Chapter 10 - WHY THIRTY-SIXThe number was not symbolic.
No ritual.
No planned total.
Connor’s magnet set originally held sixty-four spheres.
He had lost several.
He started with a cruel “challenge.”
Four.
Then more.
He filmed short clips on his phone, though not every act was visible because he positioned the device poorly and deleted some recordings later.
The point was domination mixed with adolescent performance.
He wanted to send proof to friends that Lily would do what he said.
When she resisted, he threatened to tell Patricia she had stolen his expensive magnets.
He told Lily:
“Grandma already thinks you lie.”
Then he forced more into her mouth.
One at a time or in tiny groups.
Lily swallowed because she was scared.
Not because a five-year-old cannot spit.
Because a fifteen-year-old who had been taught his cousin was weak had turned fear into a game.
No adult ordered him.
No hidden cult.
No insurance plot.
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A teenager made escalating decisions while other people gave him room.
That was horrible enough.
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