Chapter 2

Before I could even move, a sharp crack echoed, and a heavy slap landed on my face.

The entire world seemed to tilt with that blow, a high-pitched ringing in my ears.

Mom’s strength was astonishing; I staggered, half my face exploding in pain, then going completely numb.

“You ungrateful wretch! How dare you say such things!”

She was like a cornered beast, her bloodshot eyes glaring furiously at me.

“We worked so hard to raise you, and your sister died in your place. Now we’re asking you to save her, and you dare to say that?!“

“Are you secretly wishing she was dead?!”

I clutched my burning cheek, staring at her in disbelief.

I just wanted them to see reason, to prevent our already shattered family from being dragged down by scammers again.

But all I got in return was another beating and scolding.

“I didn’t…”

My defense was pale and powerless.

Dad stepped forward, and, unusually, forced a stiff, unnatural smile at me.

“Rowan, Dad knows you don’t mean it. You just… don’t know how powerful the Master is.”

He stretched out a rough hand, stroking my head, his voice laced with an eerie warmth.

“Just be a good girl. As long as you write Maeve’s name, everything will be fine, and our family can go back to how it was…”

“Come! Dad will show you, this time it’s real!”

He suddenly snatched the resurrection card, then pulled a small knife from his pocket and viciously sliced his fingertip.

A bead of crimson blood instantly welled up, dripping onto the center of the card.

“The medium said the blood of a closest kin can connect with the spirits!”

His expression was frantic as he thrust the blood-stained card in front of me.

I held my breath, staring intently at the card.

A hundred reasons told me it was a scam, yet my body tensed uncontrollably.

One second, two seconds…

Nothing happened.

Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, that single drop of blood on the card suddenly emitted a faint red glow.

Then, an ancient, frail voice abruptly sounded in my ear.

“I… I miss you all so much…”

It was Grandpa’s voice!

Grandpa had passed away three years ago!

My blood seemed to freeze solid in that instant, a bone-chchilling dread surging from my feet all the way to the top of my head.

How was that possible?!

“Did you hear it?! Did you hear it?!”

Mom frantically grabbed my shoulders, shaking me violently.

“It’s your Grandpa! You can’t mistake his voice, can you?! This card is real, your sister really can come back!”

My mind went blank. Reason told me it was a trick, but the voice had sounded so real.

Could it… could it be true?

A thread of absurd hope began to frantically sprout in my desolate heart.

“The Master said that for a resurrection, you, her closest blood twin, must write her name!”

Mom, seeing my wavering expression, immediately fanned the flames.

“Now, all you, her sister, have to do is sign, and Maeve will come back to life!”

She forcefully pressed a pen into my hand, her eyes burning with urgency.

My hand trembled.

To sign, or not to sign?

That voice… was it really real?

“I… I’ll try dripping a drop of my blood too.”

I reached for the knife in Dad’s hand.

I wanted to verify it myself!

However, my hand hadn't even touched the hilt when Mom suddenly shrieked.

“What are you trying to do?!”

She seized my hair, pulling with such force it felt like my scalp would be torn off.

“Are you trying to pull another trick?! I see it now, you just don’t want your sister back!”

The excruciating pain made my vision go black; I didn’t even have time to cry for help.

She dragged me out of the narrow room like a lifeless rag doll!