Lahat ng Kabanata ng Trapped in a Fake Apocalypse: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

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

With that, all the actors left the shelter through the back door, leaving me alone inside.-I used to curl up in a corner of the shelter, trembling from hunger and eating rats just to survive.Naturally, I was still bony, but everyone else kept the act going to convince me that it was an apocalypse.After the video was over, Hal's eyes were wide with feigned surprise and concern. "Neil was eating rats? Poor Neil… Those three years must have been hard on him."Lisa, however, simply locked the tablet screen and said coolly, "It's what he deserved for always bullying you. If he was suffering, it's only right. At worst, I'll just tell him and throw him a homecoming party—he's always loved parties, and it's more than enough to make it up to him."So she did remember that I loved parties.When we were kids, she'd throw surprise parties if she got me upset.It was such a shame that I couldn't attend this party.With that, my body stayed tied to the pole, baking under the sun for an

"Alright!" Lisa exclaimed. "That was just a distraction—let's keep the party going! It's Neil's own fault if he doesn't want to come home!"Everyone cheered rowdily right then. "Hurray! It's alright, Ms. Crawford! It's better if Neil never shows up!""Yea! I'm so sick of him throwing tantrums for three years at the shelter!""Hal is so much better! He's always so kind and understanding!""It's a happy day! Don't let anyone be a buzzkill!"The voices and laughter all stung my soul, leaving me flustered even as I watched them mock me.'Lisa, Mom, Dad…'Can you please check? That body really is mine.'I couldn't hold on after you tied me to the pole, leaving me under the baking sun.'But no one could see or hear me, and the party kept going late into the night under the dazzling lights.Everyone was celebrating the end of my three-year long punishment, and that their family was whole again, somehow forgetting that their real family member was already dead in that silent shelte

I was standing on the opposite end of the table, laughing at Lisa as my tears rolled down my cheeks. 'But I'm not a normal person—did you forget I have a heart condition?'Mother had her hand clasped over her mouth as she leaned into Father's arms, trembling endlessly.Dad had his hand over her shoulder, his eyes red and his voice hoarse. "Let's go to the police precinct! Hurry!"Lisa arched her back to pick up her phone, her fingers shaking too much to actually use her screen, and she didn't even change her shoes as she dashed out of the front door.I floated behind their black SUV, watching as they ran through three red lights, sparks flaring out of the tires.The coldness inside the morgue cut to the bone, and there was a persistent dull hum from the lightbulbs overhead.I wafted over to a corner as I watched Lisa lifted the white cloth covering my body, revealing my face.My cheeks were purplish-blue and my lips were cracked while my eyes stayed half-open, all light lost fro