Justice Unleashed

th late-stage pancreatic canc

ad, "In the next life,

d twin sister. No more bi

e in one gulp and sat quietly in

cemeter

t too. Miss Mitchell, we'll compensate yo

early sli

owed it

ghting over license pl

ne was steali

I shot up fro

swallowed gushed out wi

in my stomach lef

don't object, we'll ass

I wasn'

omit, I gripped the co

ontract, right

member's voice ca

h another colleague at al

ur mistake,

back onto the couch, my vo

he ignored one. My twin

eath, I couldn't even

a pause on

male voice c

me. Name your price, Miss Mitchell.

lmost smiled as the herb

money will make me give i

staff took th

high-paying Mr. Mills an

k it over? Mr. Mills is very

d pick another plot, or we c

"What if I said

, I spat out anothe

oss the couch, st

silent,

wait for

self. I just drank a whole bottle of herbicide. I'll be d

ur gentleman if he'd be will

ent quiet.

cided it'd be best to get crem

tune teller. It'd ensure my next life was

. I had to secure t

needed someone t

sent a message to th

yone free to come to the old

ancer. Just that one l

nds, someon

hat are you try

head, smili

my body, I'd leave the chat.

ther family

ithou

the cemetery

e-stealing Mr. Mills

sounded oddly familiar. "Mi

ach to my waist, a piercin

tayed silent. No

and snapped a photo of the empty herbicide b

g to take my grave. I'm out of options. I

house to handle my body. I promi

ate, I considered postin

ob were all doctors. Th

phone

er Jacob Mitche

K

ll wi

k this was

ready to private-me

me out to the house, my dad deleted m

out to leave

ssage po

d going out... We'll visit you when we're back, okay?

ying the victim. How many times has she tricke

you're throwing a fit like a rabid dog? If yo

rt cle

ey hated me, but se

se than the

wretche

dical records to my second bro

bother you. I'm

espo

dn't want you. Why keep throwing yours

were twins, f

was born

like my mom's, she wa

was normal for one

aying I stole Claire's

filled with neg

, it was my fault fo

was my fault for

my fault, for stealing he

tiptoed around, try

to see me. T

like they did

they always favored my

lousy, as if I was deliber

with pancreatic cancer,

hospital, only to find

ck us, Khloe? You

u'd even lie about having cancer

the old house tomorrow. I don't

d, they kicked me

hecked on me

ady planned to

y" their preciou

ven want t

's your sister. Can't you just accept her? I failed as a mot

gets. If you ask me, she might as well jump into the ocean. No

itated for

er message

it'd be better if you were neve

n ripped thro

much when I swallo

sobbing. The pai

where

hout came thro

was deep,

't responded, Mr. Mi

pe

s snappe

couch, a crime

ath, I stood with

urs. I don't ne

left the

, the cemetery staff asked me to c

omach, I set the mee

uld take me straig

sanitation workers with

a mental pat

lege girl, protecting the city

lls to rush from the s

st at the same

you were attempting suicide, he drove straight to the ci

at the man

a trench coat like

d oddly

slightly out of breath. "Come on

from the hallway. "Number 244, Khlo

You're still queuing for a

nkly. "Yeah,

yway. No need to wast

s that re

voice came f

who'd mentioned a med

ngest deputy c

the hospit

t expected the nurs

ning, his eyes filled wit

screen was open to t

dripping with disapproval. "You knew I was here f

scoffed. "Gastroenterology again? Last time wasn't

ree doctors, my dad,

, and with our age gap, he was m

idn't stir

found them

ying. What were

dn't stand me

e by the wrist into the examination room. "D

door. "Unrelated peop

darkened, c

urs might fool Claire. She's worried sick, crying and begging Mom and D

doctor's chart and

ed me to follow

ked at the chart an

tic cancer? No, you need to get your stom

t. Mr. Mills's hands, press

in his track

d to loo

in, mockery, but no

Khloe, can't you make your lies less ridiculous? If you

shrank s

ter smile. "Got it.

his temple w

ing night shifts. I don't have time for your d

grew busier, often pulling all-

care for him, alwa

wn from him would send me

o get him

sted. I had no energ

y, "No need to

flashing with confus

ger too

if you're so capable, don't ever come

ine. I'll ke

here, Mr. Mills, stand

stepping in front

s icy, his gaze h

pumped, Christopher M

e was my chi

dle school, and we hadn'

ed to meet aga

ched me go in with a heav

omited most of the herbicide. That's

dded to Christopher. "Did you bring th

to help me. I'd feel gu

died my face, his eyes deep. "Didn't you sa

the perfect grave, and he s

s there

ith a laugh, but his serio

better than a sea burial. No one has to deal

rre conversation, gripped my ch

re only twenty. Have you considered chemotherapy? If it g

no need for the hassl

chart and

agent standing at the

even broug

he transfe

opher

, his face dark as

t's share

ion bl

ristopher's words or low blood

w seconds before react

f I'd share the grave. I thought about it.

family brings offerings, I'd get so

ing my widening mou

won't freeload. I'll h

pped

d over my r

t, I was a li

amily won't visit my grave. You saw.

ged. "It's nice to have company

d closer

n was nothing

st intensel

meone else in m

ea

's most beautiful

glowing blue w

illed with my choi

ot to die b

w steps int

es are too strong. I can't retrieve your body. Wai

top

as getting

my calm march

I do? I'd i

handling my b

lay on the beach

went to re

intless. I only had

, my pho

call fro

ole Mitchell family w

center, clearly

isgust and anger. "Making us rush back to see you, and you're not even here? Is it

hed wearily. "We all came to see yo

ospital seminar to come here and br

in front of Claire an

died now, Christopher coul

t'd be a bi

waiting

stration and walked res

howled, chill

. I'm in the mi

entrance. Jacob was

oom, set down his coat, loosened his t

oe come back? She's not stil

Jacob went

blood covering t

blo

hanged instantly

ce, the family

g bloodstains on the couc

over to insp

bicide bottle, his bod

eyes. "She was telling the truth.