down from 10. She was interrupted, when Quinten crawled out from under the small table. He walked up to her, holding his hands behind his back.

Fidelia crossed her arms

"Hey! Look at me"

Quinten looked up at her, with tears in his eyes. Fidelia was confused but most of all, she was angry. Looking at his arms behind his back, she couldn't help but feel suspicious.

She put her hand out

"What're you hiding? Give!"

Fidelia's voice was laced with authority and disdain. Ignoring her son crying, she clapped her hands.

"Come on!"

Quinten bit his lip, he slowly revealed his hands. He was holding a knife, the only knife they had owned. Upon seeing it, Fidelia's eyes widened.

"Wh-"

Quinten had suddenly thrust the knife into her. Fidelia let out a small cry, feeling her flesh being pierced. She looked down at her son's face. His face was filled with tears and determination. Fidelia was shocked, why was her own son stabbing her?

Blood started to drip onto the floor. The feeling, the warmth of the blood started to envelop her. Quinten pulled the knife away, causing some blood to stain his white hair. Fidelia stumbled backwards, she supported herself on a nearby wall. 

She sat down, leaning against it. Her hands were covered in her own blood, Fidelia didn't know what to do. Her son had just stabbed her, she was going to die. She was angry, shocked, confused, but most of all she was sad.

Fidelia looked at Quinten, who was now kneeling next to her. He was crying, scared, anxious, and shaking. Shaking much, he dropped the knife. Blood was now forming a puddle on the floor. Fedelia started to feel dizzy and cold.

She couldn't understand why he stabbed her. Why he wou-. It came crashing to her like a tidal wave. Everything, every single bad thing, she had done to him. The abuse, the yelling, and all other despicable things. She was a bad mother, that was the reason.

Tears started to form in her eyes

"Quin...I'm so sorry"

Tears fell, from both Fidelia and Quinten. They're tears dripped into the blood. She finally realized how horrible, she is. Regret was the only thing she was feeling now, now more than ever. The thing she regretted the most was giving Quinten that injury.

She had damaged his vocal cords. Not until now, she never realized how much she had missed hearing his sweet voice. She reached out to cup his face, but he pulled away. That action broke her heart, she had hurt her son. Broke him beyond repair, when she was the one that was supposed to protect and care for him.

"I'm so sorry Quin...please forgive me"

Fedelia was feeling extremely cold now. The blood was still seeping out, Quinten must've hit a vital point, in her abdomen. The floor was now covered in blood. Her clothes were soaking and so was Quintens's clothes. 

Fedelia closed her eyes

"Mommy...loves you sweetie. Don't forget...that"

Quinten watched as his mother's body fell limp. He was still crying, he felt a little relief. But most of all, the feeling of despair clamped onto him like iron shackles. He thought killing his mother would make him feel better, would at least lessen the pain. He was wrong, now he felt lonely than ever. Even more broken then before.

He moves closer to her lifeless body and rests his head on her lap. Tears upon tears kept flowing out of his eyes like a waterfall, they wouldn't stop. Tired, Quinten was very tired and exhausted. All he wanted to do right now was sleep.

So he did, Quinten fell asleep, on his mother's lap. He didn't like touching her, he felt scared whenever she would touch him or get to close to him. He always tried to hide it, but she always noticed. This time, he felt safe being near her, resting his head on her. Now she couldn't do anything to him anymore, no more bad things. 

But Quinten couldn't help but feel like, he would miss her forever.