She Took My Identity, My Future, and My Name

My father didn’t say a word—just grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me away.

But Grandma grew more and more suspicious. She gripped my other hand and clutched the net bag tightly. “What are you doing? What’s all this for?”

Right then, my phone rang.

It was a call from the police:

“Ms. Lucia, please report to the station within twelve hours. Failure to do so may affect how your surrender is processed.”

Grandma froze. “Lucia? Surrender? What… what are they talking about? Did they call the wrong person?”

Austin let out an impatient sigh. “She is Lucia now. Alice and Lucia switched identities. It’s too complicated to explain. We’re in a rush—we have to go.”

But Grandma wasn’t letting go. She held my arm with surprising strength, refusing to release me.

Her eyes widened with dawning horror. She pieced it together, and tears flooded her face.

“Alice,” she cried, “have you lost your mind? You worked so hard for all these years—finally made it to the top of the college entrance exam list—and now you’re throwing it all away for that troublemaker?”

“Your whole life is ahead of you! Your future, your dreams—everything will be gone! How can you face your mother in heaven?”

“Don’t you remember what she said before she passed? She told you to be someone your name could be proud of!”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. My tears fell.

But still, I forced a trembling smile. “Grandma… even without college, I can still make something of myself.”

“Please don’t stop me. If I’m late, they won’t count it as a voluntary surrender. The sentence will be even longer.”

Gritting my teeth, I pried her hands off mine.

Then I turned and walked away.

“Alice!” Grandma cried. She tried to chase after me, but Austin blocked her.

Her face twisted in anguish. And then she screamed, loud enough to shake the stairwell:

“If you dare walk out that door—I’ll die right here!”

I stopped.

My body trembled as I turned around.

Grandma was on the ground now, sobbing, broken. “Why? Why is this happening?”

I stared at her, my heart splintering, then said cruelly—but clearly—

“Grandma, you promised my mother you’d take care of me.”

“If you die, and I come out of prison with no one left, who will keep that promise?”

“So please… live well. If you don’t, how could you ever face her either?”

Grandma collapsed into silence, muttering as if her world had just ended.

My father and Austin took the chance to lift me by the arms, dragging me downstairs. I didn’t resist.

They stuffed me into the backseat of the car.

I closed my eyes. But Grandma’s cries echoed in my mind like a curse.

Grandma, I’m sorry.

We arrived at the police station shortly after.

But my father didn’t let me out of the car.

Austin reached into a bag and pulled out a small glass vial and some cotton swabs.

“You and Lucia look almost identical,” he said, “but your fingerprints are different. That’s a problem.”

“Just endure it,” he added gently. “I’ll handle the rest.”

I looked at the bottle—and froze.

Sulfuric acid.

Before I could react, Austin dipped a swab and pressed it to my fingertip.

I screamed.

The searing pain shot through my body like lightning. My hand jerked reflexively, but my father pinned me down.

“Don’t move,” Austin muttered, holding my wrist firmly. “I know it hurts. But we’re almost done.”

My ten fingers were scorched one after the other, each one a fresh wave of agony. My body convulsed. My throat went hoarse from screaming. Sweat soaked my clothes.

When it was over, I slumped in the seat, barely conscious.

My father handed me a bottle of water. I took a sip, just enough to wet my lips.

Then they dragged me out of the car and led me into the police station.

When it came time to fill out the paperwork, my hands shook so badly I could barely hold the pen.

Eventually, officers from the detention center came to collect me. I wasn’t even allowed to go to trial yet—I had to be held in custody first.