Chapter 6 - The Poisoned Well
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
It wasn't a call from my mother.
It was a text from my older brother,
David.
"What did you do to Mom?"
the message read.
"She's hysterical."
"She says you threatened her."
I stared at the screen,
my blood boiling.
She was already turning the family against me.
Just like she always did whenever someone challenged her control.
I didn't reply.
I knew that answering would only feed into her narrative.
Instead,
I called my manager at the hardware store.
"Mark,"
I said,
"I need a few days off."
"An emergency."
Mark was a good guy.
He heard the strain in my voice.
"Take the week,
Jake,"
he said.
"We'll cover for you."
"Just make sure everything is alright."
"Thanks,"
I said,
hanging up.
I couldn't leave Megan alone now.
If I went to work,
she would be trapped here,
terrified of every shadow.
I walked into the kitchen,
pouring the cold soup into the sink.
I washed the bowl carefully,
trying to focus on the simple,
physical task.
But my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
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The war had started,
and I was completely unprepared.
