Making an Example Of

Megan ran so fast she disappeared through the door in the blink of an eye.

Mom chased after her for two steps, her face flushing with anger.

"Fine! Wonderful. Every one of you thinks you can rebel now!"

Andrew rushed toward me, hope lighting his face again.

"Great. Zack, do not be scared. You will be saved soon."

Hearing that, the pain in my chest seemed to ease, just a little.

Before long, urgent footsteps sounded at the end of the hall.

Megan had come back, and Mom was behind her.

Mom looked around.

"What is going on?"

Dad lit a cigarette, took a drag, and laughed coldly.

"What else? These two perfect children secretly ordered takeout and then refused to admit it."

He walked toward Mom, lifting his chin with smug certainty.

"This time, I am going to teach a real cautionary lesson. I will not be soft again."

Mom frowned and glanced at me.

"What did you make Zack eat?"

Dad said lightly, "Rodenticide."

Mom's eyes changed at once.

"How could you give a child poison?"

Dad laughed out loud.

He waved a hand, proud of himself.

"I am not stupid.

"The box expired more than a year ago. It cannot kill anyone."

Mom visibly relaxed.

She let out a long breath and turned to Andrew and Megan.

"Did you hear that?

"Your father is doing this for your own good. He knows what he is doing.

"Why did you run out and make a scene?"

Megan stared at her. Her voice rose sharply.

"Mom, Zack is vomiting blood. How could he possibly be fine?"

Mom frowned impatiently and waved her off.

"Enough. Your father said expired poison is not a big deal. Stop making everything dramatic."

I clenched my fists. My nails dug into my palms.

Using all my strength, I pushed myself up against the wall.

"Mom, Zack hurts..."

Mom gave me a perfunctory smile.

"Be good, Zack. Endure it a little longer. Think of it as helping your brother and sister.

"When your father finishes teaching them, you can come out sooner.

"We are a family. Do not be so selfish."

My hand slowly slid down the wall.

Andrew suddenly stood up and slammed his fist into the wall.

His knuckles split open at once. Blood ran down the paint.

"What kind of sick lesson is this? I do not accept it. I will not learn it!"

Mom cried out and rushed over to hold his hand.

"How could you hurt yourself like this? Your hand is bleeding!"

She held Andrew's bleeding hand, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Dad was furious too.

"You still have the energy to throw a tantrum. Clearly you have not learned anything."

He turned and glared at me through the little window.

"This is all because of you.

"Can you not behave and cooperate while we teach your siblings? Must you be this fragile?"

I could not hold it in anymore. Tears of hurt rolled down my face.

Megan broke down completely. She sobbed so hard she could barely speak.

"Dad, Mom, I know I was wrong. I will never order takeout again, okay?

"Please, let Zack out!"

Andrew pulled his hand out of Mom's grip and knelt beside Megan.

"I swear too. I will never order takeout again in my life."

Dad and Mom exchanged a look.

Both of them smiled.

Dad bent down and looked at them gently.

"Then swear it on Zack's life."

When I heard that, it felt as if someone had crushed my heart.

Andrew and Megan's eyes filled with struggle, but in the end, they lowered their heads.

"I swear I will never order takeout again. If I break this promise, may Zack Reed die a terrible death."

Dad nodded with satisfaction.

"There. Was that so hard?

"If you had done this earlier, your brother would not have had to suffer so much."

Mom nodded and walked to the punishment room door, reaching for the keypad.