Chapter 3

Before I could even steady myself, there was a loud bang.

Dad violently smashed my phone against the wall. It instantly shattered into pieces.

"Who said you could take your phone to tutoring?"

"Tell me, were you even listening in class, or were you just playing on your phone the whole time?"

Mom stood there, arms crossed, looking at me with undisguised disgust.

This was the Mom and Dad I knew.

So, the gentleness earlier was just a trick to get me inside.

Swallowing down my bitter self-mockery, I obediently apologized, playing along with their accusations.

"I'm sorry, I won't play on my phone again."

"Dad, Mom, you must be hungry, right? I'll go make dinner."

Years of verbal abuse and physical punishment had taught me that immediate surrender and apology was always the safest route. I had no leverage to stand up to them.

I put down my backpack and hurried to the kitchen, moving through it with practiced ease to find ingredients. Mom and Dad's eyes were dark and brooding, but seeing me dutifully cooking, they relaxed their watchful eyes on me, taking turns to change their clothes.

Seizing the chance, I rolled up my sleeve and glanced at the smartwatch on my wrist. I had saved up money from odd jobs to buy it in secret.

It could chat and make calls.

I logged into my account, and Vanessa's messages immediately popped up.

"They still haven't found Mom and Dad's bodies. Don't come over, I'm heading back."

"I heard that those who drown sometimes return home on a rainy night."

"You'd better not open the door for just anyone tonight."

I glanced at the drizzle outside the window, remembering Mom and Dad, covered in mud, when I opened the door earlier.

A wave of icy dread shot through me.

No, I had to get out of here, fast.

However, I checked around and found that all the kitchen and living room windows were locked tight.

I realized Mom and Dad were preventing me from escaping.

I returned to the kitchen, my heart pounding harder and harder with each beat.

Just as my heart was hammering in my chest, I suddenly caught the scent of burning incense.

Mom placed an incense burner with three sticks of incense in the corner of the living room.

"This is incense for warding off evil spirits and protecting our home."

"Vanessa drowned, there's no telling if she'll try to come home on a rainy night like this."

Dad comforted her, "Once tonight is over and we find her body, we can give her a proper burial."

They leaned on each other as they walked to the dining table.

I noticed that their legs were stiff as they walked, moving as if they couldn't bend.

I swallowed hard. "Vanessa's body hasn't been found either?"

"No, the flood was too big," Dad paused, then asked, "Whose body hasn't been found?"

His gaze was filled with suspicion.

A quiet alarm went off in my head, but I kept my face blank as I replied, "Just the other tourists who were in the mountains with you."

"I heard the flood was really bad this time, several people died."

Dad sighed, "Yes, it was."

After making dinner, while Mom and Dad ate, I continued to secretly check my smartwatch.

Vanessa was still sending me messages, as expected.

"I'm at the entrance of the complex."

"I can see our house."

"I didn't bring my key, hurry and open the door for me!"

The next moment, thump, the front door was knocked on.