Janice burst through the door just in time to hear my question. She hung her head guiltily, her eyes red as she stammered, “C–Charlotte, don’t blame Theo. I was the one who asked him for it.”
She added softly, “Theo said it wasn’t worth anything and that it was just a piece of junk. I didn’t know it was so important… I’m sorry…”
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 5
My eyes were bloodshot as I slapped Theodore across the face. I screamed, “My dad carved that doll piece by piece. Who are you to call it junk? Who are you to give it away?”
I had put all my strength into that slap. I could feel the burning sensation in my palm. Janice shrieked and shoved me away. “What’s wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
Theodore wiped the blood from his lip and mocked, “It was just worthless junk. I can give it to whoever I-”
Before he could finish, I grabbed the ashtray from his desk and hurled it at him. My head was buzzing, and my aim was off, causing it to hit the TV behind him.
The screen shattered, sending shards flying in all directions. One of the broken pieces grazed Theodore’s cheek, drawing blood.
Janice glared at me viciously and pulled something from her pocket, throwing it at my feet. She spat, “Here’s your stupid piece of wood! You’re insane! Get out of here!”
The doll clattered onto the broken glass, its surface scratched and scarred. A few spots were stained red from the blood on the floor. It looked just like me–shattered and broken, slowly bleeding out.
Suddenly, I felt afraid. I did not want to die. I promised Dad I would live well for him. It would break his heart to see me like this.
The buzzing in my head grew more intense, and my skull felt like it was about to split open. I shouted at them, “It’s not just a piece of wood! You’re the worthless ones!”
I lunged to grab Janice’s hair, but a figure stepped between us. Theodore towered over me, his eyes full of warning.
I laughed, my shoulders shaking. “I’m sick and dying, yet you’re still torturing me. Theodore, you’re the biggest jerk in the world.”
I stared into his eyes, watching his emotions swirl like a storm. Yet, before I could say anything more, the world spun around me.
Just as he raised his hand, my body finally gave out. Blood gushed from my mouth, staining his pristine white shirt in a widening crimson bloom.
As I fell, I heard someone scream desperately, “Charlotte!”
That voice sounded so much like Theodore’s, but I no longer had the strength to answer him.
