Chapter 2

What Aubrey had forgotten was that I was 22 now. I was no longer that eight-year-old kid. I knew how to use electronic devices, and I knew how to use GPS.

So even without the watch, my soul could find its way back home without any trouble.

The reason I hadn't come back—and had instead foolishly gone to the altered location she set—was because I understood that I was unwanted in this family.

Aubrey had always been a terrible actress. When I got lost as a child and was finally found, her expression had been icy as she'd scolded me. But her voice had been filled with worry and concern.

This time was no different.

Two days earlier, I'd asked her what was so fun about this small mountain village and why we weren't heading home when Thanksgiving was right around the corner.

She smiled at me, but her eyes were filled with guilt. "There's no rush to get home. I finally carved out some time to spend with you. Let's enjoy ourselves here for a couple more days."

I'd sensed something was off right then and there, but I didn't say anything. At least, not until she asked for my watch, claiming she wanted to take a photo of it so she could buy one for Brent, too.

I took off the watch and handed it to her. Her fingers trembled as she adjusted the settings. Even after she fastened it back onto my wrist, the strained look on her face never eased.

Smiling, I said, "Aubrey, this model's pretty old. You should buy a new one for Brent, otherwise he won't be happy."

She couldn't even bring herself to look at me as she said, "It's fine. I'll just buy him this one."

That only made me more certain that something was off with her.

That night, I took off the watch and examined it carefully. Sure enough, I discovered that the GPS location had been altered.

On the surface, it still showed that our home address was in Riverbridge. But if one clicked on it and dug further, they'd find that the actual destination was now set to a patch of woods outside Maple Hollow.

Aubrey had probably picked a random spot on the map and hadn't realized that it was deep in the woods.

In that instant, my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. But I didn't go to her, nor did I ask any questions, because I knew she was caught in a difficult position as well.

Brent couldn't stand the sight of me, and with his depression, he threatened suicide at the drop of a hat. For nearly ten years, she'd been caught between her biological brother and me. That couldn't have been easy.

…

The next morning, Aubrey didn't come to knock on my door like usual. I knew she must've already gone home.

So I left as well and followed the route shown on my watch.

Along the way, one of the villagers recognized me. "Aren't you the tourist from the city?" he asked. "Your sister left early this morning. Are you leaving too? Where are you going?"

I forced down the bitterness in my heart and smiled. "Home."

The villager frowned. "The road back to town isn't this way. Don't go any further. There are wolves and snakes in these woods. Even traps."

"It's okay," I said, smiling. "I'll be careful."

Even if it were hell itself, if it was where Aubrey wanted me to go, I'd go.

The villager stopped trying to talk me out of it and headed home.

Originally, my plan had been to leave the watch at the marked location so Aubrey wouldn't worry. Then, I'd leave the woods and find some random place to live.

What I never expected, however, was to fall into a trap after only a few steps.

There was no cell service, and even emergency calls couldn't get through. I fell into despair, feeling utterly helpless.

And to make matters worse, there was a venomous snake in the pit. That very night, it bit me, and I died.

…

"Gary's GPS location disappeared!"

Aubrey's anxious voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Her face was pale as she stared at her phone. As soon as she said those words, she jumped to her feet and started putting on her coat.

"Something couldn't have happened to Gary, could it? No, I have to go find him!"