Work Text:
“Michael.”
his father stood right in front of him, holding a cardboard box with both his hands. Michael could tell something was in it by the frantic scrabbling.
The man inserted one of his hands in the box and pulled out a rabbit by its ears— Its pelt a light shade of gold. It struggled against William’s hold and kicked the air to no avail, letting out a squeal in fear.
His father carelessly let down the cardboard box and kicked it away with his foot as Michael restrained a gasp of awe at the sight of the rabbit. He wanted to hold it and feel its fuzzy fur.
As if William had read his son’s mind, he reached out, encouraging his son to grab the rabbit, positioning it on Mike’s now spread arms.
He closed them around the rabbit’s chest and behind and watched as it stiffened against his chest and its nose twitched. Michael smiled. Its fur was soft, especially its puffy tail.
“Snap its neck.”
Michael looked up, his heart dropping. His father was looking at him expectantly. Michael hesitated, his breath caught in his throat.
He glanced back at the rabbit. He wasn’t sure what it was looking. Was it staring at him or looking forward? Its eyes were so dark it was hard to tell what it was gazing at.
He didn’t want to disappoint his father or displease him. He knew what happened after. He wanted to show his dad he was a good kid, just like Vanessa. He wondered what his sister would’ve done if it was her in his place right now.
He tightened his grip on the rabbit. Even if he wanted to obey his father right now, he had no idea how. Would he just pull the animal’s head? Would he put enough force to break its neck?
Before he knew it, the rabbit was ripped away from his hands and the next thing he heard was a chilling crack, which echoed in the quiet room, followed by a pitiful squeal.
Michael stiffened. He stared ahead. The critter’s head drooping lifelessly from his dad’s hands. The kid clumsily grasped the body as it was thrown to him.
“Throw it outside.” William ordered, before heading off, leaving his son alone with the lifeless creature, heart thudding in his chest.