Chapter 5

"Linda, my skin's way too delicate for this kind of heat and sun. You go by yourself, and don't come back without ice," Sandra said, not even bothering to hide her annoyance.

Within seconds, my cheeks felt like they were cracking from the heat.

I banged on the door, panicking. "Brian, Sandra, I'm already feeling like I'm gonna pass out! Can't you at least let me grab an umbrella and a bottle of water before I go?"

Sandra shouted from inside, "It's just down the street. Do you really need an umbrella? Quit acting like some spoiled princess!"

She barely cracked the door and tossed a five-dollar bill at me.

I heard them flip the deadbolt, locking me out for good.

Forget ice—just walking downstairs would melt me into a puddle.

They really just wanted me dead out there.

But honestly, that was exactly what I wanted.

Sunlight streamed through the stairwell window and burned my bare arms instantly, leaving them red and raw. It felt like I was walking on lava.

The sunbeams, magnified by the glass, even made my hair start to smoke, filling the air with the bitter smell of burning.

But instead of panic, I felt an odd, sudden sense of release.

I opened the reinforced basement door.

A wave of cool air washed over me, instantly wiping away all that scorching heat.

The contractor had set up a network of hidden solar panels for me. Sunlight by day charged the batteries that kept me powered through the night.

And just in case, I had a backup generator ready to go.

Inside, the central AC hummed away. It felt like stepping into another world—safe, quiet, separate from the furnace outside.

I opened the freezer, and inside, colorful fruit-infused ice cubes sparkled, just waiting to be enjoyed.

I wrapped myself in a comfy light blanket, kicked back with a fresh cocktail and some fruity ice cubes—living the chill life.

But even in all this comfort, I could never put out the hatred burning inside me.

While others were saving lives in the ruins, Brian was turning them into a weapon.

When Sandra shoved me down the stairs, I just got a little banged up at first.

But Brian was the one who crushed my spine with a giant rock, left me paralyzed and stuck under the rubble, waiting to die.

The rescue teams walked right above me, over and over, but with my mouth sealed shut, I couldn't call out for help. In the end, I was tortured by my injuries and the unbearable heat, dying slowly under all that agony.

The saddest part was that, besides Brian and Sandra, no one knew I'd been murdered and left there.

I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Brian once took pity on me after I lost my parents so young, and made a solemn vow that he'd always be there to protect me.

But when his feelings changed, those same promises became the weaknesses he used to hurt me.

Because of him, I learned what it meant to depend on someone.

And because of him, I realized the only person I could ever truly count on was myself.

*****

Once I'd pulled myself together, I started treating myself.

At first, just to piss Sandra off, I cooked meals so bad that they were almost impossible to eat.

Later, when food got scarce, dinner was just plain bread and thin broth every day.

The most frustrating part was that every time I cooked, the heat left me drenched in sweat.

So I seared a filet mignon and made a rich, spicy curry to go with it. The fiery kick was incredible, and best of all, in my air-conditioned haven, I enjoyed it in total comfort.

That was just the start.

Then I brought out a few mini cakes, poured myself a cocktail, and turned on the home security cameras.

Made for the perfect dinner show.