The Horrifying Family

After the college entrance exams, my father Conor Kirk, who was working away from home, inexplicably sent me a text message. "Don't open the door for your mother; she will kill you."

But at that moment, I had already opened the living room door.

My mother Anna Green stood there, staring at me with a chilling gaze through the crack, holding a dagger.

What should I do...

(1)

When Conor called me again, I was just about to open the door to head out and celebrate with friends.

I had just turned the handle of the hall door when I heard his voice on the other end, "Lily, don't open the door for Anna; she'll kill you."

I couldn't understand why Conor would say something like that.

But soon, I realized why. Anna stood before me, coldly staring at me with a dagger in her hand.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as I recalled the message, and my breathing grew heavier.

"Lily, what's wrong? Why is your breathing so heavy?" came the question from the other end of the line.

I didn't dare answer him; the situation left my mind blank.

In moments of great danger, the instinctive reaction was sometimes no reaction at all.

After a brief moment of shock, I thought of several ways out. I glanced at the path ahead; if I ran fast enough, I could reach safety.

Just as I was about to run, Anna's voice reached my ears.

"Lily, why won't you let me in?" she asked. "Look, last time I came over, the kitchen knife broke, so I bought you a new one. But this one doesn't have a sheath."

She fiddled with the knife in her hand as she spoke.

With each movement, the sweat on my forehead increased.

"Oh, it's a collapsible knife," she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise.

Perhaps others would call her silly, but I knew Anna had never bought such trivial items before.

If it weren't for Lucy, the housekeeper, resigned, she wouldn't have needed to buy these things.

"Lily, why is there so much sweat on your forehead? Come inside, why are you standing at the door?"

But on the other end of the line, Conor's voice trembled as he heard Anna's voice.

"That monster.." he said. "Lily, don't be afraid. I'm coming,"

His voice was urgent.

Hearing this, I was puzzled as to why he would call Anna a "dangerous person."

Undoubtedly, this made me wary of the woman before me.

But after all, Anna had always been good to me over the years, and I couldn't believe she would harm me.

However, Conor was the best person in the world to me, and I was torn, unsure whom to trust.

Perhaps my hesitant response made Conor feel I didn't believe him.

"Lily, you must keep Anna calm. If anything happens, text me. I'll try to get there as soon as possible and won't let you get hurt."

But the woman before me wasn't as terrifying as Conor described. On the contrary, she looked at me with a gentle expression.

She reached through the door crack to stroke my head and softly asked, "Lily, why won't you let me in? Who's calling you?"

It was only then that I realized I had been standing at the door for several minutes.

I wanted to tell her it was Conor calling, but something inside me instinctively warned me not to.

"Oh, it's just a classmate calling, asking me to go out with them," I said.

"Oh, really?"

she questioned, which was eerie.

I suspected she knew something, but the next moment she asked, "So, Lily, are you going to stay with me or go out with your friends?"

Looking at Anna acting playfully, I couldn't bring myself to associate her with the "dangerous person" Conor mentioned.

Yet, I couldn't understand why my beautiful, adorable, and playful mother always turned cold and distant when facing Conor.

"Lily, what are you lost in thought about?" she asked.

Realizing I had been lost in thought for several minutes, I tried to calm myself.

I believed Anna wouldn't harm me, but I also believed Conor wouldn't lie to me.

Taking a few deep breaths, I spoke in a casual, even playful tone. "Nothing, Mom. I was just thinking about college applications. Now that you're here, of course, I'll stay home with you. I'll tell my friends we'll hang out tomorrow."

After this standoff, I finally opened the door for her.

To keep her calm, I picked up my phone in front of her, pretending to call my friends.

Anna, still holding the knife, watched me from the side.

My hand trembled slightly as I held the phone, and I turned slightly, avoiding her gaze.

Just then, Conor sent another message. "Lily, do you remember the uncle who was with Anna? He's a pervert. She wants to take you to see him. You mustn't go; she'll ruin your life!"

I quickly covered my phone, stealing a glance at Anna.

She was squinting at me, her voice cold as she spoke. "What did that beast say? Anything bad about me?"

With that, she angrily threw the cup beside her to the ground.

I had heard this scene many times before.

Every time they argued, there was always the sound of a cup shattering.

But this was the first time I had ever witnessed such a scene.

Clearly, I was terrified.

"Lily, don't be afraid. Mommy never intended for this to happen. Mommy won't hurt you. Lily, you have to trust Mommy. Conor is a lying monster. Look, these are the marks he left on me."

She pulled up her shirt to show me.

The marks on her body varied in depth-some resembling burns, others like whip marks, and some appeared to be cuts from a sharp blade.

I couldn't believe it. The father who was always so gentle in front of me could be so cruel to Anna.

I rushed over and hugged her, hoping it would ease her pain a little.

"Lily, you must trust me. No mother in the world would harm her child."

But my phone kept buzzing with messages.

"Lily, you must trust Daddy now. Don't believe anything Anna says. Wait for Daddy to come, and I'll tell you the truth."

(2)

Anna, standing beside me, glanced at the message and let out a cold laugh.

I found her a bit frightening now.

But then I thought about the marks Conor left on her. If it were me, I'd hate him too.

"Lily, your father sure knows how to talk. But do you know your father's secret?"

I was taken aback by this.

"Secret? What secret? Is it about the off-limits study?"

In our house, there was an absolute no-go zone-the study upstairs.

Anna took my hand and led me to the study.

"Look at this wall full of photos. Don't you think the people in these photos look familiar?"

I looked at the photos, and there was indeed a sense of familiarity in their expressions.

Moreover, seeing these photos stirred a sense of closeness within me.

"How about it? Doesn't it feel familiar?"

I glanced at Mom, and yes, she and the woman in the photos shared a striking resemblance.

"Mom, the woman in these photos looks a lot like you."

"Lily, you're so clever. But don't you think you look even more like her?"

Hearing this, I turned back to the photos and realized I resembled her even more.

The reason for the stirring in my heart became clear.

"Mom, is the woman in these photos my real mother?"

Anna crouched down in front of me, gently touched my head, and said, "Lily, you're so smart. The woman in these photos is your real mother. I'm just your aunt. Your mom and Conor were college sweethearts. Back then, Conor was still poor, but your mom insisted on being with him, even cutting ties with her family. But parents always miss their children. Your grandparents tried to call your mom, but couldn't reach her. When they came here and couldn't find her, they reported her missing.

But I don't believe it, Lily. My sister was so filial and smart. She must have been killed. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone so long without contacting her family."

Hearing Anna say these words shook my world to its core.

"Lily, I came here to find out the real cause of my sister's death. I've already found out. It was that brute who killed my sister. I've handed the evidence over to the police. I'm here to take you away. From now on, you'll live with me, okay?"

Looking into her earnest gaze, I nodded.

That day, my world was turned upside down.

"Attagirl."

I ran to my room to pack, but I wanted to hear Conor's explanation.

I couldn't believe the father who had been so good to me all my life could be such a person in private.

He was always so gentle and refined in front of others.

I secretly sent Dad a message on my phone.

"Dad, she has told me everything. I'm going with her now. If you can come back before I leave, I want to hear your explanation."

Within seconds, I received a reply.

"Lily, wait for Daddy. I won't hurt you. Don't believe her words. She will harm you!"

I looked at the message, said nothing, and deleted it from my phone.

"Lily, who are you texting?"

Anna suddenly appeared at my room door, watching me with a menacing stare.

"No one, Aunt. I wasn't texting."

"May I take a look?" Before I could react, she snatched my phone away.

My palms were sweaty, fearing she might discover something.

"Oh, it's just about tomorrow's celebration with your classmates."

I got my phone back and saw a message from my best friend, feeling an immense relief wash over me.

I didn't know why I felt this way, but Anna standing at my door with that menacing stare and her forceful demand to check my phone made me question if trusting her was the right choice.

I wanted to take my time packing, hoping to give Conor a chance to explain.

But I usually kept my things tidy, so I finished quickly.

Anna took my hand, dragging my suitcase, and headed for the door.

Just then, I heard the sound of keys turning in the lock.

I knew Conor had come back.