The Family That Killed Me

Victoria’s palms went cold by the time she finished reading the letter.

Vivian’s words were careful yet incomplete. She'd read Vivian's letter a dozen times — it was all about warnings that the world would change. Prepare. Trust no one easily. Her father, Richard Hale was connected to what was coming. Resources had been left behind. That was all.

No full explanation. No reason why Vivian had chosen her. Just enough truth to keep her moving and plenty of mystery to keep her awake at night.

Victoria closed the notebook and stood. “Why me? Why did you choose me?” She asked herself, scratching her hair gently.

She wanted to see her family.

Not for forgiveness or because she missed them. She just wanted to look into the eyes of the people who had locked her out in the snow, now that she held more power than they did.

Adrian saw her in the living room as she pulled on a coat.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.”

The word slipped out. He looked up from his phone. "Home? You and your family don’t get along." Adrian asked, curious to know what changed. "Why now?"

"Sorry, I meant the Hales." Victoria responded quickly in correction, realizing the mistake she must have made. “I’m headed to the Hale residence.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed instantly. He knew Vivian Blackwood had never called the Hale residence home. Their families had barely tolerated each other.

Adrian studied her for a long moment, then rose from the couch l. "I'll come with you."

Victoria didn't argue. When they got closer and she saw their house, Victoria’s chest tightened.

The Hale residence looked exactly as she remembered it. Her throat tightened. She could almost hear her younger self laughing in the garden.

Victoria, wait for me!

Sophia’s little hand in hers.

Her father’s voice.

I’m proud of you, sweetheart.

Then the memory changed to snow, blood, her palms slamming against steel, begging.

Dad, please!

Victoria’s fingers curled into fists. The front door of the mansion looked disturbingly similar to the shelter door.

“Are you all right?” Adrian’s voice pulled her back.

Victoria realized she had stopped moving. She lowered her eyes and forced her breathing to steady.

“I’m fine.”

Adrian looked at her face.

“You don’t look fine.”

She glanced at the house again. “I just remembered something.”

“What?”

Victoria looked at him. “Nothing important.”

The old Victoria would have cried or looked teary. This new Victoria wearing Vivian’s face is stronger. She forced herself to stay cool, to steady the war raging behind her calm expression, as the front door opened.

Richard Hale stepped out, smiling.

"Vivian. What a surprise." His voice was light.

She remembered the same voice that told her there wasn't enough food while she froze outside a shelter stocked with everything she'd personally paid for.

Victoria's composure nearly shattered on the spot. She dug her nails into her palm, hidden beneath her sleeve, and reminded herself with clarity: He doesn't know who I am. Not yet.

"Richard." She kept her voice level low. "I thought it was time we talked."

Sophia appeared behind him a moment later, her eyes moved over Victoria with curiosity and a thin edge of suspicion. Then Ethan stepped into the doorway, and Victoria's whole body went rigid.

When his gaze landed on her, interest flickered across his face. He did not recognize the soul inside the body. He only saw beauty, status, and money.

“Have we met before?” he asked, smiling.

Victoria met his eyes without blinking. “Perhaps you’ve simply seen me in the news.” Victoria's chest tightened painfully while staring at them.

Ethan continued staring at her. “Honestly, you look familiar.”

“I get that a lot.” Victoria’s response was nonchalant.

His smile widened. “I’m Ethan.”

“I know.”

The words escaped before she could stop them, Ethan’s eyebrows lifted.

Victoria’s heart jumped. She recovered quickly. “I mean… everyone in Blackridge knows who you are.”

Ethan seemed satisfied with the explanation. “Then perhaps we should get to know each other properly.”

Victoria almost scoffed.

Three months ago, he had watched her freeze to death. Now he wanted to get to know Vivian Blackwood.

“I’m not interested.”

He looked intrigued. Victoria's chest tightened painfully. This was the man who had stood beside her sister while she died, who didn’t so much as look her way as the doors sealed shut.

And here he was, admiring Vivian's beauty and wealth, entirely unaware that the woman he'd abandoned was standing in front of him wearing someone else's skin.

Victoria felt nothing but disgust curling in her stomach.

Richard clapped his hands together, steering the conversation the way he always did — toward himself. "Actually, Vivian, since you're here… I could use your help with something. A business matter. Nothing serious, just a bit of capital to smooth over a contract issue." 

Victoria looked at him.

“Go on.”

“One of our contracts has run into a small problem. We need some additional capital.” Richard smiled as he continued. “I thought perhaps you could help.”

Victoria stared at him.

“How much?”

As Richard named the amount, she  laughed.

He paused, took a look at Victoria then continued. “I could send the business proposal to you, even make you a partner if you wish.”

The old Victoria would have said yes instantly. She would have written the check before he finished the sentence, desperate for his approval, desperate to prove her worth to a family that had never once valued her the way she valued them.

The new Victoria looked at him and felt nothing but anger.

"No."

The word landed like a slap. Richard's smile faltered. Sophia's eyebrows shot up. Even Ethan looked startled, his charm momentarily abandoned.

"Excuse me?" Richard said.

"I said no." Victoria kept her voice even. "I don't see why that should surprise you. If you want a partnership book an appointment and I’d decide if you’re worth it or not.”

Richard opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly unused to being refused by anyone. Victoria watched the confusion ripple across his face and felt satisfied.

Sophia was still watching her, though, far too closely. "You know," she said slowly, "there's something about the way you just looked at my father." She tilted her head, staring at Victoria's face. "It's strange. Do you ever feel like we've met somewhere before?"

Victoria's heart slammed against her ribs. Sophia had always been perceptive, more than anyone gave her credit for.

"Maybe," Victoria said carefully, giving nothing away.

Inside, she was struggling to control her rage. She wanted to lean forward and ask why they abandoned her in the cold. She wanted them to know the woman they had killed was sitting across from them, wearing another face, and refusing to help them this time.

She swallowed her words instead.

She had ninety days before the world ended again, ninety days to understand what Vivian had started and finish it properly. Destroying this family today, in a fit of justified rage, would cost her everything she still needed to learn.

“Today isn’t for my revenge," she told herself. “It's only the beginning. I’ll soon have them grovel at my mercy.”

They begged her further to help with the business capital but she refused, the questions she had in mind to ask,  couldn’t bring herself to ask them. So she left shortly.

Adrian was waiting by the car, watching her approach with attention. "What happened?”

Victoria looked back at the house one last time. “Those people don’t know what hit them.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpened. “What did they do to you?”

For a second she almost told him everything. The snow. The locked door. The way his own future self had held her while she died. 

“Nothing yet.” She said turning away from Adrian.

“I just didn’t ask them what really happened to Victoria, to know the version of my life that they have.” She talked to herself in a low tone.

Adrian did not understand anything she said, but he recognized the look in her eyes. He asked the driver to take them home.

Adrian turned the phone toward her slightly, his jaw tight. "Someone's been asking questions. About your recent purchases. The farmland, the generators, the medical supplies." His eyes lifted to hers, sharp and searching. "All these purchases make no sense.”

Victoria's blood ran cold. Adrian turned his head and looked at her.

“Vivian,” he said slowly. “What exactly are you preparing for?”

Victoria met his eyes, then looked past him toward the city that would be ruined soon.

Less than three months from now these streets would be buried in ice and bodies. She knew that with bone-deep certainty.

 But now, with Adrian's phone still glowing in his hand, she realized something.

She might not be the only one who knew the end was coming. Someone else did.

And whoever it is, the person was already watching her.