Haisley's POV

I betrayed my siblings.

I betrayed my twin.

"You can't overthink it," Loyd said, passing a car on the highway, making me dig my nails into my palm. He drove too fast. "Your father will always get what he wants, and you know that."

I ignored him, staring out the window. I had snuck out of my grandfather's house two hours ago to meet Loyd in town; no doubt my siblings were already figuring out I betrayed them. I felt miserable about it, even though I had been in the presence of Wayne when he didn't get what he wanted.

I had been with my father for more than a year until he disappeared eight months ago and left me at the group home. He dropped me off at a friend's house but she couldn't provide for me, not with four other kids. From there, I ran away, living on the streets until Wayne found me again and told me I had a twin named Tarryn and he knew my mother had her.

I didn't believe him at first, but after he showed me photographs of my mother, Eliza, and a family photo

He showed me photographs of her, he told me our mother separated us from a young age, and I believed him when he could bring us all back together. During the time I spent around him as a child, I always felt like I was walking on eggshells around him, never quite sure what to say or do. He always seemed to have an ulterior motive, constantly pushing everyone around him to do things that made them uncomfortable.

At first, I brushed it off as just their personality, thinking they were a bit pushy or controlling. But as time passed, I realized something more insidious was at play.

He would use guilt trips and emotional manipulation to get his way, constantly twisting the situation to make it seem like I was wrong. I knew he was obsessed with finding my mother and sister. He had hired professionals to track them down.

Yet, I got caught in the crossfire whenever someone did him dirty. My father had many friends ... and many more enemies. Slowly but surely, he began to chip away at my sense of self-worth and confidence, making me doubt my own perceptions and feelings. I began questioning everything, wondering if I was overreacting or being too sensitive.

It was a suffocating feeling, like being trapped in a never-ending manipulation and emotional abuse cycle. I wanted to break free, to stand up for myself and say no, but the fear of his reaction held me back.

I felt like I was losing myself, becoming someone I didn't recognize. I longed for the freedom to be myself, to make my own decisions without fear of retribution. But most of all, I wanted to break free from their manipulation and regain control over my life. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to find a way out of the suffocating web of his manipulation.

Tarryn's POV

"Mom?" I whispered, not believing my eyes. My mom stood by the stove, her eyes widening. She tried to walk forward, but the chain attached to her ankle clanged as it went as far as it could go. I ran to her, closing the distance and running into her arms. "Mom, I was so worried."

"Oh, sweetheart," she whispered, hugging me tight. She pulled away, and I swallowed back a cry. Her face was full of bruises and I couldn't mask my shocked expression.

Wayne sighed, crossing his arms. "I told you to cover those, Eliza." My mom swallowed, blinking, and didn't answer him. "After dinner, cover them up."

His voice made my skin crawl. I glanced at my mom, nodding, ready to fight him, but I noticed the slight shake of her head. "Don't fight him," she mouthed, and I didn't understand. How else would we get out of here, away from this psychopath?

"Tarryn, why don't you come with me while your mom finishes up dinner?" Wayne said, and my mom nodded and I realized something heart shattering, something that made my blood run cold - my mom was scared of this man.

"Tarryn, sweetheart, don't make me ask again."

"Listen to him, please," she whispered, barely audible.

A hand gripped my shoulder and I jumped, startled. I turned, heart thumping, sending excruciating pain in my chest and stomach. I nodded at Wayne, reassuring him I'd listen.

He beckoned me forward, taking hold of my wrist and guiding me out of the kitchen. Away from my mom. He lead me down a long hallway past the front entrance. "Now, I know everything might be terrifying for you, but if you listen and do as I say, everything will be okay," he said, chipper, like any of this was okay.

"And what do you expect? That we'll be a perfect, happy family?" I asked and I felt his grip on my wrist tighten.

"First rule, respect," he said, calmly. "You show me respect at all times. Second, no running away. If you do, you'll have to sleep in the basement."

"Ah, here we are," he said and took a key out of his jeans pocket, unlocking the door from the outside. He turned the knob and let the door swing open. "I left it decorated, figured you might want to do it yourself."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You're fucking delusional, aren't you?"

I felt the sting even before I knew what happened.

Wayne narrowed his eyes. "Do not speak to me in that manner, Tarryn." I sucked back a breath, touching my cheek, fighting back tears that came from the sting of his slap. "Do you understand me? Use your voice, sweetheart."

I nodded, gulping. "I understand."

"Good. Now, why don't you rest, hmm?" I wanted to do anything but rest. I wanted to see my mom. He stepped back, grabbing the doorknob and smiled. "Your brother will be here soon, and then we'll have dinner as a family."

He left then, closing the door behind him. It clicked shut and that was when I knew he locked me inside the ugly, dim bedroom. I ran to the window, flinging the curtain out of the way, my heart sinking at what I noticed - the window had been nailed shut, with no way of opening it.

I was trapped and it made my anxiety threefold.

+++

I ended up falling asleep. I didn't know how, because my heart felt like it was going to explode after Wayne left me locked in the bedroom, but I did.

I sat up, groggy, not knowing the time. I startled when I noticed a dark figure sitting at the end of my bed in a chair and immediately knew.

"Haisley?" I called out. He glanced up, guilt flickering in his eyes. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be back with Carson and the others."

He fiddled with the book in his lap before tossing it onto the bed and closing his eyes. "Tarryn, I am so sorry."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, not understanding why he was apologizing. "You don't have anything to be -"

"It's my fault. I told Wayne where to find you," he interrupted, brushing his hair out of his face. I felt my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. His words were like a knife to my heart. Not in a million years did I expect this.

"What?"

"I had a burner phone when Skyler and Sam picked me up from the group home. I called Wayne when you left with Rose this morning and told him exactly where you'd be."

I took in a hitching breath. "I trusted you, Haisley. We ... we all trusted you."

He swallowed as he ran his hand through his hair, trying to catch my gaze. "I'm so sorry, Tarryn."

I couldn't breathe, my chest caving in on itself, as I felt my heart racing, pounding against my chest with an unrelenting force. My breaths came in short gasps, and I struggled to catch my breath. My mind raced with anxious thoughts, each one more terrifying than the last. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in a sea of fear.

"Hey, hey, breath, Tarryn," my twin said, standing and rushing forward. He reached to grab my hand.

"Don't, don't touch me," I said, gasping for breath, glaring. "I - I can't believe you did this, how could you?"

I tried to calm myself down, slow my breathing and steady my racing heart, but it was useless. The panic attack had taken over, and I was powerless to stop it. My palms were sweaty, and my body trembled with each passing moment. I felt as if I was trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape the suffocating grip of my own anxiety. I tried to remind myself that it was only a panic attack, that it would pass, but the fear was too great.

As the minutes ticked by, I felt the panic slowly subside. My breathing became more even, and my heart rate slowed. The fear began to lift, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

But the memory of the panic attack lingered, leaving me feeling shaken and vulnerable.

I felt like I was drowning, my heart racing as I gasped for breath. It was happening again, the panic attack plaguing me. I couldn't control it, couldn't stop the fear that was overwhelming me.

Suddenly, I felt arms around me, pulling me close. I looked up and saw my twin, his face calm and reassuring. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "I'm here, I've got you."

I clung to him, not caring that he betrayed me, feeling the tension in my body slowly start to ease as he rubbed my back in slow circles. His voice was soothing, and I felt myself starting to relax.

"It's okay to be scared," he said gently. "I'm here to help you through this. Just focus on your breathing, okay?"

I tried to do as he said, taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly. Gradually, I felt my body calm down, the fear fading away.

"That's it," he murmured, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing like that."

He stayed with me, talking to me soothingly and holding me close until the panic attack had subsided. When it was over, he helped me to my feet and walked me to my room, tucking me into bed.

Despite what he did, I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me. It wasn't easy to let someone see me at my most vulnerable, especially not someone who just betrayed me.

"Don't you ever fucking say that again," Wayne snapped from downstairs, followed by a echoing smack. "You are not in a position to disobey me, Eliza. Remember that; remember who is in charge here."

I tried to get up, but my brain was still fuzzy from the panic attack.

Haisley straightened, holding onto my forearms. "I'm sorry, Tarryn. I'm sorry."

There was a quietness that fell over the house.

"Children, dinner!" Wayne called.

I glanced down at Haisley. "He locked us in here. How are we - "

Haisley reached into his sweater pocket, taking out a key. "Oh, right." Of course he'd have a key.

We didn't move for a moment, staring at each other. Haisley had tears in his eyes and I felt a pang in my heart. I didn't know what to do, but I knew I didn't want to go down there alone.

I held out my hand for Haisley and he took it, helping me stand. "I'm sorry Tarryn. I'll get us out of here, I promise."

"You have to forgive me if I don't trust a single word you say," I muttered as we walked to the door. I didn't trust him, not one bit. He might have been under Wayne's manipulation, but I didn't trust him. He lied and betrayed me. How could I possibly trust him?

Haisley opened it, leading me into the hallway, an arm around my shoulder. We walked down the hallway together to the kitchen for dinner as a big, happy family.

+++
If Haisley surprised you, he did me too.
What are your thoughts?
How do you think dinner will go?
I'm curious to know if Haisley can be forgiven or if he can make up for what he did?
Not edited or proofread.
Thanks for reading, lots of love
- Charlie 🧡