From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Tears streamed down Sandra's face, mingling with lines of blood that trickled from her eyes as she edged closer to Rebecca. Her voice was raw, desperate. "But I'm your mother, Rebecca! Your own mother! How could you do this to me? Have you no conscience left at all?"

Rebecca scrambled backward on the floor, palms pressed to the hardwood, cold sweat soaking her back. "Mom, please forgive me... forgive me... I'm your only daughter, the only one you and Dad ever had..."

She'd been sure that Sandra would go to her grave never knowing what she'd done.

But fate had other plans.

Some secrets just couldn't be buried.

Sandra had found out everything.

"You'll pay for this! You wretched girl! I'll make you pay for my life!"

Rebecca was so terrified she started banging her head on the floor, her forehead thudding against the boards again and again until blood began to stream down her face. "Mom! I know I was wrong! I really do! Please, just forgive me this once! When your memorial day comes, I'll bring you so many flowers and candles! You're already gone just let me live! I promise, I'll find a way to get Dad out soon. Please, spare me!"

Suddenly-snap!

Every light in the room blazed on at once.

Rebecca froze, then looked up.

Sandra stood before her, lifting a hand slowly to her own face.

Rebecca's eyes widened in horror as she watched Sandra peel away her own skin. Rebecca had expected something gruesome beneath a ruined, bloody face.

But instead, the face revealed was striking, almost ethereal in its beauty.

It wasn't Sandra at all.

It was-

Anthea.

In that split second, Rebecca understood.

all a

A setup.

Anthea was behind this.

That conniving bitch.

Anthea, that damned bitch!

sprang to

of her lips curling up.

go so far as to kill

it confirmed still left

been

would actually go through

voice wavered, panic flickering in her eyes.

She couldn't admit it.

She mustn't.

confessed, it

fear, pointing toward the door. "This is my

Sandra's memorial photo

Rebecca's gaze followed.

blinked from

A pinhole camera.

had planted a spy camera in

that suffocating terror rising up to choke her again. "Anthea! What

eyes were wild and bloodshot

Las

Anthea, all composure gone. You bitch! This is all your fault You're the one who

Anthea.

It was always Anthea.

her, Rebecca never would have

everything that belonged to

she was going to die,

were already