Chapter 3

"Caleb, I know you feel wronged, but I really have no choice.

"Please don't refuse to eat. No matter how upset you are, you have to take care of your body," Mom said.

She pressed her ear to the door and listened for a long time. Inside, there was only silence.

Panic crept into her weeping voice.

"Caleb? Can you answer me?

"Once your brother leaves, I'll let you out right away. I'll make you meatballs."

There was still no sound.

She stood up, wiped the corner of her eyes, and sighed.

"You're a stubborn child."

She left.

I floated in front of her.

'Mom, I'm not being stubborn. I'm dead.'

As she walked back inside, she wiped the corner of her eyes again.

I drifted outside the window and heard my parents talking softly.

"Is he asleep?" Dad asked.

"Yeah. He ignored me," Mom said helplessly.

Dad sighed. "I hope he doesn't starve."

Tears slipped down my face.

In the cellar, my body was beginning to stiffen.

Early next morning, Daniel got up to cook.

He thought about going to the cellar to grab some sweet potatoes, but Dad stopped him.

"We're going to Staghorn City today to eat out! We'll visit Staghorn College while we're at it. You don't have to cook."

Mom came out in the floral dress she only wore during holidays.

"Daniel, hurry up and get changed. Priscilla will be here soon."

Daniel didn't move. He glanced at the backyard.

"Can we take Caleb with us? He's never been to Staghorn City."

Mom's expression changed.

"What if he sees how nice the college is and makes a scene? No way!"

Daniel opened his mouth, but Dad cut him off harshly.

"That's enough! After you and Priscilla register, your mom and I will take him there!"

Daniel's face turned pale. He fell silent.

Mom smoothed things over. "Get changed and call Priscilla. I'll talk to Caleb."

She turned around slowly and walked out into the yard.

She heated up some cornbread and boiled an egg. She then carried them to the backyard.

Seeing that last night's food hadn't been touched, her expression darkened instantly. She pounded on the door.

"Caleb! Who are you starving yourself for? We're doing this to save your brother's life!"

There was no response.

"I'll count to three. Come out! One! Two!"

When she reached three, her voice suddenly softened. She spoke through choked sobs.

"Caleb, I'm begging you. Just take a bite. Your body is weak to begin with."

There was still nothing.

Her hands shook as she reached to lift the hatch.

Just then, Dad's voice came from the front gate.

"The bus is here! Hurry up or we'll be late!"

Mom's hand trembled. The hatch slammed shut with a loud bang.

She set the food down and sighed.

"The food's at the door. Come out and eat it yourself!"

She hurried off.

Inside the cellar, my body had already begun to give off a faint stench.

I stood where she had just been and said to her back, 'Mom, if you opened the door, you'd see that I'm dead.'

The bus rattled along.

I floated above Daniel's head. He sat by the window and stared in the direction of home the entire time.

Priscilla sat beside him and whispered, "Don't worry. Caleb is smart. He'll come around."

Daniel forced a smile.

Once they arrived in Staghorn City, they went to a restaurant first.

Daniel ordered two plates of frittatas.

"Caleb loves this."

He barely ate. He neatly packed the other plate of frittatas along with his leftovers.

They then went to the college.