Chapter 3

"He told us to make sure all the doors and windows are locked, and don't just open up for anyone you don't know," I reminded Pamela.

Pamela shot me a surprised look. But she played along and kept quiet.

Then she stood up and grabbed the baseball bat by the door.

"Don't be scared, Christine," she said softly. "Even if there really is a killer standing at the door, I will protect you, at all costs."

Mom poked her head out of the kitchen when she heard the commotion.

Clutching the kitchen knife, she said, "That's right. I'll protect you, too. While I'm here, nobody's going to lay a finger on you."

I was really touched by how much my family trusted me.

My eyes welled up again.

But right now, I knew there was no time for tears.

I dashed to the door and bolted it shut.

Then I snatched up my phone and dialed 911 in a panic.

I told the police, "There are two ruthless murderers standing right outside our door."

The cops said they'd be here in ten minutes and told us to make sure we stay safe until they arrive.

Hearing that, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

We just have to keep the door shut and not let them in.

But the barrage of comments flying across my screen made it clear—things weren't as simple as I'd hoped.

[It's a shame. She's smart enough to keep the door shut.]

[But she doesn't know there's already an accomplice hiding inside.]

[No matter what she does, her whole family is doomed.]

A cold sweat crept down my spine.

What? There's already a killer hiding in our home? Where?

Suddenly, a soft, chilling laugh broke the silence.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I turned toward the source of the sound.

Suddenly, someone stepped out of the closet in the corner.

He flashed us a wild, twisted grin. "Nice try, keeping the door shut. But it won't help you."

With that, he brandished a long machete and swung it straight at Mom, who was closest to him.

Blood splashed across my eyes, turning my whole world red.

I grabbed the kitchen knife Mom had dropped and rushed at him, desperate to do anything I could.

But just as I got close, he whipped out a gun and shot me straight through the head.

He had a gun?!

It felt like my life was snuffed out in an instant.

I collapsed to the floor.

There was nothing—no sound, no breath, just emptiness.

Pamela let out a scream and raised the baseball bat, trying to protect us.

But the killer who'd just broken in swung his axe and buried it in her back.

Then he hacked her right in the stomach.

In the next instant, her guts and even her placenta spilled out onto the floor.

We were wiped out. Again.

And once again, it was a massacre, bloody and merciless.

After Dad passed away when I was still in grade school, Mom moved me and Pamela into this old, run-down neighborhood.

Back in her younger days, Mom was truly beautiful.

Plenty of people suggested she should get remarried.

But Mom always said, "Who knows if a new husband would actually be good to my kids?"

She always felt more at ease raising us on her own.

She turned down countless men, all for our sake.

She started selling fruit to make ends meet.

Rain or shine, she never missed a day at her stall.

She always said, "If I work a little harder, you and Pamela can have a better life."

All because Mom never stopped fighting for us, Pamela got to go to college, find a job, and even get married.

Now, I was on the verge of getting into college myself.

For all three years of high school, I was always top of my class in every exam.

My teachers said I was a sure bet for an Ivy.

The admissions offices from both top schools had even reached out to me ahead of time.

Mom always said that once I got into college, she wouldn't have to work herself to the bone anymore.

She'd finally take a break, head back to our hometown, and tidy up Dad's grave.

She wanted Dad to bask in the pride of having a daughter who made it to an Ivy.

Pamela and I had our own plans too.

Once I got into college and she had her baby, we were going to take Mom on a trip abroad together.

Mom had spent her whole life working herself to the bone for us.

But she'd never once gotten the chance to leave our city.

Now, we were finally grown up.

It was our chance to give back to her.

I threw myself into my studies, day and night, all for my family and our future.