In The Between (Version 1)

• Prologue •

Magnus

December 25, Six Years Ago

If there's anything that's true for anyone, it's that we are all stuck. There's always someone better than you, smarter than you, or stronger than you, and there's always someone much worse. We're all stuck. Whether you're at the top or at the bottom, there'll always be an aspect of your life that leaves you stuck somewhere in between.

In between is where my family existed. Not really good or bad, just somewhere in the middle. Which is okay, really. There's nothing wrong with being stuck.

I was perfectly happy living my mundane life of being stuck in the middle. At least, I was happy until life decided to throw a wrench in the mix.

***

Snowflakes drifted down from a cold, moonless night sky. Outside, all sound was snuffed out by the bone-chilling wind, but the three-story house was comfortably warm. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate sat on the kitchen table, and a tall, proud pine tree stood in the living room. It was Christmas Eve, and my family was content.

I was in the kitchen, helping my mom finish up a gingerbread house, while my dad was frosting cookies with my sister, Raelyn. Meanwhile, in the living room, our two younger siblings Eric and Juniper were hanging ornaments on the tree. The family butler, a tall, broad-shouldered man named Robert, was standing nearby with a broom, because Eric kept breaking the glass by accidentally dropping the ornaments onto the hardwood floor.

"Eric, that one was my favorite!" Juniper screeched after he dropped a particular ornament. She snatched the broom from Robert and smacked our brother in the head with it.

"OW!" Eric hollered. "THAT HURT, YOU UGLY LITTLE SPIDER MONKEY!"

Robert sighed softly, then took the broom back from Juniper, sweeping up the broken ornament.

"We're twins, idiot. And it was supposed to hurt, you stupid bitch!" Juniper snapped in reply. Eric lunged at her, and both of them went to the floor, kicking and punching at each other.

"Alright, that's enough," Robert told the twins sternly, pulling Eric off of Juniper. "Calm down, you two. And Juniper, watch your mouth."

"Dad, can we eat the cookies now?" Raelyn asked once they finished frosting the desserts.

Our father chuckled. "Not yet. They're for tomorrow."

"But there are three dozen," Raelyn pointed out. "If we each have one, there'll still be thirty-two left."

Dad glanced in my direction, looking at my mother. "What do you think, Laurel?"

"The kids need their medicine," she responded. "They can have some if they take their pills right after."

Robert ushered Eric and Juniper into the kitchen. Each of us took and ate a cookie, then swallowed our pills with hot cocoa.

"I'm going to bed," I said. "Good night."

My mother hugged me and kissed my forehead, and my dad patted my shoulder and said, "See you tomorrow morning, kiddo."

Robert smiled at me. "Sleep well, Magnus."

***

I woke up in the middle of the night with the urge to pee. As I headed down the hall towards the bathroom, I heard my father's voice downstairs. I couldn't make out many of his words, but he sounded upset.

Curious, I tiptoed down the stairs in time to see Raelyn, her face red and tear-streaked, rushing for the door. I froze in place, wondering what she was in trouble for. Running out seemed like an overreaction, especially since it was winter, but then again, I hadn't heard the conversation.

My dad clenched his jaw, staring at the door, then turned to go upstairs. He spotted me standing there, and he forced a smile.

"Hey, Magnus," he said softly as he ascended and reached me. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Is Raelyn okay?" I asked, my voice barely louder than a whisper.

My father paused for a moment, then sighed. "Not particularly. Your mom just got really sick—Robert had to drive her to the hospital. Raelyn's freaking out."

A chill spread throughout my body, and my dad hugged me tightly.

"They'll both be fine, kiddo," he whispered to me. "It'll be okay. Try to go back to sleep, alright?"

"Okay," I muttered. My dad released me, and I trudged back upstairs, went to the bathroom, and re-entered my bedroom. I tossed and turned for an hour before finally falling asleep.