Chapter 1

When they heard my question, the middle‑aged couple in front of me froze, looking stunned. But the surprise lasted only a second before it turned into irritation.

"Summer, stop messing around and come out!"

"Your sister says she feels like eating your cupcakes. Go bake her some!"

Hearing the word "sister" made my head throb, like needles were stabbing my skull. Countless images flashed through my mind, but none of them were clear.

I knew one thing for sure, though. Whatever those memories were, they had to be painful.

The voices kept yelling, making the room feel even more suffocating.

I had no choice but to slowly step out of the room. But the moment the light from outside hit me, I screamed uncontrollably. As soon as the brightness hit me, my skin burned like it had been set on fire. Terrified, I recoiled, but then I heard a young man's voice.

"Summer, what are you pretending for? Weren't you always complaining about how much you hate this dark room? Now that we're letting you out, you're acting all dramatic. Hurry up and get out. Don't upset Ash!"

This man's attitude toward me was just as nasty as the middle‑aged couple's.

I trembled all over and didn't respond. I didn't want to go out at all.

They were right. I really did hate this pitch‑black place. I was terrified of the dark, and my heart was pounding so hard, it felt like it would burst.

But even though the world outside was bright, something inside my head kept whispering that if I went out, I'd be walking straight into pain. Like a newborn, I curled into myself and hugged my body tight until that overwhelming fear subsided.

Then, I heard a young lady speak. She sounded upset, her voice tinged with hurt. "Dad, Mom, Liam, haven't you gotten Summer out? It's all my fault for being so spoiled. Is she unwilling to come out because she's mad at me?

"Summer, I'm sorry. I really am. Will you come out?"

She sounded like she was crying.

The three who had spoken to me so harshly moments ago instantly switched to comforting her, their tone a thousand times gentler than anything they'd ever used on me.

"Ash, don't overthink it. None of this is your fault."

"It's Summer being ungrateful and throwing a tantrum. You're our precious one. Why apologize to someone like her?"

Someone like her?

Were they talking about me?

I touched my chest. There was a dull ache there. Was I hurting because of what they said?

But I really couldn't remember anything. It was as if my past was wrapped in fog, impossible to see clearly.

Those people didn't care what I was thinking. They just kept coaxing the young lady until she finally calmed down.

I heard their footsteps as they walked her away. But the very next second, a large hand suddenly grabbed my arm.