They Loved Her More

I shook my head frantically, digging my fingers into the cracks between the stones as I tried to haul myself up.

River water rushed into my nose, but I couldn't make a single sound.

My mother, Jennie Weber, shrieked at me from the bank over my little sister Katie Weber's medicine. "Did you swap her pills? Katie saw you with her own eyes!"

I tried to sign, but my fingers were frozen stiff.

It wasn't me. I had never even touched Katie's pill bottle.

But when I opened my mouth, the only thing in my throat was the hollow rasp of air passing over my ruined vocal cords.

My father, Mike Weber, turned to the bodyguards behind him. "Silence means she's admitting it. Let her soak. When she's thought it through and opens her mouth to confess, then you can fish her out."

Katie gently tugged at Mom's arm, her voice soft. "Mom, the river's so cold. Amanda's going to get sick..."

"Sick? She doesn't have a heart condition like you do. She's as healthy as a horse! Katie, you're just too kind. Who knows? Maybe a good long soak will suddenly cure whatever's wrong with her!"

The river rose over my ears, and the world went muffled.

I watched my father put his arm around my mother's shoulders and turn away. I watched Katie glance back at me, give a slight shake of her head, and silently mouth, 'Serves you right.'

After the three of them drove off, I finally managed to crawl to the bank, only for a burly man to burst out of the bushes and kick me back into the water.

It was one of the Weber family's bodyguards.

"Don't blame me, Miss Amanda. Miss Katie's message said we can't let you out until you open your mouth and confess."

I opened my mouth, but not a single word came out.

I reached out to him for help. He only pulled out his phone and filmed me with a grin.

When I crawled up onto the bank a second time, they grabbed me by the throat and shoved me straight back under.

"A hundred and forty grand to kill the little mute. Miss Katie sure doesn't skimp."

"Too bad she wants it done fast. I'd have liked to make the high-and-mighty Weber heiress suffer a while longer."

"Tsk. Two hours in the water and she's still not dead. Tough little thing."

When they saw me still trying to climb out, they grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head against the stone wall. Then one of them picked up a rock from the ground and knocked out my teeth.

"Damn it! Let's see you survive this!"

The moment my body sank, the water pressed in from every direction. The air in my lungs broke into tiny bubbles and drifted upward.

My eyes were open. I watched the light on the surface slip farther and farther away.

The river swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, I was standing at the front door of my home.

I was still wearing the same soaked sweater, but the water no longer dripped from it.

I pushed the door open. The dining room was blindingly bright.

Katie was putting a sparerib on Mom's plate.