She Lives in the Shadow of Light

It was New Year's Eve, and I was setting off fireworks with my sister when my husband's young apprentice suddenly called.

Alice, I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot.

Her voice was choked with panic. We were lighting fireworks, your sister and I, and I... I accidentally shoved a lit firework into her hand instead of the lighter.

"Half her face is mangled, she's screaming... I swear, I didn't mean to! Please don't be mad!"

"I know Grayson will forgive me, but I... I need you to forgive me, too."

I glanced at my own sister, Rosie, who was grinning beside me, perfectly fine. I listened to the agonized screams on the other end of the line and my voice grew sharp with urgency.

"Why are you asking for my forgiveness now? Get her to a hospital! That's not my sister"

Before I could finish, her wails intensified. "I knew you wouldn't forgive me! What am I supposed to do?"

Then, through the phone, a familiar, fragile voice whimpered, "It hurts... my face hurts so much... Sister, save me... save..."

A chill shot through my entire body. "Are you insane? That's Poppy! She's the apple of Grayson's eye!"

The apprentice, Felicity, only cried harder. "Just say you forgive me, and I'll take her to the hospital."

"Poppy has severe autism! She would never go out with you. And besides, she calls you by your name, not 'sister'! You can't fool me!"

The gut-wrenching screams continued in the background, but now Felicity's voice took on a resentful edge. "Actually, Alice, I'm doing you a favor."

My mind went blank. "A favor? What are you talking about?"

Her tone turned triumphant. "Your sister comes prancing into the office, all dolled up, asking for Grayson. It's obvious she wants to seduce her own brother-in-law. You must be thrilled that a little tramp like her is disfigured now, right?"

My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

There was a reason Poppy called me 'sister'.

I have a degree in special education, and she was the very first student I ever taught after my internship. She adored me, more than her own brother, which is why she called me 'sister' and referred to Grayson by his first name.

And the reason she was so beautifully dressed tonight? It was my idea. I told her New Year's Eve was the most important night of the year, a time to dress your best to see the people you love.

My voice trembled as I begged, "I forgive you. I forgive you right now. Just get her to the hospital, please! Now!"

"Grayson will lose his mind when he finds out. He'll kill you."

Grayson, a top forensic pathologist, had a warm smile that masked a cold heart. Yet he doted on his only apprentice, endlessly patient with her blunders, always protecting her.

But none of that could ever compare to the fierce, protective love he had for his autistic sister.

After my plea, however, the line went silent. I screamed Felicity's name over and over, simultaneously bolting from my apartment complex and flagging down a cab, shouting the address of the old family estate.

Just then, Felicity's voice returned, laced with a chilling calm.

"You know, Alice? I've changed my mind."

"Even if you forgive me, I can't take her to the hospital."

My eyes widened in disbelief, my body shaking uncontrollably. I urged the driver to go faster, faster, my question a useless whisper into the phone. "Why?"

Felicity held the phone closer to Poppy. The girl was too weak to even scream in pain anymore, just murmuring deliriously for her brother, for her sister.

The sound was a knife in my heart. Tears streamed down my face as I roared, "Why?"

Felicity's voice dripped with venom.

"My mentor is so good to me, but I've never seen you this frantic for him. It just proves how important this little bitch is to him! Why would I ever save such a huge obstacle?"

I never imagined that my desperate attempt to save Poppy would be the very thing that condemned her.

I'd always known Felicity was in love with Grayson. It takes two to tango, and while Grayson never fully accepted her advances, he never rejected them either. He just grew gentler with her day by day.

He would always chide me for being petty.

"Felicity is just a young woman trying to make it in the big city alone, Alice. You don't need to be so jealous."

"She's just my apprentice. I'm not some kind of monster who'd have inappropriate feelings for his own student!"

But his last apprentice had been mercilessly kicked out of the studio for a single, minor mistake. Felicity, on the other hand, once used special effects to make a prank video with a cadaver, and all she got from Grayson was a fond "You're so mischievous."

After a while, I stopped fighting it. I just wanted to live a quiet life with Poppy and my sister.

But this time, I had to fight.

I hung up and immediately dialed Grayson.

As the seconds ticked by, I prayed, Pick up, Grayson, please, pick up!

The call was ruthlessly declined. I tried again, and again, refusing to give up. I had just arrived at the gates of the family estate when he finally answered.

"Do you have any idea that I'm working?" he snapped. "If I mess this up because you distracted me, are you going to take responsibility?"

He had always been like this. With his prestigious family background and reputation as a genius pathologist, he'd always looked down on me, a simple teacher.

For the first time, I screamed back at him. "Is your work more important than Poppy? Do you have any idea what Felicity's done? She took Poppy and burned her with a firework!"

"She's holding her hostage right now, refusing to take her to a hospital!"

Grayson's immediate reaction was denial. "That's impossible. Felicity isn't that kind of person!"

"I did ask Felicity to go to the estate for the holiday, but Poppy is at the care facility. Her condition has been a bit unstable lately..."

His voice suddenly dropped, turning to ice.

"Alice, you better pray you're not lying. If I find out you made this up out of jealousy, that you cursed my sister... I will make you regret it."

Before he could say more, I let out a hollow laugh and ended the call.

I burst into the old manor, only to find the grand courtyard empty save for spatters of blood and the trampled grass that marked a desperate struggle.

Poppy wasn't here.

My heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. The enormous villa was devoid of servants.

Only Felicity was there, lounging in one of my silk robes, swirling a glass of red wine as if she were the true mistress of the house.

"Where is she? Where have you hidden Poppy?"

Felicity examined her fingernails with a smirk. "So the little bitch's name is Poppy. How ugly."

Rage exploded in my chest. I snatched a nearby vase and hurled it at her. "I asked you where she is! Give her back to me!"

She dodged it gracefully, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

I ignored her, screaming at the top of my lungs, "Poppy! Where are you? It's me, sister is here! Don't be afraid!"

I shouted until my throat was raw, and then I heard it, a faint, rhythmic thudding.

I looked over in disbelief. It was coming from the direction of the main bathroom.

Fighting to control the tremors racking my body, I sprinted towards the sound and threw open the door. The sight that met my eyes made my vision swim with red.

The little girl Grayson and I had cherished and protected was covered in blood, bound tightly with thick rope that twisted her body into an unnatural shape.

And her head... her head was shoved humiliatingly into the toilet bowl.

My vision turned red. I lunged forward, my fingers fumbling as I frantically untied the knots. My voice was a choked, trembling whisper. "Don't be afraid, Poppy. Sister's here."

She managed a faint whimper, her eyes fluttering open to look at me for a single moment before she passed out.

That one glance sent a wave of agony through my chest.

Her face was a raw, unrecognizable mask of blood and ruined flesh. Her right eye... it wasn't an eye anymore.

Shaking, I gathered her into my arms, ready to run.

But a sweet, questioning voice stopped me. "Strange. Did I say you could take the little bitch?"

Before I could react, a vicious kick landed on my lower back. I bit back a cry of pain, curling my body to shield Poppy as I fell.

I turned my head and saw that the once-empty living room was now filled with the familiar faces of the household staff.

I stared at them in horror. "I am the mistress of this house! What do you think you're doing?"

My gaze locked on the head butler. "This is Poppy in my arms! She's badly hurt, I have to get her to a hospital!"

The butler didn't even spare her a glance. Instead, he bowed respectfully to Felicity.

"Miss Felicity, Mr. Blackwood gave explicit orders. You are in charge here at the estate, and we are to ensure no one gives you any trouble."

My attempt to shuffle toward the door with Poppy in my arms was seen. A security guard stepped forward without hesitation and stomped down hard on my ankle. An involuntary scream of pure agony ripped from my throat.

Pain shot through me, and I gasped through trembling lips, "This is Poppy..."

The butler squinted, his expression doubtful. The bloody figure in my arms, dressed so differently from the withdrawn girl he was used to, didn't register.

Felicity chimed in at the perfect moment. "That's her sister. She tried to throw a firework in my face, but it backfired on her. I was so angry, I refused to let her get treatment. Uncle," she said, turning to the butler, "Grayson won't be mad at me, will he?"

The butler's face instantly softened. "Of course not, Miss. A woman like that deserves what she gets!"

"Besides," he added, "if Mr. Blackwood knew someone tried to harm you, the consequences would be far worse than this."

My heart sank like a stone. Of course. My sister's name was Rosie. It didn't sound exactly like Poppy, but in the heat of the moment, to a man who barely knew his master's sister, it was close enough.

Felicity's smile widened. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Tie that bitch up. I want her to know what it feels like to have fireworks exploding on her skin."

I was close to despair, my voice raw as I screamed, "You wouldn't dare!"

Just then, a phone rang.

The butler answered respectfully. "It's Mr. Blackwood."

My heart leaped into my throat. A wave of relief washed over me. He must have realized Poppy was missing. Thank god, we were saved!

The call was put on speaker, and Grayson's cold voice filled the hall.

"Alice might be heading to the estate shortly. Don't let her bully Felicity."

"If you have to, teach her a lesson. She's been getting completely out of hand lately, even cursing Poppy, who's safe and sound at the care facility!"

A strangled gasp escaped my lips. "How is that possible?"

The butler hung up, his last restraint gone. "Tie them both up and drag them outside!"

I fought desperately to protect Poppy, but it was useless. We were bound tightly and thrown onto the lawn outside the villa. Felicity was like a child with a cruel new toy, her laughter echoing in the cold night air.

She lit a firecracker, waiting until the fuse burned short before flinging it at us.

The terror of the impending pain made me flinch, but I couldn't move. Poppy's body couldn't take any more. I threw myself over her, shielding her with my own body. The searing agony of the explosion and the flames biting into my skin ripped a scream from my throat.

But Felicity wasn't satisfied. "Pull them apart!" she ordered. "I don't want to hurt my mentor's wife! Just teach this little slut who tried to seduce her brother-in-law a lesson!"

I don't know where the strength came from, but I slammed myself into the guards, standing over Poppy like a protective mother hen.

It was no use. They pried my fingers away, even tearing the fabric of Poppy's clothes from my teeth.

Poppy was left alone, lying on the vast, empty lawn like a broken doll.

My despair was so absolute I could barely make a sound. Just as a lighter flickered near another fuse, the doorbell rang through the night.

"Police! We received a report of an illegal assault taking place at this address."

Thank God, they were here!

I opened my mouth and shrieked, "Help! Help, there's been a murder! Please"

I only managed one sentence before a hand clamped down hard over my mouth and nose. The world started to spin as darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

In a daze, I thought I was hallucinating. I thought I heard Grayson's voice.

"I apologize, officers. My wife has been under a great deal of stress lately. Her mental state isn't... stable. She's been imagining that people are trying to hurt her."

"I'm so sorry for the trouble."

A sympathetic voice replied, "Not at all, Mr. Blackwood. It must be difficult for you. We'll be on our way."

No! It wasn't a hallucination.

My eyes flew open. I thrashed wildly, but only muffled grunts escaped my throat.

The gate opened, and Grayson strode in alone.

His eyes fell upon the scene on the lawnPoppy's still form, my own disheveled stateand his pupils constricted.

Tears burst from my eyes as I pleaded with him silently.

Grayson, save Poppy! She's dying, she's really dying!

But in the next second, he walked straight to Felicity, his voice soft, a hint of a smile in it.

"Feel better now?"