Chapter 3

The camera hung over my head, so I had to change clothes under the covers.

I did not sleep that entire night.

The next morning, Faye came to me and held out her hand. "I want to install a sharing app on your phone. You were on it all night, and I'm worried you're keeping secrets from me."

She looked at me with wide, helpless eyes. "It makes me anxious."

I held my phone behind my back. "No."

The living room went silent. Everyone stared at me.

Mom frowned. "It is just a phone. What could you possibly need to hide?"

"It is my privacy," I said firmly.

Dad scoffed. "Privacy? We are family. Since when do we need privacy from each other? If you were not always trying to ditch Faye, she would not be this insecure."

Kellan tried a softer approach. "You two are sisters. Why draw such hard lines? I will make it up to you later, I promise."

I looked at all of them and felt something inside me go hollow.

"When is later?" I asked.

He froze.

"When she gets better? When she does not need me anymore? Or when my entire life is already over?"

Every face in the room changed.

My voice shook. "I already gave up my high school for her. I gave up my college. I was forced to give up my dream. That still was not enough for you.

"Now you want my privacy and my freedom, too." I could barely hold the words steady.

"Does my whole life have to revolve around her?"

Mom's head snapped toward me. "What about your sister's life? You are her older sister. She is sick. She cannot be without you. If you will not take care of her, who will?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Faye cut in, tears streaming down her face. "Stop it. If Alina does not want me around, if she thinks I ruined her life, then I will pay her back with mine."

She turned and ran for the balcony.

"Faye." Mom screamed and bolted after her.

Kellan and Dad rushed over at the same time. They pulled Faye back from the window, one on each side. She trembled so hard she could barely stand.

"All I wanted was to be close to my sister. Is that really so wrong?"

Mom held her tight and cried with her. Kellan murmured to her over and over, trying to calm her down. Dad's eyes were bloodshot. He turned and slapped me so hard I hit the floor.

"She is your sister. Are you trying to push her over the edge? Is that what it takes to make you stop? How can you be this heartless?"

My head rang, and my vision blurred. Through the chaos, I saw Faye glance at me and raise her eyebrows, just slightly.

It was quick, but I caught every bit of it.

She had figured out the rules of this house a long time ago. All she had to do was break down, and everyone lined up to force me into submission.

Kellan walked over and stood in front of me. "Give me your phone."

I looked up at him. "You are going to force me, too?"

Something flickered in his eyes, a hesitation that vanished almost as soon as it appeared. "I just do not want Faye getting hurt again."

He grabbed my wrist and took the phone out of my hand. I tried to snatch it back, but Mom and Dad lunged forward and pinned my arms from both sides.

Kellan bent his head over the screen. One by one, he authorized permissions for location tracking, audio recording, photo access, and contacts.

A chime confirmed the installation was complete. From that moment on, every move I made would be under Faye's surveillance.

She leaned back on the couch. Her face was still pale, but the tension in her expression had begun to ease.

"Mom, it is not enough."

She reached into the drawer of the coffee table and pulled out a sealed plastic bag. Inside was a syringe and a chip no bigger than a grain of rice.

Mom avoided my eyes.

"I had someone get this for me. It is a pet tracking chip. Once it is in, Faye will never have to worry about losing you again."