Chapter 5

The drug was bitter.

But I felt light.

Callum had once told me there was no antidote for this one.

If I swallowed it, it was over.

Callum only froze for a moment. Then he was in front of me, forcing his fingers into my mouth.

"Do you know what you just took?"

He wrenched my jaw open and shoved his fingers down my throat.

His large hand patted my back forcefully.

Black blood trickled out of my mouth.

Only when the blood turned red did he breathe again.

"Lily. It's just a position. Was dying really worth it?"

Xander was still shaking.

He had finally accepted I was serious, and his voice trembled.

"Lily, don't do this again. Actually, yesterday all four of us spoke with Jade. She said she's ready to forgive you. After today, you can come back to live with us. We'll treat you the way we used to. Okay?"

Hearing that, tears fell from my eyes.

Both men assumed it was relief.

The next second I dropped to my knees before them.

"Callum Dad. Xander Dad. Please. Just let me go."

Callum's face reddened. "Lily, do you understand what we just said..."

"I understand." I no longer wanted to hide it. "But I don't want to go back. I want to find my mother."

I told them everything the voice in my head had said.

Their expressions shifted and twisted as they listened.

Finally, Callum helped me up.

"Lily, listen to me. Your mother is truly gone."

She had drowned in the lake years ago.

Ethan Dad pulled her out, but Callum had used everything he knew and still couldn't save her.

Afterward, all four of them removed me from her womb and kept vigil for seven days.

They watched her body rotten until there was nothing left.

Callum said the voice in my head was probably a trauma-induced hallucination.

It wasn't.

I was certain.

But no matter how I insisted, they refused to believe me.

Callum sighed. "If you truly don't want to come back, then stay here with me. As long as you behave, I won't let anyone hurt you again."

I was about to shake my head.

Heavy boots came pounding from outside.

Moments later, Ethan Dad and Nathan Dad rushed in.

"Callum, Xander, have you seen Jade? She's missing."