Vortex

Vortex — page 1 — 1 The day of the disaster Blair O’Neill actually thought her weekend was improving She and her brothers had survived their mom’s wedding Now all they had to do was get home to Michigan They’d left on schedule exactly at eight One hour down twelve to go Blair’s older brother David was driving as usual Her younger brother Logan sat in the back earbuds in eyes closed Blair was in the front passenger seat She’d offered to drive part of the way since she had her permit now but no luck You can drive us around once you have your license David had told 1

Vortex — page 2 — her For now you’ll be my copilot Really the GPS was his copilot Blair was just moral support I’m so glad to be out of there David said as the car’s clock blinked to 9 02 a m I noticed said Blair Her older brother had been visibly tense ever since they arrived in Hatchville South Dakota He’d hardly said anything to their mom Gritted his teeth through the overdue introduction to Theo their mom’s fiancé now her husband Barely smiled in the wedding photos Didn’t dance or mingle at the reception For a guy who’d just turned twenty-one he’d acted a lot like a cranky uncle more so than usual I almost wish we hadn’t come at all he mumbled now his eyes on the road It’s not like Mom would’ve missed us Blair tried not to flinch She was used to hearing this from David For a long time she’d felt the same way But it had been six years since their mom left Weren’t they old enough to know better now Come on Dave that’s not true Sure their mom was flaky but 2

Vortex — page 3 — that wasn’t the same as not caring And she’d wanted her kids at this wedding for sure She’d even offered to pay for them to fly out an offer David had refused David made a dismissive noise in his throat Now that she’s got Theo it’s like she’s forgotten Dad even exists And we’re right on the edge of falling off her radar along with him Mom only ever thinks about what she wants to do what’ll make her happy not about what she leaves behind From the backseat Logan said to David Well Theo’s definitely way cooler than Dad So there’s that Blair whipped around to glare at her twelve-year-old brother His eyes were still closed Blair knew David wouldn’t have said so much if he’d known Logan was listening Then again Logan wasn’t an innocent six year-old anymore It had been a long time since he’d needed David to tell him bedtime stories or arrange his food in smiley faces A long time since Logan had burst into tears at any mention of their absent mom or thrown 3

Vortex — page 4 — a tantrum whenever their dad drove off on yet another business trip He was old enough to hear what his siblings really thought and to be obnoxious about it Don’t you have some death metal to concentrate on she snapped It’s not death metal It’s doom metal Blackened doom And Theo is like at least twenty percent cooler than Dad Logan do me a favor Shut up until you’re past puberty Logan responded with a gesture she ignored Take it easy said David out of habit Blair faced forward again and stared at the road Not an inspiring view Just a two lane highway empty except for David’s car Surrounded by basically nothing bare fields on either side cloud-clogged sky above the occasional tree or fence or distant farmhouse Blair hadn’t realized that South Dakota was so flat It was ridiculous If this is what it looks like here in May people must gouge their eyes out in the wintertime David managed a weak laugh Guess you won’t be moving in with Mom and Theo 4

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