I woke up in a place that felt too familiar.
Home.
My parents were there, smiling at me like nothing in the world had ever gone wrong. My mother brushed my hair back, my father laughed softly and for a moment, everything felt normal.
They were the best parents , my father was a professional racer he taught me how to drive we would always go driving without letting mom know my mother on the other hand was quiet and rational .
It was my 18th birthday.
They loved me. They always protected me.
They had planned to take me out today, but something felt… off. Since morning, they had been tense, pacing around the house like shadows that couldn't settle.
I wasn't meant to hear them, but I did.
"We can't let them take her away." my mother was tense, her voice trembling .
My chest tightened.
"Take who?" I thought to myself .
My father interrupted quickly, his tone sharp. "We'll take her far away. Somewhere they'll never find us. But we have to be careful. We leave soon."
My mind couldn't keep up.
I walked downstairs slowly, my heartbeat loud in my ears. "What do you mean, Dad?"
The moment they saw me, their expressions shifted ,too fast, too practiced.
"Nowhere," my mother smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Your father and I just think it's time to move. His business here is done."
Move?
Just like that?
My throat went dry. My life..my friends...my love… everything would be gone.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not going anywhere. This is my home. I'm staying. You can go if you want."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then–
A sharp sting across my cheek.
I froze.
My mother had slapped me.
"You don't understand!" she cried, her voice breaking, hands trembling. "This is for you!"
For the first time in my life, I felt afraid of her.
My father pulled her back gently. "Calm down."
But when he looked at me, something had changed in his eyes too.
"We're leaving," he said, his voice firm now. "Pack your things. No more arguments."
This wasn't him. My father the man who laughed with me, who never raised his voice was gone.
Something else had taken his place.
"I hate you!" I shouted, running upstairs before they could see my tears.
Inside my room, I locked the door and collapsed on the floor, shaking. My hands barely worked as I called Sam.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Sam…" I cried. "They're taking me away. Dad said to pack my bags . They won't even tell me where."
Silence.
Then, "When?" he asked.
His voice wasn't warm. It wasn't him.
"I don't know… they won't tell me anything."
Another pause.
Then, quietly..too quietly..he said, "Don't worry. I won't let them take you."
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, something uneasy settling in my chest… but I pushed it away. He loved me. He'd fix this.
Right?
Evening came slowly.
"Sofia, darling," my mother called from downstairs, her voice soft again, like nothing had happened. "Mom was wrong. Come down, let's cut the cake."
I didn't answer.
Time passed. One hour. Two.
The house felt too quiet.
Finally, I stood up and walked toward the door.
And then,
Glass shattered.
The sound ripped through the silence.
I froze.
Heavy footsteps. Multiple.
Men.
My breath caught as I moved closer to the stairs, every instinct screaming at me to run.
"Who are you?" my father's voice rang out , tense, sharp.
A pause.
Then a voice answered. Cold. Controlled. Dangerous. Hidden between those men I couldn't see him.
"Son of the woman you killed."
The words didn't make sense but the fear did.
Before I could move, my mother grabbed me from behind, pulling me close.
"My baby," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Hide. Let's Go to your room. Don't make a sound. No matter what happens… don't come out. She said as she hid me under the bed "
Her hands were shaking as she pushed me.
Then_
A gunshot.
Everything went silent.
I was about to scream when my mother put her hands on my mouth " shhhh" she said as tears streamed down her face , my heart hammering so hard it hurt.
She gave me one last smile and said "i love you I always had"
Voices echoed downstairs. Closer now.
"Find her."
The door burst open.
My mother , eyes wild, tears streaming down her face. She dropped to her knees in front of my eyes.
"Don't move," she whispered.
"We didn't kill anyone," she said, her voice desperate. "There's been a misunderstanding ....."
A shot.
I bit down on my hand to stop myself from screaming.
Her body hit the ground.
Right in front of me.
I couldn't look away.
Her eyes… still open.
Empty.
No.
No, no, no…
This isn't real.
Please… this isn't real.