Chapter 2

It was getting harder for me to keep my eyes open. The fragile skin on my lips cracked and split, peeling apart with every breath. Without even realizing it, I licked the blood that had seeped from my lips.

I was so thirsty, so hot, and in so much pain.

As my consciousness faded in and out, I suddenly heard Dad's voice. "You must live on, Chester! Do not give up on yourself, Chester! I'm begging you, stay alive!"

My eyes snapped open as if it were no longer a task. Greedily, I gasped for air.

Dad was right. I couldn't give up on myself yet. I had worked hard and studied religiously for three years. Wasn't it all for tomorrow's SAT? Getting into Sage University was both my and Dad's dream.

Gathering strength I didn't know I had, I forced myself back up and pounded on the door. "Mom, can you please… Let me out first? If you do, I'll… take you to Dad."

I desperately held back the tremble in my voice, trying to make myself sound as gentle as possible. Mom seemed satisfied with my attitude. Her expression softened, and she waved at the bodyguard.

"Open the—"

Before she could finish speaking, Joe suddenly grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Winona, don't make the kid go through all that at this hour. He has the SAT tomorrow. The trip there and back will take several hours.

"Why don't we let him get some proper sleep in there first?"

It wasn't until his "reminder" that Mom suddenly remembered. She immediately told the bodyguard to step away. "Joe is right, Chester.

"Get a good sleep. Tomorrow morning, I'll have the bodyguard wake you up. We'll find your father first, then send you to your exam."

After arranging everything, she left with Joe.

No matter how much I cried and begged for help, no one answered. I kept pounding on the door regardless, with only one thought in my mind.

I had to live.

I didn't know how long had passed, but someone finally responded from the outside. "Quiet!"

Oh. It was the bodyguard Mom left behind. He had gotten annoyed with listening to me and shouted at me. Then, suddenly, I heard the sound of a lock turning from outside the door.

Hope lit up my heart, yet that tiny flicker of faith burned out in the very next moment.

The bodyguard rushed in and wrapped tape around my mouth, then tied up my hands. Then he closed the door impatiently. "Go to sleep when you're told to. She's your mother. Do you really think she'd hurt you? Now, zip it!"

I sobbed, but no sound came out. The dark, scorching room held nothing but despair. The blisters on my body burst one after another. In the silence of the night, each tiny pop sounded painfully clear.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I struggled with my bound hands and used everything I had to grab the phone and answer it.

It was my godfather, Dad's best friend, Larry Brown. The moment I found out something had happened to Dad, I called him for help.

"Chester, I've already had your father cremated. I have his ashes with me. I'll give them to you now. Where are you? Hello? Chester, are you listening?"

The more he asked, the more anxious he sounded.

I forced myself to speak, though my mouth was wrapped with tape. "Mom locked me… in the sauna room. I can't… hold on much… longer."

Larry let out a horrified cry. He started cursing Mom nonstop, then repeatedly shouted my name to keep me awake.

I tried my best to nod, but the ringing in my ears was overwhelming. As my consciousness slowly faded, I felt like I saw Dad coming to take me away.