The Taxidermied Dog
A stifling late-spring day, the air thick with dust and unspoken tension. Natasha, struggling to connect with her stepson Liam, finds herself caught in the uneasy rhythm of her new life with Liz, hunting for treasures in abandoned storage units. But within the musty confines of one particular unit, a chilling discovery awaits, shattering the mundane routine and hinting at something far more sinister.
The air hung thick and still, the late spring sun a oppressive weight. You shifted in the passenger seat of the van, acutely aware of the sweat pooling at your back and the damp jeans clinging to your skin. Beside you, Liz drove, her gaze fixed on the road, the tension in the air palpable.
In the backseat, Liam, your five-year-old stepson, stared out the window, a melting grape popsicle clenched in his fist. The purple syrup dripped onto his hand.
“Honey, you're dripping,” Liz said, glancing at Liam in the rearview mirror before looking back at the road. “Eat your popsicle or throw it out.”
Liam mumbled, “I don't want it.”
