Chapter 3

Chris was trembling even more. He glanced up at my parents, his eyes pleading for help.

[I can't wear it. No way. If they find out, my whole plan is finished.] His thoughts were frantic with fear.

My mom instantly spread her arms wide, like a mother hen shielding her chick. "What are you trying to do to my child? He's a patient. You can't treat him like this."

"Patient?" Hayden raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, he's got serious emotional trauma. You'll scare him," my mom shouted.

Hayden shot her a look so cold it could freeze the room. "Ma'am, we're on official business. You can't afford the consequences of interfering."

My mom was silenced by his stare, too intimidated to say another word.

My dad tugged at her sleeve, quietly telling her not to cause trouble.

"Chris, cooperate with us," Hayden said, his voice brooking no argument.

Chris's face turned ghostly pale. With his hands shaking from the pressure, he took the device and slowly placed it on his ear.

Another officer came up to me.

I hadn't even noticed when I'd come downstairs. I was standing at the foot of the stairs, watching it all with a cold expression.

"Ms. Sullivan, right?" The officer gave me a nod. "Please put this on. It'll let us detect any abnormal brain activity more clearly."

I took it without hesitation and put it on.

All eyes were on Chris and me.

The living room was so quiet it was almost suffocating.

Hayden looked at the data on his tablet and told Chris, "Now, think of anything you want."

Chris closed his eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line.

The next moment, I heard Chris's voice in my head. [Anna, you bitch! How dare you turn me in? Once I deal with these people, you'll beg me to kill you.]

Those venomous curses were the same as they'd been in my previous life.

I glared at him, my hatred at that moment almost felt tangible, like it could cut through the air.

At the same time, the officer holding the tablet suddenly looked alarmed and reported to Hayden, "Captain, we're picking up strong, aggressive brainwave signals from Chris, and they're showing abnormal resonance with Ms. Sullivan's brainwaves."

Hayden's gaze sharpened as he stared at Chris. "Tell us what you were thinking."

Chris opened his eyes, putting on an innocent, confused look. "I... I didn't think about anything."

[You want me to say it out loud? Keep dreaming. As long as I don't admit anything, you have no proof.] His thoughts were sly and triumphant.

The officer reported again, "Captain, the brainwave signals are back. He's showing denial and defiance."

My parents realized something was wrong. Their faces shifted from disbelief to shock and panic.

"W-What's going on?" my mom's voice was trembling.

Hayden ignored them. He walked up to Chris, looming over him with a cold, steely glare.

"This is your last chance, Chris. Come clean and it'll go easier for you. Fight us, and things will get tough. Our tech is way more sophisticated than you think," Hayden said.

Cold sweat trickled down Chris's forehead, but he kept up the act. "I really don't know what you're talking about."

[Let's gamble. They're definitely bluffing. No way they can detect powers like this,] Chris thought.

Hayden seemed to have lost his patience. He let out a mocking laugh, pulled a USB drive from his pocket, and plugged it into the tablet. "Looks like you need a little help."

He tapped a few times, and the next second, a mechanical, emotionless voice echoed through the living room, reciting: [Anna, you bitch! How dare you turn me in? Once I deal with these people, you'll beg me to kill you.

[You want me to say it out loud? Keep dreaming. As long as I don't admit anything, you have no proof.

[Let's gamble. They're definitely bluffing. No way they can detect powers like this.]

Not a single word was missed. Chris's inner thoughts were broadcast for everyone to hear.

The living room was dead silent.

In a flash, Chris's face turned white as a sheet, all color vanishing.

His eyes bulged in horror, staring at the tablet as if he'd seen a ghost.

My parents stood there frozen, staring at Chris, then at me. Their faces shifted from shock to fear, and finally, a lingering unease crept in.

They finally knew that I wasn't crazy.

All along, everything I'd said was true.