Chapter 2

Voices rose in a clamor as everyone scrutinized each other. There was nowhere to hide.

"Who on earth is the family of seven?"

"Step forward right now! Are you really going to let us all die?"

Alex's eyes were like lanterns, cutting through the fog and sweeping over Mable and me meaningfully, like a snake coiling around its prey.

We held each other's hands tightly and lowered our heads, trying our best to make our presence as small as possible.

Suddenly, someone pointed at me. "She knows! It has to be her! She said this is all just superstitious nonsense earlier and that the flooding has nothing to do with a family of seven. She's been arguing since the very beginning."

The moment I was accused, the thick fog lifted, and the murky floodwater returned to how it looked before.

The crowd's excitement spiked.

"I overheard her mention that the woman next to her is her sister. They're siblings. The other five must be around here too."

Mable and I were instantly surrounded in a tight circle.

Mom, Dad, my brother, Julian Carter, my sister-in-law, Lindsey Barns, and their son were all standing at the edge. I signaled for them to stay quiet and not step forward.

Then, I pulled Mable behind me protectively. "What are you talking about? It's just my sister and me. We're not the family of seven," I answered relatively calmly.

Alex sneered. "Not the family of seven, huh? It's easy enough to test that. Since you're so stubborn, let's try your sister."

The crowd had found their target. They looked like they wanted to strangle us with their gazes alone.

Before long, that strange, powerful hand was slicing through the water behind us again.

Mable stiffened. "Vivian, I'm scared. That thing's going to drag me into the water."

I hurriedly moved her in front of me and held her tightly, shielding her in my arms.

"Stop pretending with this voodoo nonsense! I don't believe in ghosts! You're just framing innocent people!" I screamed at Alex, losing control.

He said nothing, only shaking his head and sighing helplessly. "There's nothing I can do, either."

The next second, the hand shot out as if it had come to life. It stretched several feet and grabbed Mable's calf hard.

In a flash, she was dragged into the water. She didn't even get a chance to draw a breath before she disappeared beneath the murky surface.

I stared in shock at the spot where she had disappeared. Mom, however, rushed forward immediately.

"Mable! No, my daughter! No!"

She lunged into the water. Without thinking, I grabbed her around the waist.

"Mom, don't! The water's dangerous. Don't stand here," I wailed desperately, my voice broken and hoarse with panic.

Mom's face was streaked with tears, her features twisting in extreme grief. "Why? We're not the family of seven, so why is this happening to us? We didn't do anything wrong!"

I trembled as I pulled her into my arms, trying to soothe her. "It's okay. It'll be okay…"

But I didn't believe my own words. How could it be okay? My dearest sister had just disappeared right in front of me.

"That's three people now—the sisters and their mother. Where are the other four?" someone questioned.

Hundreds of eyes immediately scanned the area.

Centered on Mom and me, they began searching for anyone who could be connected to us. If they suspected someone, they would pin every possible reason on us.

My voice trembled, barely able to form a full sentence. "It's just the three of us. Don't push things too far, or I'll call the police right now."

Mentioning the police caused the whole crowd to burst into laughter, as there was no signal on this island. They urged me to call the police, and someone even handed me their phone to try.

Mom stood beside me with bloodshot eyes, looking like she had lost all hope.

Suddenly, I noticed that everything was gradually becoming eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm.

Just as a chill ran down my spine, a child's voice shattered the silence.