Karma Found Them After My Death

At eighteen, I was led out the prison's side entrance in handcuffs. Not one of them spared me a second glance.

Now, at twenty-four, I stood outside those same prison gates, staring at the dog collar in front of me.

Lucas Bennett leaned out of the car window with a bright smile. "Graham! Your sisters picked out a welcome-home gift just for you. It's a limited edition. Even Duke's never had one this nice."

Duke was his Doberman.

I didn't argue. I simply fastened the dog collar around my own neck.

They thought seven years had finally taught me obedience. What they didn't know was that I only had twelve hours left to complete the System's objective.

In twelve hours, I'd be leaving this world, and finally reuniting with my real family.

...

Claire Bennett, my second sister, pulled open the passenger door and smiled. "Come on. Let's go home."

I had barely taken half a step when Lucas leaned forward from the back seat.

"Wait." He stopped me, then turned to my sisters. "Dad gave me this car for my birthday last year..."

His gaze dropped to my filthy clothes, and he frowned awkwardly. "Graham still smells like prison. It'll get into the leather."

My foot froze in midair before I quietly stepped back.

Vivian Bennett, my eldest sister, frowned. "Then call him an Uber."

Lucas immediately shook his head. "No, no! Graham just got out after seven years. People would think we abandoned him."

Tilting his head, he thought for a moment before pointing toward the trunk. "He can ride back there. It's only half an hour. He can squeeze in."

For a brief second, all three sisters looked uncomfortable.

Claire parted her lips as if she wanted to object. Before she could speak, Lucas's eyes reddened.

"Never mind. Let Graham have the car. I'll call myself a rideshare. Besides, every time Graham comes home, I'm always the one who has to give things up."

Vivian's face darkened. "Just get in. It's not that far. Just deal with it."

I walked to the back of the SUV and lifted the trunk.

A black blur lunged at me. Sharp fangs sank into my forearm, tearing through flesh in an instant.

A muffled groan escaped my lips as blood streamed down my wrist.

Lucas gasped dramatically from the front. "Oh no! I forgot Duke was back there! I'm so sorry, Graham! He's never done that before!"

He paused, then tilted his head and looked at the dog collar around my neck with wide, innocent eyes. "Maybe Duke saw that around your neck and thought you were one of his own? He's pretty territorial."

Before I could say a word, Claire called impatiently from inside the car, "What are you waiting for? Get in already."

I had no choice but to curl up inside the trunk, pressing my bleeding arm beneath my body.

At that moment, the System sent another notification.

System: [Departure Countdown: 10:09:00]

When we arrived at the Bennett estate, I walked upstairs to my old bedroom.

The moment I pushed the door open, I stopped cold. Shredded dog toys were scattered across the floor. The bookshelf was filled with dog food and chew toys.

A massive dog bed sat in the corner, embroidered with the words: "Duke."

My bedroom had become Duke's room.

My gaze drifted to the corner to see a stuffed lion. One ear had been chewed almost completely off. Its stomach had been ripped open, stuffing spilling out beside the dog bed.

Lucille Cook, the director of the orphanage, had sewn it for me herself on the day I left with the Bennetts.

The words stitched crookedly across one ear read: "Graham."

She had smiled as she handed it to me. "I hope you'll be just like this little lion someday—brave enough to carve out a place in the world that's entirely your own."

When I was first brought back to the Bennett family, everything around me was unfamiliar, expensive, and never truly mine.

Only that little lion belonged to me. Whenever I was bullied or felt wronged, I'd clutch it tightly in my room, pretending Lucille was still with me.

Now it looked no different from a piece of trash.

Behind me, Lucas spoke softly, "I'm sorry, Graham. After you went away, the room sat empty for so long. Duke needed space to run around, so I..."

My sisters explained that none of them had expected me to be released a year early. They'd change it back tomorrow, so for tonight, I'd just have to make do.

I crouched down and picked up the battered little lion. Then, little by little, I tucked the loose stuffing back inside its torn belly.

"No need."

Because I already knew that I was leaving. There was no tomorrow for me.

Vivian's expression changed. "What do you mean?"

Natalie, my third sister, let out a cold laugh. "It's been seven years, and you still haven't fixed that attitude?"

Vivian took a deep breath. "Lucas already had a guest room prepared for you! What's with the attitude?"

Lucas gently tugged on Vivian's arm. "Don't yell at him. It's my fault."

Then he turned to me with a warm smile. "The guest room's on the second floor. I cleaned it up a couple of days ago. Go take a shower, Graham. We're having a welcome-home dinner tonight.

"And change into the outfit I picked out for you. Let's celebrate properly."

Holding the battered little lion against my chest, I walked into the guest room.

The moment I saw the neatly folded outfit waiting on the bed, I froze. It was a gray servant's uniform. Resting on top of it was a gold dog tag that matched the collar around my neck exactly.