Chapter 5 - The Video Mason Needed
Mason returned the next afternoon.
This time, Diane locked the front door before letting him inside.
Rachel remained near Hunter.
“No closed doors,” she warned. “You stay where we can see you.”
Mason lifted both hands.
“I’m not here to cause trouble.”
He set his phone on a small tripod in the living room.
Hunter stared at it.
“Why are you recording?”
“I want to make a video for your mom.”
“I can talk to her myself.”
“Not yet.”
Mason guided Hunter toward the sofa.
“Sit down.”
Hunter refused.
Mason picked up the remote-controlled truck.
“You want this?”
“No.”
“You haven’t even tried it.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
Diane became impatient.
“Hunter, cooperate for five minutes.”
Mason pressed record.
“Tell the camera your name.”
Hunter said nothing.
“Tell your mother you miss her.”
“I do miss her.”
“Good. Now say she left you because work matters more than you.”
Hunter looked at him.
“That’s not true.”
“It’s just a sentence.”
“She went to school so she can help sick kids.”
Mason’s mouth hardened.
“Say she left you.”
“No.”
Diane stepped closer.
“Your father is trying to repair things.”
“He’s trying to make me lie.”
Rachel reached for the phone.
“This is over.”
Mason caught her wrist.
His fingers tightened until she winced.
“Don’t interfere.”
Hunter saw the same look he remembered from years earlier.
The look Mason had worn when he punched a hole through their apartment door.
Hunter grabbed the phone from the tripod and ran.
Mason followed him upstairs.
Hunter reached the bedroom and tried to lock the door.
Mason forced it open.
The phone fell onto the carpet.
“You think you can ruin everything?” Mason asked.
Hunter backed toward the bed.
“I’m telling Mom.”
“Your mother abandoned you.”
“She didn’t.”
“She chose a job over you.”
“No!”
Mason leaned closer.
“You will say what I tell you to say.”
Rachel appeared in the doorway.
“Get away from him.”
Mason turned.
Diane stood behind her, frightened but silent.
For a moment, it seemed Rachel might finally call the police.
Then Mason reminded her what would happen if he did not help them.
“The bank takes this house next month,” he said. “And your creditors take everything else.”
Diane looked down.
Rachel’s courage disappeared.
Mason picked up his phone.
May you like
“We’ll try again tomorrow.”
👉 Hunter had refused to betray his mother, but Mason now knew fear would not be enough—so he decided to punish the boy for saying no.
