Chapter 5
The cake exploded against the floor as it slipped from Mom’s trembling hands.
She crumpled like her legs had been cut out from under her.
Dad looked like he’d been hit by a freight train, his throat closing up as he choked out:
‘No fucking way! Emma was right here she came home with us!”
‘She’s just screwing around somewhere, hiding like she always does!”
The cop’s voice went deadly quiet for a moment, then cut through like ice:
So you’re telling me you had no idea your daughter was missing? Or dead?”
Get your asses to the hospital. Now.”
ad’s brain just… stopped. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air.
hovered there watching their faces crumble, and I nodded.
eah, that’s right. Nobody gave a damn that Emma got thrown out like garbage.
When the call ended, the silence in the house was suffocating.
hen Dad’s eyes went wide – he remembered the news from before.
e practically ripped the remote out of Jake’s hands.
is fingers were shaking so bad he could barely change the channel, desperately searching for that accident report.
ke went absolutely ballistic:
Dad, what the hell?! I was watching that!”
Give it back! I hate you!”
e launched himself at Dad, fists flying.
ad backhanded him so hard Jake hit the wall.
nd right then, the TV zoomed in on the victim.
hat tiny broken body in a sea of blood.
ad’s face turned the color of ash.
le swayed like he was gonna pass out, his whole body convulsing with shock.
Jesus Christ… when did this…?”
He literally couldn’t process why I’d been in an accident.
Couldn’t wrap his head around why I was dead on some highway.
Mom was still on the floor by the door, eyes completely vacant, rambling:
‘It’s bullshit, total bullshit… Emma was with us at Universal. We took tons of pictures…”
Her eyes suddenly blazed with desperate hope.
She clawed at the wall to pull herself up, frantically pawing at her phone like it was her lifeline.
Her hands were shaking so violently she could barely unlock it.
“The news is wrong! They have to be wrong! Emma’s just being a little shit and hiding somewhere!”
But as she scrolled through photo after photo, all she saw was Madison’s face.
The color drained from Mom’s face drop by drop.
She went through every single picture hundreds of them.
Not one of me. Just Madison. Always Madison.
I floated nearby, watching the whole thing unfold.
Jealousy bubbled up in my chest like a shaken soda.
Mom really loved Madison.
But why couldn’t she save just a tiny bit of love for Emma?
CRASH-”
Her phone smashed against the floor.
Then Mom lunged for Dad’s phone, frantically swiping through his photos.
ut his camera roll was stuffed with Jake. Just Jake, everywhere.
ven though I’d expected it, the pain still hit me like a punch to the gut.
wrapped my arms around myself, silent tears sliding down my cheeks.
ake had someone who loved him. Madison had someone who loved her.
ut why… why didn’t I?
was their kid too, wasn’t I?
No, no that’s wrong… Emma made it to Universal. She had to have.”
Iom still couldn’t accept it. She whipped her head toward Dad.
ler voice came out as a shriek:
David, I told you to watch Emma! Where is she? What the hell did you do with our kid?”
ad stared at her, confused. “Didn’t you take Emma with Madison while I handled Jake?”
he words hung in the air.
oth of them froze at exactly the same time.
hey saw the horrible realization dawning in each other’s eyes.
Why do you guys keep talking about that annoying little brat? She wasn’t even in the car!”
ake snapped irritably,
le snatched the remote back from Dad and happily flipped to his cartoons.
le swung his legs from the couch, totally carefree.
You guys thought she was being too loud this morning, so you dumped her on the road, remember?”
The words hit like a bomb.
Mom and Dad went white as sheets, staring at him in absolute horror.
