Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

I was terrified to wake up.

I was afraid that when I regained consciousness, I would once again become a spirit, watching my body being torn apart.

I also feared that I might not have any consciousness at all, unable to even take one last look at Carter, still not having had the chance to say goodbye.

Before regaining full awareness, searing pain overwhelmed me.

The moment I felt the pain, I was strangely relieved; if I could still feel pain, it meant I was alive, not just a wandering soul.

As long as I was alive, I still had a chance.

My head and body ached from the impacts, each part of me throbbing.

The images from before I lost consciousness resurfaced the sight of Zoey being discarded to the green belt, Harlan crawling toward her. She should be okay, right? What about Whitney? Was her heart okay?

I suddenly opened my eyes, and only then did I realize my current situation.

Whitney was not far from me, still unconscious.

I scanned the surroundings. We were locked in a water prison, but fortunately, the water level wasn't too high-just a shallow layer that hadn't even covered my feet. The ground was damp. The room was dark and musty, with only a small, square iron window.

Outside, it was pitch black; it had already turned night.

I listened carefully, hearing the sound of waves from afar.

I had a suspicion in my heart-was this the island that Yael once brought me to?

If the Carlyns were seeking revenge, they would definitely bring us to their burial ground.

Whitney's huge fish-tail wedding dress spread out on the ground, with diamonds scattered all over, glinting coldly in the darkness.

She was already slender and pale, resembling a stranded mermaid. Her entire form exuded a sense of fragility-beautiful, yet heartbreaking.

The dagger was scattered in the car.

I looked down and saw that the silver necklace around my neck was still there.

As long as the island didn't block signals, Carter would be able to detect my presence!

I propped myself up on the damp ground and struggled to stand up.

I hadn't

cuts from the broken

I felt a slight urge to

staggered, taking slow, unsteady steps through the water, heading

Whitney, you must survive.

closer, I used the dim light outside to examine Whitney

cuts on the back of her hand from

were just small

had reached their worst, the current situation was the best possible outcome in

gently touched her face and hoarsely whispered,

"Chloe..."

relief as I heard her

are you? Does your heart

"Chloe, I'm fine. You've been protecting me

are hard to explain. Whitney had once undergone a heart transplant. The heart had a strong rejection reaction after surgery, but since she started using my heart, the

was probably the most valuable thing I did before I died at least

you been here

years with Taylor, knowing the Carlyns

have," she said, her expression suddenly changing in the next moment. "Mom and Dad!" Whitney grabbed

enemy had gone to such great lengths to gather all of the Sanders together through Taylor, clearly intending

hadn't died was that I had already

not very capable, they

of ease and privilege, as if it were their natural

than

while they hadn't harmed Whitney and me yet, it wasn't just because of our family ties, like Taylor's

was still part of the Carlyns and

members had become the focal point of all their

In contrast

you Whitney's

was starkly different. "Sorry, I can't empathize with you on this. As for the fate

your body?

fine, but Mom and Dad... They're going

came a deep, male voice, its age

"Shouldn't they die?"

devoid of any emotion-neither joy, anger, nor

and only then saw the man in

in all black, and I couldn't tell how long he had been standing there. He had no presence, like a living