Chapter 3

The moment I reached out my hand, I caught the sound of hushed voices whispering from inside.

"Why did you give her one hundred dollars today? That's enough for Jay to buy a new game skin." It was my mom's complaining voice.

I held my breath, and then I heard my dad's voice, the one who always tried to smooth things over at home.

He said, "What do you know? She dared to throw Jay's shoes today. That means she's been pushed too far and is starting to rebel.

"She's eighteen now. If she really makes a scene, calls the cops, or runs away, where are we going to find another free labor like her?

"I gave her money to keep her in check. Slap her, and then give her a candy. That's how you keep someone in line. Besides, she wants to take the SAT, right? Let her take it.

"That crippled guy from the next county, Rio, has been willing to pay one hundred thousand dollars for a college-educated wife to upgrade his family's bloodline.

"Once Selah gets into college, her value will be different. Then we'll hold onto her college acceptance letter and marry her off. After that, we'll earn Jay's down payment for his future wedding house."

My mom suddenly understood and let out a low laugh. "You're so clever. Even if that damn girl sprouts wings, she can't escape our grasp."

At that moment, I clamped my hand over my mouth, my stomach twisting in knots, nausea rising in my throat.

I quietly pulled my hand back, ready to retreat to the balcony.

I decided that as soon as I got to school tomorrow, I'd go to the DMV office and report my driver's license as lost. Even if I had to throw away my pride, I was getting out of here.

But as I was about to turn away, the balcony light flicked on.

I whipped around and saw Jason standing by my folding bed.

He was holding an iron basin, and inside, a blaze was raging.

In his other hand was my science book, the one where I hid my money.

"Selah, did you really think I'd let you off that easily?" Grinning wickedly, he tore a page from my book, grabbed the hundred-dollar bill with the dirty shoe print, and tossed them both straight into the blazing iron basin.

The flames devoured the money in an instant.

"What are you doing?" I lunged at him like a madwoman.

My dad, who'd heard the commotion, rushed out and pinned me to the floor. "What the hell are you doing at this hour?"

"Selah, you trashed my shoes worth 1300 dollars. So, I burn a couple of your worthless books. That's fair, right?" Jason crouched down, looking at me with a mocking grin as I lay pinned to the floor, unable to move.

He pulled my driver's license out of his pocket.

Under my desperate gaze, he pinched it between two fingers and slowly moved it right over the burning basin.

"Aren't you so tough? Don't you think you don't owe us anything anymore?" He flicked the lighter in his hand, grinning like a devil. "Now, crawl under my legs, bark like a dog, and beg me to forgive you.

"Otherwise, you'll never set foot outside this house for the rest of your life."

My mom stood off to the side, arms crossed, looking down at me. "Selah, rules are rules. Don't think you can turn this place upside down. You're not in charge here."

I stared at my twisted family, and suddenly let out a laugh.

"What the hell are you laughing at? Have you gone crazy?" My dad froze for a second, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes, and his grip on me loosened a little.

This was it.

I whipped my head around and bit down on my dad's thick wrist as hard as I could.

"Ouch, you bitch! What are you, a dog?" my dad screamed and yanked his hand away.

I sprang to my feet.

"How dare you bite Dad? Say goodbye to your driver's license." Jason, completely losing it, was about to hurl my driver's license straight into the flames.

"Go ahead, burn it!" I screamed and snatched the book out of the flames.

Half the science book was already a blazing fireball.

Without blinking, I pressed that burning mass right up against my right cheek.

If I took it closer, those flames would scar my face for life.

My mom shrieked, stumbling back in terror. "What are you doing?"

My eyes were red, and my grin kept getting wider. "You want to burn something? Let's burn it all. If my driver's license goes up in flames today, I'll destroy my face right along with it.

"I want to see if Rio from the next county, who's ready to pay one hundred thousand dollars for a wife, would still cough up the cash for a girl who can't take the SAT and has a ruined, scarred face, to upgrade his genes!"

As soon as I said that, my dad's face went completely pale, his jowls twitching uncontrollably. "What... What did you hear?"

I said, "I heard everything. Nice trick, Dad. Slap me, then give a candy, so that's your way of keeping people in line, huh?

"You want to use me to trade one hundred thousand dollars as the down payment for Jay's future wedding house, right?

"But Dad, if you push me to the edge today, or if I end up disfigured, your investment goes straight down the drain.

"What are you going to use to pay for your precious son's future then? Are you planning to make up for it with your own life?"

"No, Selah. Don't do anything stupid!" My mom, who always looked down on me and acted like she could crush me whenever she wanted, finally got how bad things really were. "Jason, why are you standing there? Hand her driver's license over, now.

"If you think about messing with her driver's license, I'll break your legs right here and now."