Chapter One-Zero-One: That Happened

Matteo D’Amico

Matteo recalled his father tossing his mother’s body to the floor, bloodied and bruised; his words were, ‘That’ll teach you not to run away.’

Afterwards, his father had turned to him and smiled.

‘See that, I brought your mother back.’

He had looked proud as he said this, so much so that Matteo had felt a sense of security. Surely, she wouldn’t risk that level of pain again; surely, this time, Mother would stay. He had thought.

Perhaps he was too young to understand, but he felt glad that his mother had been ‘brought back’. After all, who would protect him if she were gone?

But that was all short-lived; she didn’t worry about the pain enough to fear escaping his father.

And while he couldn’t imagine physically hitting Olivia, he had shot her—so what made him different?

Matteo felt his heart race uncomfortably at the thought.

He didn’t want to think anymore.

"Undress."

He instructed when Olivia stood with her hands fidgeting.

"I- I want to shower alone."

At first, he thou