They Played a Game to Make Me Beg, I Played a Game to Make Me Gone Chapter 03

They Played a Game to Make Me Beg, I Played a Game to Make Me Gone Chapter 03

I knew something was off the moment Derek suggested letting Savannah plan the engagement party. I just couldn’t prove it.

Mom and Dad swore up and down. “Natalie, an engagement is just as important as the wedding. You only get one. We’d never let Savannah mess around with something this big.”

Derek backed them up. “Savannah just wants to help take the stress off you. She wants you to be the most beautiful bride-to-be there.”

I finally let my guard down.

While the whole family was out shopping with Savannah, I dug through a drawer and found the USB flash drive. It had a label on it: [Natalie’s Happy Memories.]

I plugged it into my computer. The second the first video file opened, a low snickering sound crept through the speakers. Hearing those voices sent a cold sweat crawling down my back.

In the video, my parents and Savannah took turns coaxing twelve-year-old me to finish a slice of birthday cake. My mouth was full of a black-and-white paste. I remember asking so carefully, “Mom, Dad, what’s this cake made of? I really can’t eat any more.”

When I finally managed to swallow it, ten-year-old Savannah’s face turned red from holding in her laughter. Then she exploded. “It’s dog shit and worms, you idiot! My sister’s so desperate she’ll eat literal garbage!”

I watched my twelve-year-old self shove my fingers down my throat. Mom and Dad were laughing so hard they couldn’t even hold the camera steady. The whole screen shook.

Another clip autoplayed. Me waking up with a snake in my bed, fainting cold on the floor. Me trapped in a broken elevator, terrified to the point of humiliation.

My private journal about a crush on a popular guy, plastered across the whole school. I got called “Toad Girl” for three solid years.

Every ugly, humiliating, degrading moment. Savannah had cut them all together into a greatest-hits compilation, complete with goofy sound effects. She was planning to play it at my engagement party. In front of every relative and friend we knew.

My parents knew. Derek knew.

My hands went ice cold. My stomach heaved, and this time I couldn’t hold it back. I barely made it to the bathroom before everything came up.

Once the nausea passed, I dragged myself back to the computer. I deleted the videos one by one and replaced them with a different file. The one I’d prepared myself.

When the family came back from shopping, Mom waved me over. “Your dress is here. Come try it on.”

I reached for it carefully. Savannah rolled her eyes. “Oh, give me a break. Are you seriously that paranoid? Like everyone’s out to get you.”

I didn’t answer her. I just looked at my parents. “Mom, Dad. Do you actually want me to be happy?”

They blinked, then smiled. “Silly girl. What kind of question is that? We might play games, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love you.”

They took my hands, acting completely innocent about the ambush planned for the next day.

Derek came over and put his hand on my waist. “Alright, that’s enough. You know how Savannah is. Don’t let her get to you. Once I’m officially her brother-in-law, I’ll keep her in check.”

He brushed it all off in a few sentences. I pretended not to notice the sly glances passing between the four of them, all lit up, buzzing at the thought of my upcoming humiliation.

I calmly pulled Derek’s hand off me. “Thanks, Mom and Dad. And you too, Savannah. As my most beloved family, I’ve got a gift for all of you too. You’ll get it at the engagement party.”