Chapter 3

Right then, Dad called. "What's taking so long? Darren's waiting for his water."

Mom hesitated for two seconds, then let go of the handle. "It can wait until after the exam."

She turned and walked away.

On the other side of the door, my body was still slumped against it, hand frozen in place, still raised to knock. I floated there, somewhere outside of everything, watching her walk away, helpless to stop her. She had been one turn of the handle away from finding my body.

That evening, Darren found out I was still locked in and immediately texted me.

"Wes, Mom said the key's under the doormat. Get out and eat something!

"I left food for you in the kitchen.You know how your stomach gets, so make sure you heat it up first!"

Darren always remembered that I had a serious stomach condition, and every time they locked me in the freezer over the years, he was the one who found a way to sneak food over to me.

He had even put a stuffed bear inside the freezer for that exact reason, hiding snacks in its round little belly so I would have something to eat.

I drifted there in the void and looked at the bear. Its stomach was bulging again. Darren had already stocked it for me, but I was never going to eat any of it.

The next morning, Darren woke up and checked his phone right away. I still had not replied. He went looking for Mom immediately, panic already setting in.

"I texted Wes and told him where the key was, but he hasn't answered. What if he doesn't have his phone with him?

"Mom, don't you have the security camera for the freezer? Just let me take a look at him."

Mom frowned. "Your brother's not stupid. He's doing this on purpose to make you worry."

She pulled out her phone anyway. The monitoring app loaded, and the live feed from the freezer filled the screen. In the frame, I had my back to the camera.

Darren leaned in close. "Wes! The key's under the doormat. There's food in the kitchen. Heat it up yourself and please eat something!"

I did not respond. Mom frowned again.

"If you've come to your senses, get yourself out of there and eat. Stop making your brother worry."

I still had my back to the camera. I had not moved at all.

Darren started to panic. He pressed his face right up against the screen. "Wes, are you feeling okay? Turn around and let me see you!"

Mom's expression shifted. She zoomed in on the feed. Under the dim light, I was curled up in the corner, my body curled into a tight ball.

Mom stared at the screen for two seconds. Then she sighed and even let out a short, cold laugh. "This again?"

When I was little, I used to do things like this to get her attention. She thought I was pulling the same trick.

"Wesley, we already told you where the key is. If you have any decency at all, you'll get yourself out of there. Stop messing with your brother's head before his exam!"

She locked the screen and tossed the phone aside.

I managed a bitter smile.