CHAPTER 4

"Never Forget, Never Forgive"

I clearly saw the flicker of light in the distance. I ran toward it, hoping to see who it was. But the moment they heard the sound of my footsteps, they bolted.

They were fast—too fast. I couldn’t catch up. The area was covered in overgrown grass and thick trees. I had no idea where they came from or where they disappeared to.

Their outfit caught my eye—it looked like some kind of work uniform.

I had no clue who they were. But judging by their height, they were about the same as mine.

I rushed back to Andrew’s body to fix it. When I got there, the fire was still devouring his body.

Panic surged through me. Someone had seen me—and I was sure the police would find out.

I sprinted to the car and grabbed the water can. I poured it over Andrew’s burning corpse until the flames finally died.

Then I quickly dug a hole—deep enough to hide him. I buried him there.

At first glance, the ground looked undisturbed. But the smell of scorched grass clung to the air, betraying what had happened.

Whatever false sense of security I had was gone. I thought no one would see me, not in a place this deserted. But I never expected a witness.

It was already 12:39 p.m. I had to go—Tito still had work, and so did I.

As I drove home, a message came through.

A photo of me.

Taken earlier, while my back was turned. My face wasn’t visible—but my heart pounded anyway.

I couldn’t stop the thoughts from spiraling. What if Tita got dragged into this?

This wasn’t the first time I burned someone alive.

It was the fifth.

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FLASHBACK

December 25, 2022

“Kick her!” shouted the girl in a polo shirt.

They kicked me—stomach, head, arms. Every inch of me.

They didn’t stop. Not even when I threw up blood.

“HAHAHA!” Their laughter sounded demonic. The look in their eyes, their twisted grins—those were things I knew I’d never forget.

It happened on Christmas Day. Around five in the afternoon. The sun was already sinking behind the trees.

Earlier, at around four, four of my classmates had invited me out. They said we’d hang out at the newly built mall. I couldn’t say no. Auntie let me go after I told her it was school-related—even though it was Christmas.

But I knew deep down it was a lie. They weren’t inviting me to have fun—they were bringing me out to hurt me again.

They had been abusing me for a long time—inside an abandoned room at school. Whenever they were bored, I became their favorite game.

They mocked me for being an orphan—for not having a mom or a dad.

It was true. Only Tita and Tito had raised me.

And now, here we were—somewhere deserted. No cars in sight. No one around to hear me scream.

My hands and feet were tied. I was like a pig—helpless, waiting to be slaughtered.

“Please… stop.” I begged, my voice barely a whisper.

“Ellerie… isn’t it your 18th birthday tomorrow?” one of them teased with a laugh.

“Invite us, will you?”

“HAHAHA!”

“Oooh, her debut!”

“Yay! We’re invited!”

“We’ll be there, okay?”

The girl in the polo shirt stepped closer. She was the leader. The most violent of them all.

“See you tomorrow,” she said, her grin sickening.

They left me there—bleeding, barely able to move.

I got home at eight. The sky was dark. The road home was long and cold.

When I arrived...

The table was overflowing with food. The Christmas lights twinkled in bright, cheerful colors. The house was filled with warmth and laughter. I could hear the neighbors banging pots and pans in celebration.

I should’ve felt happy.

But I didn’t.

I wanted to cry—from the pain not just in my body, but deep inside me.

When I saw Tita in the kitchen, still preparing food, I quietly slipped upstairs. I didn’t want them to see me. My face and body were covered in bruises.

But the next morning, they noticed anyway.

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December 26, 2022 – 9:26 AM

My 18th Birthday

“Ellerie.”

“Ellerie!”

“Ellerie, wake up!”

It was Tito’s voice. But I kept my eyes closed.

“Ellerie, please wake up…” Tita whispered, her voice cracking with tears.

Until finally, my eyes shut completely.

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3:51 PM