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.

was all a

A setup.

Anthea was behind this.

That conniving bitch.

Anthea, that damned bitch!

Rebecca sprang to her

her lips curling

you'd go so far as to

confirmed still

been good to

would actually go

voice wavered, panic flickering in her

She couldn't admit it.

She mustn't.

it was

toward the door. "This is

Sandra's memorial photo on

Rebecca's gaze followed.

blinked

A pinhole camera.

spy camera in

as she stumbled backward, that suffocating terror rising up

wild

Las

gone. You bitch! This is all your fault You're the one

Anthea.

It was always Anthea.

it hadn't been for her, Rebecca never would have ended up

had stolen her life, seized everything that belonged to the Morris family,

to die,

all, her hands were already stained with