Chapter 3
Libby's POV
I hid around the corner of the hallway, pressed against the rusty lockers, trying to make myself invisible.
"What's wrong with Kane lately? His game's been terrible."
"Yeah, last week's game against Detroit High was a disaster. That crucial pass fumble..."
"I heard the University of Michigan scouts were shaking their heads."
"Word is it might affect his college scholarship." Jessica lowered her voice. "My dad knows the Michigan athletic director. He said Kane's recent performances have them worried."
My heart stopped. Kane's scholarship was in trouble? That was everything to him—his NFL dreams, his only path to the future.
"It's all because of that burden at home," Brandi's shrill voice made my blood freeze. "His mom's sick in the hospital, and he's stuck taking care of that little BITCH. The stress is killing him. Kane told me the medical bills alone are bankrupting them."
No... that's not right...
I wanted to rush out and defend myself, but my feet felt rooted to the floor.
"Kane's so unlucky, stuck with that stepsister," another girl, Chloe, said sympathetically. "I heard their family's so poor they can't even afford basic health insurance."
"Ugh, PARASITES will be parasites," Brandi sneered. "But don't worry, once we get that five hundred thousand in settlement money, we can get rid of her. Kane says we'll move to LA then, and he can start fresh."
The footsteps faded away, leaving the hallway silent. I slumped against the cold tile floor, my knees aching from the impact.
This was all connected to me. Kane's shattered dreams, his ruined future—all because of me.
I was the one who destroyed everyone's life.
After school, Kane appeared before me.
Not the gentle brother I remembered, but a stranger. His eyes burned with rage, his jaw clenched tight, radiating danger.
"Come with me," he commanded coldly.
"Kane, I want to explain..."
"Shut up. Come with me."
I followed him out of school, through several rundown streets, to the abandoned Ford plant. Once the town's pride, now only rusted steel beams and shattered windows remained. The setting sun painted everything blood red, like a massive graveyard.
Kane stopped near a pile of scrap metal and picked up a rusted steel pipe. It weighed about twenty pounds, surface pitted and rough, edges sharp enough to cut skin.
"Lift it."
"What?"
"LIFT IT!" he roared, shoving the pipe into my hands. "Above your head, hold it for two minutes."
The pipe felt like a thousand-pound weight. I barely managed to lift it as my arms began trembling immediately. The rough, rusty surface tore at my palms—I felt warm liquid trickling down my wrists.
"Kane, please listen to me! I never spent that money!" I desperately tried to explain. "I never touched those college funds! I didn't even know Dad had used that money!"
"Stop LYING!" he bellowed, hatred burning brighter in his eyes. "You think I'm an idiot?"
"I really didn't! I swear! I can prove..."
"Prove what? How GREEDY you are? How SELFISH?" Kane's voice dripped with mockery. "Mom's still in the hospital, and you're crying about your college fund!"
"No! Kane, if I'd known Mary needed money for treatment, I'd rather never go to college!" Tears streamed down my face. "I love her, I love all of you!"
"SHUT UP!" He kicked at the scrap beside me with a thunderous crash. "Stop acting! Your tears won't save anyone!"
"Kane, why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?" My voice shook with pain.
He didn't answer, just stood there watching me, pain and fury mixing in his eyes in a way that terrified me. I'd never seen Kane like this—he looked like a cornered wild animal.
One minute passed. My arms began aching and going numb. The rust constantly cut into my palms, blood dripping onto the parched concrete with soft pattering sounds.
"Kane, I can't hold it anymore... please..."
"Keep holding it!" he roared. "This is what you DESERVE!"
"Because YOU ruined my future!" he suddenly exploded, his voice echoing through the empty ruins. "Because of you, my mom's suffering in the hospital! Because of you, I lost my scholarship! Because of you, ALL my dreams are DEAD!"
Each word stabbed into my heart like a blade.
"YOU made me like this!" he continued screaming, fists clenched. "If it wasn't for you, John wouldn't have spent that money on you! If it wasn't for you, Mom could get better treatment! If it wasn't for you, I'd be on Michigan's practice field right now!"
The steel pipe slipped from my bloody hands, crashing to the ground with a dull thud. I knelt there, tears and blood dripping onto the debris.
"Kane, I never... I never wanted to hurt anyone... I can give all the money to Mary for treatment..." I choked out.
But he'd already turned away, his silhouette lonely and angry against the blood-red sunset.
Under that crimson sky, I finally understood.
The angel who once protected me had fallen.
And I was the demon who made him fall.
The next day at lunch, I walked trembling into the cafeteria.
Other students looked at me differently now—with disgust, contempt, and curiosity. I felt like bacteria under a microscope, examined by everyone.
I got in line for standard school lunch—spaghetti, apple juice, and a small bag of chips—finding a corner seat, hoping no one would notice me.
But hope shattered quickly.
"Hey, PARASITE!"
Brandi's voice rang out as she walked toward me carrying a tray, followed by a group of cheerleaders. Worse, Kane was among them, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, coldly watching it all.
The entire cafeteria's attention focused on us. Hundreds of eyes stared our way, phones lifting to record.
"I think your lunch isn't quite right," Brandi said sweetly. "Let me get you something more suitable."
She slammed the tray down on my table. I looked down and nearly vomited.
The tray didn't contain food, but an opened can of dog food. Brown meat mush reeked with a nauseating smell, a plastic spoon stuck in the middle.
The cafeteria erupted in deafening laughter.
"This is what someone like YOU deserves," Brandi announced loudly, ensuring everyone heard. "Everyone look—see what the PARASITE eats!"
I looked desperately at Kane, hoping he'd stop this. "Kane... please..."
But he only watched coldly, even smirking slightly: "Eat it. It's what you deserve."
My heart completely shattered. He'd arranged all of this.
"No..." I tried to stand and run, but Brandi pressed down on my shoulder.
"Where you going? Lunchtime isn't over!" she smiled viciously. "Come on, open up—I'll feed you."
She held my head with one hand, scooping a large spoonful of dog food with the other.
"No! Let me go!" I struggled desperately, but her strength was surprisingly strong.
"Kane! Kane, save me!" I desperately begged him, tears blurring my vision.
But he just leaned against the wall, eyes cold as a stranger's. "You're not my sister. Why would I save you?"
His words cut sharper than knives.
Brandi seized the moment I opened my mouth to speak, shoving the dog food in. The disgusting taste filled my mouth instantly. I gagged, trying to spit it out, but she covered my mouth with her hand.
"Swallow it!" she commanded. "PARASITES should eat this!"
The entire cafeteria laughed, camera flashes going off everywhere. I felt like I was suffocating, shame drowning me like a tide.
Kane stood there with no trace of sympathy, only cold satisfaction in his eyes.
Who can save me?
Who can make this stop?
I want to die... I want to die with Dad...
No one in this world loves me anymore...
No one...
In the laughter of everyone, I closed my eyes, letting despair consume my soul.