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836words2026-01-26 11:22

That day was my brother's promotion party — he'd just become a pilot.
I was driving him home that night, for he'd drank in the party.
On the way back, we got into a car crash.

My brother died on the spot.
What was supposed to be a celebration turned into a funeral.
After that night, I wasn't abandoned by my parents. They accused me of killing their son, saying I should've died years ago when I was eight.
Later, I was kidnapped and dismembered.
My parents didn't recognize it was me when my legs were delivered to them.
Though I'd sent out one last text for help, they said I deserved it, ignored my desperate message, and forgot about me.

It wasn't until the autopsy report came out that they completely lost it.
The day after I was kidnapped, my legs showed up on the steps of the police station.
My mom's a forensic examiner. She took one look and said, “These weren't removed postmortem. The victim is still alive.”
Her voice was heavy. “The fact that the killer left them at the station means he's probably enjoying this. Some kind of twisted game.”

“There are cuts, burns, whip marks all over the legs. The victim is likely being tortured right now.”
Mom was right.
Not only was I still alive, Zane even bandaged the stumps where my legs used to be, afraid I'd die too soon because of blood lost.
The bleeding had stopped, but the pain was so bad I was drenched in cold sweat.
The sound from the hidden microphone filled the basement—I could hear their voice at the police station.
Dad frowned, his voice low and tense. “Get everyone on this. Turn this city upside down if you have to!”
Another officer spoke up. “We'll handle it, Captain. But it's after hours—shouldn't you be picking up your daughter?”
Dad sounded impatient. “It's just a few blocks. This case is urgent—I don't have time for her.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
But Dad, you have no idea—it was on those very few blocks that I was taken.
Those bloody legs right in front of you… they're mine.
No. Maybe if they knew the legs were mine, they'd be happy.
After all, they always thought the one who caused their son's death should get what she deserved.
The officer tried again. “Just go get Olivia, it won't take long. There's a sicko out there—what if she runs into him?”
Mom cut in coldly. “Stop wasting time! I just found a hidden microphone in the remains. The psycho is challenging us. Every minute we waste, the victim suffers more!”
“As for that mistake of ours—if she runs into trouble, that's her luck. If she dies, she dies. She should've died two years ago when she killed her brother!”
I couldn't hear anything after that. Maybe the microphone was destroyed. Or maybe the pain was too much—I couldn't hear anything more.
Zane yanked my hair back, hissing in my ear,
“Seems like your parents really hate you. You've been missing for two days, and they don't even care.”
Tears streaming, I choked out, “No… Mom and Dad will come for me. They just… haven't realized yet.”
Zane's voice was like poison. “Then you'd better hope they find you before I chop off the rest of your limbs.”
I went silent. My slow, hazy mind suddenly remembered the curses they screamed at me two years ago.
Back then, at my brother's party, my parents didn't want me to go. They said I'd embarrass him because I was dumb.
But my brother loved me. He insisted I come.
On the way back, he let me drive for he was drunk.
He wasn't like other people—he never treated me like I was stupid.
I didn't want to let him down, so I said yes.
But no one expected that brutal car crash.
My brother died instantly.
That day, celebration turned into mourning.
Mom's eyes were red as she screamed, “You were the one driving! Why did he die and not you?! You know you're stupid—why did you even get behind the wheel?! Did you do it on purpose?!”
“You monster! It should've been you!”
Dad grabbed me by the throat, his face twisted like a demon's.
“You killed our son! I'll make you pay!”
His grip tightened. He wouldn't even let me speak.
As I choked, I realized—the parents who promised to protect me forever after my brain damage had actually considered me as a burden.
Later, I always wondered: What if I hadn't gone to the party that day?
What if I had died instead?
I didn't know how much time passed before I woke up from the pain again.
Zane stood over me with an axe, his eyes gleaming.
“Too bad. Another day gone, and your parents still haven't noticed you're missing.”
“So now, I'm going to send them your hands. Maybe that'll remind them.”
The axe swung down.
My screams echoed through the basement.