My Brother's Keeper

Since infancy, Sienna Hartley was forced to serve as her younger brother Danny’s scapegoat. Charged with correcting his every error, she spent years scrubbing his messes and apologizing for his thefts. However, when a seven-year-old Danny blames her for injuring a local boy, their mother heartlessly surrenders Sienna to the victim's father, Hugo Osborn. This dark betrayal marks the end of her old life, as the young girl disappears into a world from which she will never return.

Chapters

Chapter 4

However, Mom and Dad walked right past me and out the door. When they emerged, Danny rushed forward and threw his arms around Dad's legs.

"Dad, please! Go bring Sienna back! Please! I swear I'll never get into another fight again!"

Tears streamed down his face. I floated in front of him and made a silly face, trying to make him laugh. "Stop crying, dummy! We got tricked! I didn't really get sent away."

He acted like he could not see me and as though he did not hear a word I said. Dad pulled him to his feet, his expression stern. "This is the last time your sister pays for your mistakes. Starting today, whatever mistake you make, you deal with the consequences yourself. All these years, Sienna's been taking the blame for you. You'd better treat her right from now on. Understood?"

Danny nodded frantically and promised right away, "I will, Dad! Just please bring her back. That man looked really scary."

When Dad nodded, Danny finally relaxed. "Alright. Let's go get your sister now. It's her birthday today."

A smile finally returned to Dad's face. Warmth spread through my chest at his words.

They really did love me. Mrs. Fletcher next door was wrong when she said Mom only loved Danny. She was completely wrong! Next time I saw her, I would tell her exactly that.

"Danny, we're going to bring your sister home now."

I blinked in confusion. I was already home. I waved my hands frantically and tried to grab their arms. "I'm right here!"

Mom suddenly shivered and looked around. "Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden? Especially on my arm."

Dad nodded. "The weather's probably changing. We need to hurry and get Sienna back."

Before leaving, Dad shut the window. "That should make it warmer. Sienna hates the cold."

He did not notice I was standing right in front of him. He walked straight through my body.

That was when it hit me. Why could they not touch me or see me? This was just like what happened on TV… A violent shudder ran through me. This was what happened after people died.

The thought left me frozen in place.

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