My Pain Had a Plot Twist

It was an ultrasound photo I'd kept for a long time.

The only picture of the first child Kent and I ever had.

A year ago, I lost the baby unexpectedly.

It broke me.

Kent held me and told me it was okay. That we'd have another child someday.

Back then, I thought he was just as heartbroken as I was.

Now, I wondered if he'd ever cared at all.

Tied to the bed, I couldn't move.

All I could do was stare at the corner of the ultrasound photo sticking out from beneath it.

Then the door opened again.

Kent and Violet walked in together.

Kent's face was dark.

Violet looked curious—and delighted.

"Kent, why is Clara still keeping this?" Violet bent down and picked up the ultrasound photo. "Oh, a baby scan. From the one she lost? What a shame."

She said it as casually as if she were talking about the weather.

"Give it back!" I thrashed against the restraints, the tie cutting deeper into my wrists.

"Don't get so worked up." Violet waved the photo in front of me. "The baby's gone. What's the point of keeping it? All it does is make you sad. How about I give it a little makeover? Make it cuter?"

She pulled a tube of red lipstick from her pocket.

"Don't!" I screamed. "Kent! Make her stop! That was our child!"

Kent didn't move.

He didn't stop her.

Instead, he stepped forward and pinned me down.

"Clara, stop struggling." His voice was cold and flat. "Violet's trying to make you feel better. Stop acting so ungrateful. The past is the past."

Something inside me died.

As despair settled over me, Violet twisted off the lipstick cap.

Smiling, she drew on the blurry black-and-white image.

A grotesque clown with tears of blood.

"See, Clara? Isn't this cuter?" She held up her masterpiece like a kid showing off a drawing. "A sad little clown baby. Very artistic."

Something inside me snapped.

I don't know where the strength came from.

I tore free from Kent's grip and lunged at Violet like a madwoman.

"I'll kill you!"

I slammed her to the floor and wrapped my hands around her throat.

"Cough—Kent... save me..."

Violet's face turned purple.

Kent finally reacted.

He ripped me off her and slapped me hard across the face.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

I hit the floor hard, my ears ringing.

Kent immediately pulled the shaking Violet behind him and looked at me like I was his worst enemy.

"For something that's already gone, you tried to kill Violet?" His voice was full of disgust. "Clara, how can you be this vicious?"

Something that's already gone.

That's what he called our child.

Lying on the floor, I started to laugh.

Then the laughter turned to tears.

In that moment, I gave up completely.

And finally saw everything for what it was.

Just then, a strange sensation pulsed through the wristband.

Not pain.

Warmth.

Faint.

But real.

I froze.

Behind Kent, Violet suddenly swayed.

The color drained from her face.

She pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice weak.

"Kent... I feel dizzy... my chest feels tight..."

Kent instantly panicked.

"What's wrong, Violet? Are you sick?"

"I don't know... I just suddenly feel so tired..."

Her voice trailed off.

Then her knees gave out.

Kent caught her.

He whirled on me.

"Clara! What did you do to her?!"

I looked at him.

Then, slowly, I smiled.

I think...

I'd just figured out the system's secret.