The Pawn
I ’d been expecting the call. I had accepted that I’d have to answer it.
But her shrill voice still drew a wince as it rang in my ear. “Are you trying to disappoint me?”
I forced my hand still.
“What?”
“The scores for the Courage Challenge were released. Are you trying to fail me on purpose? Or are you just that worthless?”
I didn’t speak. It only made it worse.
“Thankfully, we prepared for this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Quiet!”
I snapped my mouth shut.
“You’re going to fix this mistake by listening to exactly what I tell you. You’re going to follow every instruction. You’re not to step a toe out of line.”
She explained her plan.
But it wouldn’t be that simple.
“He’s going to be a problem.”
Her laugh slithered down my spine. It coiled like a python around my throat, wrapping tighter.
“You let me deal with him. I get to pay you another visit soon, don’t I? I’ll remind him who he belongs to.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “And her?”
“Oooh… The Little Princess ?” Her laugh turned colder. “If she gets in our way, you’ll do what needs to be done. You’ve already tried to take her out once, haven’t you, baby?”
“What does that have to do with?—?”
“If she gets close to the end, you’ll send her down the wrong path. Just like we did last year.”
“But what does that mean?”
“It means have patience, you insolent girl” she snapped. “And do as you’re told.”
“But I?—”
“Your father and I were quite surprised to find out how you spent your break week. Did I forget to mention that?”
She cooed like she was proud of the choices I’d made. And she was, because I’d given her the one thing I’d sworn to never give her again.
“Don’t make the same mistake twice, my darling baby girl. You know how much I’ve regretted that.”
Hatred coursed through my veins, but I took a breath and forced it away. And I said what she wanted to hear. Words my throat tried to strangle as they came out.
A lie I’d told a thousand times.
“I won’t let you down, Mother.”
She scoffed. “See that you don’t. I’d so hate to take my disappointment out on your new friend .”
“It’s not?—”
“Morty Dread sends his regards,” she hissed. “Lie to me again, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
And then the line went dead.