At that time, I swore to myself:
One day, I will repay my sister well. I’d let her and her husband live the most comfortable life imaginable.
I wanted to give them the world.
But when I finally managed to steal a phone and dial her number, what I heard on the other end shattered me.
It wasn’t a concern.
It wasn’t relief.
It was her voice—cold, vicious, like a demon whispering from the depths.
“Who told you to become the provincial top scorer?”
“Ryan, be obedient and die quietly.”
“Just listen and die.”
That was the moment everything inside me broke.
In this life, I swore—I would never let my sister control me again.
“Sister,” I said, pointing behind her. “Mom’s over there. She looks like she’s trying to get your attention.”
She instinctively turned around.
And I bolted.
I ran as fast as I could, toward the airport exit, heart pounding in my chest.
I had only one thought:
I must escape this place.
“Ryan, get back here! Board the plane!”
My sister’s voice echoed from behind me as she tried to catch up.
But I was faster. I was still young, a high school student with a healthy, athletic body.
She had no chance of keeping up.
After a few minutes, I burst out of the airport terminal.
I looked back—there was no sign of her.
Relieved, I flagged down a taxi parked by the curb and climbed in.
I thought I was safe.
But the moment I shut the door, a harsh voice exploded beside me—
“Who gave you permission to leave the airport?!”
Startled, I turned—and my blood ran cold.
Sitting right next to me was my father.
Behind me, in the back seat, sat my brother-in-law, Daniel Reed.
Both were glaring at me with eyes full of disappointment and anger.
“Ryan Carter, why didn’t you get on the plane?” my father growled.
“Dad…?” I was stunned. I hadn’t expected to see either of them here.
“Your sister called us,” he continued. “She said you were throwing a tantrum and refusing to go on the trip. We had no choice but to come and make sure you followed through.”
“You’re going to Canada,” he said, his face dark and determined. “This whole trip was planned by the family for you. You don’t get to say no.”
“If Daniel hadn’t found this taxi in time, we wouldn’t have caught you,” he added, stepping on the gas.
The car roared forward, tires screeching.
“Exactly,” my brother-in-law said with a chilling smirk. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ryan. People would kill for this kind of trip.”
“Trip?” I clenched my jaw. “You mean a one-way ticket to death!”
Both of them went silent for a moment.
Then, my father forced a strained smile.
“What nonsense are you spouting, huh? How could your family ever let you die?”
I didn’t even bother replying.
Instead, I acted—
While the car was still moving, I threw the door open and leapt out.
Even if I had to die from the fall, I’d rather that than be betrayed again—than be sent like livestock to slaughter by people who were supposed to love me.
They tried to chase after me, but I’d already rolled down a steep hillside.
Bang!
My body hit the ground hard. I tumbled down, again and again, until I finally came to a stop.
It hurt.
It hurts everywhere.
My arms, my legs, my side—I was scraped, bruised, and bleeding.
But at least I was free.
They didn’t chase me anymore.
Groaning in pain, I gritted my teeth and dragged myself up.
I grabbed a nearby tree branch and used it as a makeshift crutch.
Limping, I began the long walk home.
Not for rest.
Not for shelter.
But for justice.
---
My home was in Oakridge—a small place, barely a few hundred people.
It was five miles away.
By the time I arrived, the sky had already darkened.
But my house stood out in the night. It was brightly lit, covered in white cloth.
A huge mourning hall had been set up in the yard.
There were candles, incense, and paper offerings—
And at the center, a framed photo.
My photo.
I stared at it, stunned.
They had already held my funeral.
I limped forward, half laughing.
“Wonderful. They buried me before I even died.”
Inside, I could hear voices crying loudly.
“My son, you died such a terrible death!”
“If only you had agreed to go on the trip—none of this would have happened!”
“My son… the top scorer in the province, gone just like that!”
