zero

Chapter 3: The Monster at Home

TW:abuse? kindoff? also mention of murder.

Zero always knew their family wasn't like the others. There was something different about their home, something that lurked just beneath the surface, hidden behind the smiles and the warm dinners. It was a quiet, almost imperceptible tension that buzzed in the air, like a wire pulled taut and ready to snap. But Zero never knew just how deep the darkness ran until the day they stumbled upon a secret that would change their life forever.

Zero's father, Richard, was a charming man. He had a way of making everyone around him feel at ease, with his confident smile and his steady, reassuring voice. To the outside world, he was the perfect husband and father—loving, devoted, always there when needed. But at home, there was always something off. He was strict, controlling, and sometimes, when he thought no one was looking, his smile would slip, revealing a cold, calculating stare that sent shivers down Zero's spine.

Zero tried to ignore it. They were sixteen, just trying to get through school, take care of their younger sister, Lily, and help their mom, Marie, with the house. But the feeling that something was terribly wrong never went away.

Then, one day, Zero found the old trunk in the attic. It was hidden behind boxes of forgotten toys and dusty holiday decorations. They hadn't even been looking for it—just searching for an old blanket to use for a school project. But when they tugged the trunk out into the light, something compelled them to open it.

Inside were stacks of old photos, letters, and documents. At first, it seemed like nothing more than a collection of family mementos, but as Zero began to sift through them, the reality of what they were looking at began to sink in.

The photos were of families—mothers, fathers, children—smiling together in front of different houses, on vacations, at birthday parties. But there was one common thread in all of them: Richard. He was there in every picture, smiling that same charming smile, his arm around a different woman, a different child. Fifteen different families, each one appearing to be happy and perfect.

Zero's hands shook as they flipped through the photos, their mind racing to make sense of what they were seeing. Then they found the newspaper clippings, tucked away in the bottom of the trunk. The headlines were chilling: "Family Found Dead in Suburban Home—Father Missing," "Tragedy Strikes Again: Another Family Slain, Husband Disappears," "Serial Killer on the Loose? Authorities Investigate Links Between Multiple Family Murders."

Zero's breath caught in their throat. The dates on the clippings spanned decades, the earliest from over twenty years ago. Each one described a family that had been brutally murdered in their home, with the father missing and presumed dead—until, of course, Richard would reappear with a new identity, ready to start the cycle again.

The realization hit Zero like a punch to the gut. Their father wasn't just strict or controlling—he was a monster, a serial killer who had destroyed countless lives, only to rebuild his own again and again. And now, he had a new family, a new wife, new children...and Zero was part of it.

Zero felt sick. They had to get out, had to warn their mom and Lily, had to stop him before it was too late. But they knew they couldn't do it alone. They needed help, and there was only one place to turn.

Zero had never called the police before. Their hands trembled as they dialed the number, praying their father wouldn't come home early from work. When the dispatcher answered, Zero could barely speak, their voice coming out in a shaky whisper.

"H-hello? I... I need to report something. My dad... I think he's going to kill us."

The dispatcher's voice was calm, steadying. "Where are you right now? Are you safe?"