He could hear the choking sobs in her voice and it was enough to strike his eyes dark and burning with the heat that threatened to tear down anything and anyone who dared lay a hand on his mother. He felt his chest burn and the anger rose like liquid fire in the pit of his stomach. It was unpleasant and he stirred against the wall, suddenly restless and uncomfortable in the faded light of the hallway.
He was off in the direction of his room before she would be able to detect anything. Prying open the window with the tips of his fingers, Chris climbed nimbly over the edge and flew off into the expanse of dark, bruised sky. Fleetingly, he thought that she might notice him missing and wonder where he had gone. The thought melted away quickly and the hostility directed at the man who looked like his father was there to take its place.