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“I knew it! There's no way she's dead!”
But I knew—it was Zane answering. And he wasn't going to help.
I couldn't stop it. Mom was already screaming into the phone,
“You finally answer?! You think hiding for days will make us forgive you?! Think again! We'll never forgive you!”
“Either show yourself right now, or never come back—”
Mom's voice cut off.
Dad's eyes widened. He grabbed the phone, putting it on speaker.
A snake-like, mocking voice came through:
“Mom, Dad… I'm already right in front of you.”
“That body chopped into pieces—the one missing hands and legs and a head—that's me.”
Mom screamed, even louder than before, shaking uncontrollably.
The eerie laughter continued. Dad gritted his teeth. “Who are you?! Why did you do this to her?!”
The laughter stopped. Then a soft, taunting reply: “Guess.”
The call ended.
Dad tried calling back, but only got the cold, automated message.
He tore at his hair, roaring with rage.
Lewis, still calm, remembered they could trace the call and rushed out.
Mom seemed to remember something. She turned stiffly toward the examination table.
She tried to walk over, but her legs gave out. She crawled, trembling, and lifted my head into her arms.
Only then did the tears fall. She broke down, sobbing hopelessly.
“Olivia… my baby… How much did you suffer?!”
“I'm sorry! If only I'd realized sooner! How did this happen?!”
“Come back, please… I won't yell or hit you ever again… We'll be a family…”
She held my head tighter. Dad tried to pull her away, but she wouldn't let go.
Defeated, he sat beside her, covering his face as he cried.
Watching them grieve, I felt… nothing.
Since dying, my damaged mind had cleared. I finally understood—maybe my parents never loved me at all.
After learning it was me, Mom had a breakdown. She couldn't work anymore.
Dad was suspended for ignoring my plea. He could only assist on the case, not lead it.
But he didn't give up. Using his experience, he kept searching for clues.
Just as he was getting close to the shop where I worked, Zane showed up at our door.
I threw myself at Zane, trying to scratch his throat again, but my ghostly form couldn't reach him.
“John… I heard about Olivia. I'm so sorry.”
Zane sounded heartbroken.
Dad was silent for a long time. “I will find who did this. Even if it costs me my life, I'll make sure Olivia didn't die in vain.”
Zane nodded. “She died so horribly… Not even a full body left.”
Dad's face was full of regret and pain.
But then he paused, eyes sharpening as he looked at Zane:
“How did you know how she died? That wasn't made public.”
