A Mother's Wrath
Ashley bolted upright at the loud noise, her heart hammering in her chest. She glanced around the dimly lit room, her pulse quickening as she reached for her phone on the nightstand.
What was that?
Another sound followed—this time louder, sharper. Her stomach churned with dread as she quietly slipped out of bed, padding toward the hallway.
Every step felt like a mile, her breath shallow and controlled. She moved toward her parents’ room, the faint glow of light spilling into the hallway.
Just as her hand reached for the doorknob, it burst open.
“Don’t move!” Ethan’s gruff voice boomed, a twisted sneer on his face. He emerged, dragging her father with one hand while the other gripped a gun pointed at her mother, who was cowering near the bed.
Ashley gasped, her body freezing in place. Wasn’t Ethan in prison? How could he be here? Her mind raced, her limbs frozen in terror.
Ethan’s eyes locked on her, wild and unhinged. “Move back, Emerald,” he snarled. “Or your old man gets it.”
Her father winced as Ethan’s grip tightened around his arm, the barrel of the gun pressing dangerously close to his temple.
“No! Don’t hurt him!” Ashley stammered, taking a step back. Her legs trembled beneath her, threatening to give out.
As Ethan backed toward the front door, Ashley’s hand brushed against her phone. Her heart skipped.
The phone. She turned slightly, hiding the device behind her back. With trembling fingers, she dialed the emergency number.
“Donaldson Avenue,” she whispered into the receiver before hanging up, praying the police would arrive in time.
Ethan’s attention flicked back to her, his lips curling in a smirk. “I said no tricks, Emerald. You’re just like your father—always thinking you’re smarter than me.”
Her mother, who had been silent until now, disappeared from view. Ashley’s eyes darted around, frantically searching for her.
Where did she go? Panic coiled in her chest as she watched Ethan inch closer to the door, dragging her father with him.
“Let him go!” Ashley shouted, her voice breaking.
Ethan laughed coldly. “Why would I do that? Your family ruined my life. Now it’s time I return the favor.”
Before Ashley could respond, her mother emerged from the bedroom, clutching a rifle.
“Mom!” Ashley shrieked, rushing toward her. “No! Don’t!”
Her mother’s eyes blazed with fury, her knuckles white as she gripped the weapon. “You think I’m going to stand by and let this scumbag hurt my family? Not a chance.”
“Mom, please,” Ashley begged, her voice trembling. She reached for the rifle, but her mother yanked it away, her determination unshaken.
“Step aside, Ashley,” her mother snapped. “This ends now.”
Ashley’s heart plummeted as she tried to block her mother’s path. “You’ll make things worse! Just wait for the police—”
“I’m done waiting,” her mother interrupted, pushing past her daughter. “He messed with the wrong family.”
Ashley stumbled back, her pleas falling on deaf ears. She darted after her mother, desperate to stop her before it was too late.
By the time they reached the front door, Ethan had made it outside, dragging Harold toward a waiting car. The gun remained pressed against her father’s head, and Ashley felt tears sting her eyes.
“Ethan, please,” she cried, her voice cracking. “Let him go. You don’t have to do this!”
Ethan turned his head slightly, a cruel grin spreading across his face. “It’s too late for that, sweetheart.”
Ashley opened her mouth to scream again, but her mother raised the rifle, her movements swift and precise.
“Mom, don’t!” Ashley shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the deafening crack of a gunshot.
The bullet hit its mark, striking Ethan square in the forehead. His body went limp, his grip on Harold loosening as he crumpled to the ground.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Ashley stared in shock, her hands flying to her mouth. Ethan’s lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Her father stumbled away, clutching his chest as he tried to steady his breathing.
Her mother lowered the rifle, her face a mix of relief and grim satisfaction.
Harold kicked Ethan’s body once before rushing to his wife, pulling her into a tight embrace. “You saved me,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You saved us.”
Ashley watched the scene unfold, her emotions a tangled mess of relief, shock, and disbelief. She sank to her knees, covering her face as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Her mother crouched beside her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. “It’s over, baby. He’s gone. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
Ashley looked up, her lips trembling. “But… you could’ve gotten hurt. Dad could’ve—”
“But we didn’t,” her mother interrupted firmly. “And I wasn’t about to let that man destroy our family. Not after everything we’ve been through.”
The sound of sirens pierced the air, and moments later, flashing lights illuminated the driveway. Police officers swarmed the scene, guns drawn as they assessed the situation.
One officer approached Ashley’s mother, his expression a mix of concern and professionalism. “Ma’am, are you the one who fired the shot?”
“Yes,” her mother admitted, her voice steady. “I did what I had to do to protect my family.”
Ashley expected the officer to reprimand her, but instead, he nodded. “Given the circumstances, it looks like self-defense. We’ll need to take your statement, though.”
As the officers secured the scene and examined Ethan’s body, Ashley leaned into her father, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“It’s over,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe