2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Alex also torments her own sister, Sarah, for recreation. Why do you think she would have been unsuccessful in exposing Alex?

Alex being a sociopath means she is very clever in covering her tracks. She has spent years preparing the path by belittling her sister and taking away all her confidence. Sarah has been mentally assaulted so she believes that no one will believe her against her well educated, well respected sister. And this plays right into Alex's hands.

Sarah is typical of someone abused. Her fear rules her thought processes; she can't imagine anyway that she can beat Alex.

Manipulating Sarah over the years helped Alex refine her "skills." Sarah touched my heartstrings. I can't imagine never feeling safe.

The fact that her husband not only understood her fear but shared it told me how diabolical Alex was. That episode with the hamster would never leave my brain either.

Sarah’s fears weren’t irrational. I think if it were just her she’d manage it better. But Alex threatened her child. That changed the game.

The hamster scene gave me goosebumps.

You're so right. It says a lot that Sarah's husband is afraid of what Alex would/could do to them too. No one felt that they could protect the family if Alex decided to hurt them.

I hate to say this but I’ve got a cousin who’s a lot like Alex. The whole family just disengaged from her for our own survival. She’s lethal.

That is scary Jonetta,

Sharon, I hadn’t seen her in 20 years and about ten minutes after my mother died, she showed up at the house. I was already rattled and that sent me into a place I’ve not been. Took me about 15 minutes to recover and encourage her to leave. That was three years ago and I haven’t seen or talked to her since.

FYI, I’m the only one in the family she won’t mess with.

Sociopaths, by definition, have power over others. Sarah would be the one that she had power over for most of their lives, so it makes sense that she would want to continue that power by tormenting Sarah's entire family.

Tormenting Sarah and her family is a hobby for Alex. This is what she does when she gets bored. I can understand why Sarah and her husband keep moving.