Chapter 5
Only the dead keep their secrets, a fact both Sophie and I knew all too well. Maybe her desire to kill me started years ago, but I never saw it coming. I thought taking the blame could heal our family, and maybe get us back to the good old days. But as time went by, Dad’s hatred for me only deepened. So on the anniversary of Mom’s death, I’d vanish for a while, this year included. Early this month, I moved in with my childhood buddy, Kelsey, to avoid upsetting Dad. But then, out of the blue, I got a call. It was the kidnappers, demanding ransom for Sophie. Sophie screamed on the phone, “Emily, save me!” She insisted, “Come alone, or they’ll kill me!” Being a forensic pathologist’s daughter, I was mentally prepared for such scenarios. I went alone with the ransom to the specified abandoned factory. There, I found Sophie, unharmed, standing with several burly men she had hired. My blood ran cold. Sophie pointed at me and coldly ordered, “That’s her, get rid of her, and leave no trace.” My own sister, whom I’ve cared for all my life, ready to betray me so cruelly. What happened next is a blur. In extreme pain, people tend to forget. All I remember is not wanting to die, desperately gasping for air. I struggled, leaving a trail of blood as I crawled, trying to call Dad for help with my smartwatch. The calls went through but were disconnected repeatedly. Dad wasn’t answering. Sophie’s hired thugs smashed my watch, taunting, “Still trying to call for help? Are you asking for death?” “The boss said it’s all fair game, just finish her off!” They stabbed me mercilessly, and broke my arms and legs as I tried to crawl forward. But I still clung to life. There was something I still hadn’t told Dad…