Chapter 2

That was when someone said gingerly, "Neil doesn't look right. His face is all purple…"

"Yeah, and he was quiet the whole time Jimmy was dragging him and kicking him so many times."

"He's really not moving at all… Maybe he's really hurt…?"

The cameras captured the voices of concern so Lisa could hear everything clearly.

As she frowned and about to zoom in for a look, Hal suddenly stopped her, holding her arm and pouting. "See? He's throwing a fit now over being punished. I'll talk to him, okay? I'm sure he won't be upset if he sees that we're alive."

Lisa nodded, no longer concerned and patting Hal's head. "You're really much better. If only Neil is half as nice as you."

It was a familiar gesture that hurt my heart.

My parents were always busy, so Lisa was basically my guardian, attending parent-teacher conferences in their stead.

That was the same way she patted my head when I scored well on my exams, smiling as she told me that I was amazing.

When I was bullied by classmates, she would protect me even after Hal came, until she saw me push Hal.

She slapped me and then favored Hal ever since while treating me as an unruly bully.

-

Soon, they were at the shelter, and they had Hal put on a heat-resistant suit before letting him come over.

When he reached me, he jammed his foot on my hand, plunging it into the burning ground.

Then, leaning beside my ear, he whispered, "Stop pretending, Neil. I know you just want to put up a show and win pity points from Lisa."

He then pulled away and said out loud, "Mom and Dad are alive too! Get up—you've already been here for two hours. Lisa has already forgiven you."

However, my body stayed on the ground and didn't move.

Hal scowled and suddenly dropped on the floor. "Why'd you push me?! I'm just trying to be nice!"

Lisa promptly rushed over, kicking me on the chest and sending me flying.

I crashed into the scalding pole behind me, and I felt the agony even in my perished soul.

My parents appeared too, but they were only checking if Hal was hurt before turning to glare at me in disappointment.

"You really disappoint us, Neil! You couldn't go to school because you have a bad heart, so we brought Hal in to keep you company, but you made him eat food he's allergic to!"

"That's right! He's being nice now, but you still pushed him?! What, are you disappointed to see him alive?!"

Seeing them looking so disappointed in me left my chest hurting.

I never hurt Hal. Why wouldn't they believe me?

"Fine! Have it your way, Neil!" Lisa snapped, glowering further. "Jimmy, get the rope and tie him to the pole! Let's see how he's going to play dead now or hurt Hal!"

Jimmy soon arrived with a thick bundle of nylon rope, while my soul screamed up in the air.

'I'm already dead, please! Stop desecrating my body and let me rest in peace!'

However, no one heard.

The rope was eating into my body, layer by layer, and holding me tight.

Even so, Jimmy forced me down on my knees as he tied me to the pole, which was smoking from the heat.

I could hear the skin on my back sizzling as I was pressed against the pole.