Chapter 1 - The Shattered Mask
The room became completely still.
My mother gasped,
clapping her hands over her mouth.
Her eyes went wide,
filled with a perfect imitation of horror.
"Oh my god,"
she whispered,
stepping backward.
"Jake,
what happened to her?"
But I wasn't looking at the bruises anymore.
I was looking at my mother's hands.
They weren't shaking.
Not even a little bit.
My wife was trembling,
her breath coming in short,
ragged gasps.
She pulled her knees toward her chest,
trying to find the blue blanket again.
But I held onto it.
My mind was racing,
piecing together the puzzles of the past few weeks.
The sudden silences.
The fear in Megan's eyes.
The way she flinched whenever the front door opened.
"Get out,"
I said.
My voice was low,
quieter than I expected.
My mother blinked,
her expression changing instantly.
The horror faded,
replaced by cold indignation.
"What did you say to me?"
she demanded.
"I am your mother,
Jake."
"Get out of my house,"
I repeated,
standing up slowly.
I stood between her and my wife.
"You knew about this."
"Don't be ridiculous,"
she snapped,
crossing her arms.
"I just got here."
"You've been planning this,"
I said,
the truth hitting me like a physical blow.
"You pushed me to doubt her."
"You wanted me to pull that blanket away."
Megan let out a small,
broken sob behind me.
My mother looked past my shoulder,
staring at Megan with pure malice.
"She's playing you,
Jake."
"She always has."
"Get out,"
I roared,
pointing at the bedroom door.
"Before I call the police."
For a second,
I thought she would argue.
But she saw the look in my eyes.
She sneered,
turning on her heel.
"You'll regret this,"
she muttered,
her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor.
May you like
The front door slammed shut,
echoing through the quiet apartment.
