Chapter 4

The washing machine, which had stopped spinning when my severed foot got caught, began filling with water again and resumed its cycle.

Oh, no. This time, Mom's favorite washing machine would actually break because of me.

I slammed hard against the machine, desperately trying to make it stop, but it only spun faster and faster. Slowly, blood-soaked foam began seeping out through the gaps.

"Mrs. Thompson, look at my son! Your deranged daughter did this to him!"

My ears perked up, and I instantly recognized it as Billy the Bully's mother, Mama Bully. She used to complain all the time. Every time, Mom would stand up for me and drive her off with a scolding.

I covered my mouth and giggled, drifting out to see how long it would take before Mom chased her away again.

"That goddamn child! I'm so sorry, truly," Mom said, her face awfully grim. "I know it must be Willow's fault. Don't worry, I'll make her apologize to your son soon."

What was Mom talking about? My chest tightened all at once, a crawling ache like something chewing at me.

Mom knew I would never start a fight. Why should I apologize? Billy the Bully messed with Maple first. I didn't do anything wrong. If anything, I would do the same next time!

I floated over to Billy the Bully and swung my fist at him, but he couldn't see me or fear me. The corners of my mouth slowly collapsed.

I lowered my head and looked at my translucent body. I was already dead. From now on, I wouldn't be able to protect Maple anymore.

"Kids need to be controlled and disciplined. I can easily tell you're the soft type," Mama Bully spat out.

"You're so right. Your son looks like an angel, while all Willow knows is to give me trouble," Mom said with visible disdain. "It's getting harder to handle her nowadays. She lies, attacks, and steals like a little criminal!"

Why did Mom say that about me? I was never like that.

Tears brimmed in my eyes. I clenched my hands into fists, forcing those tears from rolling down.

Mama Bully rolled her eyes, then glared at Mom. "Honestly, you can see how someone's gonna turn out from when they're a kid. Have you seen the news of children killing their parents just for their insurance money?

"I can tell Willow is wicked from the core. And I can't believe you'd let her sister stick around that often. Aren't you scared that she'll quietly kill your daughter one day?"

I would never! I loved Maple the most!

I was so livid that my face turned red.

Mom's gaze darkened. She stared at the wounds on Maple's arm without saying a word, so long that even Mama Bully started to look embarrassed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"You're right," Mom finally said, her voice low. "I should send Willow away. I can't bear losing Maple again…"

Panic surged through me. I froze, staring at Mom.

Hadn't I already been good? I didn't cry out, didn't make a sound, and didn't disturb Maple, no matter how much it hurt inside the washing machine. Why did I still have to be sent away?

"That's more like it!" Mama Bully cheered. "Here, let me teach you a few ways to discipline a child."

She turned to Billy the Bully. "Billy, go play with Maple."

No! He would only bully her!

There was no room left for sadness. I grabbed Maple's hand with all my strength, trying to stop her from being taken away, but Billy the Bully pulled hard. He forcefully dragged her along, passing straight through me.

I looked up. Outside, the midday sun blazed, harsh and blinding. I clenched my teeth and rushed out anyway. The burning from the sunlight hurt even more than the scalding heat inside the washing machine.

I couldn't hold it in anymore and screamed, "Ouch! It hurts!"

Even if it was agonizing, I still had to bring Maple back.

"G-Ghost! There's a ghost!"

For a moment, my body actually became visible. My twisted, terrifying face scared Billy the Bully so badly that he shoved Maple to the ground and ran off.

At the same time, I could feel myself fading even more. My right arm had already disappeared completely. A feeling crept in—I was about to vanish.

"It's Willow! She pretended to be a ghost to scare Maple and me!" Billy the Bully cried out, panic-stricken, even wetting his pants.

"Now, she's gone too far! How could she terrorize kids like this?" Mama Bully snapped. "If anything happens to Billy, I won't just demand compensation from your family. I'll make sure she pays with her life!"

She scooped Billy the Bully up and hurried out, her voice sharp with fury. "I'm warning you, you must punish Willow severely this time. If you don't, I will. The society will deal with her, too."

Maple was panicking, trying to scream as she flailed her arms desperately. I had once learned a little sign language just for her. What she meant was, "Willow was protecting me. She was the one in trouble. Please save her."

But Mom couldn't understand. Instead, her body trembled with anger as she called Dad.

"Willow has seriously disappointed me this time! She not only bullied Maple but even pretended to be a ghost to scare her… A misunderstanding? How could it be? The kid saw it himself! Why would he lie?

"Oh, so you think everyone's just as much of a liar as Willow is? I'm saying, if she does turn into a ghost one day, I'll find an exorcist to make sure she's destroyed! She won't even be allowed to live peacefully in the afterlife!"

Mom was still shouting into the phone as she stormed into my room, turning everything upside down.

"I can't believe we were worried about a scheming, evil child like her! You'd better come home now and send her to your parents' place!

"I never want to see her again in my life! Even if she dies committing crimes in the future, don't even bother telling me!"

I followed her closely as she grabbed my things and roughly stuffed them into a suitcase. Every word felt like a blunt knife from kindergarten, stabbing into my chest, dull and numbing.

Was I really that bad in Mom's eyes?

Tears fell onto the back of my hand, one after another. I crouched down, trying to pick up the toys Mom had once given me. Now, they were like my heart, broken into dust.

In the meantime, unbeknownst to Mom and me, police cars were already rolling into the neighborhood in formation. A neighbor stood outside our place, waving in panic.

"Officers, over here! It's this unit! There's foam and… bloody water flowing out from inside!"