As the knife cut into me again and again, I managed to call my brother, Detective Brandon Naylor.

By the time he finally answered, my consciousness was already slipping away. His voice was sharp with irritation.

"What is it now?"

"Bran, help—"

I didn't even get to finish before he cut me off.

"Why is it always something with you? Cynthia's birthday party is at the end of the month. If you don't show up, I swear I'll kill you."

He hung up without hesitation.

The pain swallowed me whole. My eyes closed forever, tears still trailing down the corners.

Bran, you don't need to kill me. I'm already dead.

***

After my death, my soul did not dissipate as it should have. Instead, it lingered, strangely intact.

I watched as pieces of my body were found one after another—in dumpsters, in the river—plunging the entire city into panic.

The case caused such an uproar that the higher-ups assigned Brandon to conduct a full investigation.

Even in death, I felt a stab of guilt. I had caused him trouble yet again. The thought sent a chill through me.

Brandon frowned deeply as he stared at the reconstructed remains.

"What do we have? Anything on the victim? Time of death?" he asked urgently.

Austin Fletcher, who was assisting with forensic support, rubbed his tired brow. "Preliminary assessment suggests the victim was female, around 20 to 22 years old. Dead for at least 48 hours.

"The body is severely damaged. We can't extract much useful information at this stage. DNA results will take at least two days."

He paused, then continued gravely, "What she suffered was unimaginable. To prevent resistance, the killer brutally severed her limbs while she was still alive."

The room fell into stunned silence. Such brutality was almost impossible to believe.

"Whoever did this is a monster," one muttered.

"Poor girl, she must've suffered," another whispered, voice thick with sympathy.

Brandon banged the table, jaw clenched hard. "I will find this killer. No matter what, I will bring them to justice!"

Joe Whitman put a hand on his shoulder. "You've been running yourself ragged. With this case, I doubt you'll make it to Rosa's 18th birthday."

Joe wasn't just his mentor. He'd been our father's childhood friend.

After our parents died, he looked after us, teaching Brandon step by step how to investigate cases and hunt down criminals.

At the mention of my name, Brandon frowned instinctively. "Don't bring her up in front of me. She only brings trouble.

"Why would I attend her ceremony? I'm busy preparing for Cynthia's graduation."

Those words sliced straight through me.

After our parents died, he hated me, convinced that I was responsible for their deaths.

He even disowned me and drove me out of the house.

Later, during one of his investigations, he rescued a girl named Cynthia Lawson. When he learned she was an orphan, he brought her home and made her his sister.

Just like that, I became the one left behind.

Before I died, Brandon was still angry with me.

Angry that I had delayed his sister's graduation. Angry that my existence might cast doubt on her.

If he knew the person lying on that table was me, he would probably walk away without a second thought.

After all, no one wanted me dead more than he did.

Bran, now that I'm finally dead, you should be happy.

Joe stepped forward and gave Brandon a quick tap on the chest. "What's wrong with you? Rosa's such a thoughtful kid. She thought you didn't like her. That's why she kept bringing you lunch every day without a word. And this is how you treat her? You ungrateful brat."

Brandon snorted. "I don't need it. Drop it. Let's get back to work. Any missing‑person reports?"

The assistant Nick shook his head. "Nothing. Not in this district, not in the last 48 hours."

Brandon clicked his tongue. "She's been gone for days, and nobody noticed? Her parents are unbelievable."

When it was time for lunch, they headed out together.

Halfway down the hall, Joe slowed. "Bran, Rosa hasn't brought you lunch for the past few days. Why?"

Brandon gave a short, dismissive laugh. "Guess she finally dropped the act. That's more like her."

Joe bristled at his indifference. "No. She's never missed a day, rain or shine. Something's wrong. Just call her."

Brandon's face twisted with annoyance. "Joe, stop worrying about her. She's just doing her usual tricks.

"She called me a couple of days ago, and I knew it was going to be trouble. I told her to come to Cynthia's graduation, and she refused. She's obviously just giving me attitude."

Joe opened his mouth to argue, but Brandon's phone rang.

The moment Brandon saw the caller ID, his expression softened. Even his voice shifted.

"Hey, Thea. Miss me already?"

That gentle smile said it all. It had to be Cynthia.

Brandon used to adore me and see me as his whole world.

Now he saw only the fake, manipulative girl he'd taken in.

"I'll be home soon. Just let me finish up here... Yeah, I know. I'll take care of myself."

He kept talking in that soft tone. Then something Cynthia said made his voice go cold and sharp. "Don't worry. Rosalie will admit she copied your thesis. If she won't, I'll make her.

"Thea, cheer up. Just stay home and wait for me. It's not safe outside, so tell me before you go anywhere."

Listening to Brandon comfort her like that, I laughed bitterly.

My own brother wouldn't believe a word I said, but he'd trust a stranger he picked up off the street.

That thesis was mine. Cynthia copied me. Why wouldn't he believe me?

"By the way, you'd better come Sunday night. I've got a surprise for you." Cynthia's sweet voice chimed through the phone.

A warning bell rang in my mind. I grabbed Brandon's arm, shaking it hard, panic rising in my voice. "No. Don't go, Bran. Cynthia... she's dangerous!"

But Brandon couldn't feel me at all.

He just smiled softly, eyes full of affection. "Relax. I'll get this done and come home."

When he hung up, he noticed Joe still frowning.

He chuckled. "Alright, Joe. I'm gonna take another look at the victim, see if there's anything new. Chill, okay?"

Joe grabbed his arm. "Wait. I called Rosa just now, but she didn't pick up. Try her. She'll answer if it's you."

Brandon waved him off. "Not now. I've got work to do."

Joe could only sigh.

Brandon headed back into the autopsy room and stopped in front of my body.

He closed his eyes, took a long breath, then pulled on a fresh pair of gloves and began the examination.

Then his eyes narrowed. He grabbed my hand.

My heart jumped.

Was he finally going to realize it was me?

A faint crescent-shaped scar marked the inside of my wrist, the one I'd had since we got lost in the mountains as kids.

I'd scraped myself on a branch, and Brandon had blamed himself for days. He'd wrapped the wound with his little handkerchief and carried me all the way home.

The scar had faded, but it still meant something to me.

I was sure that if Brandon saw it, he'd know.

But before he could look closer, our aunt Margot Naylor called.

"Bran, is Rosa with you? She's not answering my calls or messages."

Margot was the only family member who still cared about me after our parents died. Hearing her voice sent a pang through me.

Brandon's voice hardened. "Don't worry about her. She's getting ridiculous. Thinks she can ignore everyone."

"Oh, come on. What's with you two now?" Margot tried to calm him. "You know she studied nutrition for your stomach problems, and she even learned to cook for you. Cynthia's still an outsider..."

He cut her off, irritation written all over his face. "Margot, don't compare her to Cynthia. Rosa's full of tricks and lies. Now she's gone off the grid on purpose. I don't have time for her.

"I'm working. I gotta go."

Brandon hung up before she could say another word.

Maybe just hearing my name set him off, because he barely glanced at my wrist before ripping off his gloves.

And just like that, he missed his chance to recognize me.

A sudden noise came from the hallway.

Brandon stepped out and found a teenage boy standing there, eyes swollen from crying.

"Please help me find my sister. She's missing," the boy choked out, voice shaking with desperation.

"Hey, easy. Take a breath and tell me what's going on," said Brandon, looking suddenly serious.

"My sister's 21. She works out of town, but I haven't been able to reach her for days," he sobbed.

"She's all I have left. Help me find her. Please, I'm begging you." He fell apart as he talked, and even I felt a heaviness settle in.

His sister had been missing for two days. Of course, he was terrified.

I'd been gone for four, and Brandon still thought I was messing with him.

I closed my eyes, realizing I didn't even have tears left.

The brother who once loved me more than anyone wasn't the same anymore.

Brandon and Joe exchanged a look and watched the boy shake for a moment. Brandon pressed his lips together, trying to figure out how to break the possible news.

"Listen, kid, we found an unidentified body earlier, and she..." His voice was low, reluctant.

The boy's legs gave out. He almost collapsed, whispering, "No... no, it can't be..."

Someone had to hold him up as they led him away to take his details.

Just then, his phone rang, and he picked up.

His sister's cheerful voice burst through the speaker. "Hey! Where did you go? Why aren't you home? I've been on the road for two days. I wanted to surprise you."

"Thank God," he said. "I thought something happened to you. I'm coming home right now."

He wiped his face, bowed to the officers, and took off running.

Brandon and I both let out a breath of relief.

The investigation dragged on. Detectives came back one after another, with nothing.

Brandon's frown only deepened. Time was slipping by, and nothing was moving forward.

Two days later.

Joe walked up to him, worry written all over his face.

"Bran, something's off. Rosa's been out of contact for days. Weird."

Brandon was already on edge from the case, and hearing my name only made him snap.

"Joe, she's fine. I don't have time to babysit her. I need to be there for Cynthia, or I won't even make it to her graduation."

Joe finally lost it. "Stop being stubborn. She could actually be in trouble. If you won't look for her, I will."

Brandon waved him off. "Go ahead. She's not my problem. Honestly, I'd be better off if she stayed gone."

"How the hell did I end up with you as my student?" Joe growled, watching Brandon go.

I stayed in the corner, watching Joe stand up for me, and tears slid down my face before I even realized it.

Bran, when would you finally realize that was me?

Brandon had barely stepped outside when his phone rang.

"Hello, is this Rosalie Naylor's brother? I'm her advisor. There's a small issue with her thesis, and I haven't been able to reach her. Could you—"

Brandon cut her off, irritation clear in his voice.

"How would I know where she went? Don't drag me into this. Whether she's alive or not isn't my business."

He slammed the phone down.

His jaw clenched as he pulled out his phone and fired off a message.

"Rosalie, enough with the drama! If you skip Thea's graduation, I'm coming for you."

The tears came, even without a face to cry with.

I didn't skip anything.

My body had been lying in the autopsy room next door for two days.

When would he realize it was me? When would he listen to Joe?

The door opened, and Cynthia walked in with a lunchbox.

Brandon's eyes lit up, and he turned to her with a warm smile.

"Thea, what are you doing here?"

She smiled back, sweet and gentle. "I was worried about you and brought you some lunch."

He ruffled her hair. "You're the best. Not like that ungrateful brat who only causes trouble."

Cynthia's eyes filled with tears.

Brandon froze. "Hey, what's wrong? Did anyone upset you?"

She bit her lip, looking hurt. "I ran into Rosa on the way. I tried to say hi, but she shoved me and threw this pendant at me. She said she didn't want anything to do with you anymore."

Brandon glanced down and saw the scrape on her knee.

He pulled out his phone again, furious. "That damn girl!"

Joe caught sight of the pendant and snatched it from Cynthia. "You're saying Rosa just threw this at you?"

She nodded fast, edging behind Brandon like she was scared.

"Joe, I told you she's fine. You never believe me. She hurt Cynthia. I'm not letting that slide," Brandon said.

Joe shook his head with a serious face. "No. That pendant's been with Rosa since she was little. It's the only thing your mom left her. There's no way she'd just throw it."

Brandon switched his phone to speaker. "Just watch. She'll pick up."

I didn't expect the call to go through.

And the moment it did, Brandon exploded. "Rosalie, get to the office, now! You hurt Thea? I swear you're done."

There was a pause before someone finally spoke. "Bran, this phone was found at the murder scene."