Chapter 4

I thought he would freeze up the way he had before, tense and terrified, and give no response at all.

I had even braced myself for it. He wouldn't answer until they'd cursed me out and beaten me first.

But no.

This time, he shook his head right away.

The insult Melvin was about to hurl at me died in his throat.

Kathryn's hand, already swinging toward me, stopped in midair.

The vicious twist on Patricia's face froze there.

Even the live chat went still in that instant.

I let out a breath and checked with Elijah again. "Eli, it's me, Samantha. When you shake your head, you're answering me, aren't you? If yes, nod!"

Elijah nodded, and in those eyes, so full of quiet grief and pain, there was suddenly light.

I asked again. "Eli, you hurt yourself because your sister Kathryn stole your work, didn't you? If yes, nod!"

Elijah nodded, hard, his gaze steady.

I went on. "Then Eli, what would it take for you to stop hurting yourself?"

Elijah's mouth opened, as if he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

He was in agony. I could see how badly he wanted to talk, and couldn't.

"Kathryn apologizes to everyone online!"

"And she gives me back the copyrights!"

Elijah's voice sounded in my head.

I drew a deep breath. "Eli, if Kathryn apologizes publicly and returns the copyrights to you, then you won't hurt yourself anymore, right?"

Elijah nodded firmly.

The live chat comments went wild:

"This Samantha is unbelievable. How is she communicating with Eli?"

"Does it matter how? What matters is that Eli's own sister stole his work!"

"Something's off. There has to be a catch. Katie would never do something like that!"

It took Kathryn only a few seconds to go from that first panic to composure, and she traded a look with Melvin.

Melvin spoke up suddenly. "I understand now. When Samantha got close to Eli just now, she must have planted a suggestion in his mind. She's using hypnosis to control him!"

Kathryn lunged at me instantly, hands flying wildly. "You want to be famous, so you frame me. I can put up with all of that. But using my brother like this? That I won't stand for!"

Patricia joined in too, swinging her expensive designer bag at me over and over. "You hurt my daughter and my son like this, and I won't let it go. Even if it's a crime, I'll have your parents killed!"

The live chat stayed just as brainless:

"See? Our Katie is a good sister after all!"

"This Samantha is pure poison, hypnotizing and controlling an autistic person. Absolute trash!"

"May Samantha's whole family drop dead. Right now!"

Seeing me duck, Melvin charged over and grabbed my hair, while his mouth said, "Stay calm, no fighting. Everyone stay calm even in a fight!"

I'd managed to shield my head until then, but with my hair yanked back, I took several slaps to the face.

I knew it was over.

Because these people were never going to reason with me.

They used the crudest methods to lead all those viewers who didn't want to think, dragging black into white.

In the gaps between their blows, I met Elijah's eyes, mine full of apology, telling him there was nothing more I could do for him now.

"I can prove Kathryn stole my work!"

"I have evidence!"