“Pathetic!” Father bellowed, looming over Joe. “Get it right, boy.”
Of all Father’s extreme drills, Joe despised “the spelling game” the most. “P-U—”
“Wrong!” Father struck Joe’s cheek. “You’re pathetic.”
The next evening, after years of fear and abuse, twelve-year-old Joe declared freedom.
“Wake up!” he yelled, standing before Father’s recliner.
Drunk, Father struggled against tightly wound ropes, duct tape covering his mouth.
“Retribution. That’s your word.” Joe glared at Father. “Best get it right.”
Father turned red, making unintelligible noises.
“Don’t understand? Here, let me show you.”
Joe lifted Father’s ax, smiling. His cheek no longer hurt.
About the Creator
Heather Hagy
Stephen King fan (but not like Annie "I'm your #1 fan" Wilkes cuz I'm sane and she's not)
Horror/supernatural are my favorite writing genres
Wife to 1 and mom to 4 humans, 4 dogs, 6 cats, and a dragon
"Jaws" is the greatest movie ever
Keep reading
More stories from Heather Hagy and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Bonded: The Story of Dag and Aila
Dag woke from hibernation with an ache in his back and a rumble in his belly. He opened his large yellow eyes and looked around the cold, dark cave. He was alone, no surprise. Knut and Tor likely hibernated together; they did everything together, much like twins. Rune might be in there, too, Dag mused. Rune followed Knut and Tor everywhere like an obedient pup. But Rune was fat, even for a juvenile dragon, and Dag pictured Knut and Tor kicking his chubby rump out of their cave.
By Heather Hagy2 years ago in Fiction
She loves me
She loved me. When I was small and my wee stayed to the paper. When I was rumpled skin and floppy big paws and big eyes looking up and waiting for her hands to find me, scooping me up and bringing me into her. And we were happy, so happy, so very, very happy. I was so happy to see her and danced my circles so she'd know how much I wanted nothing more than for her to hold me. I'd wrap, wiggle, wiggle and wrap my growing body with my bestest happy dance, slumping and kerplumping into her warm parts just like she liked me to. She was there and I was there, and we were there together, and it was perfect. Oh, how she loved me! We spent all our time together, playing inside, outside, up, down, going round and round. And she petted me and called me good girl when I made poops, and sometimes when I weed in her front yard or the neighbor's, and I was the best girl. For her, I really was! And she scratched me behind my ears, and it was heaven. I aowooo my joy! And she aowoooed hers too.
By Christy Munson5 days ago in Fiction
What Would Happen if Antarctica Completely Melted?
Antarctica, the southernmost land on earth, together with its icy character, is a possible cause of the most unimaginable catastrophe. The idea of its ice melting all at once at the same time makes one shiver, and that is the very reason. The outcome of such an occurrence would be nothing but apocalyptic, altering the shores, flooding the whole cities, and initiating chaos on a global scale.
By Amine Oubih3 days ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
I am with Donna on this one, Joe deserves a medal! So much drama and horror in such a short piece. Well done, Heather!
Horrific!!! Left a bloody ♥
😱! Can’t help but root for Joe here! Nice job!!!