Chapter 12: Stray Dog
The man bolted. ‹96684423› Thea was caught by Kade and Ricky before she could follow. §57defed7
Back then, Kade's methods were still raw. (3174e55a) His heart still too soft. #7f88db6b He was worried Tammy would grab the money and run, so he'd quietly put people on the mother-daughter pair. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 He didn't care what Tammy got up to — as long as they kept eyes on Thea. * d0a61246 She was at school all day, surrounded by people. ·d543fbf0· The second she made a move, they'd have her. #3e142f5d
Tammy took some roundabout route to the bus station. [v.d9e53233] Kade knew something was wrong and got to the school fast. [ed.e58bf111] He arrived just in time to see the man who'd come for Thea scrambling away. [ms.51535e6f] He played it cool — friendly hand on Thea's shoulder, face carefully neutral as he talked his way past the school security guard. (8588661f) He knew everything: Thea's class, her student ID, her grades, her homeroom teacher, their home address, the whole family situation. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 That was how he walked out with a shell-shocked Thea in tow. ··14710fe2
He produced a black motorcycle from God knew where. sub:2b93bbc4 Face like thunder, he shoved Thea onto the back of it.·dc3debac She shrank away, terrified, staring at the dark fury carved into his features. [proof:68edbda8] She had no idea where he was taking her. ed.60d20d5e
A helmet cracked against her skull. plate-a2a8305d Hard enough to make her wince. (7c49ac5a/Wed)
"Sit still.·666424fb Let's go!" sub:a7806260
Thea was hauled onto the bike. ed.77495551 The engine roared and they tore out of there. ··8bda2431 Her trembling fingers clutched the back of his shirt. ¶1ab699ac Her eardrums pounded. ref·fedde6b4 The motorcycle felt like it was trying to outrun death itself. [proof:3c3afba6] They ended up at the Greyhound station. (c9f3cbd2/Wed) Kade dragged her through it — one hand fisted in her school uniform — checking the ticket counter, the waiting area, the platforms, all while calling Tammy's phone over and over. no.03c9984a
Her daughter was with him now. §d5821eea
The phone was off. ‹0b04024f› No sign of anyone. ed.ad959d51 Maybe Tammy really had caught the first bus out like the man claimed.·37f6281d The man was gone too. ‹a8971b34› Kade's face grew colder and meaner by the minute. ref·47f7bf64 His voice turned savage. no.112e64b9 "Where's your mom? [v.3e85f407] Where'd she go?" ⁰04160444
"I don't know..."
"You don't *know*?!" His eyes were wild. 0406e45f·· He gripped her thin shoulders and roared in her face. #f55a51a2 "You didn't know she was coming to get you? ◆ b59e81e4 Tell me. [v.dec7605a] Where'd she go?" sub:071c75ec
It didn't matter how much Kade threatened or raged — Thea just shook her head and whispered *I don't know*. Her face was a white mask, lips bloodless and cracked, dark eyes lost and stumbling.·464a3689 She trailed after him, terrified and bewildered in equal measure.·e49256db
She really didn't know. «d179cd40»
They couldn't find anyone at the station. ⁰b3fa5e0a Went back to the apartment. «1567dfd3» Kade's iron grip hauled her upstairs. ref·082e5eb4 Thea crashed onto the couch, shaking, watching Kade pace like a caged animal — his face so cold it was barely human. ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026 Like any second he'd lunge forward and tear out her throat. ··ef05341b
Kade stood over her, jaw clenched, forcing himself to be patient. imp.c78a6786 He questioned her over and over. ⟨de780ff7⟩
How much money had Tammy actually taken? plate-44ca91dd
What had the man done? [proof:edf9529c] All of it. plate-8af8a4f5
How had the mother and daughter planned this? * 66aeb60a How had they stayed in contact? ed.e9c1d480
Thea sat rigid, face blank, curled into a ball. 771e641d·· Her lips trembled. ·54c2c549· She had four words. ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 *I don't know*.
"Say 'I don't know' one more goddamn time!" #33a5d1b1 Kade's eyes were bloodshot, veins popping at his temples. [ms.3744a049] His fist swung — Thea shrieked, shoulders clenching, eyes slamming shut.·9ad92f63 Long dark lashes quivered against her cheeks. ed.0725350e Fragile and pitiful and completely defenseless. ¶7213c01c
"You don't know?" plate-d36594dd He bared his teeth in a cold grin and hurled his phone at her. — ad1268ce "Call your mother. [ms.ecdccf77] Get her back here. ref·a3630ad5 If she doesn't come back, then you—"
He was suddenly in her face, sharp features filling her vision, eyes like blades catching a predator's light. ·1d770a86· His voice dropped to something arctic and cruel. ··d464c9bf "I will end you." ¶c1bb0805
She bit her lip, trembling, head bowed. [ed.f58c9c1c] Tears pooled in her eyes but refused to fall. [v.02dca0b4]
Kade watched her like a hawk. ◆ 2210f925 Thea didn't dare disobey. «3c32a0ad» She called Tammy dozens of times — the phone was off. — 262b84f8 Kade told her to text. [ms.7a0a07fd] She texted until her fingers ached. plate-26c85515 Nothing. [v.312c9298] Silence. sub:39e925ee
Kade tore the apartment apart. ··77f9b034 Went through every single thing in Tammy's room. * 3402fe47 Every savings book, every bank card, every document — gone. #2f9e1b15 All of Tammy's personal records, her ID, everything — wiped clean. [proof:fdd0f0a8] All she'd left Kade was a pile of useless paperwork about Dale Mercer. no.28a2ac8b
No warning. [proof:a7756199] Premeditated down to the last detail. [ed.da4a7847] Whether it was Tammy's idea or someone coached her — impossible to say. #db835431
He sank into a chair. sub:d1a37020 Let out a long, slow breath. no.0595214a Bent forward, elbows on his knees, both hands shoved into his hair, fingers dragging blankly over his buzz cut. [proof:f7930fdd] Thea sat in the living room, wooden-faced, staring. (1a8de1f7) The tears in her eyes had dried up, leaving just a thin glimmer at the bottom — catching the last sliver of dying sunlight, refracting a faint, tiny light before fading into something dark and hopeless. imp.65dc67a4
Tammy wouldn't answer texts. [v.e7cb66b8] Wouldn't pick up. §254b18ac The next day Kade got Thea a new phone — fresh number. no.39450da0 Called Tammy. [ms.e152baa6] Still off. plate-a4ffe197 Thea texted from the new number, told her it was really Thea, talked about things from when they were little back home. #478ff808 Begged her to pick up. sig.6e3a6de4
Finally... the screen lit up with a landline number. no.b594078c
They'd been waiting so long that both of them flinched. no.59baac7b Their frozen stares shifted at the same time. ·4f9b63b5· Kade gestured for her to answer. no.d9876574 Speaker on. (d1e1f2f1)
It was Tammy. ¶4cfd2849 Calling from a payphone. sub:d37c6d5d
"Mom." 227cfa1e·· Thea's voice cracked, barely holding back a sob. * da4a4abd
"Why wouldn't you go with him?" [proof:bbe15990] Tammy didn't seem to notice Thea's state — nerves or something else making her voice sharp and frantic. ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 "I called ahead. ⁰f0952192 I told you — just go with the man, that's all you had to do. §988f0ac0 Why wouldn't you get in the car? (ab072b96) You said you'd call 911. [v.af514616] Thea, what is wrong with you? imp.11074192 You want to stay in Savannah? [f0261ec7] By yourself? — galley 73a4edcf — How are you going to manage that?" #eeb40e71
No telling what story the man had fed Tammy. no.c42c7437
Thea froze. ··bce29f9d Kade's eyes bored into her. ‹452c128c› He made a throat-slitting gesture, lips moving silently — *say what I tell you to say*.
"Mom, I... I didn't mean to..." Her voice was barely a whisper. * dc109c39 "Mom, where are you?" ed.3d349a65
"Where are *you*?" Tammy's tone went careful. [v.0813a210] "Are you at school? [ms.1be9de30] Kade — has Kade been giving you trouble?" imp.d57a1f5f
"I'm at the apartment. imp.11a020b6 Kade went out — shopping or something. (8dfade6e) I'm here by myself. ¶6bcdc5bd He hasn't bothered me. (6b72b325/Wed) We actually get along fine. imp.796ab1d3 Mom, where are you? [40a848d4] When are you coming back for me?" sig.77adf7ae
Tammy only said she wasn't in Savannah. sig.0d003d94
"Mom... come home. ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 Please, just come home. imp.c68a6b4c Kade hasn't done anything to me. [proof:c35f38b6] Come back soon..." Thea watched the person in front of her, careful and quick, and added, "Kade's been really good to me. [a3a6d02f] Don't worry about me." ◆ 300ef3ce
Kade's brow creased sharply. ··8173a2d7
"I need to take care of some things. [v.78fe48d0] When I'm done, I'll come back. ◆ 1908d0ac Thea — just take care of yourself. fa0a6fc4·· Go to school. sig.9d7efee5 I'll figure it out. §acccb58a I'll contact you in a couple days." imp.88790945
The call came without warning and ended the same way. — 176dac57
Thea sat dazed.·863b0370 Kade's face was tight, like he wanted to say something. ref·2d4ce4e6 Instead he spread out on the couch, eyes closed. [proof:9e0cd971] His pupils moved slowly beneath thin lids. «56da76fa»
A couple of days passed. ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 They both accepted the reality — Tammy was gone. (c507b239) No telling when she'd be back. (18989cd3/Wed)
Neither of them left the apartment. 9bf3087f·· Kade smoked and played video games without a care in the world. ◆ 3e74c90a All they ate was takeout — mostly his. ◆ 24a97ca9 He'd toss some scraps Thea's way. ⁰e651b218 Enough to keep her alive. sub:a99f5d28 Outside of the bathroom, she wasn't allowed out of his sight. «c351fd35» Thea slept on the couch. (59bf6d59/Wed) After a few nights — whether it was the thick cigarette smoke or the sheer exhaustion of fear and heartbreak — she came down with a fever. ref·df02b589
She'd always been healthy. ◆ 9f645543 Barely got sick. imp.79f342dd This one hit fast. no.89f6cba6 Her whole body burned. [proof:5b10b899] She lay limp and listless, eyes closed. ref·66171d39 Kade ate — she didn't move. ref·6606e0cb She was curled on the couch with her back to him. — galley e6ddae1d — Once in a while she'd sit up, take a few sips of water, then collapse back down. cee7f570·· That was it — just gritting it out. [ms.8897cc7c] Kade glanced at her now and then. ··3bab8794 She was balled up, tucked into the couch cushions, hair wild, eyes sunken. [v.daeb5bea] Didn't seem like she was faking. «d7da65a0» She was definitely unwell. no.5b8a5f02 But Thea never said a word about it. no.39972eae His own mood was shot to hell, so he didn't bother either. plate-63f56cc3 Just looked after himself. ◆ 77f12f93
Thea hadn't eaten all day. #9df181f5 Kade passed through the living room. no.d95ea593 She'd shifted positions — thin limbs splayed out, dangling off the couch edge, cheek pressed flat against the cushion, delicate features pinched tight. ¶80bed6d2
He walked over. #e0ae7a39 Looked at her. plate-af854f12 She didn't stir. ··cb26a732 He walked away. ¶27f9cfc2 Tapped the coffee table, making noise. imp.c1ce2d96 Nothing. ⁰b0a69799 She exhaled faintly, curling an arm over her burning face without waking. imp.6cdceabc Kade reached over — one impatient hand — and touched her forehead. ref·6a612251 Hesitated. 7135a01b·· Pulled back. ◆ 8da97c25
"Thea." [v.6a8382c5]
She opened her eyes. ed.9f64eebe Looked at him, bleary and unfocused. [a91bd736] Squirmed tighter into a ball. 14c64395·· Burrowed into the corner of the couch. sub:cb5b37b9 Closed her eyes again. ‹007a1051›
Her thin shoulders rose and fell. §75b23e9a Her breathing was labored and uneven — long, then short, then long again. ‹b3661d16›
"Such a goddamn pain." [9a0ca38c] Kade scowled, walked to the nearest pharmacy, grabbed some fever meds, and tossed them on the coffee table. 1693ea78·· He kicked the couch. no.8e8e67d4 "Thea." plate-0a0fb97d
She made a tiny sound. sig.edf582a9 Her lips were cracked and stuck together. [9554b3f4] She tried to move them, couldn't even peel them apart. ‹3b4e980a›
He stood over her, hands on his hips. imp.1dc160cf Watched her lie there, motionless. ··e8edd3af Then he dragged her upright. ··87834353 "Get up!·c9fbd07a You forget how to talk? [ed.3a228bdb] Lost your voice?" ¶fbff6588
She was dead weight in his grip. ·c98128a1· Her fingers were soft and ice-cold, but her cheeks burned like open flame. sig.8f7ca51c She had no strength at all. [ed.cdfe5f13] Brows drawn, eyes half-open, not speaking, letting him push and shove her around on the couch. ©e2b4ef04/May 27, 2026 Kade thrust a bottle of water at her. [v.177be769] A handful of pills. ref·dca44554 His face was stone. [proof:6ec44b9b] "Take the pills. * 4bed68c1 Quit playing dead." sub:00526d8d
She swallowed every last one. (a2d9ba4d) Gulped down half the bottle. [v.0f984c34] A little color returned to her lips. §c2e903e3 Some faint life came back to that ghost-white face. ⁰c78f0d3a Kade watched her. — b90258fe Let out a cold, sharp laugh. * 90c62841 "Drop the helpless act. no.1aeba859 Think it's gonna work? imp.1fd6493a If Tammy doesn't come back, you could die and nobody would give a damn." ⁰79f84502
Thea's eyes were red-rimmed from the fever. * 59792421 Bloodshot to the whites. (2a01d72e/Wed) She blinked once, slow and dull. §f80f996b
The medicine kicked in. sub:83eb4fbd She slept again. ‹bf21514a› Woke up a little better — still half-dead, still draped over the couch. [ms.4aa9e873] Kade walked over, expression grim, and dropped a takeout container of porridge in front of her. [v.94514ec4] Then, out of nowhere: "We're even." #3368db78
He meant years ago. ··d92c2f46 When Dale Mercer had beaten him bad enough that he couldn't get out of bed, and Thea had brought him water and scrambled eggs in the middle of the night. ⟨f1c6db0b⟩ Today — they were even. ee600586··
They stayed in that apartment for a solid week. #60776720 Tammy's phone was still dead — not just off anymore, the number was disconnected entirely. ed.f57fc05a No calls came in for Thea either. [v.fe88d255] Kade made calls right in front of her — reaching out to every punk kid and street contact he had, turning the whole city upside down looking for Tammy. ⟨2767dbc8⟩ Looking for the man. ⟨4fa162a7⟩
The man used to run a legitimate business, then moved on to shadier ways of making quick cash. plate-05c187ca This time he'd truly vanished. — ecf0c32b His family's assets were stripped clean. [ed.cf2e3b65] His parents, his relatives — nobody could be reached. ··505a00f5
The two of them had planned it. ·5be4feb2· Took Dale Mercer's money and ran. [proof:10022669]
Thea listened to each update. imp.58530bb4 Her face was already numb. ©8a23a86d/May 27, 2026 Not a single tear. ⟨262c1704⟩ Not one sound. [ed.32af904e]
She didn't want to think about any of it. ⁰35b2d686 She just wanted to go back to school. — 79701666 She was in eighth grade. — 0f2e5d54 Finals were bearing down on her. ca6a7a82·· She didn't want to stay in this apartment, watching Kade's vicious, brooding stare rake over her again and again. ed.826a068b
Kade sneered.·e86475ef "Go back to school? (52a238bb/Wed) What are you dreaming?" [proof:f31308b8]
Thea hugged her knees, dark quiet eyes fixed on him. sig.b0720667 She spoke softly. imp.0192d5ee "Mr. no.f3212603 Lee — my math teacher. #27a8ccb5 He's mentioned you before." ⁰634a9c59
His eighth-grade homeroom teacher. «6b2b3bc5» The teacher who'd cleaned up his messes for three straight years. ¶c21855ab Mr. [v.5b16118e] Lee still taught eighth grade and happened to be Thea's math teacher this year. [v.6f4f6674] She'd heard him talk about Kade from the front of the classroom — said he'd once taught a student so sharp that one day of his focus was worth a week of anyone else's. imp.44b07b20 A shame, he'd said. #282be7df Family problems. #4edd0ed6 The kid never got on the right track. [proof:25273d21]
Kade's pupils contracted hard. [ms.3021d6c5] He stood frozen for a long time. [proof:58054290] Then his shoulders locked up, and he stood over her, face cold. ©1a428647/May 27, 2026 Told her to get lost. ◆ 2911e8db
He put people on her at school. — 159cc9b8 He didn't buy that Tammy would just abandon Thea like that. ◆ 1a0bc946 Every weekend he dragged Thea out and grilled her about Tammy. [v.a5c69e9e] For an entire month. — galley d13b26fe — Thea never left the school grounds. [proof:96c0f758] Never reached out to anyone. ◆ 6e9e8a02 Nobody approached her. — galley 218b2e91 — No messages. ◆ a6140da9 Nothing. sub:1269d27e
Two months later, Kade's patience ran out. [proof:e2d23ecd]
Money was nice, sure. ¶3846c4fa Getting to burn through Dale Mercer's cash had felt satisfying. ⁰16a15620 But Dale wasn't dead, and Kade had never been counting on that money. ¶ffe4df89 Gone was gone. §7fda30d7 As far as he was concerned, he and Dale Mercer were done. ©6c4f9602/May 27, 2026
"Your mom's really something, huh. ref·3cee0b3f Just left you here? [48ceb3a6] Didn't even ask how you were doing?" ‹643f95d6› Kade looked at Thea — thinner by the day, colder by the day. no.6251a6fe He smiled. §93b6f07b It was a cruel smile. sig.a4cad0a9 "Baggage. * 2620e753 Dragged around, dumped wherever. ⟨dc91ec2e⟩ Makes sense — what's a kid compared to cash? ref·6ed4e6b8 Running off with some guy, living the good life... real smart move.·c1d3b545 Remember this: Tammy is the one who threw you away. ¶216350a9 This has nothing to do with me." ⁰15eca008
Thea pressed her lips together. d2968805·· Turned her head away. §dde98ce2 Her eyes were wide open — dark and deep and fathomless. [aa4df60f]
"Get lost. (def1f96d) Go wherever you want. #d5b51b97 Do whatever you want." plate-1967958f Kade shrugged. ©82f34648/May 27, 2026 Final word. [bb099868] "You and me? e0dd55d5·· We don't know each other." sub:5837ca82
He washed his hands of her. [ms.bdaf3ce4] The mother-daughter pair — done. — d27bafcf Not his problem. plate-47f760c0
Once Kade stopped watching Thea, the people tailing her at school disappeared too. (c67a0941/Wed) She tried calling Tammy in secret. §8540bef0 The number really was dead. [proof:73f18f0e] She had no way to reach her. ref·399dae96 No idea where Tammy was or what was happening to her. ¶b9f8bca4
At least when school started, Tammy had left Thea an extra three hundred dollars. ©d1feb8e5/May 27, 2026 A just-in-case stash. — 253b8ab4 Tammy probably figured the day might come when Thea needed it. ¶aff95c45
Thea stretched that money as far as it would go — school fees, food, basic living expenses. [proof:05622e68] By December, she was running dry. (66151cee/Wed)
Tammy finally made contact. [ed.f366ab06] Once. §9e5cce4a Through Thea's homeroom teacher.·ff0b75ff Left a phone number for Thea to call back. ·7edaac3e·
Thea dialed. [ms.acafb64a] Heard Tammy's voice. §577ad7a1 Tears poured down her face. ref·ae89c3f3
"Mom... why didn't you try to find me?" [ed.0d0a6495]
"Things have been crazy on my end too. plate-f611cc62 I can barely keep my head above water." «fde56f35» Tammy's voice was muffled. no.da94986e "But you had money. ⁰e47a3efe You can take care of yourself. no.b0371950 Kade wasn't going to hurt you. imp.f032e642 I wasn't that worried." [ed.ae493556]
Tammy figured Thea and Kade's relationship couldn't be that bad. §1393d3f1 They'd grown up sharing a room. [ed.b29790ba] Never had a real blowup. §934c4c02 She remembered Thea standing up to ask for Kade's allowance that one time.·89f29283 Kade might go quiet around Thea, but he wouldn't be outright hostile. — 688338bf And Thea was so gentle, so docile. §4411582c She didn't know anything. ⁰f5a89b00 She hadn't done anything wrong. d81c4e23··
It never occurred to her — a fourteen-year-old girl, alone in a situation like that. [proof:7873ec74] How was she supposed to survive? «42b89869» Maybe it had occurred to her. ‹1706a539› Maybe those worries just got... pushed aside. §c1608120 Diluted. [25e27fdf] The way Thea's life had always been handled — glossed over, swept along with the current. [proof:f638caca]
Thea swallowed hard. «8f84d0f5» Bit the inside of her cheek. imp.ea055f24 Pressed her fingers against the tears at the corners of her eyes. [proof:91f048c6]
Tammy asked how things were with Kade. [5b4821fe] She'd spent months terrified he'd retaliate or call the cops, so she'd buried her tracks deep. #1a572159 Thea told her what she knew — she'd been at school the whole time. ⟨12247e11⟩ After a while, she'd stopped seeing Kade completely. plate-e3a28a95 Hadn't heard a single word about him. «d7ee73d0» Tammy finally exhaled.·406c0e0d
"Do you have any money left?" plate-1501962a
"About two hundred..."
Tammy named a small coastal city. [v.180aff10] Said she was there, in some little factory town, running a business with the man. ‹238d9dd7› Told Thea to buy a bus ticket and come. «14d27ff7»
"What about school? ·cca9cfee· Can I go to school there? «7aa0ff91» Mom... I have finals in six months." ·6151650f· Thea's voice was small and far away. 01925b64·· "Is there a place for me to study?" ©d3b3f6d3/May 27, 2026
That one stumped Tammy. sig.789dfe6e Where she was — a little industrial town, all small workshops and factories, mostly migrant workers. [ed.f8999b6f] She didn't think there was a middle school. ‹3441a8a1› She hadn't looked into transferring. (15ca497e)
"There aren't any schools here. ··b59bb94d Maybe just come first and we'll figure it out?" [ms.f1a28c71] Tammy frowned. (b961a35c/Wed) Reconsidered. * 9fa6eadf "Or — you could go back home? ⁰57328dd6 The town has a middle school, right? ref·6c70f3d3 Stay with Aunt Linda. [proof:31a4db0c] I think her husband has a relative who teaches there. ed.cfa5bf88 School wouldn't be a problem. — galley 9bed3f49 — Let me give your aunt a call..."
All these years in Savannah, the two of them had never gone back to their hometown. — dc034fb3 Tammy called once in a while to stay in touch with family. [ed.515b0c3a]
Thea stared at nothing. ‹2df01241› The turbulence inside her had gone completely still. no.b7eac522 Baggage was baggage. [v.e3790f89] As a kid, and now grown — same thing. [ms.eef316e6]
Go where? * 8ad8aafd
Go live with two adults who'd stolen a pile of cash and fled? no.b99547a9 Or go back to her hometown and endure being a charity case under someone else's roof all over again? sub:8d078ff0
She could get into the best high school in Savannah. — galley 3aaf74d3 — All she wanted was a normal life as a normal student — not to be alone at school, scrambling for excuses every time a teacher or classmate asked questions. [ed.a61bfeb0]
"I know." ◆ a3f95502 Thea spoke into the phone, calm and flat. imp.5d934fea "After finals. ¶c0234cb3 The semester's almost over." [3c0b89d2]
When the semester ended and winter break started, the school locked down the campus. plate-1d5d7dda Everyone had to leave. 2d68f290·· Thea had nowhere to go. ◆ cf561863 Nowhere to be. no.3883d16b She wandered outside for days. ©6a55076d/May 27, 2026 Spent her first terrified night in an internet cafe. ·d8acc258·
The guy at the counter noticed her — a girl with a backpack, sitting quiet and polite in a corner. [v.525054a1] Didn't look like a rebel skipping school.·b721b734 Looked more like a runaway good girl. (eda4a741/Wed) He came over to check on her several times, told her to go home.·0b6c2b82 Thea shouldered her backpack and walked the streets with no destination. §ad6a81b3 In the end, under a pitch-black sky, she went home.·38267bc0 She'd always had a key. 089e2c9b··
She stood at the bottom of the building and stared up for a long, long time. ed.d49f1b18 The windows were dark. (7bc93651) Nobody home. sub:f1fc0ba5 She crept up silently, opened the door without a sound. [v.7eaf6f6d] Flipped on a single light. [proof:d7f9c462] The place was a disaster — Tammy and Dale Mercer's things piled in the corners of the living room. — 7703b1a0 A layer of dust on the dining table. ©11ae522d/May 27, 2026 Meat still frozen in the fridge from before Tammy left. [ms.abd88ebc] Cigarette butts heaped on the coffee table, half-finished water bottles, a blanket on the couch. (0573c445) Kade clearly hadn't been home in a long time. (496277aa/Wed)
Thea went to her room. [v.8ed615de] Her things were still there.·fd38b181 Kade hadn't cleared it out. ⟨280a3e19⟩ Whether he'd just never gotten around to it or plain couldn't be bothered — she didn't know. ‹1b618964›
The kitchen still had rice and flour and seasonings — all from before Tammy left. #f80f8fce Expired or not, Thea wiped everything down and arranged it neatly. [v.2bd5a329] She'd lived on almost nothing at school this semester. ed.dac96793 Every penny accounted for. [proof:94ea9869] It had been ages since she'd had a proper meal. #38f1c3ec
Thea stayed in the apartment for four or five days, quiet as a ghost. ©32dfbcd4/May 27, 2026 Kade never showed.·f2354b3a
He rarely came home. sub:136be60e Sometimes he was at school, sometimes out with friends, sometimes gaming at the internet cafe. ‹eb4ce58b› On one of his rare visits, he walked in and found Thea sweeping the floor. no.fcb60bfe
She heard the noise behind her. — b1e3c9b4 Went rigid. [ms.976914d7] Gripped the broom handle and froze.·a4b3f058 Kade stared at the thin back in front of him, wondering if he was seeing things. imp.e65e075a
"You. [proof:457fb7d7] Turn around." ··6dcdc039
Thea turned slowly. #7dbfd996 Her panicked eyes collided with Kade's expression — pure, unfiltered *what the actual f*ck*.
"What the hell are you doing here?" ··ea98ad35 He planted his hands on his hips and roared. (0361bdd2) "Are you out of your f*cking mind?!"
Thea clutched the broom with white knuckles, making herself as small as possible. ·9bc15808· Lips sealed. no.9fd10487 Kade stormed over, grabbed her sleeve, and flung her toward the door. #68d9fc7f "Get out. — galley 04cd5434 — Get the hell away from here." (480731d3)
Tears swam in her dark eyes. ◆ f5ca0afd The rims went red. [ed.9dff10e8] She looked up at him — stubborn and fragile at the same time. [proof:f0bfc7b1] Kade's face was ashen, teeth bared, and he slammed the door so hard the building shook. ·e5a96b72·
The metal door crashed shut in her face. — galley 5293e5da — Dust rained from the frame onto her head, drifting into her lashes, carried by the draft straight into her eyes. ©f4788cb1/May 27, 2026 She fought the sting, biting her lip so hard it went white. * 6a901ebc Fat tears splattered down — soaking into her shirt, landing on the back of her hand. #794059c2 Scalding for a second, then ice-cold. ⟨b4a375eb⟩ Cold like December.·227022f0
Thea sat outside that door all night. ··ff8ba217 Her hands and feet went numb. #1cd32acb Her whole body turned to ice. [v.ecd761a6]
The next morning, Kade opened the door and saw her sitting on the stoop. ‹cc569b7b› His brain whited out. ⟨7c9f5891⟩ Vision went black. ··1b833041 Rage hit him like a freight train. sub:873fb087 His voice came out raw and shredded: "Why the hell are you still here? sig.3cb3a373 What are you doing here? ⟨8e490bc8⟩ What does this place have to do with you? sig.c4a48c20 She's gone. [ms.c6acb19f] The money's gone. (3c55a3dd) You've got the nerve to come crawling back?" §2badc9c4
She'd been thrown out in her slippers. sig.03838c54 Nothing on her.·7bedfa23 Where was she supposed to go? ©0617e22a/May 27, 2026
Thea opened her swollen, red-rimmed eyes. ©0019eaed/May 27, 2026 Wiped the tear tracks from her face. [d182a0ad] Her throat locked up — she couldn't get a word out. ¶5f0aaab0 Kade's expression was black. [0e68c880] He started down the stairs, then reached back to drag her out again. ©37a23279/May 27, 2026 Thea let out a sharp, wretched cry. ◆ 9f66bfeb She stumbled, clutching at the hem of his shirt, and crumpled against the step. ‹2eccca35›
"My legs... they're numb."·aa5788e4 Her voice was sand-dry and broken. [proof:c98679a6] She lay on the stairs, gasping. [proof:9c4edde6] "It hurts." #33bca902
Kade hauled her up, scowling. no.36d623ef She weighed nothing. sig.b7304659 Light as paper. plate-c3e0c6d3 "Sat out here all night and didn't leave? — galley 1f153a85 — What the hell is wrong with you?" ¶35a23ddd He went back inside, grabbed her backpack, threw it at her. [851c10ac] Spat the words. «b81e67fc» "Go. imp.6c4e404d Far away. ⁰b5f0184f You know I'm being nice about this." ¶7ad48ab0
Thea buried her face against her chest. ··3fbd42f6 Hugged her backpack. no.c53e3a39 Changed into her canvas sneakers and limped down the stairs, one hand on the railing. «4da5118a» The iron banister was rusted and filthy. ⟨f8f0d661⟩ Her thin, pale fingers came away black with grime. — 88822d00 The narrow strip of cheek you could see was sallow and drawn. sig.5589c6e7 Only the slender, swan-like line of her neck held any trace of a girl's quiet innocence. — galley 887a3f17 —
Kade watched her descend, cold-eyed. [ms.3930486a] Eventually all he could see through the gap in the stairwell was one stubborn hand gripping the railing. sub:4315dc74 He finished his cigarette. * 7767bfe2 Then he went downstairs, caught the frail little figure walking alone, saw the wet shine in her terrified eyes, cursed under his breath — vicious, bitter — and threw her onto the motorcycle. §7037eb0a Took her to the bus station. — 5b8bba75
Thea clung to the tail of his jacket, whipping in the wind. ‹d1b712e7›
"You got any money?" (62691f05/Wed) He shoved a few hundred bucks into her grimy hand. — 14f0c154 Voice hard and mean. — galley 96c25d98 — "Go home. [e74f462b] Find your mom. ref·0d43a72c Go." ed.623702ac
She stood there. «52df9f64» Watched him turn away. ed.a78bd802 Watched him pull on the helmet, swing one long leg over, kick the engine to life. §9275cd7c Black figure and black machine, all sharp angles and wind. — 5d3f58cd
Thea wandered the bus station for a long time. ◆ e27e65b6 The TV screens scrolled news and weather reports — travel advisories, conditions across the country. ··9e5dd1bf She stood there looking up, watching the forecast for her hometown. [5bc58513] Snow again. [proof:fdd992ed] Cold front pushing south.·fa32fa4d Days of freezing rain. — 1a7a793d Ice on the branches. (87cff4fc) Bitter, bitter cold. [proof:0e52e780] She thought of Aunt Linda's family — faces she hadn't seen in years. #00c4db55 Those scattered, sharp fragments of memory. (e02c0741/Wed) She turned away from the screens. ref·54db59ef Found a convenience store. ·17ab6427· Called Tammy's number. — c53f0c94 Dialed it again and again. sig.4b76769c For some reason it wouldn't connect. no.027a97c1 She waited at the station for hours, trying every few hours, from today into tomorrow. plate-c10ef5ad Nobody ever picked up. §6d67153c
She left the station.·8d5a7fb8 Rode a city bus around Savannah. ref·1a103c4c This city — the one she'd arrived in at eight years old, trailing nervously behind her mother, wearing a pretty dress, carrying bright hopes for a brand-new life. no.48d8d4ba She'd thought everything would be different. ref·0688863b That she could grow up a different way. §8235e1cc Instead, it was still the same — silent, bitter, invisible suffering.·7a5cb043
Thea got off at a random stop. ◆ 8dcc2665 Went to a market and bought some groceries. ⁰1d11ca57 Carried those groceries to a rundown apartment complex. * 643b787a Up to the second floor. sig.ea762def Knocked on the door. — 876867c4 Knocked three times. ⁰10f7b5b4 Someone came and opened it, cigarette dangling lazily from his lips. ·7bbc24dd· He saw her. [v.5a5613a7] His black pupils contracted. «3b3020d2» Surprise and annoyance flashed across his face — like he'd seen a ghost. ◆ 28f65b72
"Kade." ed.cc4b9e67 Before he could speak, she held the groceries close, those clear, steady eyes meeting his head-on. ◆ 1fca2940 Voice gentle. plate-4da4ddfb "It's almost lunchtime. plate-e18e9b63 Let me cook for you.·1c046620 Okay?" plate-59d96949
Kade was, genuinely, floored. — 50aadd41 Couldn't make heads or tails of it. ◆ 2cddcc4f Couldn't tell if she'd made him laugh or pissed him off. (d3385310/Wed) He blocked the doorway, arm braced against the frame. ◆ 8d10baae Thea compressed herself, slipped under his arm like a fish, and headed straight for the kitchen. [proof:fee548bf]
"Thea." §15f77a80 He turned to follow her. ©76767d31/May 27, 2026 "Are you seriously out of your mind?" ©33936e5f/May 27, 2026
"I don't have anywhere to go. imp.d8362e93 When school starts I'll leave." ·c6790fad· Her hands moved fast, tidying the kitchen. §e5809c68 She spoke to him with her back turned — that thin, resilient spine. (b49116f9/Wed) "After I finish middle school. ◆ 2aae9def Just a few more months. ‹23d81921› After that, I'll go. #2589b13f I can do your laundry. ·58ae88e8· Cook. ref·344c6d9f Clean." ed.a7747abf
He leaned against the kitchen doorframe.·f323577e She was pathetic. ed.6c4dbd9f Laughable. no.f236c73c Did he need some stray kid doing his chores? plate-23a68136
Thea kept washing vegetables and cooking like he wasn't there. * f9516e14 Kade watched her. «4c4ec301» The urge to kick her out faded without warning. (5210bb6f) His voice went cold. sub:66d88bdf "I'm not taking care of you. — galley 752a7135 — Think I'm gonna feed you? sub:2aa458b5 Not a chance." [proof:77f1e250]
"You don't have to." [72425c85] Thea's voice was small and muffled. [proof:017f0cf1]
And just like that, she stayed. [ms.d35225df]
With Thea around, the apartment was spotless. — 0a15f62e But Kade still barely came home. ref·e2f26b18 He was usually out — came back to sleep a couple nights here and there. imp.f3f15eb8 Things between them had been blown wide open. ‹bae599a8› They didn't talk. * 909f9e08 Thea mostly stayed in her room, reading, doing homework. b1af1ddd·· On New Year's Eve, Kade actually came back early. [ed.b585659d] They ate dinner together. ‹6738c1c2› Then he went out to play cards and didn't reappear until three days later. [proof:1379e76e]
Kade said he wouldn't look after her, and he meant it. ‹84b9decd› When school started back up, Thea went to register. — a03479f1 After tuition, she had $280 left. «036ef155» Not enough for room and board. ed.058edafd She switched to commuting — moved her dorm stuff back to the apartment. [proof:374c17c6] Walked to school every day. #0fa1b9c6 There was still some rice and flour at the apartment, some basic supplies. ⁰0f1529f1 She rationed hard. ·cbd34cc0· It would last a while. ref·e82e9cc8
Once the semester started, Kade came home even less. (29fc557b) He didn't like being there. sig.0117a66d Maybe once a month if she was lucky. ‹f10cf023› With Thea around, he had even less reason.·777b8963 Why bother? ¶0ad66057 Walking in and seeing that stubborn, aggravating little creature — how was that anything but more aggravation? sig.69f82349
Two or three months of this. §8fa4579e How Thea survived, she barely knew herself. [v.b717248a] Every scrap of edible food in the apartment was gone. ⁰b4cb0ca4 The fridge was bare. ‹98be8811› She started scavenging — sold off everything Tammy had left behind to the scrap yard, sold her old textbooks and every empty bottle and jar. ed.6e290689 Ate plain noodles boiled in water. imp.a69882ab Every single day. 8b0b9fb3··
Then one day, Kade was leaving the internet cafe and caught a glimpse of someone on the sidewalk. [v.0c6440a9] Baggy clothes hanging off a bony frame, hat pulled low, oversized backpack. ref·7cc61004 Walking along, casually scooping up empty water bottles, crushing them, stuffing them in the bag. ⁰bb055821 It was an entertainment strip — plenty of foot traffic, plenty of food and drink. ‹58be5c0d› Plenty of old folks collecting cans and bottles too. no.8485febb
He stared. [8e7c8d79] Strode over. [ms.cf576f30] Flipped back her hat. sig.f8071834 And there was Thea's face — sweaty and startled. ·0c419b84· A face barely bigger than his palm. «e462f7d5» The second she saw Kade, she was mortified. §4a9dc3c4 The flush crept from pink to scarlet. ref·52daa524 She snatched her hat from his hand and turned, walking fast. ref·0c514cad
This was before smartphones were everywhere. — galley 234741a7 — Computers lived in internet cafes and a few lucky households. [ed.1cfc580c] Thea hadn't learned any other way to make money. ref·ab2b4b61 She was quiet by nature, thin-skinned. ⟨4b295ddc⟩ At school, the boys had put her on some kind of untouchable ice-queen pedestal — she couldn't bring herself to tell anyone about her situation. §8b71b8cf Sometimes she'd go to the wholesale market, buy cute hair clips and stationery, and resell them to the girls in class under the guise of "doing someone a favor." — galley d217a983 — In her spare time, she collected bottles and took them to the scrap yard.·f9e7ff5f One bottle, one dime. (ae998c74/Wed) On a good day she could make a few bucks.·2fee9a3d It was the easiest, lowest-effort hustle she could find. ⁰ce8bd19d
Kade followed her home. [ms.35968f7d] Took one look around. [proof:2191f1e2] Kitchen and fridge — empty. sub:f6439095 Nothing but a handful of loose noodles and a few wilted greens. imp.ac938e70 Half a candle on the table. ◆ 39cb2c8d He frowned. §f383817e Hit the light switch. (5729ac16)
"What happened to the power?" ¶00005c3b
"It's out." — 79da0f4a Thea's voice was barely audible. ¶3bd65035 "The power got cut." * 1b548dd5
She couldn't pay the electric bill. — 7c1f752a She'd only managed water. ·883e67ee·
"Living like a caveman, huh?" [ms.995c4244] Kade looked at her with open contempt. [7c824670] "Where's your mom? [ms.58bf7045] Ran off with $80,000 and didn't send you a dime?" §11abfd77
Thea pressed her lips together. (ca9cc03b/Wed) Shook her head slowly. «a5194c5e» That phone number — she didn't know what had happened, but it was dead. plate-4a03eb60 She and Tammy had lost contact completely. ©93b9e3e3/May 27, 2026
Kade let out a long, derisive laugh. imp.f54c242b
She was skin and bones. ed.a080fe7d Barely any flesh left on her. [v.1ee91444] Her skin had gone dull and lifeless. «fe5b16bb» Kade took in the sight of her — arms folded, standing over her skeletal frame. plate-30c2839c "Making your fortune collecting bottles? [proof:cd0449d5] You hungry?" ◆ f3eb31b4
Thea ducked her head into her collar. [v.d79d8fa2] All he could see was one small, snow-white ear poking through the tangle of her hair. ‹8a9728b3› The earlobe was round and flushed red as blood. — galley 18e9495e —
"Living alone's rough, huh? «dd6c871c» Waiting around for a handout? — galley b6e73f84 — Don't look at me. (d3c2741f) You could starve to death and it's not my problem." [c77f13c2]
"I'm not." ··aa978ebb She bit her lip. (be6d5946)
Kade's gaze — half-amused, half-mocking — swept over her. 0caf519d·· He let out a long breath. imp.415927e2 Tugged her sleeve. ··0bf16da9 "Come on. ed.47046e9e Let me teach you how to make money." no.34e46e32
Kade took Thea to a little convenience store. plate-eed02d85 Shoved her inside. ⟨8fde98da⟩ Pushed her right up to the snack aisle. sub:56450743 His tall frame loomed behind her. ◆ febad9ce "Pick whatever you want. — 30cf487b Go ahead."·313f9dd2
She looked up, confused. [v.f62b3fe6]
He leaned close to her ear, flashing that big, wicked grin. «76d3aa38» "I'll block the camera for you. «c573c2bf» Be gentle about it — tuck it inside your shirt. [ed.f6d374df] Wait till someone's at the register, then walk out like you own the place. [ed.be02d4b7] Learn this, and you'll never go hungry again."·c44d1e3f
A pack of cookies appeared from nowhere. (8745318d/Wed) His voice was low and sly. [proof:2c6355a4] "Vanilla sandwich cookies. sub:b36f8a75 That's, what, a hundred bottles? sub:3f7f0ca4 You want 'em or not?" sub:c5385a08
The cookies slid beneath the hem of her shirt. sub:725db4fc Thea's heart nearly exploded. [v.1deaecdb] Sweat beaded at her hairline. plate-d73cd806 Her face burned crimson. [b591c796] She pushed the cookies away with stiff, clumsy hands. ⟨8a1855c2⟩ Then she stumbled out of the store on wooden legs, hands and feet frozen, walking into the blazing sun. 4ec131d7··
Footsteps behind her. ··ac15f952 "Got that much pride? * 8a261042 Rather starve?" * f44be0e0
"I'd rather starve!" (73cc94fc) Her teeth were clenched. imp.7670a485 Her voice was steady. — 41acd7cc "I'd rather die than steal." (c4bd7d86/Wed)
He threw his head back and laughed — a real laugh. ed.efc8363e Draped one solid arm across her shoulders, teasing. plate-605d8b98 "Not bad. ref·82dffc1e Alright then. ⁰169002f6 Let's see how long you last before you drop." [ms.a18dcfa3]
Then he steered her somewhere else. — 08efd4b5 Neon signs and flashy storefronts. 1d245deb·· Kade pointed. [0a7b9381] "See that? ⁰030fd479 That's a bar. sig.dc48eee5 Full of beer girls working the floor. [proof:6e09d566] You go in there, sell one drink, and that's enough to eat, dress nice, whatever you want." — b67a4d38
Thea shook off his hand. no.60945148 Bit her lip. [ed.9b42ad91] Turned and bolted. * 76d44b25
"Thea.·15d7330d Thea." [v.723a4609]
Her skinny legs pumped fast. sig.87ad08ef She wanted to be far away — as far from this bastard as she could get. #ec79d180
Noise behind her. ©f48227f4/May 27, 2026 Kade caught up in three strides, one arm sweeping around her waist, hauling her back. (626eeb02) Thea's whole body jolted. plate-19a551a7 She screamed, clawing at his hand, sobbing: "I won't go! — galley 5610f9e2 — I won't! — ab77f5a3 I'd die first!"·e51cfb86
"What are you crying about? dd907f34·· It's not time for crying yet." * 418464eb That grin was still plastered on his face as he dragged her along. * ca12dc88 "Come on. 6abb905c·· I'm taking you somewhere good. plate-4d7bd92e My secret spot." * f46c5c4d
He planted her on the motorcycle, pinned in front of him, and rode out to the middle of nowhere. [proof:f5f67f89] An abandoned factory. ⁰6205b353
Desolate. ⁰62023ea4 Crumbling. ··280f51fb Tall smokestacks rising over waist-high weeds. [proof:6257d54d] Kade locked his fingers around Thea's wrist and boosted her up onto a loading platform, then climbed up after her. — galley bf0a89eb — He pulled her through the vast, empty, dust-choked factory floor until they reached a hidden gap in the wall. no.cc42575d A vertical iron ladder disappeared straight up into darkness. #e4e7fa53
"Climb." ··1f425ea3
Thea shook. ed.5d9e4f0b Her face was bloodless. (e19c388a/Wed) She whipped her head around. ¶9a619db5
"Relax. imp.56bf3812 I'm not gonna hurt you." §8009bfdc He was grinning like a kid. ref·60251596 "You don't go up, I'm carrying you." ⟨95dd6fab⟩
"I'm scared..."
"Scared of what? sig.9d3302b4 Go slow." 60864da5·· Kade banged on the ladder — sharp metallic rings echoing through the hollow gray space. (e0babe4c) "I'm right behind you. ref·6ef4edbf You fall, you're landing on my face." ‹41775607›
He bullied her upward.·1fc44142 Hands and feet, rung by rung. [473857df] By the top she was dizzy and gasping. ·bf58d0f1· Another empty floor — scrap machinery piled in unrecognizable heaps, colors long gone. ‹a6e3ec2c›
Kade swung up after her. ⟨deea659e⟩ Faced the vast, hollow expanse of the factory grounds and let out a howl. no.7dad5cce It bounced off the far walls and rolled back to them, slow and ghostly. [ms.9c6e339c]
"Feel good?" — galley 6d9e7b5f — He was grinning ear to ear. §c660d2c1 "Haven't been here in years." [proof:cb723af0]
Thea stared. #87c95b78 Completely blank. ‹60ace84f› She had no idea what any of this meant. (ec168f20/Wed)
"Collecting bottles — what's the point?" ·1575556f· He dragged at the cables on the floor. ref·62aa89a6 "This stuff is where the money is. ⟨8e25b451⟩ Scrapped machines. [ms.d733cccf] Factory went under, nobody bothered to clean it out. imp.af705f30 People already hauled away most of it, but there's still some left. ··308c81d7 These big iron balls here — and the copper wire stripped out, the aluminum alloy pieces — if you can carry it, that's an easy hundred bucks." (d5e73cb1/Wed)
Her heart hammered. ·123a591e· Her forehead was slick with cold sweat and grime. [v.5ee1487e] She looked at him, stone-faced. ⁰f2fbf100 "You brought me here to steal this?" [v.eebeaf94]
"This isn't stealing.·baa147c9 It's salvaging." ed.68b6744a Kade corrected her with great moral authority. ·71ba5567· "Beats your bottle racket, doesn't it?" sig.206ec9e0
Thea let out a long, shaky breath. * 63e11207 Covered her head with both hands. ¶e177afe2 Sat down hard on the filthy floor. sig.18d77f8a