Chapter 2

Liam' s car pulled up to my old apartment building. The place where I had spent my last happy, ignorant days.

He got out of the car, leaving Chloe behind, and strode to the entrance. He punched in the code for the main door. It didn' t work. Of course not. The code had been changed years ago.

He buzzed the apartment number, his finger pressing the button again and again. A frantic, demanding rhythm.

"Ava! I know you' re in there! Open the door!" he shouted at the intercom.

I floated beside him, an invisible specter of the woman he was calling for. I almost laughed. The sheer arrogance of him.

"Ava, listen to me," he said, his voice lowering into that familiar, manipulative tone he always used. "I' ll give you anything you want. Money, a house, a new life somewhere else. Just name your price. Chloe needs that kidney. Be reasonable."

Reasonable. He wanted me to be reasonable. After they had used me, broken me, and left me to die, he wanted me to be reasonable. The man was a monster, but his audacity was almost impressive.

His assistant, a nervous young man named Mark, shifted his weight. "Sir, maybe she' s not here. It' s been three years."

Just then, the main door swung open. A woman stood there, holding a bag of groceries.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she took in Liam' s expensive suit and desperate expression.

It was Olivia. My best friend. My fierce, loyal Olivia, who had tried to warn me. A wave of love and sorrow washed over me. I wanted to reach out, to tell her I was here, but my ghostly hands passed right through the air.

"I' m looking for Ava Smith," Liam said, his voice tight with authority. "I need to speak with her."

Olivia let out a short, harsh laugh. It was a sound full of pain and contempt. "You' re looking for Ava?"

She stepped aside, gesturing into the lobby. "You' re a little late for that."

Liam' s face was a mask of confusion. "What are you talking about? Just tell her I' m here."

Olivia' s gaze was like ice. She looked him up and down, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in Liam' s perfect composure.

"Ava Smith is dead," Olivia said, her voice clear and sharp in the quiet lobby. "She died three years ago."

The color drained from Liam' s face. "What? That' s impossible. You' re lying."

"Am I?" Olivia shot back, her voice dripping with venom. "You think this is some kind of game? You and your disgusting family used her like a blood bank, you broke her heart, and then you disappeared. You don' t get to show up three years later and act surprised that she' s gone."

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "No, she can' t be."

"Get out," Olivia said, her voice low and dangerous. "Get away from her home. You are not welcome here. Not now, not ever."

Mark, the assistant, gently took Liam' s arm. "Sir, we should go."

Liam allowed himself to be led away, stumbling back towards the car like a man in a daze. He collapsed into the backseat, his face ashen.

I was forced to follow, tethered to him, my invisible chains pulling me away from the only friend I had left in the world.

As the car pulled away, Liam fumbled for his phone. He dialed Chloe.

"Liam? Did you find her?" Chloe' s voice was eager.

"She' s... gone," Liam stammered. "Her friend said she' s dead."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then, a soft, theatrical sob. "Oh, Liam. What am I going to do? My kidney... I feel so weak."

Her performance was flawless. She was a master manipulator, playing the victim to perfection.

"Don' t worry, Chloe," Liam said, his voice regaining some of its strength as he focused on his new purpose. He reached over and took her hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles. "I' ll handle it. I promise. I will get you that kidney."

I watched them, a knot of pure hatred tightening in my spectral chest.

He believed I was dead. But he still thought he could carve me up and take what he wanted.

I looked down at my own hands, translucent and shimmering. I couldn' t touch anything, couldn' t speak. But I was here. I was a witness. And I was tied to him.

He thought this was over. He had no idea this was just the beginning.