Behind the Timelapse

ve missed this. She's only been back for a few days, since her husband is away on a buisness trip. Having her here feels...fami

ell, she's not really reading it. Her face is too tight, her lips pressed tog

g not to think too much about tonights dinner. I've b

magazine, her eyes meeting mine. "You

"Yeah. Mom has been weird all day, and dad...he

eah that's how you know. Wh

ead tighten in my stomach. "What do you thin

carlett when was the last time we all sat down for a family dinn

re, two years maybe. Dads always doing business, and m

appen unless somethings

he had arranged a marriage with me and Pablo

nd takes my hands in h

n, just like y

s almost forty at the time, and rich,

e

. I need my sister alive. So please if I am right about t

. He doesn't care about either of us, and I know h

e right words. I've always known this is how my family works,

s me off. She knows I would ra

too Scarlett." She

ght, don't fight him. Don't argu

lace. She has always protected me. And now sh

nd I hear moms voice from the hallwa

or. As I open it I take a deep breath and

now it's going to

*

dining room. I keep my eyes on my plate, pushing food aro

t a word. I've learned to avoid his gaze unless absolutely necessary. His anger is unpredictable, a storm that could hi

carlett." Dads voice cuts through

ork, bringing a bite to my mouth, even th

ull well he doesn't care about my appetite

ike a warning. "You'll eat what's in front of

and swallow. After everyone's finished

t." He says calmly. The air in the roo

ne's p

ing down at her plate, as if avo

s voice sharpens

mon

I blink,

you mean?

rd, narrowing

thin a week. 5 girls have been selec

e blood drain from my face. Rowan Marino. The Marino family. The weight of that name c

slips out befor

he wrong thing to say. "This is not a

omfortably beside me. She's seen what happe

ll do whatever it ta

." He

n my throat. "What if he doesn't ch

spreads across his

u'll get what you

my chest, the world closing in. The

trap