Chapter 3

My mother looked at me. For one second, something in her eyes broke.

Then my father yanked her back into the house.

"You can't treat her like this," she snapped at him. "How is she supposed to go to college now?"

"Who needs an American university? I've already arranged for her to go abroad—Oxford, Sciences Po, her pick."

I sat in the corner of the living room. A bitter laugh bubbled out of my throat, coppery and warm.

The blood in my mouth tasted like pennies.

I unscrewed the cap on the bottle of weedkiller I'd hidden.

A whimper came from outside the door.

I opened it. The stray dog pressed itself against my legs, obedient, hopeful.

I tried to push it away. It nudged back.

I sighed.

Fine. Just until I find someone to take it.

I pulled out the chipped washbasin, filled it with water, and scrubbed the dog clean. Then I carried it into my corner and sat against the wall, holding it, trying to think of anywhere in the world I could send it.

Apart from Ethan, I didn't have any friends.

My whole life, classmates had avoided me. They could smell the faint, stale reek that clung to my clothes.

They whispered that I'd grown up eating garbage.

Little dog, little dog. Where can I send you?

Lila pushed open the door and her eyes lit up the second she saw the dog in my arms.

"Oh my God, he's gorgeous!"

"Sis, give him to me. You can't afford to keep him anyway."

The puppy shrank further into my chest.

Something ugly flickered through Lila's eyes.

Then she shrieked, clutched her arm, and crumpled to the floor.

My parents came running.

Lila sniffled pitifully. "Daddy, Mom, don't be mad at her."

"Sis is just upset. That's why she let her dog bite me."

"I'm okay. Really."

My mother yanked her closer, checking her arm up and down. "Where did he bite? Where? A girl can't have scars—"

I didn't move. I didn't speak.

My father looked at me sitting there silent, and I watched his temper rise.

"I can see you've completely lost your mind these past few days."

"Think you can give me attitude now, huh?"

"If your mother and I hadn't slaved away to raise you, you wouldn't even be standing here to glare at me!"

I sank to my knees and put my forehead on the floor.

"I'm sorry."

My mother suddenly started crying. She shoved at my father's chest.

"Are you ever going to stop? Look what you've turned our daughter into!"

"Zoey, actually—"

Lila dropped to her knees and started knocking her forehead against the floor in front of me.

"Sis, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have wanted your dog. You were right to make him bite me. As long as you stop fighting with Mom and Dad, I'll let him bite me every day. I mean it."

"You filthy—!"

"All those years of school and this is what you've become? Some morally bankrupt brat!"

"Honey, go boil that mutt!"

"This girl needs a real lesson!"

When he said boil the dog, my body started shaking. I grabbed the hem of his pants.

I slammed my forehead against the floor over and over, splitting it open all over again.

"No! Dad, please! I was wrong. I'll beg, I'll apologize, just don't—"

The corner of his mouth curved in satisfaction. His voice came out flat and cold.

"Too late. If I don't hurt you, you won't learn."

He picked the puppy up by the scruff and carried it toward the kitchen.

I staggered after him, crying, begging.

"Please, Dad, I learned. I really learned."

"I shouldn't have made faces. I shouldn't have forgotten how hard you work."

"I'll apologize to my sister."

I lunged toward Lila and put my bleeding forehead back on the floor.

"Sis, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Her voice went honey-sweet.

"Sis, Mom and Dad are only doing this for your own good. If you don't learn this time, you'll cause something so much worse later."

My father nodded approvingly.

"That's my Lila. Always thoughtful."

Then he raised the cleaver.

The shriek cut through the house. I couldn't tell whose it was—mine or the dog's.