Semua Bab Where Blood Meant Nothing: Bab 1 - Bab 9

On my way out, I ran into Jasmine again.She was still rocking designer threads, wearing delicate makeup, which was quite a contrast to my faded, frayed clothes and brittle hair."Helen, how did you get like this?"She clutched her mouth, pretending to be shocked, but the gleam of triumph and challenge in her eyes was as clear as day."Oops, I totally forgot. Will has been on your case every day because of me, and our parents can't stop showering me with all these fancy gifts."My birthday's just around the corner, you know. If you're curious, I guess I can invite you..."Just then, a snarky voice cut through the air, dripping with delight at my misfortune. "Oh, my god. Did I really just hear that?""Guys, check this out! Jasmine, of all people, is asking a waitress to her swanky party.""That's just too funny. How low can she go?"I counted the days; my birthday was the next day.Luckily, I had just received my paycheck. Ignoring the bickering duo, I slipped away.Then, for

The whole time I was stuck in the hospital, my mom and dad did not even visit me once.It was not until I had sorted out all my problems and was checking out that they decided to pop back into my life."We've kept things from you for a decade, but let's be real, you've been a letdown too," they said."Jasmine's been crying for you, though. She knows that you saved her life. Just remember who you are and don't stir up trouble, okay?"Just like that, with a couple of sentences, they tried to wipe ten years of pain and struggle as if it were nothing.I ran my fingers over the scars that crisscrossed my skin, each one a story of neglect and cruelty from the people who were supposed to be my guardians for the past 18 years.I massaged my stomach, aching from the cancer that came from never knowing when my next meal would be.I thought about the fresh bruises my brother gave me, the ones he called punishments.The jagged line where my kidney used to be was a souvenir from eight years

A loud slap echoed throughout the room; my usually calm dad struck my brother. "You fool! Is this how you treat your sister?"Will clutched his cheek, guilt written all over his face.Then, he saw me lift my shirt, revealing a body marred with too many scars to count, and a particularly stark one across my stomach."When I was 20, Will's kidneys failed, and I gave him one of mine."When I was 21, he got diagnosed with manic depression, and these scars were the gifts he gave me for my birthday."I looked at my brother, a sad smile on my face. "I never told you, but to pay for your treatment, I survived on the cheapest food, going hungry more often than not. And now, I've got stomach cancer."I couldn't shake the thought that it was my fault you lost the parents you adored. If only I hadn't been so headstrong, maybe you, Mom, and Dad would've shown me the same love you guys showered on Jasmine."The day I turned 28, after I found out my parents were still alive, I passed out cold

Nobody would have guessed that Jasmine, with her sweet smile, was actually into hurting others: from the smallest critter to full-grown adults.She had the power and the knack for keeping her nasty streak hidden.Only a handful of people knew about her dark side.My parents could not believe it. Their precious Jasmine, the one they doted on, was the source of such unbearable pain.It hit them then, just how much I had been put through all those years they had looked the other way."Don't worry. I'm not going to let you off the hook that easily."She whipped out a lash and struck my parents hard, the saltwater-soaked barbs making them wish for the end.They were sweating bullets from the pain, their mouths muffled by the guards.However, in the nick of time, my brother burst in with his guards and saved them."Lock them up for now. We'll sort this out later."Dad, Mom, can you move? If you can, we need to get to Helen. She's running out of time..."They did not let their woun