Golden Cage Mommy Mutiny (Elyse) novel Chapter 53

My parents gave me all their love.

They decorated a princess bedroom just for me, with more Barbie dolls than I could ever count.

Because I loved bath time, they even spent a ton of money remodeling the bathroom just so I could have my own big tub.

They were always telling my little brother that he had to look out for me for the rest of his life.

But one day, after I took him into that big tub for a warm bath and he accidentally choked on some water, everything changed.

My mom lost it and wrapped her fingers around my neck, shaking me as she screamed,

“We thought if we treated you well, you’d know how to love your little brother, but you turned out

to be an ungrateful little brat who wants to let him drown!”

I shook my head in a panic, and my mom shoved me straight into the washing machine.

“You love taking baths so much, right? Then I’ll let you wash all you want!”

My parents headed out with my brother to go play and didn’t notice that, as they left, they

accidentally hit the start button on the washer.

Water started pouring in, but I couldn’t climb out.

When the clothes started tumbling around me, I forced my eyes open and saw my parents come

back.

I didn’t want a bath anymore. I wished Mom and Dad would stop being mad at me.

***

The washing machine rumbled as it started up, and I slapped at the door in terror, desperate to get

out.

“Mom! Dad! The washer’s running–let me out!”

Water began to rush in through the pipes. I curled myself into a ball, but it still rose fast until it reached my chest.

I choked on mouthfuls of water, but my parents just paced back and forth on the other side of the room, clutching my coughing brother in their arms

“Mom, Dad, I’m choking too.”

I tried so hard to make a sound.

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If just one of them would turn around and look at m–just once–they could pull me out and save

1. me.

I pushed against the washer door with everything I had, but it didn’t budge.

I remembered hearing them say they’d picked this washer on purpose because they were afraid that once I got taller I’d get into mischief and climb inside to play–a front–loading washer with a child–safety lock on the door.

Once the door was shut, it couldn’t be opened again

The drum started to turn, and its icy metal walls pressed against my skin.

Suddenly the whole world jolted, then began to spin

An invisible force threw me up, slammed me down, then hurled me up again.

My body smashed against the hard metal sides, each hit landing with a dull thud.

I tried to scream for help, but the soapy, sweet–smelling water rushed into my nose and mouth the second I opened my mouth.

Dad… Mom…

My head spun, and I couldn’t breathe. I forced my eyes open, still wanting to see my parents, but all I saw was them frantically pulling clothes on while my brother stayed in my dad’s arms.

“Penny has really let me down. If she dares treat her little brother like this when we’re right here at home, who knows how she bullies him when we’re not around? This time she really needs a

lesson.”

“What do we do, honey? He’s been coughing forever and he still hasn’t stopped–his whole face is

red.”

“We’re going to the hospital. Right now!”

The washer paused after the first cycle, and the suffocating water slowly drained away.

But more water began to pour in again.

Terrified, I pounded on the washer with everything had. “Mom, Dad, please save me. I really can’t

hold on much longer.”

My mom froze halfway through pulling on her clothes, then rushed over toward me.

“Mom, please save me.‘

Hope flared up inside my chest again. I knew it–Mom had just wanted to scare me a little.

I’d never, ever hurt my little brother by accident again.

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Mom reached her hand out toward the washer, but stead of opening it, she stopped a short distance away and pointed at me through the glass, her face full of disappointment.

“So you still don’t understand what you did wrong, do you? You’re still pounding on the washer like you’re throwing a tantrum? Penny Graham, your little brother is only two. He just started talking and already babbles “sissy‘ at you, and you still had the heart to do something like this to him?”

“You’re going to stay in there and think about what you’ve done. We’re the ones who spoiled you so much you turned into this entitled little princess.

I sobbed and shook my head as I felt the water trickling down my back again.

My head was still spinning from the last round of tumbling, but I forced myself to slap the washer again, trying to answer her–only to make her even angrier.

She kicked the washer hard. “You still dare to talk back to me?”

No no, Mom, that’s not it.

The washer was going to fill all the way up. I couldn’t survive that.

I started hoping the water level would rise faster, faster, so Mom would realize something was really wrong and let me out.

When I heard a sharp little beep, I braced myself, spreading my hands and feet against the inside of

the drum.

Just a little longer. As soon as Mom opened the door, I’d be safe.

But the washer started spinning again, and Dad came over with my brother in his arms.

“Babe, stop being mad at Penny for now. We’ve got to get to the hospital.”

No…

I watched with my own eyes as my mom turned away and walked out. The front door slammed shut with a heavy bang

A second later, the washer roared to life and began to spin violently.

The world flipped upside down and back again as I was slammed from side to side inside, like a rag

someone had thrown away.

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