Roy flinched and shrank back in alarm.
Theresa immediately set the chest down and rushed to steady him. "It's not. It can't be a body. You're okay."
"Sis... this chest was sent to me by Lambert."
Juliana and Theresa both froze at the same time.
"He said this is what I deserved all along—to end up inside a box like this.
"I smelled something wrong, but I didn't dare open it, so I called my friends to help me deal with it.
"When you cracked it open just now, I think... I think I saw blood. And... flesh..."
"Sis! He's lying!"
I was frantic. "That's me in there! Sis! Take me home! Don't let me die in the river!"
"Lambert really said that to you?"
Theresa's words made my heart plummet.
Roy nodded, his eyes rimmed red.
Theresa's brow darkened further.
"Then it's most likely the carcass of a cat or a dog."
"Sis..." Tears slid down my face.
She walked over to the chest.
Roy swallowed hard.
The lid lifted just a sliver.
Theresa saw the red.
She slammed it shut.
Now she was certain. Inside was an animal carcass, planted to terrorize her little brother.
"He knows Roy can't stand the sight of dead things, and he still pulled something this vile!"
Theresa gritted her teeth.
A terrible thought surfaced in her mind.
Could the killer actually have been...
"Sis! It wasn't me!"
My protest never reached her ears.
Theresa called over a group of men. The one in front carried a torch.
"Sis! What are you doing?!"
Panic seized me.
Theresa turned away.
"Burn it. Burn every last trace and throw the ashes in the river. I don't want Roy seeing a single thing."
"No!!"
A desperate scream tore out of me.
But no one could hear it.
I watched the chest turn to ash.
Watched them sweep it up and hurl it into the river.
Theresa helped Roy to his feet.
Roy glanced back at the spot where the chest had been. Not a trace remained.
The faintest smile curled the corner of his mouth.
Still, he had been thoroughly "frightened."
For days afterward, he stayed home to recuperate.
And Theresa threw herself into planning the birthday party one week away—her brother's birthday party.
My birthday party, too, of course.
Events like these were always organized by Theresa and Juliana Simmons, my fiancée since childhood, the match arranged by our families before we were even born.
While reviewing the itinerary, Juliana spoke up.
"Shouldn't we also put together something for Lambert?"
Since the "threatening" incident with Roy, Theresa hadn't contacted me once.
"Him..."
Theresa frowned.
Juliana pressed gently. "He did come back, after all."
Theresa said nothing for a long moment.
Then she dialed my number.
No one picked up, naturally.
She tried three times. Three missed calls.
Juliana dialed me too.
Same result.
"Still throwing his little tantrum!"
Theresa's brow furrowed. "He knows what he did to Roy was wrong. Too ashamed to answer, is that it?"
I let out a bitter laugh.
No. I just couldn't answer the phone anymore.
"If he doesn't want to come, then fine! All the better—we'll celebrate for Roy and Roy alone!"
The words had barely left her mouth when Roy padded out of his room in pajamas.
"It's okay. Let me talk to him. I'm sure he didn't mean it before. Once we clear the air, everything will be fine."
Juliana's gaze settled on him.
Something soft and aching crept into her eyes without her realizing it.
Of course I wouldn't answer Roy's call either.
