Chapter 3

"No way! This is my family's secret; everything we want to keep hidden is sealed inside this lucky charm. You can't ever look at it!" I yelled.

"If the truth gets out, I won't survive for long. I'm not ready to die yet!" I blurted out.

Gone was my earlier blank stare; now I was like a beast baring its fangs, ready to tear into anyone who came close to the lucky charm.

As the cops lunged at me, I acted on pure instinct and shoved the lucky charm straight into my mouth, desperate to swallow it.

But the lucky charm was slick with blood, and the metallic tang was so overpowering I started retching. The cops grabbed my throat and roughly yanked it out.

They swarmed around it like it was a priceless treasure, practically salivating to find out what secrets were hidden inside.

But when they finally pried it open, everyone just stood there, frozen in shock.

I clapped my hand over my mouth, letting out a bright, tinkling laugh.

I snickered, "You guys really can't see anything, can you?"

There was absolutely nothing inside the lucky charm, but I kept insisting they just couldn't see it.

The cops didn't bother asking me any more questions. They just tagged me as a suspect and let me go for now.

From that day forward, my life was put under the microscope.

Online sleuths tracked down the villa my parents left behind and camped outside 24/7, keeping tabs on my every move.

I spent 365 days keeping vigil over my family's relics, but every night at exactly midnight, I'd sit at my desk and write a letter, folding it into the shape of a lucky charm.

I'd always send it out in the dead of night. Nobody ever knew who I was sending it to, or where I dropped it off.

Some curious reporters even sent teams to follow me, hoping to uncover the identity of the recipient. But every time, I'd choose a completely random place—deep in the mountains, by the ocean, even next to a volcano. No matter how bizarre the spot, someone always signed for it in the end.

They tried to catch me and demand answers, but the only day I ever stepped outside was on the anniversary of my parents' and brother's deaths.

Every year on those days, I'd slip into a striking red dress, clutch a bouquet of pure white flowers, and head to the cemetery, the media trailing behind me like a pack of wolves.

After repeating the same thing year after year, most people just thought I was being deliberately mysterious. But I'd always be in a good mood, twirling my red dress, and then I'd randomly grab someone, lean in close, and respond with a secretive whisper in their ear.

"Some people just love seeing me in a red dress. I wear it for them... They've been watching me like this for years and never get bored of it. I can't help it, you know?"

I watched as the person I grabbed by the wrist went pale, goosebumps popping up all over his skin.

He pointed right at me and screamed, "Quit with the creepy act! Your family's been dead for years. Who's telling you what to wear? You're just trying to get attention, aren't you? Keep scaring people, and we won't let you off easy!"

I nodded, totally used to this kind of reaction, and whispered to myself. "Doesn't matter if you believe me or not. I know I'm the kind of person nobody ever forgives..."

As soon as I finished talking, everyone freaked out and started yelling, their voices shaking with fear.

"Why are there two of you? Who the hell are you?"

I stared at them, completely baffled, and followed the direction of their pointing fingers. In that instant, I was so stunned my scalp tingled. I couldn't even speak.

Standing right in front of my parents' graves was a girl who was practically my twin. She wore the exact same red dress and held an armful of pure white flowers.

She didn't even look surprised to see me. Instead, her lips twisted into a childish grin, and she let out a soft, childlike laugh.

I was shaking all over, tears streaming down my face before I could even stop them.

"Who are you? Why are you visiting my parents' graves?" I demanded.

The girl in front of me was calm as ever, gliding toward me with steps so light it was like she was walking on air. She reached into her bouquet of white flowers and produced a lucky charm.

"So you were the one hiding the very last lucky charm. No wonder it was nowhere to be found," I said.

"How could you not know me? I'm Selena Andrus. Even if I'd turned to dust, you'd still recognize me," she sneered.

As soon as she said her name, everyone around me sucked in a sharp breath, stunned into silence.

"You're Selena Andrus? So the one who's been coming here every year is just a fake? Who's the real Andrus kid here, anyway?" someone in the crowd shouted.

"And seriously... what's up with that lucky charm you two keep fighting over?" another voice demanded.

I thrashed around, yelling desperately, "Give me back the lucky charm! It's cursed; it'll ruin you. And if I lose it, I swear I'll die for real. You can't just take it."

I bit down hard on her arm. Just as I was about to snatch the lucky charm back, she landed a stinging slap right across my face.

"It doesn't matter. With or without that lucky charm, you're doomed. Death itself is just a massive scam for everyone. How long are you going to keep lying to yourself?" she said coldly.

The slap made my ears ring, and I cried my heart out, totally losing it.

"I'm not lying! My parents swore to me; as long as I have this lucky charm, it'll keep me alive. I'm not ready to die!" I sobbed.