"M...Mom...!?" You gasped in absolute amazement, stunned when Billy knocked at the front door and your mother opened it with a strained - yet loving - smile. "Are you...Are you okay...!?"

"—I should be asking you that." She mentioned with amusement, joyful tears pricking at her eyes after you dropped your backpack and flung your arms around her body happily.

"Wha-huh...? Why me...?" You asked her blankly, not understanding her comment as you carried on cuddling her. "You're the one who almost got killed because of me...!"

"No...I almost got killed because I didn't believe you at first. This was my fault. I'm...Well, I'm sorry about that." Your mother apologised with a saddened smile, wrapping her arms around your body in return before hugging you closer.

"Don't you dare say that this was your fault...!" You fiercely bursted out, guilt washing through your veins whilst you enjoyed the emotional embrace. "This was because I behaved recklessly, and didn't think things through beforehand."

"Oh, (Y/n)...You were so brave then..." She praised you with an appreciative attitude, resting her head on top of yours and acting unbelievably grateful. "I...I couldn't thank you enough...The gratitude I felt...The guilt I felt...The overall pain I felt...It was so, so hard to bear, and—"

All of a sudden she released a shrill scream, stepping a foot or two backwards before clutching at her chest and sobbing. "M-Mom...? What's wrong...?" You stammered with a frightened tone, entering your house's hallway and panicking at her scared state. "Did I say something that bothered you...?"

"WHAT in GOD'S NAME is HE doing here...!?" Your mother cried in horror, raising one hand to point at Michael and behaving even more hysterical.

"Well, you see, he um...he kinda...he sorta...follows me around...?" You helplessly attempted to explain, fear flooding through your veins when Michael took offence to her dislike and held out his knife. "You know, like a...like a personal bodyguard or something...! He's not a threat or anything though...! I-I swear...!"

"He tried to MURDER me...!" She shrieked shakily, trembling from past trauma and forcing you to think back to what caused this in the first place.

—

Before she could hug you, Michael moved in a flash and grabbed her by the throat; slamming her against the wall and holding his kitchen knife menacingly.

"Mom—!"
"Don't hurt her, Michael please!"

"(Y/n)!" Your mother could hardly speak due to Michael's hold on her, but she still tried her best. "Don't do it darling...!"

"Deal with the...consequences...?" "So what, you want me to move in with you all? Why would I do that? Why would I accept?"

"Michael, if you would." Hannibal turned to the mute male and he gave a curt nod in return; Michael tightening his hold on your mother's throat and using his kitchen knife to slowly scrape across the side of her neck.

"No! Stop it! What the hell are you doing!?"
You were about to snap back at him, but you swivelled your head back towards your mother and Michael; seeing blood streaking down her neck and staining her skin.

"H...Honey, don't...don't agree to...to this..." Your mother's words were almost inaudible, but luckily you could caught what she'd said and grew even more alarmed.
"But you could die otherwise!"

Michael - impatient due to how long you were taking - dragged the knife across her collarbone and left a deep slash, not caring about her pained cry. The bleeding and lack of oxygen would slowly but surely end up killing her...wouldn't it? Your mother's weak hands clawed at his hand in a desperate attempt to free herself - freaking you out even further. "No! Stop it! Please, please stop it!" You begged, "You'll end up killing her!"

"So? These were the consequences we were talking about, doll-face~" "When you go up against us, people end up hurt."
"(Y/n)..." Your mother coughed feebly, you not knowing if she was pleading for your help or pleading for you to go against them.

But...you couldn't just let her die for your own safety. Michael drew the knife back - intending to actually stab her - and that made you emotionally snap. "NO! DON'T!" You screamed hysterically, "Fine, FINE! DON'T hurt her! I'll do it, okay!? I'll...I'll do it..."

"Mom? Mom? Are you going to be alright?" "Please tell me you're going to be okay."
"You...You shouldn't have...agreed to it, (Y/n). I should've—"
"I didn't have a choice, Mom." "There wasn't any alternative. I wasn't going to just let you die, and we can't go to the police. I'm sorry."
"But...But..."

—

"I know, I know, but—"
"And if it wasn't for THESE two, I wouldn't even know that you were still ALIVE...!" Your mother wept miserably, your eyes widening when Billy and Stu entered the hallway with amused smiles.

"Wait, what...?" Curiosity flickered across your gaze, your arm curling around your mother's waist before you led her into the living room comfortingly. "Just what are you talking about...? How did you know about my well-being exactly...?"

"Y-Your new friends..." She stammered through her current sobs, "They...They told me. Y-Y'know...about h-how your psychology classes were g-going, how you s-still hung out with Amber, Laura and Cadence...And h-how you made friends with Rose too. Wasn't she the girl y-you always used to copy notes f-from...?"

"Oh, uh...Yeah..." You replied in surprise, confusion spreading through your mind while you thought back to her words beforehand. Your new friends...? Who was she talking about...? You hadn't made any new friends...Had you...? Wait...Was somebody else keeping tabs on you...!? What the Hell was going on here—!?

"Aww, c'mon now (Y/n). Surely it's not that hard to figure out~" Stu devilishly chuckled, coming to your aid and holding one of your hands in his as a means of comfort.

"Yeah, there's no need to be so embarrassed about it~" Billy added with a devious grin, hugging you from behind and wrapping his arms around your body. "Although acting shy about being best friends with us really is cute, y'know~?"

"W-Woah, woah, woah...! Now wait just a second—!" You weakly protested, sensing how irritated Michael was growing and becoming massively nervous. "Let's all just take it easy for a moment."

"E-EASY—!?" Your mother yelled in alarm, shoving herself away from you and moving further backwards into the living room - clutching at either side of her head with a terrified expression. "There's a WANTED SERIAL KILLER in the MIDDLE of our LIVING ROOM...! How the FUCK am I supposed to "take it EASY", (Y/N)—!?"

"B-Because I can explain—!" You pleaded unhappily, placing both of your hands on her shoulders and making her sit down on the living room's sofa. "Really...I can. You just have to trust me."

"It's not YOU I don't trust, (Y/n)...!" She wearily whimpered; scared tears continuing to streak down her face while she stared at Michael with nothing but unbalanced dread. "It...It's HIM...! HE-HE'S here to...to FINISH me off and then...then take you away...A-AGAIN...!"

"No...He's really not..." You soothingly disagreed, shooting Michael a stern glare - as if to say "look at what you've done". "He's just...overly-protective of me...that's all. He...He follows me everywhere. He's obsessed...over my safety...my well-being...my protection...everything really. But he's NOT here to end your life. I...I promise."

"...R-Really...?" Your mother whispered after a long time had passed, her voice tiny and timid.

"Really." You repeated warmly, flashing her a loving smile before holding both of her hands in yours and giving them a sweet squeeze. "I wouldn't let him. He knows how much you mean to me."