Broken Beginnings by C.R. Rice

Author:C.R. Rice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Magical Realism, Visionary & Metaphysical, Urban Fantasy, Coming of Age, Contemporary, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc.
Published: 2023-07-29T02:35:40+00:00

Chapter Twelve

To say their first family dinner wasn’t going as Karen had planned would have been a considerable understatement. Thane pushed and picked at the food on his plate while Averie chose to continue on as if nothing had changed, by sharing every single detail of her day.

Just as Averie stopped talking, in an attempt to gather for breath for her next story, Karen instantly spoke, “So Thane, why don’t you share something about yourself?”

Thane shrugged.

“Do you like alfredo?”

Again, he shrugged. In truth, he loved alfredo, but all he could think about was the fact that his mother did too, it was in fact, her favorite, and she would never get to have it again. “May I be excused?” he asked.

Karen frowned at the full plate but nodded her head. “Yes, of course. I am sure you’re tired. Your room is all just upstairs at the end of the hall. Do you want me to show you?”

Thane shook his head as he moved from the table. “No, I can find it.” As he reached the dining room threshold he found himself stopping. “Thank you for dinner.”

Karen smiled. “Anytime. Goodnight, Thane.”

“Goodnight, Thane!” Averie chimed, her words garbled as she spoke around a full mouth.

“Goodnight,” he mumbled.

“Don’t talk with your mouthful, Avi. That’s not polite.”

Tears filled his eyes as he climbed the stairs. He didn’t want to sleep, that’s when the nightmares started, but he couldn’t be around them anymore. Resigning himself to another sleepless night Thane climbed the stairs, found his room, collapsed on his bed, and let the tears fall.

The moon was high when Averie was pulled from her blissful dreams of angels with shimmering silver and white wings and gardens. Wiping the sleep seeds from her eyes, she looked about her darkened room for the source, only to find nothing out of place. Just as she was about to snuggle back into the warmth of her favorite blanket, the hushed sound of someone struggling to stifle their tears met her ears.

Fear prickled along her skin as she gripped the stuffed bear in her arms tighter. “What do you think it is, Bear?” she whispered.

The night fell into its recognized silence making Averie hesitate and nibble her lip. As the silence stretched as she began to relax the sound began once more. Swallowing her fear, Averie slipped from her bed, the bear clutched tightly to her chest as she pushed open her bedroom door and peeked her head out. A frown pulled her lips as the sound continued from down the hall. Her feet were silent against the floors as she crept closer.

“Thane?” she whispered, opening the cracked door. His too clean room was bathed in the pale moonlight, illuminating the single balled up form that lay in the beds center.

Instantly, the cries stopped. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice cracking with restrained emotion as he propped himself on an elbow.

“Are you okay?”

“Don’t be stupid,” he sniffled, dropping back to the bed with a soft thump.

Averie frowned and ventured further into the room.

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