Chapter 4

Dad threw a coat at me, his tone flat.

"Put it on. Come with me."

My whole body felt like it was about to explode with pain. A sudden high fever made my head swim.

Dad's expression grew impatient. Mom grabbed my arm and started stuffing it into the coat sleeves.

"Emma, be good, don't fight us. We're doing this for your own good."

Suddenly she stopped. "Why are you burning up? Are you—"

Mom's hand was about to touch my forehead when Lucas put on an exaggerated performance, his voice strained.

"Do we really have to send Emma to a nursing home? I can quit tutoring, stop hanging out with friends on weekends—save all the money and time to take care of her."

"Emma, just apologize. Promise not to cause Mom and Dad any more trouble. We can get through this as a family."

Years ago, when one of Dad's friends visited and saw my condition, he suggested sending me to a nursing home.

Dad slammed the table in anger.

"Your father-in-law died within a month of being put in one of those places. You want me to kill my own daughter?"

"As long as this family has food to eat, I will never let Emma live alone in a place like that!"

Looking back now, it seems almost ironic.

I shook my head weakly. "I didn't do anything wrong."

Mom's hand froze mid-air. Disgust crossed her face.

Dad grew even angrier and grabbed my arm, dragging me toward the door.

"I should have sent you away long ago. Wasting my time on an ungrateful wretch like you."

I was thrown into the back seat. Every bump felt like a thousand knives stabbing my organs. Even breathing became difficult.

I gritted my teeth, losing consciousness over and over, jolted awake each time by the pain, until the car finally stopped in front of a run-down building.

The director wore a grimy white coat as he settled me into a wheelchair.

"You came at just the right time. A bed just opened up."

"Once you pay the fees, we can process her admission."

Before we even entered, I heard someone inside screaming in agony and the sound of things being smashed.

Several burly men rushed in and pinned him down like an animal, injecting something into his neck.

The man's eyes went vacant. He lay motionless on the floor.

Mom was too scared to go inside.

"What's wrong with him? And our daughter is a girl—how can you put her in a room with a man?"

The director smiled as if this were routine.

"He just has a mental illness. He's fine when he's lucid."

"All the other rooms are full. Besides, once everyone ends up here, does it really matter if it's a man or a woman?"

Dad's face was dark, but he said nothing. Mom's eyes flickered toward me.

After a long silence, Dad sighed and was about to speak when Lucas cut in.

"Dad, Mom, the air in here is making me feel sick. I think I might be getting a fever."

"Emma grew up with me, so she should be pretty used to younger guys, right?"

He forced out a few coughs, his face reddening. Mom and Dad quickly pushed him toward the exit.

"Okay, okay, let's go. Director, we'll leave Emma in your care."

I was thrown onto a bed by the staff like a dead pig. After the director left, no one came to check on us.

Late that night, the man on the floor woke up.

He turned his head and saw me. A crazed, eerie smile spread across his face.

He pulled a small fruit knife from under his pillow, playfully traced it across my body a few times, then stabbed it deep into my thigh.

Blood splattered onto the sheets. I was too weak to move a single finger.

Even if I could move, I had long since stopped wanting to fight back.

He went into a frenzy, slashing at my face and body. The room echoed with the sound of flesh being torn.

I bit down hard on my lip, swallowing every scream.

Just a little longer. Then I'll be free.

After what felt like an eternity, I looked at my mutilated body. The System's voice sounded in my ear.

[Congratulations on clearing the scenario. The return portal will open at noon. Please wait.]

I drifted out and wandered around. Around eight in the morning, I actually saw Mom and Dad appear in the corridor.

Mom's eyes were red.

"I couldn't sleep all night. No matter how angry we were, we shouldn't have left Emma here."

Dad seemed a bit impatient, but his tone softened.

"You women are always so sentimental."

"Let's see how she's adjusting. If it's not working out and she apologizes to me, I suppose we could take her back."

The director rolled his eyes when they weren't looking.

"They got along great. Not a sound from either of them last night."

"But just so you know—if you want to leave now, I can only refund half the fees."

The card reader beeped. The door was pushed open.