18. Gain Acceptance
This is much shorter than my other bits so far, but hopefully still enjoyable!
The protagonist wriggled their hands in the cuffs that bit into their wrists. Their older brother and sister stood before them, looking entirely too smug. “Let me go! This isn’t funny.”
Their sister laughed. “It is, a little bit. You’re quite desperate.” The protagonist glowered. Their brother stepped closer and set a hand on their shoulder. “You wanted to play with us, didn’t you?”
The protagonist felt something unpleasantly dense settle into their chest. “I didn’t mean that I wanted this.” Their sister stepped closer, too, eyes glinting sharply. “Were you feeling left out from our club?”
“I want to know what you’re doing-” Why you always come back with blood on your clothes, where you got the guns that are under your pillows. “We used to all be close. We did everything together. I miss you.” So much it hurts. You’re the only family I’ve got.
Their brother smirked. “We miss you, too.”
“Why can’t we go back to the way that it used to be, then? What’s stopping us?” Their sister flexed her fingers, cracking the joints. “We’ve changed, for the better.” Their brother nodded in agreement. The protagonist wiggled with the cuffs again. They were starting to become very claustrophobic. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Their siblings exchanged a knowing look. “It’s a secret.” The protagonist clenched their muscles involuntarily. A secret.
“We all used to share our secrets. Can’t we share this one too?”
Their sibling’s smiles were abruptly sharp. “I don’t know. Can we trust them, sister?” Their sister popped her fingers again. “Well, brother, they are family.” Their brother stepped close and grabbed their chin. “Flesh, blood, and bone,” he mused idly.
“Do you want to be a part of our secret?”
“Yes.”
Their sister popped the handcuffs free. Their brother pressed a knife into their hands. “You always liked the villains best when you were little, didn’t you.”
The protagonist nodded.
“Good- you’re about to become one.”