My Mother Killed Me For Her Stepdaughter novel Chapter 9

"Annie, my baby girl, I swear, I'll avenge you. They'll pay for what they did."

That night, she cooked them their last meal. I watched as she slipped a generous dose of sleeping pills into their food, her face betraying nothing but motherly concern.

"Eat up, you two," she said, her voice sickeningly sweet. "You need your rest."

Frank and Bethany, oblivious, dug in. Soon, they were both snoring softly, their faces slack with sleep. Mom watched them, a chilling smile spreading across her lips.

She straddled Bethany, slapping her awake. "You worthless little bitch! You're not fit to shine my daughter's shoes!"

"This is your fault! You made me do it! You wanted to ride my daughter like a horse?"

Her eyes, blazing with fury, settled on Frank. She kicked him hard in the ribs.

"You lying bastard! You fed me lies! You took my daughter's house, my life!"

"You killed her! And you made me help you! You're a monster!"

Frank's eyes flew open. He struggled to sit up, but the drugs made him sluggish.

"Linda, what are you doing?" He stared in horror at the butcher knife in her hand.

"What does it look like? I'm fixing things." Her voice was flat, emotionless.

"You're insane! Don't do anything stupid!"

She laughed, a hollow, chilling sound. "Stupid? It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"You took my daughter. Now you'll join her."

And then, with a swiftness that surprised even me, she slashed his throat.

Frank's eyes bulged, his hands clutching at the gaping wound. He gurgled, choked, and then went still.

"Wait for me. I'm coming to join you. I'll explain everything. I swear..."

And with that, she stepped into the river's embrace.

"Mom!"

My scream tore through the night, a primal howl of grief and rage and something akin to... forgiveness?

I watched her body disappear beneath the water, her eyes fixed and staring.

And then, a strange peace settled over me. My anger, my pain, it all faded away, replaced by a vast emptiness.

She was gone. And so was I.

The End