Chapter 3
Only that day did I finally understand the truth.
My cursed mouth worked only when I spoke misfortune.
I wiped my tears away and looked at my sister again. If anyone had dared to destroy my family like this, then they were about to learn exactly what kind of curse I carried.
Before my mother could finish explaining what had happened, the basement door shook under a violent pounding.
“Get out here, you filthy little tramp!”
The metal door rattled so hard the hinges screamed.
“You think hiding down here will save you? Mr. Lawson said you need to be taught a lesson for upsetting Miss Vivian!”
My sister, who had barely moved since I arrived, suddenly began shaking uncontrollably. She clutched her head and cried out, “I didn’t do anything! I didn’t sleep with him! I’m not a homewrecker!”
My father, gritting through the pain in his broken leg, dragged himself closer and wrapped both arms around her.
Before I could make sense of anything, the basement door burst open.
A bucket of red paint came flying straight at us.
It splashed over my face, my robes, my hands, turning me crimson from head to toe. In the dim basement light, I must have looked like I had clawed my way out of hell.
The gang of young men at the door froze for a second when they saw me. Then they grinned.
“Well, would you look at that,” one of them said. “There’s a new one hiding down here.”
Another laughed. “She’s prettier than the last one. Guess tonight won’t be boring.”
As they joked among themselves, two of them took paintbrushes and began smearing words across the basement walls.
Slut. Mistress. Trash.
The blond one leading them flicked ash from his cigarette and sneered at us. “Mr. Lawson paid a lot of money to keep an eye on your family. We’ve been taking shifts. You’re not going anywhere.”
My mother’s eyes turned red with fury. “You broke my husband’s leg. You ruined my daughter’s life. What more do you want? Do you have to drive us all into the grave before you’re satisfied?”
He spat on the floor.
“Death would be too easy for you. Miss Vivian says you don’t get to die until she gets bored.”
Then another one grabbed a brush, smirking as he stepped toward my sister.
“Come here. Let’s write something nice on your face and send her a picture.”
He reached for her.
I moved without thinking and threw myself in front of her.
His boot slammed into my chest, knocking me hard to the floor.
I looked up at them, my face cold.
“You animals don’t deserve to live past today,” I said quietly. “Before the sun sets, falling concrete will crush every last one of you.”
The whole room exploded with laughter.
But before they could laugh a second time, a deafening crack split the air overhead.