After I Died, They Finally Regretted It Chapter 2

Today is the first day of my death. I wonder when I'll be found.

My body is still in that dark, damp basement. Even my spirit feels cold.

At night, the three of them sat down to dinner together. There was an empty chair right there. Why didn't anyone notice?

Suddenly, Jessica asked, "Where's Chloe?"

She always called me by my full name, never once called me "sis" growing up.

Dad put a piece of chicken on Jessica's plate, saying without even thinking, "Probably in her room."

"She must be upset because we didn't take her to school this morning," Jessica said, resting her chin on her hand, pretending to be concerned. "It's because I had a cold, I didn't want her to catch it, that's why I didn't want her to come with us."

I was still hoping they’d realize I wasn't home, maybe go look for me.

But they didn't even know if I'd come back or not.

Right up until the table was cleared, leftovers scraped into the trash.

Nobody called me for dinner. They didn't even save me any scraps.

I floated into Mom and Dad's room first. They were each scrolling on their phones, showing no intention of talking.

After a look around, I found Jessica in my room.

She was holding scissors, viciously stabbing at my favorite doll, cutting it to shreds piece by piece.

Watching the white cotton stuffing spill out of the doll in her hands, it looked disturbingly like my body in the basement.

"Heh, Chloe, see? Mom and Dad don't even know you're not home."

"You can't blame me. I reminded them. They just didn't notice."

As she spoke, Jessica suddenly collapsed onto the floor, sobbing and muttering to herself, "Chloe, if you're really dead, don't come looking for me. If I hadn't done this, it would have been me."

My spirit jolted. I stared in disbelief at my sister sitting on the floor.

"My death… it's connected to her?"

Did she deliberately make me walk alone today, giving the neighbor the chance to kidnap me?

She knew. She knew that if I was left alone, I would definitely die.

Mom, Dad, do you see this?

Your precious, beloved biological daughter, how selfish and cruel she is.

No, they don't see. They don't see anything.

Jessica's crying turned into laughter, a chilling coldness in her eyes, scarier than the wind howling outside.

She got up and left, leaving the mess of shredded doll parts behind.

That doll… it was the only toy Mom ever gave me.

"Chloe, Jessica's done with this doll. You can have it."

Taking the dirty, worn-out doll from Mom's hand, I hugged it carefully.

"From now on, it's just you and me," I’d whispered to it.

Now I'm dead. And the doll is gone too.