Burned at the Stake

Just because my sister, Yvonne Lindell, claims I swapped Grandma's medicine with sugar pellets and caused her death, Mom locks me inside the cremator.

I kneel and beg, but Mom spits at me in disgust.

"You wretched girl, stay still! You killed your grandma by secretly switching her medicine. Now go repent to her properly!"

Dad hesitates, unable to bear it. "Maybe we should let her out. What if—"

"What are you afraid of? Don't forget that she killed your mother! If we don't teach her a lesson this time, who knows who she'll kill next!"

The voices outside the door gradually fade, and my heart sinks to the bottom.

The flames slowly begin to lick at my body.

In despair, I clutch Grandma's cold hand beside me.

"Grandma, I'm sorry. I should've taken better care of your medicine. But I swear, I didn't replace it with sugar pellets. Maybe only in death, can I truly atone for this sin…"

My soul quickly left my body and floated around the crematorium. It was a small one with a few staff members slacking off.

All of a sudden, my soul was dragged back to my family.

Mom sorted through Grandma's belongings and started berating me. "That damn Natalie, looks like all those years of study were totally pointless! I should've sold her off when she was young. At least she'd be of some use!"

She pulled out the money Grandma had saved for my tuition from the bottom of a box and handed it to Yvonne like she was a princess.

"Vonnie, here's some pocket money for you."

Dad frowned when he heard this, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

Even in death, I was burdened with a crime I didn't commit. I stood nearby, crying with grievance.

I wanted to tell everyone that it wasn't me. It really wasn't me!

Grandma had heart disease, and every day I made sure she took her medicine properly. But that day, when her heart condition flared up, the pills she usually took had turned into sugar pellets.

I cried as I tried to explain to Mom, but she didn't believe me. She beat me with a clothes hanger until I couldn't move, then shoved me violently into the cremation chamber with Grandma.

Before I was turned to ashes, I still hadn't given up. I begged Mom desperately.

"Mom, I was wrong. I'm only 13. I don't want to die. I want to have a full meal. I want to live a good life…"

But it was destined that I couldn't hear a response from her.

Soon, it was time for dinner.

Dad started to worry since he hadn't seen me all day. "Where's Nat? Don't tell she's still locked in the cremation chamber?"

Before Mom could respond, Yvonne chimed in.

"How could that be? I just saw her come home. She even stole money from Dad's wallet to buy a gaming console."

Dad glanced at his now-flat wallet, and his expression began to darken.

With a loud slam, Mom put down her cutleries and started shouting, "Well, great! Now she has even learned to steal! No wonder she's afraid to come home. Just wait till she gets back. I'll break her legs!"

I clenched my teeth, looking at Yvonne in disbelief. The gaming console was hidden right beside her.

She was my only sister. I always respected and adored her, putting her first in everything. Even when I was hungry and tired, I took care of all the housework and never let her lift a finger.

But now, she could frame me without even blinking.

I clutched my chest as my nose burned.

I was already dead. So, why did it still hurt so much?

As night fell, Dad started to get restless. "It's so late already, and Nat's a girl. I really can't be at ease with her still not home. She's probably angry from being punished. We just need to find her and teach her properly."

But after searching the entire neighborhood, he still couldn't find a trace of me.

Just as he furrowed his brow and was about to head toward the crematorium, an anxious voice called out behind him.

"Jon, you need to get home quick. Something's happened to your father!"