I Thought 'Home' Meant Warmth Nope, Just a Doghouse... Till I'm the HEIR, And It's novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Mom got assaulted. And year later, I was born.

From day one, the whole family treated me like I was cursed.

Until eighth birthday, Mom took me out for the first time ever. Up on this trail, she said we were gonna play hide and seek.

“Tind me, you get a prize. Dont? Then don’t come home.”.

Heart racing. I covered my eyes and started counting,

Mom was really good at hiding. I searched everywhere-nothing.

Sky got darker. Kept tripping, falling. Every part of me wanted to quit-but where else could I go?

By the time I made it home, I was covered in cuts and bruises. Banged on the door crying-“Mom’s GONE!”

Door cracked open just a little.

Seeing Mom, I tried to smile through the tears. “Mom… I found you!”

For a second, I thought she’d hug me. Tell me I did good.

Instead, she snapped. Slapped me so hard my ears rang.

You little piece of trash-why didn’t you DIE up there?”

I shrank back, too scared to move.

‘Mom… I don’t need the prize anymore.”

‘Prize? You DARE talk about a prize?!”

Mom screamed, grabbed my hair, yanked out clumps by the roots.

I wanted to run but ended up hugging her anyway.

‘Mom… hurts…”

Suddenly, door swung wide. And Dad walked out. Face blank.

‘She’s back. Keep her for now. Deal with it later.”

Then took Mom’s hand, helped her inside.

Never looked at me once.

I wiped the blood off my arm, followed behind them.

My skinny fingers barely made it through before-WHAM.

Door slammed shut. And crushed my knuckles.

I screamed. Tears everywhere.

My little brother Jax stared from the window. Perfect little face full of disgust.

“Piece of trash. Make my mom mad again, next time it’s your neck.”

Pain. So much pain.

I wanted to yell. To ask him why.

But eight years taught me-make anyone mad, go to bed hungry.

I shrank back. “Jax… can I please come in?”

Jax snorted, stepped back holding his toy, eyeing my dirty clothes.

“Gross. What dumpster did you crawl out of? Don’t touch anything.”

I nodded hard, tiptoed inside, trying not to mess anything up.

House was huge. But most of it-off-limits.

I pushed open the heavy storage room door, and what I saw made my stomach drop.

My blankets-gone.

My stuff-vanished.

I just stood there, totally frozen, with no idea what to do.

Jax walked over, voice full of contempt. “Dad thought you weren’t coming back. Threw all that garbage out.”

I turned to him, confused. “I was just playing hide and seek with Mom… didn’t say I wouldn’t come back…”

“Hide and seek? Only a moron like you would believe that. Mom came home hours ago.”

Jax sneered. “Want me to spell it out? Dad thinks you’re bad luck. Doesn’t want you.”

Something inside me snapped.

Shoved Jax to the ground. “You’re lying! Dad wouldn’t do that!”

I’m not bad luck! I’m his kid too!”

མི་ཚོག[1]

jax-used to getting everything-went pale.

Right then, Dad showed up.

I shook, looked down. “I… didn’t mean to…”

Dad’s eyes were flat-no emotion at all. He just said a few words, cold and quiet, then turned and walked off without looking back.

Follow me.”

followed Dad to the side of the yard, where there was this old, abandoned dog shed.

Dad pointed inside. “You sleep here now. And don’t you DARE set foot in that house unless I say so.”

nodded, peeked in.

Jobody had touched this place in years. The second I looked inside, the stench hit me-thick, rotten air that made my stomach turn.

ven worse than the storage room.

)ad didn’t say another word. Just turned and walked off.

Dad, wait-”

Without thinking, I reached for his sleeve. But he shoved me back hard. I slammed into the ground.

Dad frowned, glanced at his sleeve like I’d dirtied it.

“What.”

Something clicked in my brain. Something I shouldn’t understand yet.

Nothing, Dad… I’ll be good.”

Nights in Cleveland was freezing. My thin facket did nothing.

I woke up freezing multiple times that night. Each time, til stare at the house-all lit up and warm-then drift back to sleep.

Around dawn, laughter woke me up.

I looked up just as a rock smashed into my forehead. Blood splattered everywhere.