In the hush of a cool summer night, Noir lay asleep in bed, bathed in the gentle glow seeping through his door's narrow opening. The stillness enveloped him like a blanket of tranquility, cradling him and the room in a warm embrace.
The ambient glow expanded as the door creaked open, breaking the tender silence. Mona, Noir's mother, entered with a graceful quietness. Her figure cast a delicate silhouette against the light. Strands of her brown, wavy hair cascaded down her back, catching subtle highlights in the soft illumination.
Her steps, measured and gentle, spoke of a quiet strength and a mother's touch. A faint smile graced her lips, reflecting the kindness and caring nature that defined her as she entered the room, dressed in her favorite Crescent Parish University sweatshirt—a cozy emblem of familiarity from her alma mater in the kingdom's capital.
With a flick of a switch, Mona brightened up the room, revealing the familiar contours of Noir's haven. As her gaze wandered, sweet memories came to mind. Posters from the Crescent Parish Jubilee they went to earlier that summer clung to the wall, beads from the Triad Day Parade hung from the closet doorknob, and a masquerade mask from a mother-son ball they went to the year before sat on the dresser across the room.
Mona sat on the edge of Noir's bed, grabbing a framed photograph from his nightstand—a picture of Noir, his father, and herself. The photograph captured a precious moment—a selfie Mona took with her instant print camera. In the background, Noir proudly fought to reel in a catfish as his father, Marcelo, stood by in anticipation with a net, ready to scoop it from the water.
Returning the photo to its place, Mona reached her arm over Noir just as he began to awaken. Slowly stirring in the warm glow of the room, Noir seamlessly transitioned from the realm of slumber to the quiet reality of the peaceful summer night. As his eyes fluttered open, Mona greeted him with a soft smile.
"Good evening, sleepyhead. What were you dreaming about?"
With a tired stretch, Noir rubbed his eyes before responding. "Nothing," he replied after yawning, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Sometimes I realize I'm asleep and my mind takes a break, but my body still senses things around me." He shifted slightly in bed as he spoke, adjusting to the warm atmosphere around him.
"I know just what you mean. You're void of all thought but still aware of the energy around you," Mona replied, a little surprised but not shocked at his level of introspection.
Sounds like a mix of sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming. Impressive. He's just as aware of himself as I was when I was six, she thought to herself. Well, this is my son, after all. Maybe one day he'll take an interest in dreams and what happens when we sleep, just as I did, and become an Oneirologist, she smiled to herself.
"Is Dad home yet?" Noir asked unexpectedly, changing the conversation as he looked past his mother through the doorway.
"Straight to that guy, huh? You push me aside so quickly, Noir," she quipped, her tone dramatic and filled with humor as she winced, gripping the fabric of her sweater over her chest.
Mona and Marcelo always made it a point to engage in good-humored rivalry to see who could garner the most affection from Noir, even though he loved them equally. But despite her playful banter, her smile faded. A cloud of uncertainty cast a shadow over her expression. She had no knowledge of her husband's whereabouts or if he was safe. She had hoped to avoid the subject until they'd left home, but it seemed she'd have to indulge the question at least a bit.
"No," Mona admitted—concern hidden behind her words. "Your father… He's…" Mona struggled to find the right explanation as she noticed the disappointment etched on Noir's face. She knew he'd tried waiting for his father to return home before falling asleep. His expression prompted Mona to regain her composure, forcing a smile to mask her worries.
"Actually," she continued, "we'll meet him at your Nénènn-yé lamézon. We're going to be staying there for a few days, so get dressed."
Noir's face lit up with excitement at the mention of Nénènn. "Godmother?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Yep, we'll be staying for a few days, so pack enough clothes," Mona said as she stepped over to the doorway, leaning against its frame.
"Okay!" Noir's response carried a burst of enthusiasm as he threw off his covers.
His godmother was the only other family member he knew besides his parents. His godmother and him were especially close, despite her not being an actual relative but a close friend of the family. With her being an only child and Noir being her only godson, she always made sure to spoil him whenever the family visited. He was almost like the little brother she never had. She always made sure to cook his favorite meals and have the radio set to frequency 107, a station popular for its music unique to the kingdom as well as its audio dramas.
Dashing over to his dresser, he pulled open a drawer and reached inside. His mind was already buzzing with thoughts of his godmother's warm cooking and the fun times that awaited.
MEANWHILE, WITH DELIBERATE MOVEMENT, MONA STEPPED INTO HER BEDROOM, absorbing its quietness. She'd been doing her best to hold herself together for Noir, but little by little, her fear and anxiety were getting to her nerves.
Upon entering, she turned to a specific drawer in her dresser. A wooden jewelry box with a delicately centered draw latch lay hidden in the back among the neatly folded clothes.
She traced its edges as she placed it atop her dresser. With a click, it slowly opened, revealing a secret she'd kept hidden from her loved ones—one she held close to her heart. This item, crafted during her pregnancy, had been with her since before the conception of her son.
She gazed at it briefly, filled with melancholy, before taking a needle from the box. Pricking her thumb, a single drop of blood welled up. Carefully, she pressed it to the item, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her as she stood there shivering.
Pull it together, Mona, she thought to herself. We cannot let him see us like this. Even within her thoughts, her voice quivered, though her determination remained steadfast.
"Noir," she called out.
"Yeah, Mom?" Noir answered, already standing in the doorway. His sudden presence caught her off guard.
"Oh, there you are," she reacted nervously, concealing the item behind her back. "All packed?"
"All packed!"
Mona walked over to Noir, kneeling to get at eye level with him. She placed her hand on his shoulder before taking a moment to say, "Your father and I love you very much, my handsome boy."
Noir's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I love you too!"
Mona leaned towards him, their foreheads touching gently as a moment of silence passed between them—their intimate connection as mother and son becoming palpable.
"I have something for you," Mona whispered softly. "Close your eyes."
Obediently, Noir closed his eyes. A sense of wonder coursed through him with an anticipation that could be seen on his face.
Mona removed her hand from behind her back, revealing the item—a modestly crafted doll sewn from jute fiber with a clasp around its neck. The simplicity of its form belied the depth of its meaning. The brown fabric and twine string held a blank canvas that had been contrasted with an intricate symbol formed by Mona's blood. Blood that had been branded into its torso, creating a rare design—one representing the mother, the father, and the child.
Reaching around Noir, she delicately knotted the string, allowing the doll to rest against his chest. The unassuming necklace now carried the weight of a mother's love and a secret connection only they shared.
Dragging her finger across the symbol, Mona grappled with the gravity of her actions. The weight of her decision sat heavily upon her shoulders, acutely aware that no one, especially Noir, would willingly accept such a gift if they fully comprehended its implications.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now."
Opening his eyes, Noir looked down at the necklace, his gaze filled with curiosity and awe. "What is it?" he asked.
Mona smiled, her eyes gleaming with affection. "Well, I didn't plan on giving it to you until you were older, but now is a good time. This is a special necklace, Noir. It will keep you safe and allow me to be with you wherever you go."
"Like a good luck charm?"
"Exactly," she nodded. "It's the luckiest charm anyone can ever hope to have, so never take it off, my dear."
Noir marveled at the necklace, his eyes analyzing every bit of its stitching and fabric. "Wow, my own good luck charm!" Yet a thought suddenly clouded his innocent expression. Furrowing his brows, he looked to his mother. "But why would I need protection when you and Dad are here?"
Mona's smile began wavering as a flicker of worry crossed her face. Searching for the right words, she was torn between shielding her son from the harsh reality setting upon them or exposing the truth about their family.
"Well–" Before Mona could finish her sentence, a thunderous bang shook throughout the house, resonating from the front door. Mona's attention was immediately drawn to the source of the disturbance, her heart pounding with apprehension. No! The barrier around the house must've been disrupted, she surmised.
Again, the house shook as the front door was struck.
Tightly gripping Noir's hand, she fled the room. "It's time to go."