Chapter 2: The Sound of Scissors
Emily knew something was wrong the moment she stepped through the front door.
The house was too quiet.
Usually, Linda watched television in the living room while Vanessa played music upstairs. That afternoon, the television was off, and Vanessa's bedroom door stood open.
Emily dropped her backpack beside the stairs.
“Vanessa?””
No answer.
She climbed the stairs, her sneakers squeaking against the polished wood.
Her bedroom door was ajar.
A thin strip of purple fabric lay just beyond the threshold.
Emily stopped breathing.
“No.””
She pushed the door open.
Vanessa stood beside the bed, holding the purple dress in one hand and the scissors in the other. Several pieces of satin lay scattered across the carpet like fallen leaves.
Vanessa looked up.
For one terrible second, neither girl spoke.
Then Vanessa smiled.
“Oh, you're home early.””
Emily stared at the dress.
The skirt had been cut through the middle. One strap hung by a thread. Deep, uneven slashes ran across the bodice, destroying the careful shape of the fabric.
“What did you do?”” Emily whispered.
Vanessa tilted her head.
“I'm making improvements.””
Emily rushed forward.
“Give it to me!””
She reached for the dress, but Vanessa lifted it out of reach.
“Careful! You might cut yourself.””
“Vanessa, stop!””
Emily grabbed the other side of the fabric.
The satin tore further with a soft, sickening rip.
Emily recoiled as if someone had struck her.
“You ruined it.””
Vanessa glanced at the scissors.
“Technically, I improved its ventilation.””
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Why would you do this? I never did anything to you.””
Vanessa dropped the dress onto the bed.
“That's your problem. You walk around acting like everyone should love you because Daddy bought you a necklace and paid for your stupid dress.””
“He didn't buy the dress. I saved for it.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Don't correct me.””
“It's the truth!””
Vanessa stepped forward until they were inches apart.
“You want the truth? My mother married your father because she wanted a decent life. And you keep acting like this house belongs to you.””
Emily shook her head.
“This is my home.””
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa raised the scissors and snipped another strip from the skirt.
Emily lunged toward her wrist.
“STOP!””
Vanessa yanked the scissors away and deliberately cut through the remaining strap.
The dress fell to the floor.
Emily sank beside it, gathering the ruined pieces into her lap.
She could smell the faint sweetness of the fabric conditioner she had used when she first brought the dress home. She remembered standing in front of her mirror, turning from side to side while Daniel pretended to judge a fashion competition.
Ten out of ten, he had declared. Possibly eleven if the contestant agrees to do the dishes.
Now the dress was nothing but scraps.
“You're horrible,” Emily whispered.
Vanessa's smile vanished for a moment.
Then she stepped closer.
“What did you say?””
Emily looked up, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“You're horrible.””
Vanessa grabbed Emily's wrist.
“Say it again.””
Emily tried to pull free.
“Let go of me!””
The commotion brought Linda running from downstairs.
“What is going on?””
Vanessa released Emily immediately.
She let the scissors fall onto the bed and backed away, arranging her face into an expression of wounded innocence.
“Mom, thank goodness.””
Linda looked from Vanessa to Emily, then to the torn dress.
“What happened here?””
Vanessa's lower lip trembled.
“Emily attacked me.””
Emily stared at her.
“What?””
“She came in screaming and tried to take the scissors. I was only trying to help her fix the dress, and she grabbed me.””
“That is a lie!”” Emily cried.
Linda's face flushed.
“Don't you dare shout at me.””
“She cut it! Look at the scissors!””
Emily pointed to the bed.
Vanessa moved quickly, picking them up before Linda could inspect them.
“She was threatening me with these,” Vanessa said.
“I managed to get them away from her.””
Emily struggled to speak.
“She was laughing when I walked in. She cut the dress on purpose!””
Linda's eyes narrowed.
“Why would Vanessa destroy something you paid for?””
“Because she hates me!””
“Enough!””
Linda's voice cracked through the room.
Emily flinched.
Vanessa lowered her gaze, but not before Emily caught the tiny smile returning to her face.
Linda stepped toward Emily.
“You have been trying to turn Daniel against my daughter since the day we moved in. You think you're the only person who matters in this family.””
“I've never done that.””
“Then why is Vanessa always upset?””
“Because she does things like this!””
Linda's hand moved before Emily could react.
The slap landed hard across Emily's left cheek.
Her head snapped sideways.
For a moment, the room went completely silent.
Emily stood motionless, one hand pressed against her face. Her ears rang. The sharp taste of blood touched the inside of her lip where her teeth had caught it.
Linda stared at her, breathing heavily.
“Maybe now you'll learn to respect this family.””
Emily slowly turned back.
“You hit me.””
“Don't be dramatic.””
“You hit me because she lied.””
Linda pointed toward the hallway.
“Go to your room. I don't want to hear another word.””
Emily looked at Vanessa.
Her stepsister was watching her with an expression of pure satisfaction.
Then Vanessa lifted the scissors slightly and whispered, “Should have picked a different color.””
Emily felt something inside her collapse.
She gathered the shredded dress from the floor, clutching the fabric against her chest, and walked toward the door.
At the top of the stairs, she heard Linda speaking again.
“Vanessa, sweetheart, are you all right?””
Vanessa's voice became soft and fragile.
“My wrist hurts a little, Mom.””
“Oh, let me see.””
Emily stopped.
The girl who had cut her dress was now receiving comfort.
The woman who had slapped her was checking for imaginary injuries.
Emily descended the stairs without another word.
She sat on the bottom step, placed the ruined dress in her lap, and tried to wipe away her tears before anyone noticed.
Then the front door opened.
Heavy work boots crossed the entryway.
Daniel Carter stepped inside, carrying his lunch cooler and a paper bag from the hardware store.
He looked at Emily's swollen cheek.
Then he looked at the shredded purple satin in her arms.
His expression changed.
“Emily?””
She tried to stand.
“Dad, I can explain.””
Daniel set the bags down slowly.
“Who hit you?””
Emily's lips trembled.
From upstairs, Linda called, “Daniel, you're home early! There's been a little misunderstanding.””
Vanessa appeared behind her mother, still holding the scissors.
Daniel looked up at them.
Then his gaze returned to his daughter.
“Emily,” he said quietly, “I asked you a question.””
She swallowed hard.
“Linda slapped me.””
The silence that followed was so complete that even the refrigerator seemed loud.
Daniel's eyes lifted toward his wife.
“Come downstairs, Linda.””
Linda's face changed.
“Daniel, don't make this into something it isn't.””
“Downstairs. Now.””
Vanessa's confident expression faltered.
For the first time that afternoon, she lowered the scissors.
Daniel stepped aside to let Emily pass him, then held out his hand.
“Give me the dress, sweetheart.””
Emily hesitated before placing the torn fabric into his palm.
He looked at each ruined piece.
Then he raised his eyes toward Vanessa.
“Tell me exactly what happened.””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Linda immediately interrupted.
“Emily became hysterical, and Vanessa was defending herself. You know how emotional Emily can be.””
Daniel didn't look at his wife.
“I wasn't speaking to you.””
Linda froze.
Vanessa glanced at her mother, searching for the familiar signal that would tell her how to proceed.
But Daniel was already walking toward the stairs.
He stopped directly in front of Vanessa.
“Put the scissors down.””
Vanessa obeyed.
The metal clattered against the wooden banister.
Daniel looked at his daughter's stepsister, and for the first time since Vanessa had moved into his home, there was no patience in his face.
“Now,” he said, “you're going to tell me why my daughter is bleeding.””
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Vanessa swallowed.
And the smug smile finally disappeared.
