Chapter 2

My mind drifted back to the moments before my death. The moment my mother saw the scratch on Liam, she threw a massive tantrum.

She pointed a finger at me and screamed, "Why didn't you take care of Liam? Did you do this on purpose? You heartless parasite! What are you even good for? If anything happens to Liam, I swear I’ll beat you to death!"

Hurts and tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted to explain that Liam had tripped on his own. But before I could even open my mouth, he spoke up.

With those wide, innocent eyes, he whimpered, "Mom, don't blame Ethan. It was my fault for not listening. That's why he punished me."

I stood there, my hands and feet turning ice-cold from fear, staring at him in utter disbelief.

What followed was my mother dragging me out to the car. She drove me to a remote, deserted state park and kicked me out into the dark woods.

It was pouring rain. I was only wearing a thin t-shirt. The freezing cold turned my lips blue in minutes.

Shivering in the dark forest, I kept telling myself that the night would pass quickly. I just needed to survive until morning.

Unfortunately, a strange man stepped out of the shadows, shattering my naive hope.

After he stabbed me over a dozen times, I used the last ounce of my strength to dial my mother's number, begging her to save me.

But all I got was an impatient sneer. "Have you had enough of your little drama? A serial killer? You can lie with a straight face now, can't you? I don't have time for this. If you want to die, go die somewhere far away. Don't bother me to pick up your corpse."

She hung up on me. When I tried to call back, I realized she had blocked my number.

Despair, terror, and agonizing pain.

These emotions crashed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me. My hand slipped, and the phone fell into the mud.

Maybe death was a better escape for me.

I finally didn't have to live in a house filled with hatred and abuse.

That was actually nice.