Chapter 1

1: 1

When my stepfather was in a bad mood, he took it out on me with his fists.

My mother was afraid of him. She looked away from his violence like it wasn't happening.

It was my older sister who threw herself in front of me, over and over, taking the blows so I didn't have to.

Until one day, she was gone.

I looked everywhere. I couldn't find her.

I asked my mother, and she frowned.

"What's wrong with you now? What sister? You don't have a sister."

My stepfather and my mother exchanged a look. Something strange passed between them.

A bad feeling took root inside me.

My sister told me she would always protect me.

She would never leave me. Not unless something had happened to her.

...

I hid back in my room and called her.

A mechanical woman's voice came through: "The number you have dialed is not in service."

Before I could double-check the number, my bedroom door flew open with a kick.

My stepfather's palm cracked across my face.

"Get in there and make dinner. What are you dragging your feet for? You expect me to wait on you?"

My face burned. I nodded fast, over and over, and squeezed past him before his next slap could land.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking as I beat the eggs, and the chopsticks slipped and fell to the floor.

I bent down to pick them up, and that was when I caught sight of it. A small dark-red smear under the cabinet.

Blood.

I looked around. The kitchen floor was clean, clearly wiped down not long ago.

That smear had probably been missed only because it was tucked under the cabinet.

My stepfather walked in and kicked me in the backside.

"Damn it, you can't even hold onto a pair of chopsticks? You're doing this on purpose to piss me off, aren't you?"

My mother came over. She saw my body shaking beyond my control, crouched down, and followed my line of sight.

"Killed a chicken today. Must've splashed. Missed a spot wiping up."

Her voice held no warmth at all. She picked up a rag and reached out to wipe the blood away.

I don't know where the strength came from. I grabbed her wrist.

"That's my sister's blood, isn't it?"

"What did you do to her? Where is she now?"

"Why is her number disconnected?"

My mother frowned.

"You've been talking nonsense since you walked in the door. What sister? Where would you even get a sister?"

"I think you're just begging for a beating!"

She shoved me away hard.

I rolled over, pushed myself up off the floor, and pulled out my phone with trembling hands.

"You killed my sister, didn't you?"

"I'm calling the police. You're murderers!"

My stepfather's face went dark. He stalked over, ripped the phone out of my hand, and smashed it against the wall.

It hit the floor hard. The screen shattered to bits.

"Damn it, you really are trying to make my life hell, aren't you?"

My mother used the moment to wipe the blood away with the rag.

They were afraid. They were covering it up.

I forced myself to calm down.

I'd been too rash just now.

But I had to call the police as soon as I could. Otherwise there'd be less and less evidence left.

I made myself look scared, and quietly picked up the pan to cook.

In the middle of the night, I sat up in bed and picked up the phone my stepfather had smashed.

But it wouldn't turn on anymore.

I crept to the door of the master bedroom.

My stepfather's and mother's snores came in steady rhythm.

I put my hand on the knob, turned it slowly, and held my breath as I moved to my mother's side of the bed.

Her phone was right there on the nightstand.

The instant I reached for it, my stepfather rolled over, his face turning straight toward me.

I almost cried out. I dropped down fast, my heart slamming against my ribs.

A few seconds passed, and his snoring started up again.

I lifted my hand, carefully closed it around my mother's phone, stood, and walked quickly out of the room.

Back in my room, I was shaking so hard I couldn't even press the lock button.

I tried a few times, and the screen finally lit up.

I opened the emergency call, pressed those three numbers, my voice small and rushed.

"I need the police. My stepfather killed my sister!"