Chapter 350

As Theodore and Mrs. Stapleton got out of their car, Penelope scrambled out of
hers.
“Theodore, something might have happened to Norton!” she cried, rushing toward him.
He frowned. “Did he get into trouble again?”
“He’s missing!”
“Missing?”
“He hasn’t been to class or his apartment in a week. We can’t reach him on his phone! And look at this.”
She handed him the note she had found in Norton’s bedroom. Every word dripped with sorrow and hopelessness.
Theodore’s expression immediately turned grim. He pulled out his phone and tracked Norton’s location, discovering he was on an undeveloped hill outside the city.
What was he doing on a remote hill?
Combined with the words he’d left behind about flowers growing from his rotted flesh—a terrible possibility began to form. Even Theodore’s usually composed face showed a flicker of dread.
“We have to go there now.”
He started toward Penelope’s car, but Mrs. Stapleton called out, stopping him. “Theo, you’re not going anywhere. We promised Lorraine we would take her to see the autumn leaves today. A promise is a promise. We can’t disappoint her!”
When Mrs. Stapleton spoke of Lorraine, her eyes filled with love, but Lorraine was just an Al persona on the laptop in her arms. Norton was a living, breathing person her own son-who might be in danger, yet she couldn’t spare a single word of concern.
Trying not to agitate her, Theodore suggested they go another day.
“No!” Mrs. Stapleton’s voice grew sharp. “Lorraine wants to go today, so we must go today. You
“Norton is in trouble!” Theodore finally snapped.
“How many times have I told you not to mention Norton in front of Lorraine! He is not Lorraine! His life has no meaning!”
“He is your son, and my brother!” Fresh chapters posted on (.)net
“He is not! He will never take Lorraine’s place. He isn’t worthy!”
Looking at his mother in that moment, Theodore seemed to see past her tragic figure to something truly terrifying. He took a deep, steadying breath. “You should go back inside.”
With that, he said no more, taking Penelope’s hand and striding toward her car. “Theodore, I’ll ask you one more time,” Mrs. Stapleton shrieked after him, her voice cracking with hysteria. “Who is more important, Lorraine or Norton?”
Theodore stopped and looked back at her. After a long pause, he answered, “Lorraine is gone. Right now, Norton is the one who matters.”
His words were a blow Mrs. Stapelton could not accept.
“How could you say that? You don’t deserve to be Lorraine’s brother! If you had found her sooner that day, if you had saved her, she wouldn’t have died!”
Theodore froze, her accusation wrapping around him like a heavy, suffocating net. He didn’t even struggle as it pulled him under.
Penelope gritted her teeth, yanked him free, and pushed him into the car.
“Lorraine’s death wasn’t your fault,” she said fiercely. “But if you fail to save Norton, that will be on you. For all these years, you’ve ignored him too. You knew how Mrs Stapleton treated him, and you didnt protect him!”
“You’re not just Lorraine’s brother. You’re Norton’s brother, too!”
Her words were harsh, but at that moment, her heart ached with
injustice for Norton. He was such good kid, trying so hard to be kind to be cheerful, to win his family affection, and yet no one seemed to care.
As the car sped away, Theodore’s initial wave of guilt gave way to a cold resolve. He quickly began making calls, mobilizing his contacts to cast a wide net in the search for Norton.