My mother climbed nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps.

Bowing at every step.

To beg that protective charm to keep me alive.

"Where is it? Where in the world did it go?"

I knelt on the floor.

Searching the gaps between the furniture.

Checking the trash can.

Until a soft laugh drifted from behind me.

I turned.

The little teddy in Sabina's arms had a pink bow tied on its head.

The cord of the protective charm around its neck had been shortened.

Just enough to hang at its throat.

"Sis, it happens to be Gregory Harrington's birthday.

"All the luxury pieces he usually wears bore him now.

"This charm your mom prayed for suits him so much better. Gregory just loves it~"

My eyes went red in an instant.

On that charm.

At some point, new letters had been embroidered.

【Gregory】

"Give it back!"

I strode forward.

Sabina gasped and stepped back:

"Sis! You don't want him to have it? That's fine, I'll take the charm off for you right now!"

And she really did reach for the strap around the dog's neck.

But the clasp that was so easy to undo.

In her hands, simply wouldn't come loose.

Back and forth she fumbled.

The charm gave a ripping "rrrip."

The stuffing inside spilled out.

"Sabina!"

I lunged to snatch it.

Then a violent pain shot through my wrist.

"Woof! Woof woof woof!"

Gregory had thrown himself between me and his owner.

I stepped back.

He sprang at me.

Sank his teeth into my ankle.

"Oh no! Gregory, no! Let go, now!"

Sabina clapped a hand over her mouth.

I crashed hard to the floor.

Fangs tore into flesh.

Agony ripped through me.

"Gregory! Gregory, behave!!"

Sabina kept coaxing.

But her hands never went near the dog.

Not until my Achilles tendon tore and blood pooled across the floor.

Only then did the corner of her mouth curve up.

She scooped Gregory into her arms.

"Woof woof woof!"

Even cradled against her, Gregory kept snarling at me.

I gasped, wrecked and shaking.

My calf trembled.

Sabina looked down at me, the corner of her lips lifting:

"So sorry, Sis. Gregory's shy around strangers. Anyone who doesn't belong to this house, their scent sets him off."

She rolled that charm between her fingers, toying with it:

"This one, Gregory really loves it.

"Since it won't come off anyway, don't be so petty about it, Sis."

And she turned away.

Stroking Gregory's head: "Good baby~"

I said nothing.

Reached out.

My hand found the fruit knife on the table.

"Sabina."

She turned back.

The next second.

Blood burst from Gregory's throat.

Beads of it spattered across Sabina's face at once.

"Yeowl... whimper!"

Gregory let out a shriek.

Bared his teeth to bite at me again.

I clamped his head down with one hand.

A wet "squelch."

The knife pulled free.

Gregory thrashed a few times.

Then went completely still.

"Gregory!!"

Sabina screamed, her legs buckling as she dropped to the floor:

"Gregory? Gregory, what's wrong! Open your eyes, don't scare Mommy! Gregory!"

She lifted her head, eyes bloodshot:

"You killed Gregory! You lunatic!"

I bent down and slipped the charm free, looking down at her:

"A dog that bites was never worth keeping."

"Naomi Joyce! You murderer! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Sabina flung herself at me like she'd lost her mind.

I sidestepped.

She slammed into the floor.

Her knees bruised on impact.

She knelt there.

Sobbing until she couldn't catch her breath.

"Sabina, honey?"

Zachary's voice came from the doorway.

Sabina snapped her head up.

Tears of injury hit the floor at once.

"Mr. Harding!"

She threw herself into his arms.

"She—she killed Gregory!"

Zachary looked at the knife in my hand.

Then at Gregory, who had stopped breathing long ago.

His pupils shrank all at once.

"Have you lost your mind!"

A hand clamped around my throat.

It pinned me hard against the wall.

"Do you have any idea? That dog was the one who got Sabina through her whole depression!

"I searched forever to pick out that dog, and you just killed it like that!"

I looked at him coldly.

"Anyone who lets that animal wear my mother's keepsake had better be ready to die."

"You—!"

Zachary stared at me, shock in his eyes.

Sabina choked back a sob.

"Mr. Harding, I didn't! I never touched her protective charm!"

The hand around my throat tightened.

Zachary looked at me through gritted teeth.

"What is wrong with you? You were never this insane before!"

I smiled.

A bitter smile.

"You see? Whatever she says, you always believe it.

"Even now, when I'm dying, you still—"

"Enough, Naomi!"

He seized my arm.

"You want to pull the same old trick again? Fine!"

He wrenched me hard.

My bleeding feet staggered.

Then he shoved me down against the railing of the open balcony.

Behind me was a five-story drop.

He bore down on my shoulders, holding me so I couldn't straighten up.

"Then go die! Go on!"

I said nothing.

I only looked quietly into his eyes.

Those eyes that had once been full of love, that had called me "sweetheart."

Seeing that I stayed silent.

He gave a cold laugh.

The pressure on me eased a little.

"See? You're just putting on a show!"

With that, he turned away, still sneering.

"Zachary."

I called after him. "You said it. If I really had cancer, you'd die with me.

"Is that true?"

He turned back.

Mockery in every line of his face.

"If you really had cancer, I'd die with you!"

I smiled.

"Good."

Zachary froze.

He gave a cold snort and turned back around.

Striding toward the weeping Sabina.

The next second.

Behind him, something moved.

He whipped his head around.

"Naomi!!"