“Have you forgotten that when you were bullied in school, it was your sister who risked herself to protect you. She almost ruined her own face for it?”
I nodded, my eyes red. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But that doesn’t mean I have to give up the man I love for her. When I said that, I truly believed that if my sister didn’t exist, we could be happy for a lifetime. But I….”
….never wanted her to actually die.
Before I could finish, my mother, consumed by grief, rushed at me, grabbing my throat and shaking me hard.
“You could have competed fairly if you loved Owen! Why did you have to let her die!”
“Who killed Zara?! Tell me right now!”
Voices of anger and accusations filled my ears, but I clenched my teeth and refused to break.
“I won’t say it. Knowing the truth won’t help any of you!”
Owen slapped me hard across the face. “Even now, you still protect the criminal!”
“Fine. If that’s how it is, then I’ll show no mercy.”
“Everyone knows the Memory Extractor has three levels, but in reality, there’s a fourth, Special Level! The pain feels like being crushed and forced back together again.”
“Will you speak, or not?!”