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The word dispatch hung in the muggy air, muffled by plastic and wet soil, but clear enough to freeze every soul on that porch. / Chapter 7 / 10

Chapter 7 - The Trial of Silence

The room descended into absolute chaos.

Marcus, consumed by the revelation of his mother’s lifetime of lies, tackled Evelyn to the floor, screaming questions into her face. Mara crawled into the kitchen, reaching wildly for the fallen revolver.

Pain racked my entire body, a crushing wave that blinded my vision. I dragged myself on my elbows across the floor, reaching for the gun before Mara’s fingers could close around it.

My hand touched the cold steel first.

I rolled onto my back, sat up against the base of the refrigerator, and cocked the hammer with my thumb.

“DON’T MOVE!” I screamed, my voice echoing like thunder through the small kitchen.

Everyone froze. Marcus stopped struggling with his mother. Mara froze on her hands and knees. Evelyn lay on the floor, her eyes wide with sudden terror.

Blood was trickling down my legs. The contractions were coming seconds apart now.

“Get on your knees,” I rasped, keeping the barrel trained squarely on Evelyn’s head. “All of you. On your knees, NOW!”

Marcus slowly got up, his face hollow and broken, and dropped to his knees. Mara wept in terror, sinking to the floor. Evelyn spat on the ground, but she complied, lowering herself beside her children.

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