Chapter 3

The doctor looked to Julian.

Julian stayed silent, his knuckles white.

"...Proceed."

The doctor's hands moved over the console.

The silver needle drove deeper.

I screamed.

It felt like a red-hot iron rod was churning inside my brain.

My whole body began to convulse violently.

Sweat instantly drenched my thin clothes, veins bulging on my forehead.

The screen lit up again.

This time, the screen showed me cornered by a group of boys.

"Look, it's Skylar, the idiot!"

"Still playing in the dirt, dummy?"

They picked up pebbles and trash and started throwing them at me.

I looked up, staring blankly at them.

"Look at her, she doesn't even cry. Total moron."

"Should we bury her in the sandbox?"

"Yeah!"

Amid their taunts and laughter, a dirty hand shot out, grabbed my arm, and yanked me hard.

I lost my balance and tumbled into the sandbox.

"Bury her!"

"Yeah! Bury the idiot!"

Amid the excited shouts, several hands pushed me down and held me there.

Heavy sand began to fall on my head and body, handful by handful.

It was so heavy, pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

The sand covered my waist, then piled up to my chest.

I was going to be buried.

I couldn't move, couldn't cry out.

Just as the sand reached my shoulders, a sharp, clear voice cut through the air.

"What are you doing?! Let her go!"

It was Audrey!

She stood at the edge of the sandpit, her high ponytail bright under the sun, hands on her hips. She seemed to glow.

"You're bullying Skylar?" Her voice was pure fire. "Leave her alone, or I'm calling the police!"

The boys froze, then released their grip on me.

"Audrey, she is just an idiot."

"What did you say?" Audrey took a step forward, eyes wide and blazing.

"Skylar is not an idiot! She just... thinks a little slower."

"She's kinder than all of you!"

Cowed by her fierceness, the boys mumbled and scattered.

Audrey ran over, dug away the sand, and pulled me out.

Her eyes were full of worry.

"Skylar, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I shook my head, but tears fell anyway.

"Don't cry." Audrey hugged me close, gently patting my back. "Don't be scared, Skylar,I'm here."

"If anyone bullies you again, just tell me."

"I'll protect you, okay?"

The me on the screen buried my head in Audrey's embrace, sobbing softly.

Audrey smelled of sweet-scented soap.

Her hands were so warm.

In the audience, Mom had collapsed onto her chair, sobbing.

"Audrey... my Audrey was so kind since she was little..."

"She was good to everyone... especially to this poor, disabled sister..."

Dad's eyes were also red, his voice choked.

"Audrey was always so sensible, always knew how to take care of her sister..."

Julian watched the screen in silence, his eyes fixed, filled with a deep longing for his beloved.

The next second, Mom suddenly turned, glaring at me on the stage, her voice hoarse.

"Skylar! Look! Look how good your sister was to you!"

"How could you... how could you forget how she died?!"

Dad also pointed at me, heartbroken.

"Skylar, what happened that day? Your sister was so good to you, why won't you just say it?!"

"Did you really see something... but chose not to tell us?"

I lay on the tribunal stand, listening to their accusations.

Tears streamed down my temples.

I wanted to tell them too.

Mom and Dad.

I really wanted to know what happened that day.

I also wanted to know who killed Audrey.

But I... really couldn't remember.

Deep inside my brain, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly erupted.

The silver needle suddenly began emitting an electric current.

I arched my back violently, and a mouthful of blood spewed from my throat.