The Heart Knew Who It Truly Beat For

Micah's POV

Mallory kept talking as if she owned the room. “I even lost twenty kilos and copied your haircut so we’d look identical. Once I wear your clothes, even Mom and Dad won’t be able to tell us apart. Gavin definitely won’t recognize the difference. From now on, you play the part of Micah and do as you’re told. Otherwise, don’t blame your sister for being ruthless.”

As my parents started taking off my clothes, someone knocked at the door. The whole house went taut with tension.

“Who is it?” Mallory asked.

“It’s me.”

It was Gavin.

I was about to shout when Dad clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me back into the room.

"Mallory, why haven't you opened the door yet?" Gavin demanded.

Finally snapping back to her senses, Mom yanked the carpet to cover the bloodstain on the floor. Only then did Mallory walk to the door and open it.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I happened to be passing by and thought I’d pick you up.” Gavin frowned when he saw her. “You weren’t wearing that outfit when I left.”

“I dirtied the other one, so I changed into this old dress,” she lied. “Perfect timing, you can take me now.”

From inside the bedroom, I could hear everything. If Mallory walked out, then the past would repeat itself. She’d never let me live, for only the dead could keep her secret.

Dad glared at me, mouthing for me to stay silent. I nodded in response but reached for the chair beside me.

In one motion, I shoved it, and it crashed to the floor with a loud thud.

Dad snapped, grabbed my hair, and slapped me hard.

“What was that noise?” Gavin stopped and turned toward the bedroom.

But Mallory stepped in front of him. “Nothing. Probably the cat knocked the chair over.”

Despite her reason, Gavin still hurried to the doorway. He bent down and touched the dark red pool on the floor. “This is blood.” Then he tried the bedroom doorknob and found it locked.

Heart thumping, Mallory made up some lies again. “This blood’s probably from our cat being in heat and leaving stains on the floor. It’s filthy. Come on, let’s get your hands washed.”

She also tried to pull him away while saying, “Dad’s drunk and sleeping inside. Let’s not bother him. Let’s go clean up.”

While Dad was distracted by them, I slipped off my bracelet and hurled it at the door. The metal hit with a clanging sound.

Hearing that, Gavin’s expression went icy. He took a step back and kicked the door open.

What he saw froze everyone. I lay on the floor, covered in blood, and Dad was over me, whipping me with his belt.