Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 1

According to the rules, relatives were not allowed to view the process at crematorium.

Supported by the icy steel bed, Sylvia Lloyd paid her way into the crematorium's inner sanctum.

The air was tinged with the scent of burning, intermingled with the ash that danced in the sunlight. Perhaps it was someone's ashes. Soon, her precious daughter would become just that.

Sylvia was clad in a long black dress that barely covered her gaunt frame even in the smallest size, her eyes, swollen and red from crying, now held a serene calm.

She reached out to touch the cold, stiff hand that protruded from beneath the white shroud, and into her daughter's palm, she placed two pink paper stars. "Wait for me, Stella."

Time seemed to stand still until a worker approached, pulling Sylvia away to reveal Stella's face under the shroud.

At eight years old, Stella was frail and thin, her ribcage starkly defined, with a noticeable dip at the bottom.

up again as she gazed at that dip. She

least your daughter's kidney saved another child, who will now live a happy life

son. Right now, they're celebrating his grand birthday party. Did you know? Today is also my daughter's birthday." The worker was taken aback, unable to comfort

"Go ahead, let's not delay. I hope my daughter finds a better life next

his head, the worker prepared to move the

wasn't afraid; Stella was finally at peace, no longer despised by

Daddy like me,

Daddy like

mean to you because of

precious daughter, destroyed by

to the biggest amusement park, a dream day with her father. Instead, he had put her in a surgery room to donate a kidney to his son, leaving

lifeless body. The ironic thing was that a blood-stained children's watch lay beside her, dialing her father's number. And yet

had held back tears and hugged her daughter, fearing her sobs would

Sylvia of harming them, Rupert had made her a madwoman,