Adopted Son Talks to "Headless Man" at 3 AM — Morning After, My Face Is Cut From Every Photo in the House
👉 Previous Decision: You chose to return Jonah to the St. Jude Children’s Home immediately to mitigate risk.
I strapped Jonah into the passenger seat of my truck at 7:30 AM. His small body sat stiff against the leather, hands clutched around a worn stuffed animal. The drive to the St. Jude Children’s Home was silent, the morning sun glinting off the dew-covered fields of upstate New York. I told myself I was making the only logical decision.
Karen Gable, the adoption administrator, looked up from her computer as we entered her office. Her smile faltered slightly as she saw Jonah’s rigid posture.
“Marcus? Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
I placed my hands on her desk. “I need to revoke the adoption, Karen. Immediately.”
Her eyes widened, glancing at Jonah, who was now clutching my leg. “Revoke? Mr. Finch, this is highly unusual. We have protocols—”
“I understand,” I cut her off. “But I cannot provide a safe environment. It’s for the best.”
Before she could respond, the office door swung open. Sheriff Wayne Halloway stepped in, his uniform crisp, two deputies flanking him. His gaze fixed on me.
“Mr. Finch,” Halloway said, his voice flat. “We’ve received an anonymous emergency call regarding potential child endangerment. Allegations of an unsafe home, psychological distress to the minor.”
My stomach tightened. “This is absurd. I’m here to ensure Jonah’s safety.”
Halloway pulled out a set of handcuffs. “Under the circumstances, we’re taking you into custody, Mr. Finch. And per emergency protocol, Jonah will be transferred to a court-appointed guardianship entity.”
My mind raced, connecting the dots. The anonymous call. The swift appearance of the Sheriff. This wasn’t a random intervention; it was a calculated move. Returning Jonah hadn’t mitigated risk; it had triggered a trap.
“Who appointed this entity?” I demanded, but Halloway was already ushering Jonah away with one of the deputies.
Karen Gable watched, her face pale, as Jonah was led out of the office towards a waiting black SUV. Halloway placed the cold steel of the cuffs around my wrists. My leverage, my ability to investigate, had evaporated the moment I chose to walk away.
⚠️ BAD ENDING / GAME OVER
Your attempt to mitigate risk backfired, leading to your immediate incarceration and Jonah’s abduction. 👈 Click to return to DECISION 1 / Part 2 to choose a different path
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