No Longer Your Shadow

It was the dead of winter. Although the surface of the water had frozen over, the ice wasn't thick enough to support Erica's weight.

It shattered instantly, and Erica screamed for help in the freezing water.

Hearing the cries for help, Thomas rushed out of the house. The moment he saw what was happening, he froze. He jumped in without a second thought and pulled her out of the lake.

Robin also ran out of the house, hurrying over to Erica in concern. "Ms. Glover, are you okay?"

Shaking from the cold, Erica smiled weakly, looking pale and pitiful. "Robin, I'm fine… I just don't know why Winnie would push me. If this was because I accidentally tore her dress yesterday, I apologize. I'm sorry…"

I flinched hard and spoke up immediately. "I didn't push her! She jumped in on her own! There are surveillance cameras here. You can check them if—"

"You horrible woman!" Robin cut me off furiously. "You already killed my mom and took her from me, and now you want to harm Ms. Glover as well! I won't let that happen!"

Killed his mom?

Shocked, I was still trying to process what he meant when he suddenly charged at me and pushed me into the water.

The icy water was freezing, and I was instantly soaked from head to toe. I shouted for help, yet they all merely looked on coldly. Even Thomas didn't bat an eye.

He watched me flail in agony in the water, his eyes filled with nothing but cold indifference. "You can drop the act. Did you really think I didn't know you could swim?"

It was true that I could swim, but that was a long, long time ago.

I'd hardly swum since moving into the Torres residence. On top of that, with my knees still hurting and the water so cold it made my limbs stiff, I couldn't control my movements at all.

My eyes reddened as I struggled with everything I had just to keep my head above water, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Please, Thomas… Save me!"

Alas, he simply looked away, slipped off his coat to drape it over Erica, and carried her inside.

"You can come back up on your own once you're done with your act."

Everyone else followed him inside. Robin took one last look at me, picked up a rock from the ground, and hurled it at me, hitting me squarely on the head. "Just die, you murderer!"

I didn't know why he was calling me that, or why he claimed I was the one who killed Gwendolyn, but I had no strength left to care.

Despite struggling with all my strength and calling for help, the cold water swallowed me bit by bit until I eventually lost consciousness.