The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 05

The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 05

Mom was still smiling and waving goodbye to 

Adrian’s parents when she turned, saw Dad’s face, 

and froze. 

“Honey, what’s wrong? You look so pale.” 

Dad opened his mouth, but only a strangled rasp 

came out. 

He bent to pick up his phone, his hands shaking so badly he could barely unlock it. 

Celine hurried over too. “Dad… what happened?” 

Dad finally managed to speak, his voice raw. 

“Police headquarters. Now.” 

Dad tore through the streets. 

Mom sat in the passenger seat, asking over and 

over what had happened. 

Dad gripped the steering wheel and said nothing.. 

Celine sat in the back with her hands clenched 

tight. 

I floated between them, looking from one face to 

another. 

“Why isn’t anybody talking?” 

No one answered me. 

By the time we pulled into police headquarters, 

dawn was beginning to break. 

Martin, an officer who had worked under Dad for 

years, met us there. 

“Lieutenant Avery… you need to prepare 

yourselves.” 

Dad grabbed Martin. “Where is she? Where’s my daughter?” 

Martin hesitated. “She’s at the morgue. We need 

the family to… identify her.” 

Mom’s knees gave out. 

“Identify who? What are you talking about?” 

Celine held her up as they made their way to the 

morgue. 

The morgue lights were harsh and clinical. The 

medical examiner slid open a refrigerated drawer, 

bringing a white body bag into view. 

The instant the zipper came down, Mom let out a 

scream that barely sounded human. 

“Nell!” 

I floated over and looked down. 

My face was visible above the open bag, my eyes closed. I had been cleaned up, but the bruised 

puncture mark at the back of my neck still stood 

out, dark and ugly against my skin. 

I reached up and touched my own neck without 

thinking. 

It didn’t hurt anymore. 

Mom lunged forward and gripped the edge of the 

drawer, staring at my lifeless body. 

Then her legs gave way, and she collapsed 

backward. 

Celine went white. 

She stepped forward and caught Mom before she 

fell. 

Mom sagged against her, her head tipped back. 

and her eyes unfocused. 

Celine cried out in panic, “Mom! Don’t scare me! 

You’re wrong. That isn’t Nell! Nell is at home 

waiting for us!” 

It sounded like she was talking to Mom and trying 

to convince herself at the same time. 

Her voice dropped lower and lower as her 

thoughts began to unravel. 

“She said she’d wait for me… She promised…” 

Celine buried her face against Mom’s shoulder, her 

body starting to shake uncontrollably. 

Mom suddenly shoved Celine away and rushed 

back to the refrigerated drawer. 

This time, she reached out with trembling hands. 

and brushed the hair away from my cheek. 

Half my face was bruised, and dark, dried blood 

stained the corner of my mouth. 

Mom cupped my face and stroked my cheek as 

tears spilled onto my forehead. 

“Nell, look at Mommy. Mommy’s here. Mommy 

was wrong. Mommy never should’ve left your 

home alone.” 

“Mommy can’t live without you, Nell! My baby girl… 

my baby girl!” 

She pulled my cold, rigid body against her as if 

holding me tightly enough could somehow bring 

me back. 

Celine slapped herself hard, again and again. 

“It was me! This is all my fault. I got you killed.” 

“Nell, I’ll never be able to make this up to you!” 

I watched helplessly. I wanted to wipe away their 

tears, but I couldn’t. 

I knelt in front of Celine and gently rested my 

forehead against her cheek, the way she used to 

comfort me. 

“Celine, don’t cry. Your face is all red. It must hurt.” 

She couldn’t feel me.