Blessed – Teaser

A chilling drizzle of summer rain fell on the small gathering. The calming pitter-patter against unfolded umbrellas effortlessly drowned out the rumbling noise of cars speeding down the highway.

I stood alone in the front row and listened to the hushed words of my relatives.

"There's no way the hell spawn is coming with me," aunt Clara remarked with her characteristically nasal wheeze.

There was no risk that I'd ever follow her anyway. My distaste for aunt Clara outweighed even my hatred for dolls. In any case it was enough for me to choose starving on the streets if that's what it took to stay away from her.

A heavy silence draped itself over their little crowd.

"I- I'd take Cal if I could, but we just don't have enough room to spare. I couldn't let him sleep in the shed like some... some animal. This is all just too sudden!" Thomas added.

His voice had a soothing raspiness to it – one that could only be earned through years of heavy smoking and drinking.

I was well aware that they were unhealthy habits, but my home had always been covered in the stench of booze and tobacco. It was hard to disassociate the smells from the warmth of having a family.

"For God's sake! He can hear you... I'll take the child home until we find something more appropriate," a staunch voice declared. I didn't know the woman.

"But mothe-"

"No buts. It's been decided."

I raised an eyebrow. I never thought I would meet my grandmother. Let alone live with her.

The hushed cacophony of voices resumed. They began mumbling over each other with increasing fervor, each trying to earn the old woman's favor.

I couldn't make out who said what or what they said anymore. I didn't care either.

My already small figure felt dwarfed by the tombstone towering up before me. My suit's dark fabrics had already grown a couple shades darker from the downpour.

I stared at the grave. My mother and brother had just been laid to rest inside. They left me all alone to fend for myself against this ravenous family. A family that never fucking cared about me anyway.

The rain was my only consolation. It made it hard for the others to see the tears streaming down my face. I wouldn't grant them the satisfaction. I would show them no weakness – not now, not ever.

Just mom taught me years ago. This family had to be treated for what it was. A heap of treacherous snakes.

Warm blood streamed down my knuckles. My nails dug deep into the flesh of my palms. My teeth gnashed against each other under my furrowed brow.

If only they had listened to mom when she begged them for help. She told them what was going to happen, and they didn't care. They did this. They are the reason I'm all alone.

I bounced away like a skittish cat when the warmth of a hand settled on my shoulder. I wasn't ready.

I stared daggers at her. I remembered hearing someone say that looks could kill. It didn't seem to be true. Not for me, at least.

The old woman – presumably my grandmother – smiled at me. "Hello Caleb. I'm Dorothea. You may call me grandmother, or grandma."

I wouldn't.

Dorothea covered a sigh with a gold-embroidered handkerchief and closed her eyes. Just recently, Mom talked about how she had come across a gold mine. Something about wares from another world. I didn't believe her then, or now.

A stream of fake tears fell down her face.

"You'll be staying with me for the coming days. Just until we get you sorted."

I was used to feeling small. Even for a child, I was unusually frail; Father always complained about it. But there was something about this old hag ... She made me feel like I was staring up at a behemoth.

It was oddly comforting. Mom had always been especially fond of the saying: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

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More to come in June!