Monsters-Menendez

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Shadows in the Heart
Lyle and Erik were in the living room, sitting on an elegant but uncomfortable couch, both lost in their own thoughts.
The memory of the boat trip was still fresh in their minds, an event that had brought out the fragility of their situation.
"I can't believe we were so close," Erik said, breaking the silence.
His voice was low, full of anguish.
"If only there had been fewer people..." Lyle nodded, his face tense.
"Yes, but we can't let this happen again. We have to find a way to do it."
He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that betrayed his frustration.
"Every fucking time we think we have a plan, something goes wrong."
Erik turned to him, his gaze intense.
"We have to be smarter. Maybe we can wait for a time when they are alone, or find a place where we can control the situation better."
"We have to be careful, Erik. I don't want our words to get us into trouble. Our parents will stop at nothing," Lyle warned, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
Just then, Kitty entered the room, interrupting their thoughts.
"Guys, is everything okay?" she asked with mock concern, eyes scanning their faces. "Sure, Mom," Lyle replied, trying to mask his tension.
"Just some work to do for school."

Kitty smiled, but there was something forced in her gesture.
"Well, don't forget to help each other. We're a family, right?" After Kitty left the room, the boys exchanged looks.
"We can't keep this up," Erik said, his voice shaking.
"The mask of happiness cannot last forever."
"I know," Lyle replied, clenching his fists. "But we need a plan. We have to find a way to face our father. We can't wait for him to kill us again."

The tension grew, and the fear of not knowing what to expect haunted them.
"We need to find an opportunity," Erik said, his mind swimming with ideas.
"Something that gives us an edge."
"If only we could distract them," Lyle suggested, pondering how they could exploit their parents' weaknesses.
"Maybe an event, something that takes them away from us." Erik shook his head. "We can't risk them finding out. We have to be strategic. We have to think about it."

With this new sense of determination, the two brothers rose from the couch, the weight of their emotions no longer invisible. There was a growing awareness that time was running out, and they had to act before the situation became untenable.
The night closed around the house, enveloping the boys in an embrace of uncertainties and hopes.
But now, with a plan in mind and a clear goal, they were ready to fight against the shadows in their hearts.