Chapter 1

1

Last time around, my little sister got snatched by a kidnapper and suddenly, BAM, she unlocks this whole swap-souls system thing.

She switches bodies with me. I'm the one stuck in some gross pen, treated like garbage, while she's living it up in my skin, getting double the love from Mom and Dad.

Ten years later, they find me, and she pulls the system card again, switching us back.

She throws herself into Mom and Dad's arms, crying, claiming I was the reason she got kidnapped.

Then, Mom and Dad find this diary at my bedside. It's written in this fake, me-trying-to-be-her kind of voice.

It's all about how selfish and smug I was about her getting snatched.

From that moment on, Mom and Dad hated me. They let her yell at me, even whip me. They even went along with her plan.

They were going to drug me and sell me off to some blind, crippled old dude in the sticks.

I overheard them talking. I was heartbroken and furious, so I set the house on fire. We all went up in flames together.

Then, I woke up. Back to the day my sister and I ran into that kidnapper.

This time, I grabbed the kidnapper's hand first. My sister blocked us.

"Grandma, I want a candy apple! Don't give it to Lisa!"

The kidnapper thinks it over. Says two kids is too risky. A younger one is easier to handle. She lets go of me and takes my sister's hand.

My sister gives me this creepy smile, whispers in my ear,

"I know you remember, Lisa. You want my system? Not happening!"

I watch her walk away with the kidnapper, and I smirk.

Sister, I hope you're still smiling when you run out of swap-outs.

…

Not long after we got home, I heard that same voice in my head, just like before.

"Host has been kidnapped. The soul swap ability has been unlocked. You have two uses. Initiate now?"

Last time, that's how my sister realized she was kidnapped. She jumped at the chance to switch with me.

This time, she's just as eager.

"Understood. One use remaining. Contact me if needed."

My head spins, and next thing I know, I'm in a speeding car.

Through the window, I see myself... well, my sister's body.

The woman guarding me is still the same May, from last time. The woman driving, the head of the whole operation, is Auntie Fran.

They've got a system: Fran dresses up like a sweet old lady selling candy apples to trick kids.

Then, she and May sell the kids to families out in the boonies.

Since I'm only eight, they're not really watching me.

I lean back in the car, thinking about last time.

For ten years, all I wanted to know was why, Sis?

Why did you do this to your own sister?

After I was found, she switched us back before I could even ask.

Then, she blamed it all on me.

She whispered, "You let me get kidnapped last time. You deserve all the misery."

"Now that you are back, you will pay for letting me be kidnapped!"