Callasandra Fractured
By Stephanie Douglas

​Prologue​​

“Why is there a tree growing through the middle of the living room?” Cassi whispered, her words hanging in the darkness—unheard by anyone.

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Cassi had been jolted awake by what sounded like a burst of thunder—the hair on her arms stood on end, and in her gut, she knew something was wrong. She looked out the bedroom window, but there was not a cloud in the sky.

Unable to sleep, she decided to get a glass of water. Slipping out of bed, she quietly made her way to the kitchen. As she walked through the house, everything felt strange—like moving through a dream. 

The artwork on the walls, the musty odors, the furnishings—they all seemed both familiar and unfamiliar. She paused, trying to shake off the eerie feeling. The silence was heavy, almost oppressive. 

Descending the stairway into the living room, Cassi found Mr. Phelps peacefully asleep in his favorite armchair, a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz resting on his lap. The soft glow of the floor lamp cast a gentle light around him. 

As she drew closer, a dark shape materialized, sending her pulse racing. Just a few feet from Mr. Phelps, the thick trunk of a sturdy tree pierced through the floor, stretching up through the ceiling. There was no debris, no sign of disturbance. It was as if the house had been built around the tree—but that was impossible. The tree had not been there the night before.

Adrenaline coursing through her, Cassi spun around and bolted up the stairs, taking them two at a time. She flung open the door to her mother and sister’s room, only to find the beds neatly made—untouched. Her mother and sister were nowhere to be found. The realization struck hard—she and Mr. Phelps were the only ones left in the house. 

She stumbled back to her room, collapsing against the wall in the corner. The silence was suffocating, the weight of the empty house pressing down on her. 

Hugging her knees tightly, Cassi had never felt so alone

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