Chapter 1: The Night Everything Ended
1795 Words
At twenty years old, Amelia Carter had already learned that life did not care how tired you were.
If you were hungry, you still had to work.
If you were sick, you still had to work.
And if you were heartbroken, there was no time to cry.
Because somewhere in the tiny apartment she called home, a seven-year-old boy was waiting for dinner.
“Amelia?”
Her brother’s small voice came from the living room.
She quickly wiped her hands on her old apron and turned around.
Noah stood by the doorway, holding his schoolbook against his chest.
“Is the food ready?”
Amelia forced a smile.
“Almost.”
Noah looked toward the nearly empty kitchen.
“Are we having chicken?”
She paused.
There was no chicken.
There was barely enough rice for both of them.
Still, she smiled.
“Of course.”
Noah's face brightened.
“Really?”
“Really.”
He ran back into the living room.
Amelia turned toward the cooking pot and quietly sighed.
She hated lying to him.
But what else could she do?
Their parents had died when Amelia was sixteen. Since then, she had become both sister and parent to Noah.
She worked mornings at a small office, cleaned houses in the evenings, and sometimes took extra work at night.
Every coin she earned went toward food, rent, school fees, and Noah's needs.
She didn't have time for dreams.
Her only dream was keeping her brother safe.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
Amelia picked it up.
One message.
Victor Hale: Come to my house tonight. Bring the files I asked for.
Her stomach tightened.
Victor Hale.
Her employer.
Rich.
Powerful.
And dangerous.
For months, Victor had made it clear that he wanted her.
He had offered her expensive gifts.
She had refused.
He had invited her to private dinners.
She had refused.
He had even promised to increase her salary if she agreed to be with him.
She had refused every single time.
But tonight was different.
She desperately needed the money.
Noah's school fees were due.
Their landlord had already warned her about the rent.
Amelia stared at the message for several seconds.
Then another message appeared.
Victor Hale: Don't disappoint me.
She swallowed.
She knew exactly what kind of man Victor was.
She also knew that refusing him could cost her the job.
And without that job, Noah might have to leave school.
She closed her eyes.
“Just deliver the files,” she whispered.
She grabbed her bag.
“I'll be back soon, Noah.”
Her brother looked up from his book.
“Where are you going?”
“Work.”
“At night?”
Amelia walked over and kissed his forehead.
“I won't be long.”
Noah smiled.
“Bring chicken.”
She laughed softly.
“I'll try.”
Neither of them knew that those would be the last words they exchanged.
---
Victor's mansion was enormous.
Amelia stood outside the front door, clutching the files tightly.
The house was strangely quiet.
She knocked.
A servant opened the door.
“Mr. Hale is upstairs.”
Amelia nodded.
“Thank you.”
She stepped inside.
Every instinct told her to leave.
But she remembered Noah.
The rent.
The school fees.
She climbed the stairs.
At the end of the hallway, Victor's bedroom door was slightly open.
Amelia stopped.
“Mr. Hale?”
No answer.
She pushed the door open.
Victor was sitting on the edge of his bed.
His tie was gone.
His shirt was partly unbuttoned.
His eyes immediately moved toward her.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“You came.”
Amelia's fingers tightened around the files.
“You asked me to bring these.”
She walked toward the desk and placed them down.
“There. I should go now.”
She turned.
“Amelia.”
She stopped.
“I said I should go.”
Victor stood.
“You've been avoiding me.”
“I'm your employee.”
“You're more than that to me.”
“No.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You always say no.”
“Because I mean it.”
She reached for the door.
Suddenly, Victor grabbed her wrist.
Amelia gasped.
“Let me go!”
“You think you can keep rejecting me forever?”
She pulled away.
“I'm leaving.”
Victor tightened his grip.
“Not tonight.”
Fear rushed through her.
“Victor, stop!”
He dragged her toward the bed.
Amelia fought desperately to free herself.
“Let me go!”
She pushed him.
He stumbled back.
For one second, Amelia thought she had escaped.
She ran toward the door.
But Victor caught her again.
She screamed.
“HELP!”
No one came.
The house was silent.
Victor pulled her backward.
Amelia's eyes searched the room desperately.
Then she saw it.
A heavy lamp sitting on the table.
Her hand reached for it.
She grabbed it and swung.
Victor stumbled backward.
His face changed.
The anger in his eyes frightened her more than anything else.
“You hit me?”
Amelia backed away.
“I didn't want to. Just let me leave!”
Victor moved toward her.
“You should have listened to me.”
“Please…”
“You could have had everything.”
“I don't want anything from you.”
Victor's expression became cold.
He shoved her away.
Amelia lost her balance.
Her head struck the edge of the table.
Everything went silent.
The room blurred.
Her fingers moved weakly across the floor.
“Victor…”
He stood frozen.
Amelia tried to speak again.
But no words came.
Her vision faded.
And then—
Nothing.
---
Amelia opened her eyes.
She was standing.
She looked around.
Victor was still in the room.
But something was wrong.
He was staring at the floor.
At her.
Amelia looked down.
Her body was lying motionless beside the table.
She screamed.
“What happened?”
Victor didn't answer.
She rushed toward him.
“You need to help me!”
He stepped backward.
Amelia looked at her own hands.
They were almost transparent.
“No…”
She touched her face.
“I’m dead?”
Victor stared at her body.
Then something terrifying happened.
He smiled.
“If you can't be mine…”
Amelia froze.
Victor looked down at her.
“…then it's better that you die.”
Her ghostly form trembled.
“You killed me.”
Victor said nothing.
He bent down and lifted her body.
Amelia followed him.
“Put me down!”
He couldn't hear her.
“Victor!”
He carried her toward the stairs.
Amelia chased after him.
“No!”
She suddenly remembered Noah.
Her heart broke.
“My brother!”
She tried grabbing Victor's arm.
Her hands passed through him.
“Noah is waiting for me!”
Victor carried her outside.
Amelia watched helplessly as he placed her body inside his car.
“NO!”
She ran after him.
The car disappeared into the darkness.
Amelia stood alone in the driveway.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Noah…”
A strange light suddenly appeared behind her.
She turned.
A woman dressed in white stood beneath the glowing light.
Her expression was calm.
“Amelia Carter.”
Amelia stepped backward.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Seraphina.”
“Where am I?”
“Between life and death.”
Amelia shook her head.
“I can't die.”
“You already have.”
“No!”
She pointed toward the road.
“My brother is alone!”
Seraphina remained silent.
“I'm all he has.”
“You must let go.”
“I can't!”
Amelia's voice broke.
“I'm only twenty. I haven't even lived yet.”
For the first time, Seraphina's expression softened.
“You were given a short life.”
“Then give me another one.”
Seraphina stared at her.
“You want to return?”
“Yes.”
“You understand that returning will not restore the life you had.”
“I don't care.”
“There will be a price.”
“I'll pay it.”
Seraphina stepped closer.
“I can give you a second chance.”
Amelia's eyes widened.
“A second chance?”
“Yes.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Find your body.”
Amelia frowned.
“What?”
“Your body is the bridge between your soul and the living world. Find it. Stand before it and call your name three times.”
“And then?”
“You will return.”
Hope filled Amelia's eyes.
“But if Victor sees me, he'll kill me again.”
“He won't recognize you.”
“Why?”
“When you return, the people who truly love you will see your real face.”
Amelia stared at her.
“And everyone else?”
“To them, you will appear differently.”
“Even Victor?”
“Especially him.”
Amelia looked toward the darkness.
“What happens if I fail?”
Seraphina's expression suddenly became serious.
“You won't get another chance.”
Amelia's heart pounded.
“One chance?”
“One.”
Seraphina stepped backward into the light.
“Find your body, Amelia.”
The light began fading.
“Wait!”
Amelia rushed forward.
“How will I find it?”
Seraphina looked at her one last time.
“You already know who took it.”
Amelia froze.
Victor.
The light disappeared.
Silence returned.
Amelia turned toward the road.
Her fear slowly changed into anger.
Victor had taken her life.
He had taken her body.
But he had made one mistake.
He had left Noah behind.
Amelia clenched her fists.
“I'll find you.”
She looked into the darkness.
“And when I come back…”
Her eyes hardened.
“…you'll wish you had never killed me.”
Far away, inside Victor's moving car, her phone suddenly began ringing.
Victor glanced at it.
The screen displayed one name.
NOAH.
He ignored the call.
But then the phone rang again.
And again.
Victor finally picked it up.
Before he could answer, a voice came through the speaker.
A child's frightened voice.
“Hello?”
Victor's face changed.
“Who is this?”
Noah hesitated.
Then he whispered:
“Where is my sister?”
Victor looked into the rearview mirror.
And for the first time that night…
he saw a faint reflection in the back seat.
A woman was sitting there.
Watching him.
Victor slammed on the brakes.
The car stopped.
He turned around.
The back seat was empty.
But Amelia's voice whispered beside his ear.
“You took my life…”
Victor's eyes widened.
“…now I'm coming for yours.”
And then the car's lights went out.
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