Chapter 11
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Kathy was furious. “Why?!” she screamed.
She turned to our parents, her eyes burning with betrayal. They had promised–they swore they’d find a way to let her recuperate at home! Yet now, they stood silent, letting the judge decide her fate.
In truth, the past month had drained them. The emergency treatments for the Conrad Family had already cost nearly half their savings. Late at night, I often heard them whispering in frustration, cursing under their breath.
“Why aren’t they dead yet?”
With my gentle reminders, their resentment shifted to Kathy.
“If she wanted to kill them, why didn’t she just finish the job?”
“She left them half–alive, and now we’re the ones paying for it!”
Their patience had run dry. They decided Kathy should die a slow death in the mental hospital. That way, she would never be able to lash out at them again.
In the end, the judge sentenced Rosemary and Sally to 30 years in prison for human trafficking. Kathy, however, avoided the death penalty due to her mental illness. Instead, she was committed to a psychiatric hospital for indefinite treatment.
As she was taken away, she spat curses at me, her voice thick with hatred.
“Just wait, Nadine! If I get another chance, I won’t lose again!”
She didn’t understand.
As long as I was alive, there would be no next time.
Three Months Later
I burned everything Kathy had left behind in my room–letters, clothes, even the forged diary she had written.
Then, news came.
Kathy had been on her best behavior at the hospital. She painted portraits of our parents, wrote letters full of longing, and played the role of a perfect daughter.
Our parents, ever soft–hearted when it came to her, finally caved.
They visited.
Kathy greeted them with open arms, taking them on a stroll through the hospital gardens. She spoke sweetly, eyes glistening with tears, saying she wished they would visit more often.
“When spring comes, let’s fly a kite together here, okay?”
My mother wept at her words. A few days later, she bought a kite and went to see Kathy again.
That day, they had a wonderful time.
Chapter 11
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07:45 Sun, 30 Mar
- 03.
Then, one visit turned into another. And another. The doctors and nurses even praised Kathy for her obedience and her cooperation.
Kathy begged to come home to celebrate.
Our parents agreed.
I didn’t object, but I was careful.
She arrived carrying a cake she made herself. On it were three tiny figures–our parents and her.
I was missing.
Giggling, she hugged our mother’s arm. “Mom and Dad are mine alone!” she said, the same spoiled, childish tone she had always used.
They laughed, seeing nothing wrong. Their hearts were at ease.
As they ate the cake, I pretended to take a bite, but discreetly dumped mine into the trash. Minutes later, their bodies slumped over.
They had fallen into a deep sleep.
I, too, feigned unconsciousness in the kitchen.
Kathy’s plan had worked–almost.
With eerie calm, she picked up a knife and walked toward our parents‘ sleeping forms. Then, her sweet voice turned venomous.
“You’re selfish! You say you love me, but you only love yourselves!*
She plunged the knife into them. Again. And again.
Blood soaked the floor.
Then, she turned toward me.
“Nadine,” she whispered, grinning madly. “As long as you die, I can start over again!” She raised the knife-
But I was faster.
Grabbing the iron rod beside me, I swung with all my strength, striking her leg.
She collapsed with a howl of pain.
“You didn’t eat the cake?!” she shrieked, voice laced with disbelief and rage. I ignored her.
Bolting for the door, I screamed into the night-
“Help! My sister killed someone!”
