My elder brother’s keeping the
canary led to my and my mother’s death.
Chapter 1
Last life, my brother, Chad, threw a freaking
meteor shower viewing party in the sticks for
his girlfriend, Brittany.
He took ALL the security guys with him.
Turns out, some dudes Chad screwed over
saw their chance and broke into our house
for revenge.
Mom went full mama bear to protect me.
She got messed up bad, hanging on by a
thread.
く
I called Chad, like, a million times, begging
him to come back.
He finally dragged his butt back with the
security team.
They caught the intruders, but we got the
worst news from Brittany.
The little Miss Perfect left a suicide note, and
her whereabouts were unknown.
She blamed me, said I’d intentionally pulled
Chad away so the bad guys could torture her.
Chad just burned the letter, told me not to
overthink it.
Later, Dad chewed Chad out and promised
me the family business.
<
But after the party, Chad strangled me in my
bedroom.
His face was blank.
“Someone as toxic as you should’ve died long
ago,” he muttered.
“YOU should be dead! The inheritance was
supposed to be mine!”
I died so pissed.
Then I woke up, and I heard the sound of
someone breaking down the front door.
- 1.
The sound of that heavy–ass iron gate getting
rammed open yanked me back from the
suffocating nightmare.
I grabbed Mom, who was freaking out and
trying to run outside, and dragged her into my
room.
I slammed the door, locked it, and huffed and
puffed to get the heavy oak armoire over to
block it.
“Honey, what are you doing? We have
security! What are you so scared of?”
Mom looked at me, confused.
She had no clue Chad took all our protection
with him.
“Mom, Chad took everyone! It’s just us!”
I gritted my teeth, pushing that armoire with
all my might.
The heavy oak scraped across the floor,
leaving deep scratches.
Mom froze.
She couldn’t believe Chad would do
something so reckless.
We’re talking about the freaking Caldwells
here!
Security’s always a top priority.
How could he just ditch all the guards?
But seeing my face, she knew it was true.
“Call your brother! Tell him to get back here,
NOW!“‘
Mom was practically hyperventilating.
I didn’t say anything.
I just stared at the door, barely held shut by
the armoire.
My hands shook as I dialed 911, spitting out
the situation and address.
I couldn’t rely on Chad to get us rescued first.
Last time, he came back way too late.
Mom died because of it.
I hung up.
My heart sank.
く
We’d had a crazy blizzard the last few days.
Our place is halfway up the mountain, and the
closest precinct is a ways away.
I couldn’t imagine what would happen before
the cops got here.
“BANG!”
The door rattled like crazy.
I braced myself against the armoire.
Fear washed over me.
That’s when Mom got through to Chad on the
phone.
“Cbed Get back bere! There are
there are
<
Mom’s voice was cracking.
Chad sounded annoyed, “Relax, Mom, stop
being so dramatic. I’m still celebrating
Brittany’s birthday. I’ll be home tomorrow.”
“I’m not kidding! There are thugs in the
house! Come back now, or you’ll be picking
up our body bags!”
Mom almost screamed.
Chad’s voice turned ice cold.
“I know you don’t like Brittany, but you don’t
need to make up stories to scare me.”
“And tell Lizzie to stop playing her little
games. I’m not falling for them again.”
<
My heart just bottomed out.
Chad remembered everything!
But why would he think I was making this up?
He saw those bastards torture us last time
with his own two eyes.
Why was he being so callous?
All because of Brittany?
Because she whispered, “Lizzie is doing this
on purpose“?
Then I heard heavy footsteps outside the
door.
Then came the ramming, even louder.
く
The armoire started to slide.
We watched as the barrier started to crumble
before our eyes.
Then “CRACK!”
A chunk of wood splintered off the armoire,
leaving a gap between the frame and the
door.
The intruder chuckled, “Looks like I found
you.”
I froze, watching the crack grow wider.
The powerlessness washed over me as I
stood there unarmed.
Then, the door burst open and the screech of
く
the oak armoire scraping across the floor
pierced our ears.
A pair of dirty boots stomped into the room.
“Thought you could hide behind the door? I
don’t have time for this.”
The guy grinned.
His yellow eyes scanned the room.
I stood there, frozen.
He had a nasty–looking hunting knife.
His eyes landed on me, and they were greedy
and gross.
“Well, well, well. Didn’t expect to find such a
く
pretty little thing here.”
Mom screamed, “Leave her alone!”
I bit down hard, fighting the urge to freak out.
I turned to Mom.
“Mom, whatever happens, don’t get involved.”
“Back away from the door. There’s al
trampoline outside. Jump, it will break your
fall.”
“Then run to the neighboring Piersons. Have
Percy help me.
The thug waved the knife, inching closer.
We were out of time.
If I was going to get tortured again, so be it.
I had to save Mom no matter what.
“Lizzie, I’m not going to let them get you!”
I squeezed Mom’s wrist.
“Listen to me. Just jump and run to the
Piersons. If you can get out of here alive,
there’s hope for everything.”
The thug pushed passed the armoire.
“Mom, jump!” I hissed.
Instead, Mom lunged at the guy.
She grabbed his arms, trying to drag him
away.
“Lizzie! Jump! Go! Don’t let them catch you!”
Her voice was desperate.
“Mom!”
I screamed.
I watched the knife plunge into her back.
The red explosion shattered my brain.
Mom gasped, still clutching the guy’s waist.
“Jump! Lizzie! I won’t let you hesitate!”
