The Fridge That Rot, The Promise That Rotted Too Chapter 03

The Fridge That Rot, The Promise That Rotted Too Chapter 03

Two days went by. Still no power. When I got hungry, I opened the fridge, but the microwave wouldn’t light up. I ate cold food. It got worse and worse. The milk tasted strange.

By the third day, the fridge stank. I was so hungry, but I couldn’t eat it. I pressed Dad’s number on my watch.

“Dad, Pearl is hungry.”

The call connected—music and Serena’s laughter in the background. “Pearl? There’s plenty of food. How can you be hungry?”

I cried. “The microwave doesn’t work. The fridge smells bad. The food is sour.”

“Sour? That’s not possible.” His voice was sharp. “It’s only been a few days. You’re probably grabbing the wrong box.”

“Pearl can’t see. It’s dark in the fridge.”

His tone turned cold. “Still on about that? Mom told you—there’s no outage.”

“There really is,” I said, hitting the watch in frustration. “And there’s no water. The faucet is dry.”

He paused. “Did the water stop?” A moment later, his voice went flat. “I just called building management. Water’s fine.”

“But… Pearl tried—”

“Pearl Hartman!” He used my full name. “First you say the power is out. Now the water. You’re doing this because we left you, aren’t you?”

I sobbed. “Pearl isn’t lying. There’s really no water—”

Mom took the phone. “Pearl, Mom knows you’re upset, but every time we check, it’s nothing. How can I believe you?”

“Pearl isn’t lying—” My voice grew smaller and smaller.

“Enough. There’s bottled water under the stove. Drink that. We’ll be back soon.”

I heard Serena in the background: “Mom, you always let her do this. First a power outage, now no water. What’s next—an earthquake? We finally get time away from her, and you still keep circling back.”

Silence. Then Dad sighed into the phone. “Pearl, you’ve disappointed me. Eat your food and stop lying. Got it?”

“But Dad, Pearl is really hungry. Pearl wants to come find you.”

“Pearl Hartman! Don’t you dare leave!” Mom’s voice was sudden and sharp. “Remember when you got lost? Almost kidnapped?”

My body jerked hard.

Deep in my memory, that day surfaced—the day I’d sneaked out to find her and gotten lost on the street. When she’d found me, she’d slapped me hard across the face.

“If you ever run off again, I won’t want you anymore! I’ll give you away to strangers!”

It was the first time I’d ever seen her that angry. The sting of that slap still lingered on my cheek.

I pulled my hand back from the door immediately.

“Pearl won’t go out. Pearl is being good. Please don’t leave Pearl.”

“Then stay inside!”

The line went dead.

The watch emitted a busy signal. I stared at the black screen in despair. My stomach let out another loud growl.

So hungry. So thirsty.

I felt my way to the cabinet under the stove and opened it. I reached in.

Empty.