Have you ever had that feeling right when you’re about to pass out when your vision gets black around the edges and it feels like you have cotton balls stuffed in your ears? That’s exactly how I felt in that moment. I knew my mom couldn’t catch me snooping or else I wouldn’t have a chance to actually find out what was happening with her. I knew that I had very little time to move because the minute she walked in, she would see me and it would all be over.

In that moment, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I threw the key back down on the ground and hurriedly kicked papers over it. It seemed to disappear in a somewhat random way so I figured she wouldn’t notice. This was a spare key anyway, she didn’t use it all the time. Right after I had taken care of the key, I heard the latch come undone and the door creak open. My mother’s face soon appeared and I straightened up. She smiled at me as she walked in.

What are you up to Russel? I hope no mischief happened while I was gone.

I knew she was joking, but for her to even mention that freaked me out. I attempted to appear as casual as possible and instead diverted attention away from myself.

So did you get the milk? I really wanted to have some cereal later tonight.

All she did was nod as she walked over to the side room we used to store our food. Like I noted before, this house didn’t have a kitchen. I tried to ask her about it and pleaded that we moved to a nicer house. I needed a kitchen to survive, we couldn’t just live off the food we could microwave. I followed her into the room and I was depressed by the setup. The room was actually meant to be a bedroom but had a fridge shoved in one corner, a large chest of drawers we used to store non-refrigerated items and a microwave on the floor in another corner. My mom claimed it was all we need, and after all, she would always say, we’ll be out of here as soon as I get myself back together again.

Yeah right.

Later that night as I was laying in bed contemplating how close I had come to being caught, I realized something. I had never thought to call my dad. How stupid I had been, if anyone could help me figure out what was going on with mom, it was for sure him. I immediately jumped up to grab my phone that had been charging at the desk opposite my bed. I searched through my contacts and pressed on the one that said Dad. It rang for a few moments before I heard a voice on the other side that I would have recognized anywhere.

Hello? Russell? Is that you? Are you okay? Where are you? His voice sounded surprisingly worried and pressing.

Hi Dad, I’m fine. What’s wrong?

Are you with your mother Russell? Where is she keeping you?

Confused I replied, I’m with her, yeah, but she’s not keeping me anywhere. We’re staying at this old house that she said had found. It’s pretty gross, but that’s not why I called. I wanted to call to see what’s wrong with mom. She’s always locked up in her room and hardly even comes out to eat. I’m worried about her.

That’s when the static began. I thought it was awfully strange, we always got such good reception in the house. The only words I could make out sent a chill through my spine.

Get out.