Love Me When I’m Gone

At midnight, my soul floated out of the basement.

My bedroom door was shoved open. My brother, Conner, barged in, scoffing when he didn’t see me.

"Aren't you a little old to be playing hide-and-seek and throwing tantrums?"

Normally, I would've argued back.

But this time, I just floated beside him, unable to make a sound.

Conner called my phone. It went unanswered. Annoyed, he raked a hand through his hair and casually flipped through the journal on my desk.

There was only one thing written inside: 99.

The number of times they had let me down over the years.

Conner didn’t get it. He frowned, tossed the journal onto the floor, and left a voicemail.

"Stop with the stupid games. Ella wants your homemade cookies, so get back here and make them for her!"

"It's her graduation day. Don't you dare ruin it. Get home within the hour, and I’ll forgive you."

Conner pocketed his phone and returned to the living room. "Sophie's not in her room, and she's not answering her phone," he told our parents. "She always does this—blows things out of proportion, disappears, and waits for us to beg her to come back."

"We've spoiled her," Dad said finally. "No one contact her this time. Let's teach her a lesson. She can cool off on her own, and she'll come crawling back tomorrow."

Ella drifted over, gently tugging on Dad's arm, her face a mask of concern. "Dad, don't say that. What if something really happened to Sophie? Maybe I should text her? You know Sophie and I are so close." She lowered her eyes, the very picture of an innocent, gentle fawn.

I watched as she pulled out her phone, her slender fingers tapping on the screen.

[Hope you enjoyed getting marked up by those rogues. Who are you screwing now? The party was a blast, btw. Thanks for not showing up. It would be so much better if you'd just drop dead.]

After sending it, she deleted the message and typed a new one.

[Sister, are you okay? We're all so worried about you. If you're mad at us, just take it out on me. Please, just come home.]

She held the phone up for everyone to see, a perfect portrait of a caring, considerate sister.

Mom pulled her into a hug, her voice dripping with sympathy. "You're always so kind, Ella. This has nothing to do with you. Sophie is just being immature."

Immature?

A bitter laugh escaped my ghostly form, though no one could hear it.

In their eyes, it was always about Ella. Who would even remember that today was supposed to be the day I received my Distinguished Service Award, an honor given only once every two years?

Knowing they would all be celebrating Ella's graduation, I had told them not to bother coming to my ceremony.

I never tried to compete with Ella for their affection.

But just as I was about to leave for the ceremony, three rogue wolves had burst in and dragged me into the basement.

I struggled, terrified. "How did you get a key to our house?"

One of the men dangled a keychain in front of me. It was Ella's.

"Don't bother struggling," he sneered. "You're not leaving this basement today."

"I won't tell anyone, I promise. Please, just don't kill me… I'm begging you…"

In the end, they ignored my pleas. They pinned me down, violated me, and bit my neck raw, taking countless photos amidst their foul taunts.

I fought with all my might, and in the struggle, my head slammed against the corner of a table. Blood gushed out instantly.

Terrified, they fled.

I summoned the last of my strength, dragging myself across the floor to my phone and licking the screen to dial for help.

Every werewolf can feel when a family member is in mortal peril through their pack bond, but they all just thought I was vying for attention.

Not only did they decline my calls, but they even sent me a message:

[Faking suffocation again? Drop the act! Your father and I don't have time for your drama! We've already severed our pack link to you!]

Only my mate, Ryan, picked up.

"Help me... Ryan, I'm dying..."

His reply was cold and sharp. "Sophie, cut the drama. This is Ella's big day. There’s a limit to your attention-seeking! I already told you I'd make it up to you with a graduation present!"

But… Ryan, I was already dying.

A bitter smile touched my lips. Too bad. You'll never get the chance to make it up to me.

Within 24 hours, the stench of decay will start to drift from the basement no one ever enters.

Ella always said she wished I were dead, so no one would compete with her for your love.

Now, her wish has come true.