Chapter 3

Tears streamed down my face, but I couldn't say a word.

The violent current surged through my nerves, and the memory shifted to the second scene.

On the screen, Anne, my sister-in-law, and I were decorating our new home together.

"Faith! Doesn't this vase look perfect here? My taste is way better than my brother's, isn't it?"

Anne fluttered around me like a cheerful butterfly, chattering nonstop.

Then she mysteriously pulled out a small box.

Inside was a beautiful necklace.

"Faith, I bought this with the allowance I saved up myself. I hope you and my brother stay happy forever!"

My mother-in-law, Emily, squeezed my hand and passed me a wedding card with a generous check tucked inside, her smile brighter than ever.

"We're family now. If Daniel ever gives you a hard time, you tell me. I'll set him straight."

The whole family huddled together happily and took that photograph.

As Daniel watched the laughter and warmth on the giant screen, tears blurred his vision.

He rushed forward and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me frantically.

"Please! Tell me who the killer is! Please tell me!"

His outburst caused the steel probe fixed to my spine to shift out of place.

Pain exploded through my back, as though every bone were being snapped apart one by one.

The doctors hurried forward, trying to pull Daniel away.

"Mr. Shaw! Please calm down! She's going to die!"

Daniel froze for a moment before releasing me, allowing the doctors to drag him back.

But the crowd below erupted in shouts.

"She deserves it!"

"Let her suffer too!"

With trembling hands, Daniel pulled out a sheet of paper and held it in front of me. His eyes were filled with desperate pleading.

"Faith, that serial killer... he's issued another murder warning. At least for the sake of those innocent people, tell us who he is!"

His voice cracked with emotion, but I only spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground and turned my head away, refusing to look at him.

Daniel could only stand up and say to the doctors, "Extract the memories from the day of the incident."

…

"No!"

One of the doctors stared at the readings on the monitor and shouted in alarm.

"The extraction is failing! Her brain is violently resisting the process! We have to increase the power!"

Daniel slowly rose from the floor and walked to the control console.

Without a moment's hesitation, he slammed his hand onto the red button.

The effect was instantaneous.

It felt as though my entire body had been thrown into a pool of molten lava.

An unbearable burning pain erupted from my spine and tore through every inch of me.

Thick streams of blood began pouring from my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

Everyone below watched coldly as I endured the torture.

Some even spat in my direction.

"Increase the power!"

"Kill this monster!"

As my screams grew more and more horrifying, new images finally appeared on the giant screen.

The room was dimly lit.

Anne's face was pale with terror as she desperately shoved me into a wardrobe.

She trembled and mouthed the words to me.

"Faith, don't make a sound! Whatever happens, don't come out!"

Heavy footsteps echoed from outside the bedroom.

Curled up inside the wardrobe, I clamped both hands over my mouth.

A violent struggle soon erupted beyond the door.

But only seconds later, all that remained were Anne Shaw's bloodcurdling screams and her muffled sobs as she begged for mercy.

No one knew how much time had passed before a sliver of light finally appeared.

I pushed the wardrobe door open just enough to peek through the crack.

And on the other side, I met Anne's eyes.