My Family Faked the Apocalypse and Watched Me Die Chapter 01

My Family Faked the Apocalypse and Watched Me Die Chapter 01

After my brother died on the thirtieth day of the scorching heat apocalypse, I gave my last bottle of water to my husband and son.

I left behind a note.

“With one less mouth to feed, you’ll survive a few more days.”

After that, I slit my wrist.

When I died, my soul floated up and out of the basement.

There was no blazing heat outside.

Instead, cool air from the AC washed over me.

Chloe Bennett lounged on the couch, clapping and laughing.

“This prank is genius! I can’t believe Evelyn was dumb enough to fall for a fake heat apocalypse!”

My husband, Ryan Mercer, let out a cold laugh.

“She had it coming! She’s always used her identity as the real Bennett daughter to bully Chloe. She deserved to be taught a lesson!”

My son, Owen, wrapped his arms around Chloe’s, acting spoiled.

“I’m going to protect Mommy Chloe from now on! I’ll never let that bad woman steal anything from you again!”

My brother, who was supposed to be dead from thirst, was patiently peeling grapes and feeding them to Chloe.

“Don’t worry, Chloe. If she ever bullies you again, I’ll cut ties with her for good!”

It was 95 degrees outside, but I felt ice cold.

The heat apocalypse was never real.

It had only been a lie meant for me.

From beginning to end, all they wanted was revenge on Chloe’s behalf.

—

I floated silently in the air.

I looked down at my own body, crumpled in a pool of blood.

My lips were cracked from dehydration. My cheeks were sunken from hunger.

Besides the fresh wound on my wrist, several old scars crossed my arm.

Those scars came from the day my brother was supposedly dying of thirst.

In desperation, I’d cut open my own arm, hoping he could drink my blood and survive.

Now I knew. That had been a lie too.

In this entire house, I was the only one enduring the torment of the scorching heat apocalypse

Chloe sipped an ice-cold soda, looking at Ryan and Owen with pity.

“It’s so hot outside, and you’ve still been keeping Evelyn company in that basement. That must’ve been miserable.”

She paused before smiling sweetly.

“Why don’t you fake your deaths too, just like Ethan did? Then you won’t have to go back at all.”

Owen’s eyes lit up immediately. He was just about to agree.

“No.”

Ryan rejected the idea without hesitation.

For a second, I thought he was worried about me.

But then he frowned in disgust.

“Evelyn’s suspicious by nature. If we don’t go back, she’ll definitely come looking for us, and the whole act will fall apart.”

“We agreed she’d stay locked up for a full month to make up for what she did to Chloe. Not one day less.”

“There’s only one day left. We can wait.”

A month.

I shivered, my dead soul trembling.

Exactly one month ago, Chloe had framed me for pushing her down the stairs and breaking her leg.

Her hospital stay had lasted precisely one month.

Ethan had slapped me across the face on the spot.

That still wasn’t enough.

To make Chloe feel better, he’d even pushed me down the same stairs.

I’d lain in my own blood with fractures all over my body.

Ryan had been the only one who rushed me to the hospital.

He’d held my hand and told me he believed me. That he’d never doubt me.

But in the end, he had still chosen to avenge Chloe by making me suffer.

And the son I’d carried for ten months was now clinging to Chloe with teary eyes.

“I don’t want to go back! I don’t want that selfish, evil woman as my mom anymore! I want to stay with Mommy Chloe forever!”

His childish voice pierced straight through my heart like a poisoned blade.

Even after death, the pain still ripped through my chest.

Chloe’s eyes gleamed with triumph. She patted Owen’s head, playing the saint.

“Don’t be mad, Owen. Your uncle already uploaded all the surveillance footage online. Everyone’s helping me teach your mommy a lesson now.”

A chill ran through me. I stared at Ethan in disbelief.

With a smile, he picked up a tablet.

On the screen was a video that had already surpassed a million views.

It was a recording of my entire month in the basement.