Chapter 2

I crept down the stairs, my movements silent. The memory of the shed, of the gnawing hunger, was so real it made my stomach ache.

In the living room, my mother was fussing over Britney, who was sitting at the dining table, a pout on her face.

"Chloe, what are you doing just standing there?" my father, Mr. Smith, snapped from behind his newspaper. "Britney is stressed about her interview. Go get her a glass of warm milk."

His tone was sharp, impatient. It always was when he spoke to me.

"She can get it herself," I said, my voice quiet but steady.

My father' s head whipped up from his paper. My mother stopped fluffing the collar on Britney's dress. Even Britney looked surprised. I was never one to talk back.

"What did you just say?" my father demanded.

Before I could answer, Britney suddenly started to tremble. Her face went pale, and she stared at me with wide, terrified eyes.

"Chloe..." she whispered, her voice shaking dramatically. "Don't... don't do it."

My parents' attention immediately shifted to her.

"Britney, baby, what' s wrong?" my mother asked, rushing to her side. "Are you not feeling well?"

Britney didn't look at our mother. Her eyes were locked on me, filling with tears.

Then, she did something that shocked everyone in the room. She slid off her chair and fell to her knees in front of me.

"Chloe, I'm begging you!" she cried, her voice rising to a hysterical pitch. "Please, don't kill them this time! Don't ruin our family again!"

The room went silent.

My mother and father stared, frozen.

Then my father moved. He shot up from his chair, his face a mask of fury, and crossed the room in two long strides.

SLAP!

The force of his hand sent my head snapping to the side. The sting on my cheek was nothing compared to the cold dread that filled me. It was happening again.

"What did you do?!" he roared, his face inches from mine. "What is she talking about?!"

Britney, still on the floor, began to sob uncontrollably.

"I've been reborn, Dad," she choked out between sobs. "I came back to save you! Chloe... in my past life, she destroyed everything. She killed you and Mom!"

My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

I wanted to scream, to tell them it was all a lie, a sick, manipulative performance. But I knew it was useless. They were already under her spell.

I took a step back, my eyes darting towards the front door. I had to get out of here.

But Britney was faster. She lunged forward and grabbed my ankle.

"Don't let her go!" she shrieked. "She's going to run away and ruin everything, just like before!"