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Marc breathed heavily from the inside of the garage, watching as mom grabbed the pliers off the tools rack on the wall. She moved across the room to stand just a few feet away from him. She held the pliers up, furious but feigning the appearance of deadly calm. It was hot out, the trees were dark green, and everything was going wrong.
What did he do wrong? Marc…Marc didn’t remember…
“If you tell anyone what I did” she started, pausing for a moment as she assed him, his eyes flicking rapidly from the pliers to her calm face. It was like he was seeing her face through someone else. She wasn’t really there, that couldn’t be her. But it was.
“Then I’ll rip your teeth out” she threatened, voice deadly cal-
Jake blinked into awareness. Why were they in the garage? Why was mom holding pliers? Why did she loo-
Oh
He was going to be punished again.
Jake watched stiffly, frozen as mom approached. She clacked the pliers, sending a rush of fear through his veins. He couldn’t. He couldn’t handle this right now. He couldn’t. He needed to get away. But he couldn’t get away. He couldn’t tell anyone because then he would get taken away from his family.
She was too close, pliers raised, and Jake didn’t think. He needed to keep the body safe. He needed to protect. He nee-
He slapped her.
Her cheek was red
The pliers clacked
He couldn’t do this
She loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me, she loves me
Suddenly Jakes head was being grabbed as he was pulled, the sudden act causing him to loose balance and fall, kicking and trying to get back up as he was dragged.
“Stop with the dramatics” she scolded angrily
Jake wanted to tell her it wasn’t his fault. She caused this. It wasn’t his fault…
…all his fault…
It was all his fault, wasn’t it?
Mom was right, it was all his fault…
He deserved this.
She brought him up to his feet, and he stumbled, regaining his balance. His back was against the walls of the garage. He was cornered. He couldn’t get away. He deserved it.
She grabbed his jaw, forcing his head up and to the side. He couldn’t see what was going on from this angle. The pliers clacked…
“You think I don’t love you?” she asked angrily “I do everything for you, and yet you still don’t do anything in return “Jake swallowed “- You don’t do your chores, you get bad grades…”
Jake knew. Jake knew what she was going to say next. He willed himself not to be affected by it. But deep down he knew it would. It would hurt all the same.
“…you let Randall die” she finished
Jake couldn’t help the way his breath hitched, his silent crying turning into sobs. He willed himself to stop, mom would think he was faking it…that would make her angry…
Jake bit down in surprise as fingers entered his mouth, panic overwhelmed as he started to struggle, kicking and punching the best he could. The adult was stronger, however…Jake couldn’t do anything. Marc and Steven were going to get hurt and it was all his fault. They wouldn’t even know what happened.
Jake struggled harder as his mouth was pried open, the cool metal of the pliers maw pressing against his gums. There was a pressured tightness against the tooth-
“Wendy?!” dad called, entering the garage, horrified at what he was seeing.
The pressure left, and Jake nearly sobbed in relief. Mom turned to glare at dad. “I wasn’t going to do anything, he knew that”
Jake wanted to shake his head no. Wanted to tell dad- wanted dad to realize how bad mom was and save him. He wanted the pain to stop. He wanted everything to just stop.
Jake nodded yes
Dad looked at him, searching him, as if trying to see if he was telling the truth. Jake didn’t do anything, until he realized he was supposed to do something, and nodded.
Dad looked at them sadly “Wendy, we need to talk”
Jake watched numbly as mom released him. And he continued to watch numbly as they crossed the room, leaving it. He was safe. He was…
Was…
…in no more danger…
…no need for him anymore…
…useless…
Steven awoke in the garage, glancing around in confusion. He heard a strange tapping noise coming from the window of the garage. Steven sat up, stating wearily at the window. After a moment curiosity took over, and he started making his way to the table under the window. From there he climbed up on it, standing on it and peering at the fogged glass.
He could see a shadow fluttering outside of the window, and curiously, he opened it.
A flurry of feathers greeted him, a falcon flying in and landing in the middle of the garage. Steven nearly fell off the table in surprise, but managed to steady himself. He clumsily climbed down off the table, approaching the strangely still bird.
A glint caught his eye, and he noticed a metal band on the bird’s leg. It must be someone’s pet then. Carefully he approached the bird, keeping his hands close in case it bit him. Slowly, he kneeled down beside the falcon, hesitating. What if it bit him?
Steven shook his head, the bird needed to be returned to its rightful owner, and he needed to check the band on its leg to accomplish that.
Feeling more confident, Steven moved a hand towards the band, before gently grasping the birds leg. The bird surprisingly let him lift its leg up for him to see it clearer. Across the band was a series of numbers, as well as the birds name…
“Khonshu”