The Copper City Ripper

Chapter 02

As Noah "N" Sembly trudged through the front door of their cramped trailer, exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders, his muscles aching from the day's exertions. His first job at the local hardware store had been a relentless blur of activity—shelving, stocking, and assisting customers with their endless array of home improvement projects. And yet, even as he clocked out for the day, N knew that his work was far from over.

With a weary sigh, he peeled off his sweat-stained uniform and made his way to the small bedroom he shared with his younger sister, Cyn. The room was a study in contrasts—his side cluttered with sketches and drawings, hers adorned with stuffed animals and cherished mementos of happier times.

But as N entered the room, his heart sank at the sight of Cyn huddled on her bed, her tear-stained cheeks a stark contrast to her usually cheerful demeanor. Without a word, he crossed the room and wrapped her in a tight embrace, the weight of her sorrow pressing against his chest like a leaden anchor.

"What's wrong, Cyn?" he whispered, his voice soft with concern. "Why are you crying?"

Cyn sniffled, her small frame trembling against his as she struggled to find the words to express her pain. "Mom," she choked out at last, her voice thick with emotion. "She...she said some things about you. Bad things."

N's heart clenched at her words, a surge of anger and resentment coursing through his veins. He knew all too well the venomous barbs that their mother was capable of, the toxic words that cut deeper than any physical blow.

"What did she say?" he demanded, his voice tinged with a mixture of fear and fury.

Cyn hesitated, her gaze downcast as she recounted their mother's cruel words. "She said...she said you're lazy," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And that you're never home because you don't care about us."

The words struck N like a physical blow, his chest tightening with a sense of righteous indignation. How dare their mother speak of him in such a manner, casting aspersions on his character and his commitment to their family?

But even as anger burned hot within him, N knew that now was not the time for confrontation. Cyn needed him—to be her rock, her protector, her unwavering source of strength in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart. Her big brother.

"I'm sorry, Cyn," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I wish I could be here more for you. But you know why I have to work so much, right? I'm trying to save up enough money so that we can get out of here, away from Mom and all this... this mess."

Cyn nodded, her tears still flowing freely as she clung to her brother's embrace. "I know, N," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the steady rhythm of their shared heartbeat. "But sometimes... sometimes I wonder if it's Mom that's driving you away. If she's the reason you're never home."

N's heart clenched at his sister's words, the weight of her accusation heavy upon his shoulders. He knew that their mother's toxic presence cast a long shadow over their lives, poisoning everything around it with its venomous touch. But he also knew that he couldn't bear to see his sister suffer any longer—not when he had the power to change their fate for the better.

"I promise, Cyn," he vowed, his voice firm with determination. "I'm going to get us out of here. I'm going to find us a better life, away from all this... this madness. But we have to keep it a secret, okay? From Mom. She can't know about our plans, not until we're ready to leave."

Cyn nodded, her trust in her brother unwavering as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "I won't tell her, N," she promised, her voice steady despite the tremor in her heart. "I'll do whatever it takes to help us get out of here. I just want us to be happy."