Chapter 3

Their car sped down the road and soon entered our old, run-down neighborhood.

With the sound of screeching brakes, it stopped downstairs.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Dad unbuckled his seat belt, shoved the door open, and stormed out.

He was practically radiating fury after not being able to reach me. Gripping his phone tightly as if he were holding a knife, he yelled, "Sophie! Get out here right now!"

He started shouting before he had even reached the stairs. His voice made the motion-sensor lights flicker.

Mom pushed Rosie along behind him while cursing loudly as well. "You little brat! Have you got a death wish?"

They took the stairs two at a time and charged up to the third floor.

Thud!

The first thing Dad did after walking through the door was switch the living room light on. "Sophie! I said get out here!"

He stormed over to the storage room, lifted his foot, and kicked the door hard.

Bang!

The thin wooden door shook violently and sent dust raining down.

"Playing dead, huh? You won't even open the door? Are you trying to rebel against me?"

Bang!

He kicked it several more times.

Mom also pounded hard on the door. Her palms turned red as she screamed, "Sophie! Are you deaf? Didn't you hear your father calling you?

"Get out here and apologize to your sister! Transfer the money over! Otherwise, don't even think about staying in this house tonight!

"What was the point of raising you? You always let us down when it matters! You really are a jinx!"

Rosie sat in her wheelchair and shrank back slightly. "Dad, Mom, is Sophie still angry? She usually doesn't talk much, but she wouldn't ignore us like this–"

"Angry? What right does Sophie have to be angry?" Dad roared while he trembled with fury. "She's the one who owes this family! As long as you're still disabled, even if she dies, she has to crawl out of her grave and take care of you!

"Sophie! I'm counting to three! If you don't open this door, I'll tear it down myself! One! Two! Three!"

After he finished counting, the room remained completely silent.

Dad lowered his foot and stood there panting. His expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

Mom snorted. "Looks like she's really determined to fight us to the end! Trying to play games with us? I refuse to believe I can't deal with her!"

Dad rummaged through the cabinet by the entrance. He was growing increasingly irritated. Finally, he angrily hurled the things in his hands onto the floor. "Damn it! I can't find the spare key!"

He turned around and glared viciously at the closed door. His spittle flew everywhere as he shouted, "Fine! You won't open the door, will you? You want to go on a hunger strike to protest, is that it?

"Fine! I'll give you what you want!"

Right then, Rosie tugged at Mom's sleeve and said timidly, "Mom, if Sophie doesn't want to see us, there's no point in standing outside her door.

"Anyway, my friend happened to give me a few coupons to a hot spring resort. Why don't we go there and relax? Let Rosie cool off for a few days. Once she gets hungry, she'll come out on her own."

Mom's eyes lit up at once. She then glanced at the storage room with a look of disgust. "Rosie, you really are the more sensible one. Fine! Let's go! Let that ungrateful brat starve!"

"Let's leave now! Cut the power. I want to see how long she can keep up this act!" Dad yelled before immediately flipping the main breaker. The apartment instantly plunged into darkness.

Just like that, the three of them left while cursing and complaining.