Summary: Simon Camden has a deep, dark secret - one that could shatter his
whole family. So, like any other confused and frightened 17-year-old would
do, he buries it in the back of his mind, hoping to forget. And he does.
But there's one small twist: someone else knows. And she'll stop at nothing
to make sure Simon Camden gets what he deserves.
Chapter 1: Almost Normal
Grasping the polished oak handle of the knife, Annie stared at the sharpened tip, which would soon be dripping with a thick red substance. Lifting the blade high into the air, Annie closed her eyes, trying not to think about what she was about to do. Almost in slow motion, she dragged the knife down, as if she were slicing yards of thick fabric. As soon as the blade touched the taut flesh, blood gushed out, like a mountain stream. Gasping, Annie almost choked at the foul, sticky odour that polluted the air, and let the blood-spattered knife clatter to the tiled floor.
"Yuck, mom," Ruthie rolled her eyes dramatically with a flip of her satiny hair, "Slicing up a chicken isn't that bad, you know. You don't have to have a fake coughing fit right there in front of the food. Yum. Saliva and lima beans for dinner. I can't wait," Ruthie feigned excitement, and then gathered up her books and homework from the kitchen table, to retreat to a place with less blood, and more air freshener.
Annie smiled and shook her head at her youngest daughter, and then snatched a green-striped towel, which was hanging from the kitchen sink to mop up the mess she had created. Ever since she had been pregnant with her first child, Matt, the reek of raw chicken always sent her reeling. But tonight was an exception, because Simon was bringing home a new friend, who happened to be allergic to everything except chicken. What luck.
"Whoa mom, it looks like you just had a surgery in here," Matt exclaimed, as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. Taking a whiff of the air, he gagged. "You didn't perform on a skunk, did you? And although I'm very glad that you're trying to follow in my footsteps as a doctor, I don't think performing on a skunk on your cutting board is the best route," He teased, lovingly patting his mother's damp hair.
"Oh, go upstairs," Annie retorted over the steady stream of water, which was flowing from the tap. "Dinner will be ready in an hour."
Matt made a face. "Dinner?" His eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he clutched at his throat, eyeing the limp mess heaped up on the cutting board. "I think I'll just order from outside, Thank you very much. I don't take food poisoning very well," he teased, stepping out of the room.
Annie suppressed a small smile, and failing to do so, emptied the sticky mess into the garbage, and pinching her nose while doing so. Searching for the cordless phone, she found it peeking out from underneath a pile of dirty laundry. Punching in a 10-digit number, she whispered, "Hello, Won Tong Chinese Cuisine? I'd like to order eight spicy chicken combos, with drinks. No, I don't want fried squid, even if it is the special. Thank you. Just make sure that the chicken is cooked, and that it really IS chicken."
Chapter 1: Almost Normal
Grasping the polished oak handle of the knife, Annie stared at the sharpened tip, which would soon be dripping with a thick red substance. Lifting the blade high into the air, Annie closed her eyes, trying not to think about what she was about to do. Almost in slow motion, she dragged the knife down, as if she were slicing yards of thick fabric. As soon as the blade touched the taut flesh, blood gushed out, like a mountain stream. Gasping, Annie almost choked at the foul, sticky odour that polluted the air, and let the blood-spattered knife clatter to the tiled floor.
"Yuck, mom," Ruthie rolled her eyes dramatically with a flip of her satiny hair, "Slicing up a chicken isn't that bad, you know. You don't have to have a fake coughing fit right there in front of the food. Yum. Saliva and lima beans for dinner. I can't wait," Ruthie feigned excitement, and then gathered up her books and homework from the kitchen table, to retreat to a place with less blood, and more air freshener.
Annie smiled and shook her head at her youngest daughter, and then snatched a green-striped towel, which was hanging from the kitchen sink to mop up the mess she had created. Ever since she had been pregnant with her first child, Matt, the reek of raw chicken always sent her reeling. But tonight was an exception, because Simon was bringing home a new friend, who happened to be allergic to everything except chicken. What luck.
"Whoa mom, it looks like you just had a surgery in here," Matt exclaimed, as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. Taking a whiff of the air, he gagged. "You didn't perform on a skunk, did you? And although I'm very glad that you're trying to follow in my footsteps as a doctor, I don't think performing on a skunk on your cutting board is the best route," He teased, lovingly patting his mother's damp hair.
"Oh, go upstairs," Annie retorted over the steady stream of water, which was flowing from the tap. "Dinner will be ready in an hour."
Matt made a face. "Dinner?" His eyes widened to the size of saucers, and he clutched at his throat, eyeing the limp mess heaped up on the cutting board. "I think I'll just order from outside, Thank you very much. I don't take food poisoning very well," he teased, stepping out of the room.
Annie suppressed a small smile, and failing to do so, emptied the sticky mess into the garbage, and pinching her nose while doing so. Searching for the cordless phone, she found it peeking out from underneath a pile of dirty laundry. Punching in a 10-digit number, she whispered, "Hello, Won Tong Chinese Cuisine? I'd like to order eight spicy chicken combos, with drinks. No, I don't want fried squid, even if it is the special. Thank you. Just make sure that the chicken is cooked, and that it really IS chicken."
