Chapter 2The Heart That Witnessed My Death

Vicky stared at the photo, her gaze turning icy. She snatched the frame and slammed it onto the floor with a violent crash.

"Are you serious, Emmett? This is pathetic. You screw up, you give Sam a defective heart, and now you stage this morbid little theater piece to guilt-trip me?" She spat the words out. "Photoshopping your own memorial photo? Do you have any idea how cursed that is?"

No one answered. The flame of the small prayer candle on the desk flickered in the draft.

Infuriated by the silence, Vicky stomped on the frame. The glass shattered into a thousand glittering diamonds, and the photo slid out. She leaned down, picked up the black-and-white image with a look of pure loathing, and tossed it into the small brass charcoal burner nearby.

The paper caught instantly. The edges curled and blackened, the fire licking across the bridge of my nose, erasing my smile.

Suddenly, there was a noise behind her. Vicky spun around, a cold, triumphant smirk forming. "So, you finally found your conscience. Step out."

The door burst open. An elderly woman, white-haired and clutching a heavy kitchen cleaver, charged in. She looked like a cornered animal.

"You heartless monster! How dare you come back here for my Emmett!"

The blade flashed. Vicky ducked, her reflexes sharp. she grabbed the old woman’s wrist and twisted, sending the cleaver clattering to the floor.

"Who the hell are you? Do you have any idea who I am?" Vicky barked.

I drifted in the air above them, frantic, my spirit vibrating with a useless energy. Mrs. Henderson! Please! Stop! Don't provoke her!

But they couldn't hear me. Vicky shoved the old woman away, looking down at her with chilling arrogance. "You’re the one who’s been hiding him, aren't you, you old bat?"

She brushed the dust off her sleeve, her eyes dripping with contempt. "Tell him to come out and face the music. If he leaves for the courthouse now, I might consider dropping the fraud charges for this little 'death' stunt."

Mrs. Henderson stumbled, catching herself against the wall. Her eyes were bloodshot, weeping with a rage so deep it looked like grief. "How can you be this cruel? Emmett has been dead for seven years! You stole his heart, and now you want to drag his ghost into a courtroom for the sake of that... that thing you built?"

Vicky’s face went pale with anger. "Stop saying he’s dead. None of you are allowed to say that." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous hiss. "And let’s get one thing straight. He gave that heart willingly. He donated a sub-standard organ on purpose, leaving Sam in agony for years. He’s a saboteur, and he’s going to pay."

Mrs. Henderson trembled so hard her teeth chattered. She reached for the cleaver again. Vicky kicked it across the room and then, without a hint of hesitation, landed a sharp kick to the old woman’s ribs.

Mrs. Henderson collapsed, groaning in pain.

"Grandma! Grandma, I’m coming!"

A younger woman burst through the door. Her eyes were wide and vacant, her movements uncoordinated. She threw herself over Mrs. Henderson, shielding her. Then, like a wild thing, she lunged at Vicky, sinking her teeth into Vicky’s forearm.

"Get away from Grandma! Leave Emmett alone! Bad person! Hurting Emmett!"

Vicky let out a cry of pain and fury. She grabbed the woman by her hair, yanking her back. The woman fought, her teeth locked tight until Vicky delivered a stinging slap across her face.

The girl fell to the floor, stunned and silent.

I screamed, diving toward them, trying to catch Vicky’s hand, but my fingers passed through her like smoke. Stop it! Don't hurt Lila! Please, Vicky, stop!

Vicky looked down at the girl, a cruel chuckle escaping her throat. "Oh, I see. She’s a half-wit."

She surveyed the cramped, miserable shack one last time, her eyes landing on the dazed girl. "Emmett... in a few years, you’ve managed to find yourself a new sister. A broken, useless one. Are you really that desperate for a family?"

When I still didn't appear, she shouted at the walls. "I know you’re watching! If you care about this freak and this old hag, then you’d better show yourself, or things are about to get very ugly."

Two of Vicky’s security guards stepped into the room. At her nod, they began to kick and punch the two women on the floor. Lila didn't say a word; she just curled her body around Mrs. Henderson, taking every blow.

Mrs. Henderson looked up, her face a mask of bloody defiance. "You’re a fool..." she wheezed, the words forced through gritted teeth. "My poor, sweet Emmett... how did he end up with a monster like you for a sister?"

Vicky’s face turned livid. "Hit them harder! What am I paying you for?"

The guards intensified their assault. Lila looked up from the floor, her eyes fixed on the empty air where I was floating. A strange, knowing look crossed her face.

"Don't worry, Emmett," she whispered, blood trickling from her lip. "He’s gone to the other world. You’ll never find him. Not in a thousand years."

Vicky sneered. She knelt down, gripping Lila’s chin in a painful hold. "Since you’re so convinced he’s dead, where’s the body?"

"If he’s dead, show me the corpse!"