Chapter 2: What They Did To My Daughter

The moment I entered the principal’s office, I knew something was horribly wrong.

Emma was sitting on a small couch in the corner.

Her face was buried in a blanket.

A school counselor sat beside her.

When she heard my voice, she looked up.

And I almost collapsed.

Her beautiful auburn hair was gone.

Jagged chunks remained in uneven patches across her scalp.

Some areas had been cut down to the skin.

Other sections hung in tangled strands.

It looked as though someone had attacked her with a lawnmower.

“Mommy…”

She burst into tears.

I ran to her.

“What happened?”

The principal exchanged a glance with the counselor.

Then he spoke.

“Your sister came to the school this afternoon.”

I stared at him.

“My sister?”

“Rebecca signed in as a family emergency contact.”

My blood turned cold.

According to witnesses, Rebecca had approached Emma after rehearsal.

She told Emma there was a surprise waiting for her.

Then she led her down an empty hallway.

Into an unused classroom.

Locked the door.

And pulled out a pair of art scissors.

For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.

“No,” I whispered.

The principal nodded grimly.

“Several students heard Emma screaming.”

When teachers forced the door open, Rebecca was standing over her.

Holding fistfuls of Emma’s hair.

And saying the same thing over and over.

“If my daughter can't be Alice, neither can you.”

The room spun.

My own sister.

My daughter's aunt.

Had done this.

But the nightmare wasn't over.

Because security footage revealed something even worse.

This wasn't the first time Rebecca had targeted children at the school.