Surviving As Parents

"Father, please! I'm sorry, don't let them kill me, please!" She clutched her father's leg, trying to get the man to listen to her pleas, but he just shoved her away. "Silence! Were you so jealous of your sister that you decided to kill her?"

"Please, Father, I swear I didn't poison her; it wasn't me!" She cried out to her father, kneeling on the floor, begging him to believe her, but he just glared at the poor girl even harder.

She turned to her brother, who stood beside her father, his face stone cold, and his eyes shone with hatred, but that wasn't right. She's his sister, so he'll definitely help her. Right? She got up from her knees and ran for her brother, gripping his shirt tightly in her hands while tears ran down her face. "Brother, I didn't do anything, please believe me."

Not a word came out of his mouth; he only raised his hand and slapped her across the face, making her fall back down to her knees. "I've had enough of your lies, Avynn! Guards, take her away!"

No, please, Derek! Father!" Her arms were grabbed, and she was dragged to the deepest part of the house, kicking and screaming her innocence. She was dragged to the deepest part of the house, where they kept criminals, and was shoved into a cell without care.

She needed to escape; she needed to prove her innocence before they executed her.

"Avynn?" She flinched at the soft voice that came from the bars in front of her before scrambling to the owner. "Sister? Sister, is that you?! Please help me! You know I didn't do it, right? I'm innocent!"

Her sister stared at her intensely before placing a hand on her cheek and rubbing it tenderly. "Of course, I know you didn't do it."

A smile broke out on her face. Of course, her sister would believe her; her sister was the sweetest person ever.

"Then can you please tell Father I didn't do it? If it's you, then Father will surely listen!"

"Oh, silly little Avynn, don't you get it?"

"Huh, what are you-"

"Just use your silly little brain for once. The poison was found in your room, and the last person to enter was my maid. And the fact that it was the tea you gave me that was poisoned. Doesn't it seem weird to you?"

"I don't get it; what are you trying to say?"

"Oh, poor you, you still don't get it, don't you? Fine, I'll spell it out for you, since I'm such a good sister." She placed her hand on her pitiful sister's cheek and gave her a condescending smile. "This-everything that just happened-was all my doing."

"What?"

"Why, you ask? Well, it's because you don't deserve to be here, of course."

She watched how the emotions on poor Avynn's face seemed to come together to create a perfect harmony of rage and sadness.

"After all, I'm supposed to be the only daughter of the house, not you."

She watched as her eyes filled with hatred and sadness before walking away with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Sister, no, don't do this to me. No! Annabeth!!"