The silence in the hotel room was a heavy, suffocating thing. I sat on the edge of the plush sofa, my legs spread wide, my bloody knuckles resting on my knees. The faint, groaning body of the bastard, Oslo Park, lay unconscious on the floor, a testament to the cold, precise fury I had unleashed. Isabel and Aunt Chris had taken Mom home, leaving me alone in the aftermath.I pulled out my phone, my fingers steady. Anna was still on the line."Adam, I have all the necessary details to show your innocence," she said, her voice a little shaky but efficient. "But I think they might not hear you out. They might take harsh steps.""Don't worry," I said, a cold calm settling over me. "I have a plan.""What is it?" she asked.I ignored her question and dialed another number. It rang twice before a familiar, annoyed voice answered. "What do you want, Adam? It's late.""How is your evening, Tiff?" I asked, my tone casual."What do you want?" she repeated, her voice sharp with impatience."I need your mom's help," I said simply. "Can you give her the phone?"There was a pause, then a sigh. "Okay."A moment later, a new voice, calm and authoritative, came on the line. "What do you want this late at night, Adam?""Good evening, Headmistress," I said, my voice smooth and respectful. "I know the phone is on speaker. It's easier that way. If I am correct, your precious daughter, my dear Tiff, has probably already given you a full report on my work. How would you rate my performance so far?"There was another pause. "I am impressed," she finally said, her voice even. "You are working diligently and efficiently. The school is now forgetting the fear of bullying, and your leadership qualities are inspiring and commendable. But I don't think you called me this late at night for a rating.""You're right," I said. "I need your help.""What kind of help?"I explained everything. The office party, Oslo Park's history of harassment, the way he had drugged and kidnapped my mother. I told her about the rescue, the fight, and the unconscious man currently bleeding on her expensive hotel room carpet. I also told her about the proof Anna had already gathered.When I finished, she was silent for a long moment. "Okay, I understand," she said, her voice now laced with a cold fury of her own. "This matter is personal. And I will help you, because you are the best student Northwood has. Whoever comes, you just let them talk to me. Your problem will be solved."The moment her words finished, there was a loud, authoritative knock on the door. The police had arrived.I opened the door to find two officers standing there. One was a normal-looking inspector, a grumpy man with a tired face named Steve Richard. The other was a different story entirely. She was a woman with fiery crimson hair, sharp brown eyes, and a voluptuous body that her perfectly tailored police uniform did little to conceal. The badges on her shoulder identified her as the Commanding Head of Police, Melissa Richard. Using my skills, I could instantly tell they were a couple.The grumpy inspector, Steve, was the first to speak, his voice a furious shout. "Arrest this boy! He's a criminal!"I just stood there, my own skills activating, a palpable aura of calm authority radiating from me. [King's Aura], [Great Leader], [Chanakya], [Napoleon]."Are you blind, officer?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet.He shot back, his face turning red. "How dare you talk back to me like this?!""It's my first time seeing an officer of the law attempt to make an arrest without a warrant, and without even asking what happened here," I said, my voice still calm, but laced with an icy logic. "You don't ask what happened. You don't know what's going on. You just arrest? Is this some kind of movie, where the police only work on their instincts, arresting people without asking a single question?"My words were true, and they embarrassed him. He was about to hit me, his hand raised, when a cold voice cut through the tension."Steve, step back."It was his wife, the Commanding Head. He turned to her, sputtering. "But Melissa… Commanding Head… that boy is arrogant!""He's right," she said, her gaze fixed on me. She walked forward until she was standing directly in front of me, her own prestigious aura clashing with mine. "Explain the situation," she commanded. "I will hear you out."I told her everything, from the beginning. About my mom, about Oslo, about the evidence Anna had collected. She listened patiently, her expression unreadable."Why should we believe you?" she asked when I had finished.I said, holding out my phone. "Talk with her once."I handed her the phone, and she had a brief, quiet conversation with Mrs. Watson. When she handed it back, her expression had softened slightly. "Okay, I believe you. Where is the proof?"I showed her the evidence Anna had compiled on my phone. She checked everything, her eyes widening slightly at the thoroughness of the report. "You are quite powerful for a schoolboy," she said, looking up at me. "A new adult. But your methods are ruthless. But, Mrs. Watson has spoken for you. I am leaving. I wish a speedy recovery for your mother."I could feel a genuine concern in her voice. "Thank you, ma'am," I said."Okay, boy," she replied with a nod. "Get home safely. We will take this bastard to his cell."And with that, she and her fuming husband dragged the unconscious form of Oslo Park out of the room. I was alone again. I quickly left, took my mom's car from the restaurant parking lot, and drove back home.After handling everything, I finally reached the house. I parked the car and quietly entered. The living room was empty. I went straight to Mom's room and pushed the door open.She was there, sleeping peacefully, the moonlight from the window casting a soft glow on her face. Isabel and Aunt Chris were sitting on either side of the bed, their own faces etched with worry.The moment they saw me, they were on their feet, rushing towards me. Aunt Chris wrapped me in a fierce hug, and Isabel grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. They were scared."What happened, Adam?" Isabel asked, her voice trembling. "What did the police do?""Adam, don't worry," Aunt Chris added, her own voice tight with emotion. "If needed, I will call my old connections for help. I will not let you go to jail."I gently calmed them down, my own voice a soothing balm. "Everything is fine. I handled everything. They won't be taking me anywhere."I told them what had happened, editing the story to its simplest, most reassuring form, making sure they were calm. "You should both get some sleep," I said, my voice gentle but firm. "I'll stay with Mom."They were reluctant, but I insisted. "It's okay. I can manage. You both need to rest."After a few more tries, they finally relented and went to their own rooms. I sat down on the chair beside Mom's bed, taking her hand in mine. I didn't do anything else. I just sat there, alone with her, holding her hand, and letting her sleep.After a while, I heard her murmur something in her sleep. Her voice was a faint, broken whisper. "Adam… don't leave me… I'm scared… please protect me…"I leaned in close, my own voice a soft, consoling promise in the quiet room. "Everything is fine, Mom. I'm here. And I will never let anything happen to you, or to anyone else in our family. Ever."
