“ I have something to offer you .” She said .
“ What ?” My voice was wary .
“ Would you like to live again ?” It took a moment for me to register her words .
“ In exchange for …?”
“ Nothing . This is a one-time offer . But if you do this , I can see my lover again . For I cannot bear to be parted from him . And you can see life again . Your father agrees with this . But be warned : He will come to join me as an undead spiritually , while you will return alive physically . And you won ’ t like it .”
I barely heeded her “ warning ”. I could be reborn ? I could live again ?
“ I do have one request , though .” Mother stared at me . “ Don ’ t blame me .”
It ’ s a trap . My brain warned me .
But I didn ’ t to die . More than anything , I wanted a fresh start . “ Yes .”
Mother smiled , and she started to fall away , along with the room and the cuffs , fading slowly .
“ You were born to be an accident .”
You ’ ve been duped ! I scolded myself .
Then suddenly , I felt solid ground beneath my feet .
“ Yes !” For some reason , my voice sounded rough and gravelly . Like Father ’ s .
Then I looked down . The body of a young girl lay on a staircase . I recognized myself , bloody , bruised and battered . A few meters away was the body of a woman , a shattered lamp not far from her . Both dead . I looked down at myself to see a robe the color of blood . I felt the light pressure of a tall hat on my head . I could no longer feel my long hair tumbling past my shoulders . Instead , my hair was now bristly , sticking up . Just like Father ’ s .
And me ?
Then , the truth dawned on me . Mother had somehow dragged Father ’ s spirit to her so that they would be together .
She ’ d put my spirit into another body .
I turned fully to face the hallway mirror .
“ NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !”