Chapter 3

3

Everyone instantly went on high alert.

It was easy to connect me to the vagrant attack from earlier that day.

My heart was in my throat.

Silas just sneered. He opened his call logs and showed them to the officers.

"Her? Missing? That jinx wouldn't go anywhere. She called me this morning to play the victim!"

"She loves lying. She loves the drama! Killing my mom wasn't enough, now she's pulling this stunt!"

I frantically circled around them. I wished I could become solid and tell them the truth.

I wasn't lying! I wasn't acting! Everything I said was real!

Why won't you believe me!

But I couldn't speak. Silas became more convinced he was right the more he spoke.

He looked like he wanted to drag me out and put me on trial in front of everyone.

Eventually, I lost all hope. I just stared at him, numb.

He was on the phone now, talking to Dad about me.

"Shiloh is doing it again. She's probably out fooling around with some loser boyfriend!"

"She doesn't feel guilty at all! She deserves whatever happens! I want to see how long she can keep this up!"

Dad's final words hit me like a physical blow.

I clutched my chest, my face wet with familiar, cold tears.

Of course. Even if I died, they wouldn't care.

The police gave up. I followed Silas all the way back home.

The next morning, before nine o'clock, my teacher called.

Mrs. Henderson was very responsible. She was worried I would drop out because of my family.

She always looked out for me.

"Hello? Is this Shiloh's brother? I heard she hasn't been in class for a while. Is something wrong?"

Her voice was full of genuine concern. My eyes burned, and big tears began to fall.

If there was anyone left in this world who cared about me, it was her.

I wanted to thank her so badly. I wanted to thank her for remembering me.

Sadly, I'll never be able to.

"Haha, teacher? Or are you the boyfriend she's been seeing? Is she standing right there telling you what to say? Does she want us to worry? Why is she so obsessed with this act?"

"No, you misunderstand…"

"Save it! Tell her to get her ass to the river and kneel in penance. If she keeps this up, I'm disowning her!"

"And you! Aren't you afraid she'll kill you too? She didn't even spare her own mother!"