All Chapters of My Family Escaped the Flood Without Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I woke to the sound of rushing water when the landline rang.My backpack was already soaked, and my second-grade workbook had been completely ruined by the water.“Lily, get out of there! The flood is coming!”“Mom, there’s so much water in the house! Where are you?”I burst into tears, too frightened to think clearly.Mom didn’t answer right away. When she finally spoke, her voice was strangely hesitant.“J-Just hurry and get out.”That was when I noticed that every bedroom door in the house was wide open.My parents’ room had been stripped almost bare, as if someone had ransacked it. Sophie’s room was empty too.Even the two little turtles she kept on the balcony were gone.A deafening roar seemed to explode inside my head.My face went pale as a terrifying thought flashed through my mind.No... It couldn’t be.Mom and Dad wouldn’t leave me behind.“Mom! Dad! There’s so much water in the house! Where are you? I’m scared. Please come save me...”Clutching my stuffed rab

Two years later, in September, the new school year began.Caleb was starting first grade, while I was entering fifth grade. I confidently led my parents to Caleb’s classroom.“Mom, Dad, that’s Ms. Rachel Morgan. She used to teach me language arts. Now she’s Caleb’s homeroom teacher.”I was just about to go over and greet Ms. Morgan when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.“Lily! Is that you, Lily?”The next second, a woman grabbed me by the arm.It was my mother.Behind her stood Sophie.Right. Sophie would be starting first grade too.Evelyn stared at me in shock and disbelief, then her expression suddenly filled with overwhelming joy.After confirming that my face matched the one she remembered, a heartbroken sob escaped her throat.“Lily... My daughter! I thought you were dead! Why did you take so long to come back? Why?!”She clung tightly to me, crying hysterically.“Lily, Mommy missed you so much! Why won’t you call me Mommy?”I stared at her in confusion.“Ma’am,

“A red birthmark! My daughter has a red birthmark right in the middle of her stomach. It’s the same!”Evelyn hurriedly spoke up.I scoffed.“That proves nothing. Who doesn’t have a few birthmarks?”Evelyn was immediately silenced, unable to come up with a response.Just then, an older officer from the records department walked over with a mug of coffee and casually remarked,“Well, look at that. The little girl finally found her biological parents?”Everyone’s expression changed.I clenched my fists.Damn it, old man!Of all the times to show up, why now?My biological parents immediately became excited and grabbed the older officer.“This child was adopted?”The officer looked confused.“I handled the adoption paperwork myself. What’s going on?”Evelyn dropped to her knees and burst into tears.“The truth is finally out! She’s the daughter we lost!”“Is that true?” Officer Reed asked.Realizing there was no longer any way to hide it, Grace finally spoke.“Emma was a

Evelyn’s face changed dramatically.“How could that be?! You’re my own flesh and blood! How could I ever deliberately hurt you?”Richard exploded.“You bastards! What the hell have you been filling my daughter’s head with?!”He swung his fist at my adoptive father, but the quick-reacting officers immediately restrained him.Officer Reed slammed his hand on the desk, unable to stand it any longer.“I’ve never seen parents like you! These people saved your daughter and raised her so well, yet instead of being grateful, all you do is curse at them. No wonder this child doesn’t want anything to do with you!”Richard knew he was in the wrong, but he continued glaring furiously at my adoptive parents.A female officer walked over to me and gently asked,“Emma, sweetheart, why did you say they did it on purpose?”I looked at the hypocritical couple.There wasn’t the slightest trace of panic on their faces. They only looked heartbroken, as though their own daughter had falsely accus

Everyone at school eventually learned what had happened to me.Sophie was ostracized by her classmates, and perhaps out of guilt, my biological parents stopped coming after me for a while.With my adoptive parents keeping a close watch over me, I finally had some peace.According to what Caleb told me, Sophie hadn’t been to school in quite some time. She was even demanding to transfer to another school.Then one afternoon after school, I was on my way to buy a corn dog when I was suddenly dragged into a van.“Drive!”Richard clamped a hand over my mouth while Evelyn, wearing a mask and baseball cap, slammed her foot on the gas.They had clearly planned this for a long time.Evelyn glanced at me through the rearview mirror, her expression bordering on manic.“Don’t be scared, Lily. We’re taking you to Reverend Hawthorne for an exorcism. We’ve already spoken to him. He has a reputation for helping people like you. He said he can cure you.”I was terrified, my entire body frozen