Chapter 1

My father was a highly respected lead detective, and my mother was the head of the Emergency Department, saving lives every day.

I, on the other hand, was a regular at the local precinct, known for brawls and petty theft. In the eyes of our neighbors, I was the "worthless child" who would never amount to anything.

The first time, I publicly insulted my cousin who had just transferred to my school. My father dragged me to the station in front of all the teachers and students, locking me in a cell for twenty-four hours.

The second time, I led a group of punks to corner my older cousin in an alley on her way home. My mother was so livid that she dumped me in the remote Appalachian woods, leaving me to be tormented by a creepy old hermit.

The third time, I supposedly stole my cousin's precious family heirlooms and flushed them down the drain. My father personally cuffed me and sent me to juvenile hall.

Five years later, I became a key informant for a national anti-fraud sting operation. I helped the police take down one of the biggest crime syndicates in the country. The media swarmed my parents' house, desperate to interview the "family of a hero."

On the other end of the phone, my parents just sneered. "Her? A hero? Unless she's dead, we'll never believe she's changed her ways."

But why did they burst into tears when they saw the footage of me falling in a pool of blood to protect a hostage?

1

I was woken up by a constant, quiet sobbing right next to my ear.

A helpless little girl sat beside me, tugging at my sleeve. She was trying to shoo away the flies that were buzzing around me.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She looked terrified as she hugged my arm.

"Riley, please wake up. I'm so scared all by myself," she whispered.

It was only then that I finally remembered. I was dead.

Three days ago, I accidentally ran into a group of thugs who had kidnapped little Penny. I managed to rescue her and hide her in my house.

I didn't realize the criminals had followed me. To keep Penny safe, I pushed her into a crawlspace and faced them alone.

I sighed and tried to float over to pat her shoulder, but my hand just passed through her body.

Right then, a loud commotion broke out outside.

"This is the home of the young hero who risked everything to help the police bust the national fraud ring."

"Wow, is this really Riley Hale's house?"

"I heard her father is a legendary detective and her mother is a top ER surgeon. No wonder they raised such a brave daughter."

"Open up! Let us see the little hero!"

The live stream was blowing up. A reporter smiled and pressed the doorbell.

No one answered for a long while. Then, an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Higgins, heard the noise and came over to help.

"Riley is such a good girl. Her parents are probably just busy. I have their numbers right here," the old lady said warmly.

As Mrs. Higgins recited the string of numbers etched into my memory, my heart flickered with a strange pain.

When I signed up to be an undercover informant, I never expected to come back alive.

My parents always said I was better off dead. I thought if I died during the mission, maybe they'd finally feel a tiny bit proud of me.

After all, in their minds, I was born rotten.

I was the piece of trash that could never be fixed.

The reporter finally got through. After a long dial tone, I heard my parents' voices again.

But when the reporter told them the news, a cold sneer came from the other end.

"Who hired you actors? Riley? A hero? That girl was born bad. Unless she's dead, we'll never believe she's capable of doing anything good."

A ghostly tear pricked the corner of my eye. Well, they got their wish. I was truly dead.