In Death I Obeyed You Most Chapter 02
On a bright weekend afternoon, harsh sunlight poured over the estate.
Mom had invited several wealthy socialites for tea in the garden gazebo, their laughter and hollow gossip drifting on the breeze.
Mom gestured me over and gave her command: “Go watch Chloe. Keep her safe and don’t let a hair on her head get harmed. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, Mom,” I replied tonelessly. I walked over to Chloe and shadowed her every movement like a hollow silhouette.
Chloe dashed to the poolside, leaning dangerously over the wrought-iron railing to peer into the deep end.
“Look, there are koi fish! I’m going to catch one!”
I remained silent, keeping my unblinking gaze locked on her, my motor system executing the core directive: Protect sister.
Suddenly, Chloe’s shoe slipped. With a shrill shriek, she tumbled over the ledge and hit the water with a violent splash.
“Mom! Help me! I can’t swim!” Chloe thrashed wildly, choked screams bubbling to the surface.
My body responded instantly. Without a microsecond of hesitation, I plunged straight into the deep end.
The icy water rushed into my nostrils and stung my eyes, but sparked no biological alarm. Moving with robotic precision, I gripped Chloe by the upper arm and hoisted her onto the stone coping.
Drawn by the commotion, Mom and her guests rushed over, arriving just in time to see me hauling Chloe out onto the pavers.
They pulled the shivering girl to safety and immediately showered me with compliments.
“Hulda, your eldest daughter is so brave! She dove right in without a second thought to rescue her sister!”
“Truly, she may seem quiet, but when it counts, she really steps up!”
Mom waved a dismissive hand, a proud smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, it’s nothing. That girl just needed strict discipline; I’ve put a lot of work into her. Olivia! Quick, bring heated towels and get them upstairs for a hot shower before they catch a chill.”
Before dinner, once the last guest had departed, Mom barged into my bedroom and struck me across the face with an open palm.
Smack! The crack was sharp and deafening.
My head snapped sideways, but no sensation of pain registered in my mind.
“Who gave you permission to let Chloe near the pool?!” Mom hissed, trembling with rage. “Were you trying to drown her on purpose?! If anything had happened to her today, I’d skin you alive!”
She raised her hand to strike again, but the moment her knuckles grazed my cheek, she recoiled abruptly, her brow knotting. “Why is your skin like ice?! Did you catch a fever?!”
I gave no response. I slowly turned my head back, fixing my hollow, unblinking eyes upon her.
“Worthless thing. You can’t even keep yourself warm, and I’m supposed to trust you with your sister?” Mom sneered with disgust. “No dinner for you tonight. Go back to your room and think about what you did wrong!”
“Yes, Mom.”
Lurking behind the cracked door, Chloe watched my reprimand with a malicious grin.
She skipped over to Mom and tugged her sleeve. “Mom, please don’t be mad at her… I’m sure she didn’t mean it… I forgive her…”
Mom’s anger vanished in a heartbeat as she stroked Chloe’s cheek. “My sweet, considerate angel. Come, let Mom treat you to your favorite foie gras.”
Mom took Chloe’s hand and walked off without sparing me another glance.
I slumped in the dark corner of my bedroom, awaiting the next command.