The Dream That Killed Me Chapter 05

The Dream That Killed Me Chapter 05

My father’s irritation froze on his face. He took a deep breath.

I watched the hand holding his phone go white at the knuckles.

He opened his mouth to speak several times and couldn’t get the words out.

My mother’s voice came out strained.

“When I returned, there was no sign the door had been forced open.”

Grandma’s body shook. She nearly collapsed.

My mother, hands trembling, started booking the earliest flight home.

My father reached for her. She shoved him away.

Claire walked over, a hat on her head, smiling.

“Mom, Dad-what’s wrong?”

Mom looked at her, eyes red.

“Claire, we need to go home right now. Something might have happened to Lily.”

But instead of matching their panic, Claire doubled over laughing.

“Mom, Dad. You actually believed it!”

My mother froze.

“Claire… what do you mean?”

Claire wiped her eyes, still laughing.

“Oh, my darling parents. Lily texted me ages ago.”

“She said once the dream broke, she wanted to make sure you understood how important she was.

So this whole thing.”

Dad let out a breath of relief, quickly followed by a darkening scowl.

“That little brat, using something like this as a joke, unbelievable!”

He straightened up and pointed at Mom.

“See? All you do is blame me. Look at what your precious daughter’s been doing!”

Mom still looked uncertain.

Mom pulled out her phone and handed it over.

There it was my profile picture.

Claire said she’d ordered me food, and the key to the bathroom was inside-I just had to unlock it to

get out.

And there was my reply.

[Got it. Don’t think being fake nice to me means I’ll forgive you.]

[Mom and Dad have always favored you. I’m going to teach them a lesson.]

[Don’t tell them.]

The timestamp read the day before.

But I swear. I never sent any of those messages.

I stared, wide-eyed, and turned to look at Claire.

She was pretending to browse clothes on a rack, but I saw her turn slightly, pull out a second phone,

and send a message.

At that moment, my mother’s phone buzzed with a new text.

[How was that, sis? Did I do a good job?]

[Why’s there other people in the house? Get them to leave, I’m hungry.)

Dad stared hard at the words on the screen, eyes burning with anger.

Mom’s anger flared too. But underneath it, mostly, was relief.

I watched Claire pick the phone back up and send a message to my real number.

[Lily, you’ll never win against me. I’ve played this game a thousand times.]

[I want to keep playing.]

[If you want, go ahead and rot in that bathroom.]

Then she calmly deleted the chat history.

She looked up, smiling at our parents.

“She’s just a little wild sometimes. All she really wants is your attention.”

Dad breathed hard, furious.

“That curse. I swear I’m going to kill her.”

Just then, someone from Ascend Academy called again.

“Mr. Whitmore, when are you all coming back?”

“That smell from the bathroom is getting really bad.”

My father answered, voice hard.

“Not yet. Just keep watch. Once she comes out, take her away immediately.”

“I don’t believe for one second she’ll stay in there forever.”

“Double your pay.”

He hung up.

“Come on, Claire. Let’s keep going. We’ll head back once we’re done having fun.”