"A Descent into Darkness"

As the minutes ticked by, Judd told himself that he'd click off the feed as soon as Andrew's parents arrived home. He had been watching for hours, and he knew it was only a matter of time before they walked through the door. But as the sound of the front door opening echoed through the feed, Judd felt a strange sense of reluctance. He told himself he'd stop watching, but his fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, hovering over the screen as if rooted to the spot. Andrew's parents, Mark and Sarah, walked into the house, chatting and laughing, oblivious to the fact that they were being watched. Judd's eyes flicked to Andrew, who was still sitting at his desk, typing away on his essay. He was so engrossed in his work that he hadn't even noticed his parents' arrival. But as Mark and Sarah made their way to the kitchen, Andrew's mom called out to him. "Andrew, dinner's ready! Come on down, sweetie." Andrew's fingers paused on the keyboard, and he looked up, a look of mild distraction on his face. Judd's eyes were glued to the feed as Andrew got up from his chair and made his way downstairs. What happened next made Judd's blood boil. As Andrew walked into the kitchen, Mark turned to him, a scowl on his face. "Well, well, well, look what we have here," Mark sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "The waste of space has finally decided to join us." Andrew's face fell, and his lips began to wobble. Judd's heart went out to him, and he felt a surge of anger towards Mark. "What's wrong, Andrew?" Mark continued, his voice rising. "Can't handle a little criticism? You're a disappointment, a complete and utter waste of money and space." Sarah cringed, her eyes darting nervously between her husband and son. But she said nothing, her silence a stark contrast to Mark's verbal barrage. Andrew's eyes glazed over, and he looked like he was about to cry. Judd's fists clenched, and he felt a wave of fury wash over him. Who was this guy to talk to his own son like that? As Mark continued to berate Andrew, Judd's anger grew. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could someone be so cruel to their own child? The pain and hurt on Andrew's face was palpable, and Judd felt a deep sense of sadness. He wanted to reach out to Andrew, to tell him that everything would be okay. But he was stuck, trapped in his own little world of observation, unable to intervene. The scene in the kitchen continued to unfold, with Mark's verbal abuse escalating and Andrew's face growing more and more despondent. Judd's heart ached for the young man, and he couldn't help but wonder what had led to this toxic dynamic. As he watched, Judd knew that he had to keep watching, no matter how much it hurt. He had to know more about Andrew's life, and the people in it.