Chapter 1

My newborn baby sister fell gravely ill right after she was born.

A passing clairvoyant told my mother that it was because I was the vessel of a dark entity. He said the only way for my sister to survive was for me to go on a strict spiritual fast, praying for a hundred days.

To save my sister, they fed me nothing but a small plate of boiled greens every day.

I was so starved that I kept blacking out. One day, I fell to my knees, begging them for just a scoop of mashed potatoes or a slice of bread.

But Mom kicked me hard, shoving me into the small pantry under the stairs, and locked the door from the outside.

"You really are a monster, aren't you? You know your sister’s life depends on this, yet you’re still trying to cheat? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"It’s just a simple fast and a few prayers, Hazel! How hard can it be? Lily only has a few days left to get through this. Can you stop being so incredibly selfish for once?"

But Mom, my stomach hurts so bad. I think I’m dying.