Chapter 5

• There was only one sentence on the paper.
• “Dear Mom, if you’re seeing this, it means I’m already dead. Let Ella go; I’m begging you.”
• Grace’s handwriting was unmistakable.
• Mom’s voice shook. She grabbed my shoulder, her nails digging into my skin.
• “When—when did this happen? When did she give you this?”
• Hysteria gripped her. “You tell me this is fake! You forged it, didn’t you!”
• “Last night,” I whispered.
• Richard hit the brakes and pulled over.
• He twisted around, eyes bloodshot, staring at the note in my hand. His voice came out hoarse.
• “Did she… did she say anything else?”
• “She said she didn’t want to live like a vampire anymore, feeding off my flesh and blood.”
• I lifted my eyes to the father I had in name only, watching panic crack across his face.
• “Insane! You’re all insane!”
• Mom screamed and lunged for the note. I kept it clenched tight in my fist.
• “Richard! Turn around! Go home! Now! Something must’ve happened to Grace!”
• Dad’s hands shook so hard he fumbled at the ignition, missing again and again.
• After a few failed attempts, he finally turned the car around and headed home.
• The journey was silent except for Mom’s sobs and ragged breathing.
• I leaned against the window, watching the world slide backward.
• This was the first step we agreed on.
• The car tore up to the mansion, tires screeching.
• Before it even stopped, Mom shoved the door open and stumbled out.
• One high-heeled shoe flew off, followed by the other, until she ran barefoot for Grace’s room on the second floor.
• “Grace! Grace, open up! Mom’s back!”
• She pounded on the door. No answer.
• Dad rushed up and fished out the spare key, his hands trembling so hard he couldn’t line up with the keyhole.
• There was a sharp click, and the door opened.
• The curtains were drawn; the room was dim.
• Grace laid in bed under the covers.
• The monitor hooked to her showed a flat line, letting out a long, steady tone.
• “No!”
• Mom screamed, threw herself to the bed, and shook Grace’s cold body.
• “Grace! Wake up!” Her face was slack with terror. “Don’t scare me!”
• Dad stood frozen in the doorway, dropping to his knees and putting his hands over his face as he sobbed.
• I stood in the hallway and watched.
• At that instant, this family fell apart.
• On the nightstand sat an empty pill bottle and a glass of water.
• Grace ended the torture in her own way.
• She set herself free, and she freed me too.
• Mom’s sobbing faded.
• She lifted her head, her eyes blazing red, and locked onto me.
• “You! This is all on you!”
• She hauled herself up off the floor and charged at me.
• “You killed my Grace!”
• Her face contorted with rage. “If you hadn’t stalled, if you hadn’t waved that note in my face."
• “We would’ve been at the hospital!” she roared. “Grace wouldn’t have died!”
• She dumped all the blame on me.
• I watched her come and didn’t move.
• Right as her hands were about to close around my neck, a voice with an accent rose from the front door.
• “Excuse me, is this Mr. Richard Black’s place?”
• A delivery guy stood at the house entrance, holding a large envelope.
• “I have a rushed document from the orphanage. The recipient needs to sign for it.”