"Were you waitin' for me, darlin'?" Benjamin Lowell stepped inside, rubbing his eyes like he couldn't believe what he was seeing—me, looking all dolled up and tempting.
I put on my sweetest, most obedient act, just to string him along. "Oh, Uncle Benjamin... I've been hoping for this for a while now."
He let out a loud, rough laugh. "Well, in that case, I ain't holdin' back!"
I let out a sharp gasp. "Uncle Benjamin!"
"What's wrong now?"
Cold sweat prickled on my skin. "Do you… do you have any medicine?"
"Medicine?" He grinned, catching on. "Oh, right! Somethin' to set the mood? I'll go grab it!"
"No—it's for you to take!"
"You think I need that?" His smile dropped, and his pride clearly stung.
I forced a playful giggle. "I just want things to be… extra fun."
"Is that so…"
His mood lifted instantly. "Didn't know you were such a greedy little thing! Sure, I've got some—never had a reason to use it before. I'll take it right now, then we'll have ourselves a real good time."
He walked out of the room.
The second he was gone, I scrambled toward the window, desperate to slip out.
But he came back way too fast, clutching a whole handful of pills. "Look here, Uncle Benjamin's takin' 'em now!"
He tossed the whole bunch into his mouth and dry-swallowed.
Almost instantly, his face flushed deep red, like a man who'd downed a whole bottle of whiskey.
"Alright, sweet thing, here I come!"
I hadn't expected him to move that fast. My heart hammered—if I didn't run now, it'd be too late.
"Caleb! Get out here, now!"
"Caleb?" Benjamin froze. And Caleb—not the sharpest tool in the shed—answered, "Hey, why you callin' me? I ain't messin' with Uncle Benjamin!"
But the second Benjamin laid eyes on Caleb, he exploded. "You little snake! Sneakin' into my house? Tryin' to steal my woman? I'll beat you dead!"
Blinded by rage, Benjamin lunged at Caleb and started throwing punches.
He'd taken too much of that stuff—his mind was hazy, his fists wild and heavy.
"Uncle Benjamin, you're killin' me! If you don't stop, I'll fight back!"
Amid the crashing and grunting, Caleb finally snapped. They tumbled together, wrestling and swinging.
Benjamin was built solid, but Caleb was younger, fueled by adrenaline. They went back and forth, neither gaining much ground.
I didn't wait. I slipped right past them and bolted into the dark.
"Help! Somebody, help!"
Everything was pitch black. Rice fields stretched out in every direction. I couldn't tell which way was safe. My feet were bare, and the rough ground tore at them with every step.
It wasn't long before I stumbled and fell.
Just then, Benjamin came charging after me. His face was smeared with blood, eyes wild with fury. He looked like a monster.
"Don't you run from me, you witch! Sending Caleb after me? I'll kill you!"
He caught up, his hand closing around my throat.
I couldn't breathe. My lungs screamed. Staring into his bloodshot eyes, I was sure I was going to die.
But then Caleb came stumbling out of the darkness, covered in blood himself. He snatched up a heavy rock and swung it hard against Benjamin's head.
"Benjamin, I'll kill you!"
Caleb had lost it, too.
With a sickening thud, Benjamin crumpled to the ground.