Burned at the Stake

After smashing my box and shouting threats, Mom still didn't see me. She was on the verge of going crazy and trashed everything in my room in a rage.

When Dad walked in and saw the mess, he was startled.

"I want to see how long she can keep this up!" Mom shouted.

She was sure I had no money and would have to come home to steal some. So, she pulled Dad to hide in the corner of the room and wait.

Sure enough, in the middle of the night, a shadowy figure crept into the room.

Mom flipped on the light, ready to lunge forward. But the moment she saw clearly who it was, her raised hand froze midair.

Dad frowned. "Vonnie, why are you stealing money?"

Before he could scold her further, Mom wrapped her arms around Yvonne. "Stealing? What stealing? My money is Vonnie's money! She's entitled to it!

"My precious girl, if you ever need money, just tell me. Don't follow that little wretch of a sister of yours."

Yvonne pouted and snuggled into her arms like she had nothing to fear. "Mom, I'm still 3,000 short for that phone. Will you buy it for me?"

Mom dotingly tapped her on the nose. "Of course. Once we sell off your sister, I'll buy it for you."

Those words were like knives, tearing through my soul. The pain nearly made me fade away.

I used to think that if I were just a little more obedient, a little more sensible, then Mom would love me a little more.

But in reality, some love simply can't be forced.

Soon, the crematorium called to inform the family that it was time to collect the ashes.

At the facility, the staff led the way while remarking with surprise, "Your mother's ashes are really something else. The sound during the process was like a child screaming."

Hearing that, Mom's hand began to tremble. Even her gaze grew unfocused and uneasy.

Dad quickly noticed her strange reaction.

These past few days, he had been so distracted by the situation with Grandpa and Grandma that he'd completely overlooked me.

Now, as he started to calm down, he suddenly remembered that I had been locked in the cremator.

His expression darkened. Then, he crouched down and questioned Yvonne. "Vonnie, tell me the truth. That day, did you really see your sister come home?"

His furious expression stunned Yvonne into silence.

Mom, distressed, slapped Dad's hand away. "What are you doing? Don't scare my daughter!"

But Dad was consumed with worry for my safety. He gritted his teeth and gripped Yvonne's wrist tightly.

"Answer me!" he demanded.

Yvonne burst into tears. "I… I only lied because I didn't want you to worry…"

Dad's face turned ghostly pale. He staggered to his feet and ran to the cremation chamber. Then he banged the cremator and shouted, "No! It couldn't be!"

His frantic behavior quickly drew the attention of the staff. "Sir, please calm down."

As he was held back, Dad's eyes reddened with grief.

Mom shoved him hard. "What are you doing?! Are you trying to make things worse for the family? You're not seriously still thinking Natalie is in there, are you? She's not stupid. If there was fire, she would've run out!"

"You locked the door that day. She's only 13! How could she possibly open it?"

Mom flinched deep inside. But she still forced herself to stay calm. "What's the rush? When the door's open, we'll know for sure, won't we?"

Veins bulged on the back of Dad's hand. He didn't speak again and just stared at the staff.

The moment the door finally opened, Dad rushed closer. A platform covered in white ash could be seen inside.

And among the ashes, two skulls, one large, one small, were nestled tightly together.