Golden Cage Mommy Mutiny (Elyse) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 9

The moment I opened the backpack, I saw it.

The idol was pitch–black, its features twisted and vicious, half cat, half fox, with long fangs that curled like blades. The air in the room turned noticeably colder, like someone had dropped the

temperature with a switch.

I wrapped both arms around it, lifted it, and stepped back, ready to smash it to pieces.

Then it actually spoke.

“Michele… it’s Grandma. Grandma misses you so much. Come stay with Grandma, okay?”

My pupils blew wide. A cold shiver crawled up my spine, the kind that made my skin tighten. This creepy thing could mimic my family’s voice!

Without hesitation, I swung it down toward the floor.

Just then, the lounge door slammed open. Selina burst in. She must have heard the devil’s call and

rushed over.

I tightened my grip and pointed the idol at her like a weapon.

“Back up,” I warned. “Or I smash it.”

The threat drained the color from Selina’s face. She stepped aside immediately, terrified I’d

actually do it.

I used the opening to bolt out of the lounge. The stage curtain was still down, and the seats beyond were packed with people from all over the country. A suspended microphone hung above the stage

like a spotlight waiting to happen.

I ran straight up onto the platform with the idol in my arms. Selina chased after me.

I turned to face her, holding the idol tight, and shouted, “This is how you stole my designs, isn’t it? You worship this thing, and it feeds you my work!”

Selina’s eyes went wet again in an instant, the famiar helpless act sliding back into place. “No, Michele. Give it to me. I’ll tell you everything, okay

“Still lying?” I lifted the idol higher, poised to slam it down.

Selina panicked. “Fine! I’ll talk!”

She stared at me and smiled, sharp and vicious. “You were born cursed. Just like the pastor said, you were going to ruin me. You would only block me from getting what should’ve been mine.”

“After you got sent away, I still couldn’t relax. As long as you were alive, you were my nightmare

Chapter 9

37.50%

sh

every night.”

She sounded unhinged now, like she’d finally stopped pretending to be normal.

“Later I found that pastor again. He admitted he’d just been making things up because our parents paid him.”

“But I wasn’t content. You goddamned bitch are still alive! Later I got this idol. It told me if I stuffed someone’s birthday and hair inside it, I could burn their life to build my own.”

“So what if I stole your designs? Michele Hunt, by the time you figured it out, it was already too

late.”

I looked at her, and the corners of my mouth slowly turned up.

“Too late? Are you

sure?”