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!

It was you!" Rebecca sprang to her feet, glaring

of her lips curling up. "That's right,

imagined you'd go so far as to kill your

confirmed

been

thought Rebecca would actually go through with

panic flickering in her eyes.

She couldn't admit it.

She mustn't.

it was

pointing toward the door. "This

memorial photo on

Rebecca's gaze followed.

tiny red light blinked from beside the

A pinhole camera.

spy camera in her

up to choke her again. "Anthea! What the hell do you want

eyes were wild

Las

is all your fault

Anthea.

It was always Anthea.

her, Rebecca

her life, seized everything that belonged to the Morris

was going to die, she'd take Anthea

hands were already stained