Prologue
The day before college move-in, my parents killed me.
Together.
My sister took my place and went to school like nothing happened.
Then I opened my eyes again.
Three months before the SATs.
I wasn't going to die like that a second time. So I stopped trying.
Dead last on every exam. Defiant to my parents' faces. And my backstabbing sister? I slapped her across hers.
I suffered enough in my last life. This time around, I wouldn't swallow even the smallest bitter pill.
Chapter 1
My life ended the night before I was supposed to leave for college.
I remember it clearly. Ten o'clock. A storm raging outside.
I'd finished packing everything I needed for move-in day and climbed into bed.
Somewhere between sleep and waking, I heard footsteps. Soft. Careful.
My eyes flew open. My parents were standing over my bed. One of them was pressing a cloth toward my mouth.
I tried to scream. Nothing came out.
"Desiree, we raised you for seventeen years. It's time you paid us back."
I thrashed against them, staring up into their twisted faces. It didn't matter. I couldn't fight them off.
My mind started slipping. Through the haze, I heard my sister's voice — Dulcie. "Are you sure this is okay?"
"Relax. No one will ever find out." That was my mother. Calm. Cold. Cruel.
"Desiree, you have to die. How else is my Dulcie going to use your identity to get into college?"
The world blurred. Spun. Then went black.
When I opened my eyes again, I was locked in a filthy pig pen.
My whole body was in agony. Especially the parts I can't bring myself to name.
A cold so deep it felt like it came from inside my bones.
Fear was all I had left. Fear, and a future made of darkness.
From the daily *****, I pieced it together. I'd been sold for three thousand dollars. Sold to bear children.
I tried to run.
But I was too broken. I didn't even make it past the front door before they dragged me back.
After that, I never left the pig pen again.
Not until I died.
