They where yelling down the hall. Reed could hear them loud and clear, even though he tried not to. Six- and a quarter- year old Reed Brixxon was scared, stuck listening to the argument going on down the hall. "You don't understand. It's for the greater good!" A man's voice echoed down to where Reed was sleeping- or at least trying to. He pulled the blanket he was under over his head. He didn't like this. Not one bit.

"You don't know what the 'Greater Good' is, Luke!" A woman retaliated, her voice desperate. "What your doing isn't right. there are different ways to handle..." The woman's voice faded into an inaudible murmur. Reed let go of a breath he didn't know he had been holding. Listening to his parents fight had made Reed sick to the stomach, and he was glad it was over.

Reed's parents had been tense and easily angered around each other for about a week now, but they had never fought like this. They even waited until Reed was in bed to argue. Reed hadn't even thought it possible to plan an argument. He wiped the tears off his cheeks, just now realizing he had been crying. 

Reed remembered when his parents had agreed to take him to the beach this past weekend. All of the kids at school had been bragging about how their parents liked to take them almost every weekend, so obviously Reed wanted to go, too. He had begged and begged until finally his parents gave in. So they packed a bag and left. Reed had played in the sand and built castles with his mother most of the day, until Reed's Dad told him to go into the water. Reed, at first, was terrified and blatantly refused to go anywhere near the water. 

But Reed's Dad wouldn't have it. He just picked up little Reed, carried him across the sand, and popped him in the water. Reed screamed. And not just a small yelp, I mean a full out my-life-is-in-serious-danger kind of scream. But... then Reed realized that he was fine. There where no sharks to eat him. No unexpected currents. No angry merfolk. (It could happen.) Reed was completely unharmed. His Dad was right, there really was nothing to be afraid of. 

Reed had spent the rest of the day playing and enjoying himself in the water. He learned a valuable lesson that day. He now knew never not go in water because it's probably fine. Reed smiled to himself. He wished his parents would get along today like they did on the beach.

Suddenly, Reed heard a slam and a surprised yelp. They where yelling again. "You need to learn how to control yourself, Luke!" The woman sounded scared. Reed would be scared too if he was in her position.  Heck, Reed was scared just sitting in his bedroom listening.  

Loud footsteps advanced from the living room, where the two adults had been fighting. 

I'm publishing this to get feedback. I've lost all motivation on this so some feedback would be great... just for the record the prologue isn't even finished.