Chapter one: Sisters

Blood flowed between her long legs, creating dark patterns on the grimy factory floor. Her body lay half-naked, dressed in a now-tattered sky-blue dress that barely qualified as clothing anymore. Her arms were limp, her eyelids covered by a dirty red cloth. Behind that cover, tears continued to stream down her cheeks, accompanying muffled cries laden with pain.

A middle-aged man stood not far from her. He was plump, with a pale face and trembling hands. His eyes were fixed on the girl, filled with confusion and guilt. He exhaled heavily, trying to calm himself even though he had no idea what to do.

"How unfortunate .…" he muttered in a low voice. "Oh God, what should I do?"

The man was the factory owner. And the girl lying before him was one of his factory workers.

He finally reached for the phone with trembling hands. “I have to call the police,” he said to himself. However, his body froze, delaying the urgent call. Only a few minutes later, the sound of sirens pierced the silence. Two police officers arrived, followed by an ambulance slowly pulling up.

One of the officers, a man with a serious expression and piercing eyes, glanced at the girl lying on the floor before approaching quickly. “Do you know her?” he asked, staring at the man sharply.

“Yes, she works here … Elizah,” he replied with a choked voice. “Such an unfortunate girl, truly unfortunate.”

A nurse stepped out of the ambulance and hurried toward the girl. However, as her face was illuminated by the lights, the female nurse froze. Her body stiffened, and her eyes widened with shock.

“Julie, what’s wrong?” Richard, the male nurse accompanying her, asked with concern.

Julie didn’t respond. She ran closer, dropping to her knees beside Elizah’s body. With trembling hands, she removed the cloth covering the girl’s face. In an instant, Julie recoiled, her body trembling violently.

“Elizah ....” she whispered in disbelief. “This can’t be.”

When Julie tried to embrace her, Elizah screamed in terror. “Aaaah! Monster! Bastard!” she cried, shoving Julie away. Her body twisted wildly, her arms protecting herself as if fighting off a shadow only she could see.

Julie remained frozen, tears welling in her eyes. “Eliz ... it’s me, Julie,” she said, her voice hoarse. But Elizah continued to curl up, screaming and begging through ragged breaths.

A police officer approached and gently touched Julie’s shoulder. “Do you know her?” he asked, his cold, sharp gaze fixed on her.

Julie turned, her face wet with tears. “She … she’s my sister.”

The officer’s eyes softened with sympathy. “We’re so sorry. Perhaps it’s best if this case is handled by another medical team,” he said, trying to ease Julie’s growing burden.

“Bastard, an absolute bastard! I…” Unable to contain the flood of anger and sorrow, she stormed out of the factory, screaming her lungs out, crying, and falling to her knees on the ground.

Screams could still be heard from inside the warehouse as the medical team tried to calm Elizah. Eventually, she was sedated and placed on a stretcher, which was then carried into the ambulance.

“Julie,” Richard touched her shoulder, “you should come with us,” he said softly. But Julie, still distraught, couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“I need to speak with the police. They have to find the perpetrator, or I’ll do it myself!” With a determined look, Julie stood up and walked into the factory to confront the police officer in uniform, whose face was impassive.

“How is the victim? What—”

“You must find the perpetrator, officer. You must find the vile human who did this to my sister!” Julie’s firm voice rang out. The officer tried to calm her, though he could see the fiery rage in her eyes.

“You should leave this place. Your duty lies out there,” he said, pointing toward the ambulance outside the factory, “not here. So I urge you to remain calm, ma’am.”

Unable to contain her grief, Julie broke down, sobbing and collapsing onto the floor. The officer, appearing to be in his thirties, knelt down and gently patted her shoulder.

“We’ll find something here, I promise,” he assured her with a faint smile. Just then, another officer approached and tapped him on the shoulder.

“We found something.”

Julie overheard this and immediately stood up, feeling entitled to know what the officers had discovered. “What? What did you find? Did you find DNA or—”

“Calm down, ma’am. We’re still investigating. Please return to your duties. We’ll question Miss Elizah once she regains consciousness. Contact me if you need any further information.” He handed Julie a business card bearing a phone number and the name Mark Robertson, the police officer in charge. Julie didn’t know what else to do but follow Officer Robertson’s advice.

She stepped out of the factory and into the ambulance, where she had to watch her sister lying there with bruises on her face. Elizah was calm now, thanks to the sedatives administered by the medical team. Julie, however, had no idea how to explain all of this to her family.

“Everything will be fine. The police will find the perpetrator, Julie,” Richard said, his gaze earnest as he held Julie’s hand. Their eyes met, and Julie could only muster a faint smile, her tears threatening to spill once more.

They eventually arrived at the hospital. Elizah regained consciousness but was still crying, grimacing, and refusing to see anyone. She even rejected Julie. If she saw anyone or even the shadow of a passing airplane, she’d scream, “Monsters.”

“She doesn’t want to see anyone. She’s still trembling and keeps screaming, ‘Monsters,’” Richard explained.

“Monsters? That means there’s more than one perpetrator which ... Oh God … Oh no ..." Julie whispered, sitting down on the bench outside Elizah’s hospital room. When Julie glanced up, she saw the same officer, Mark Robertson, walking toward her with his assistant.

“Elizah isn’t ready to meet anyone yet.”

“We’ve been cleared by the doctor. Please step aside,” Mark responded calmly.

“She won’t even see me,” Julie said, staring at him with a sharp gaze, but Mark’s expression remained neutral.

“I’ve already sedated her,” a doctor said as they stepped out of the room. “The officers may question her now, but please, Miss Julie, don’t enter the room. She always screams whenever she sees you.”

“What?”

“Please, officers.”

“But doctor ...." 

No one paid attention to Julie’s protests, and everyone entered the treatment room. Inside, Elizah was gazing out of the window, her expression weary and the atmosphere around her heavy with gloom.

“Miss Elizah,” Mark Robertson called out softly, prompting Elizah to turn her gaze toward him. “How are you feeling now?” He smiled at her, but Elizah remained expressionless.

“Ju … Julie.”

“Julie? What about Julie? Do you want to see her?” he asked. Elizah nodded slightly, prompting Mark to glance at the doctor standing beside the bed, frowning in confusion. “You said Julie  couldn’t see her,” he said, shaking his head.

“But earlier—”

“Please, call Julie in.”

Not long after, Julie entered the room. Elizah immediately burst into uncontrollable tears, throwing herself into her sister’s arms. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Julie… I’m sorry…” she sobbed.

“No, it’s not your fault. Please, calm down. Everything will be okay,” Julie whispered, cradling Elizah’s face in her hands as she gazed at her sister’s bruised and battered face. Everyone in the room watched the emotional scene in silence. Mark, though eager to ask questions, exercised patience.

“Liam.”

“What?” Julie gasped, wiping her tears. “What about Liam?”

“I’m… I’m sorry… I…”

“Was it him? Did he do this to you?”

“I followed him last night. He told me that… I’m sorry, Julie.” Elizah sobbed uncontrollably, unable to look at her sister as she covered her face with both hands. Mark Robertson furrowed his brows in confusion

.

“Who’s Liam?”

Julie took a step back. “My fiancé.”