Vicious Minds: Part 2 (Children of Vice 5)

I froze, staring into at the empty aisle of the church.

She’d left.

It wasn’t even a day.

It wasn’t even two hours.

She couldn’t manage to even do that.

How long did she make me kneel for her?

CALLIOPE—AGE 6

“No, Mommy! No! I’m sorry!” I screamed, trying to hold onto the wall, but she pulled me.

“Get out! Get out, you miserable thing! Get out!”

“No, Mommy!” I tried to keep holding the wall, but my fingers slipped. I reached out for anything but found nothing. I felt the cold air. “Mommy!”

“Shut up!”

“Ah!” I gasped, hitting the snow and the ground. I couldn’t breathe, the wind smacking my face with ice and snow. Wrapping my hands around my stomach, I hugged myself.

“How many times did I tell you!” she yelled from the door. “You wet the bed one more time and I would put you out like a dog! Only dogs don’t know how to control themselves!”

“I…I’m sorry, Mommy.” I shivered.

“Kneel here and until you learn!” She pointed to a spot in front of the door. “Kneel!”

Nodding, I kneeled, trying to stop from shaking. But she saw me.

Smack!

“Kneel right.”

It was hard.

The wind was so heavy that my nightgown came up. I hugged myself tighter. Trying to kneel.

“You can’t even do that. Useless.”

“I’m…sorry…”

Slam!

The door closed right in my face.

“Mommy…it’s cold…” I whispered. My voice hurt. I couldn’t feel my hands. “M…om…my.” I glanced up, but the lights went out. I bite my lip, hanging my head.

I wanted to move.

No, Mommy will come back.

Mommy will be back.

I have to kneel… Mommy will see and let me come in.

“Is it working?”