Chapter 2

The basement door closed behind me promptly after I stepped down, and I shuddered for no reason at all.

On second thought, I had nothing to fear now that I was dead. I glided toward the main entrance, determined to leave this nightmare of a place.

To my dismay, I was blocked from leaving. In that moment, my numbed emotions seemed to stir back to life.

I began to feel resentful and bitter, confused as to why my death couldn’t free me from this God-forsaken place.

After 18 years of mistaken identity, I was found living among swine in a pigsty. A well-dressed woman in leather pumps approached me.

The woman, her eyes wide with shock, drew close for a hug. However, the embrace was cut short when she stepped on a pile of pig manure.

The village chief pulled me out of the squalor and tossed me a clean change of clothes. He then presented me to the beautiful woman, who turned out to be my mother.

My father and brother stood next to my mother. I was told they were my family. The villagers remarked that I was incredibly lucky to rise from rags to riches.

“Wretch, they are your parents.” I staggered from the village chief’s shove, nearly falling at my family’s feet.

Before I could do anything, Sandra jumped in for a hug and broke down crying.

I believed I was happy at the time. My memory seemed to be fading now that I was just a wandering soul, or maybe I never had much to be happy about.

Sandra released me before I could hug back. I looked at Roger and Caleb in anticipation, hoping they might embrace me too.

I had been the village’s punching bag. Once, I stood up for myself and fought back.

Later, the child’s father shielded his son while I was hoisted onto a tree just outside the village, vulnerable to an hour of violent whipping with his belt.

Instead of defending me, my adoptive father agreed that I deserved the beating. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t have my back at the time until I discovered that I wasn’t his.

I was overjoyed at the prospect of finally receiving love and care from my real father and brother.

A sweet voice from behind Caleb interrupted my dream of getting a hug from Roger and Caleb.

“When are we going home, Caleb, Dad? I can’t stand the smell here.”

That wasn’t my first encounter with Casey. She was prettier than ever in her gorgeous dress, her locks of curls, and a pair of designer shoes, as I found out later.

In contrast, I was a disheveled mess in patched-up rags, reeking of a lingering stench. I carried a limp in my step, which was the main reason I had been banished to the pigsty.

Sandra, whose heart had gone out to me just a second ago, turned back to hold Casey. Roger and Caleb hurried to her side too.

“It’s filthy here. Why did you get out of the car?” Caleb said.

Without looking back, Caleb ushered Casey into the car. The car started, and the village chief had to remind the family of my existence just before they drove away.

“The child isn’t like me at all. She’s too timid.”

The combination of Roger’s remark and my cautious nature marked the onset of a four-month nightmare.

“Where do you think Casey went, Roger? Is she in danger?”

I floated in the direction of Mom’s worried voice, finding her weeping in Roger’s arms. There was nothing new to see.

They had been at it for a month. It was the same old story, and I already knew what was to come.

Roger would cry a little, then tear into me before thinking up excruciating methods to pry information from me that I didn’t have.

The stench they spoke of earlier was understandable. Left to my own devices in the basement for a month, I had to take care of my basic needs in the same space.

I did find some humor in my situation. At least I had a head start on surviving since I had been left to starve before I was brought back to the family.

Fortunately, my family delivered food to me once every few days, so I didn’t have to live on too much human waste.

The stench of blood was strong, though. Still, this was beyond my control. Heck, the place would reek of a dead body soon enough.

Sure enough, Roger came up with a new idea after a few seconds of contemplation.

“I remember that Willow’s biggest fear is rats. I’ll get Caleb to stuff her in a sack with some rats.”

I shuddered and glided toward them. “I’m dead, Dad. I doubt I’m scared of rats now.”

He certainly couldn’t hear me, but to my amazement, Sandra hesitated.

“Don’t give her a heart attack. We can’t find Casey if she’s dead.”

I burst into laughter. For a minute there, I thought she genuinely cared about me.

“Ha! I wish she were dead. If finding Casey weren’t the priority, I would’ve killed her by now.”

“You’re too soft. We haven’t been too harsh on her. All we did was just beat and starve her.

“She’s never been one for the finer things in life. You bought her so many new outfits when she came back, but she refuses to wear them. She insists on wearing those old rags—it’s humiliating!”

I wondered if they would blame themselves or worry about Casey’s safety when they found out I was dead.

Before I could dwell on the thought, Caleb’s angry bellow echoed from the basement, and he quickly dashed up the stairs.

“Dad! Mom!” I eagerly awaited the moment my death would be revealed. However, Roger cut Caleb off.

“Perfect timing, Caleb. We can’t afford to waste any more time. Get a sack of rats and stuff her in it.

“You can let her out when she’s ready to tell the truth.”

Caleb caught his breath. “Dad… Willow…”

“Well? I haven’t got all day. Is she playing the victim again?

“Hmph! God knows where she picked up these bad habits. She’s always been meek and unassuming. Thanks to Casey’s letter, we know who she really is.”

Sandra looked up from crying her eyes out. “Try and talk some sense into Willow, Caleb. Casey is her sister. I can plead her case as long as she tells us where Casey is.”

Her behavior disgusted me. I was also frustrated with Caleb. How hard could it be to announce my death?

I floated between them and shouted at the top of my lungs, “I’m dead! I’m dead!”

Snapping out of his trance, Caleb interrupted his parents and spoke with unreadable emotions.

“Willow is dead.”