Chapter 1 - The Shadow in the Archway
My eyes locked onto the figure standing in the shadows of the kitchen archway.
It was Marcus, my older brother, the golden boy of the family.
His face was pale, and his hands were shoved deep into his expensive slacks.
He refused to meet my furious gaze.
My blood ran cold as the puzzle pieces slammed together in my mind.
Chloe was cruel, but she was never brave enough to do something like this alone.
Marcus was the one who always covered for her, the one who controlled everything in this house.
“You,” I growled, the sound barely human as it ripped from my throat.
Maya buried her face deeper into my neck, trembling uncontrollably.
Marcus took a step back, holding his hands up in a placating gesture.
“Now, let’s not overreact, David,” Marcus said, his voice slick and calm.
“She was running around near the antique vases, and we just had to grab her to stop her from breaking them.”
It was a lie, a filthy, rehearsed lie.
I looked down at the angry, deep scratches on my five-year-old’s wrist.
Those were not marks from someone trying to protect a vase.
Those were fingernail marks, dragged deep enough to draw blood.
“You put your hands on my daughter,” I stated, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper.
My father stepped in front of Marcus, his face red with indignation.
“You are making a fool of yourself in front of our guests, David!” my father hissed.
“Put the child down, apologize to your sister, and we can discuss this privately.”
I looked at the people who were supposed to be my family.
I saw nothing but monsters dressed in designer clothes.
May you like
“If any of you ever come near her again, I will kill you,” I said, meaning every single word.
I turned my back on them and walked out the front door, leaving the toxic house behind forever.
