Chapter 1

1

I was being dismembered by a killer while my father was hosting a lavish eighteenth birthday party for my adopted sister.

When I called him, desperately begging for help, the only thing that reached my ears was his venomous voice.

"What kind of act are you putting on now? If you want to die, just go ahead and do it. Stop disgusting me!"

The very next day, my father went to the police station to lead the investigation into the dismemberment case that had shocked the entire city.

He collected every single clue left by the killer.

But he had no idea that the pieces of the body being stitched together belonged to the biological daughter he loathed so much.

The drainage canal on the outskirts of the city was surrounded by yellow police tape.

Several forensic officers were pulling body parts from the murky water, laying them out neatly on the grass.

My soul drifted in the air, trembling at the sight of my own remains.

"This killer is a monster. Looking at the bone structure, the victim can't even be twenty years old," a female officer sighed.

She was right. I had just turned eighteen yesterday.

A police cruiser pulled up and my father, Arthur, stepped out.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, but the stench from the canal made him cover his nose in disgust.

My body had been soaking in that filth all night. I suppose I should be grateful I was already dead by then.

"What's the status of the case?" Arthur asked as he approached.

He used his boot to nudge one of the body parts, his brow furrowing in irritation.

"Sir, we've found one hundred and eight pieces so far," an officer reported while pulling more from the water. "But the victim's head is still missing."

Arthur took a sharp breath and clenched his fists.

"Absolutely barbaric. How could anyone do this to such a young child?"

Dad, if you knew this was me, you wouldn't be saying that. After all, you've spent years wishing I would just disappear.

I couldn't bear to keep looking at my mangled remains.

It triggered memories of that dark basement where my eyes were blindfolded.

The killer had swung a heavy pipe against my limbs. The sound of my bones shattering still echoed in my ears.

I couldn't even tell if the killer was a man or a woman because their voice had been electronically distorted.

They cursed at me between every strike.

"Your father killed my son! Your whole family deserves to rot in hell!"

The agonizing pain made my mind go blank.

I had spent my whole life watching my father act like a savior to strangers in danger. I wished he would save me just once.

But I knew he wouldn't come. He hated me too much.

Eventually, the killer grew tired, and my nerves had gone numb from the trauma.

I lay on the cold floor, my face covered in blood, when they tossed a phone in front of me.

"I've dialed your father's number. Tell him to come save you, or you'll end up just like my son!"

It felt like a final lifeline. I reached out with trembling fingers and grabbed the phone.

Ignoring the searing pain in my skin, I sobbed into the receiver.

"Dad, please... please save me. I've been kidnapped. If you don't come, they're going to kill me!"

I spoke as fast as I could. I knew if he recognized my voice, he would hang up instantly. He always did.

In the background, I could hear music and laughter from the party. His voice was dripping with pure hatred.

"Nora, you're really using such a pathetic trick just to get attention? Don't ruin Jenna's birthday gala. If you want to die, go die somewhere else!"

My heart shattered. My hand froze in mid-air, still clutching the phone.

Today was Jenna's eighteenth birthday, but it was mine too. Why couldn't he spare even one kind word for me?

Since the phone was on speaker, I could tell the killer was stunned by his response.

They snatched the phone back and tried to call again. My father declined the call immediately. When they tried a third time, he had blocked the number.

The killer let out a cold, hollow laugh.

"Are you really his flesh and blood? You have less value than an adopted brat."

A sharp, stabbing pain filled my chest.

It was true. My father hated me, yet he gave all his love to Jenna. He believed I was the reason my older brother died years ago.

The killer's words confused me. They seemed to know my family very well.

I wanted to leave a clue for my father. I tried to use my bloody fingers to scratch a message onto the floor.

But the killer's heavy boot slammed down on the back of my hand, crushing it.

"Your family is truly despicable. Your father doesn't even want you, yet you're still trying to help him close a case? I'll do you a favor and end this quickly!"

I felt a sudden, icy chill across my neck. After that, everything went dark.

When my soul finally separated from my body, I watched him take an axe to my neck.

He was covered from head to toe, hiding his identity. He methodically hacked my body into pieces.

I screamed with all my might, trying to stop him.

At the very least, I wanted my father to be able to recognize me.

I wanted to see if he would feel even a tiny bit of regret once he realized I was gone.