"Lilith, wake up! What will I do without you?"

My sister lay unconscious in the hospital bed, her body still and unresponsive. The sheets beneath her were stained with blood, her skin so badly damaged that her bones were visible in places. The face that once charmed everyone was now unrecognizable.

The doctor's expression grew more serious by the second. "Family members, please step aside. We need to begin emergency treatment."

They wheeled her into the emergency room, and the door closed for two agonizing hours.

My mother collapsed into a chair, sobbing. My father had lost count of how many critical condition forms he had signed, while I stood there, eyes filled with despair and burning rage.

When the doctors finally emerged, they could only sigh.

"We did our best. At least the fall wasn't from too high a floor. With luck, she might recover, but she'll likely be bedridden for life..."

Upon hearing those words, my mother fainted. My father barely managed to hold her up.

"Doctor, I'm begging you," he pleaded, kneeling. "She's only 17!"

The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "There's nothing more we can do..."

Even now, it's hard for me to believe any of this is real. Just half an hour ago, I had been eagerly awaiting my sister's return from school.

I'm a troubled teen, known for my bad temper and lies. Anyone who says something I don't like? I hit them.

My parents couldn't control me, so they sent me to a special school. I could only come home once a month, and it was always the day I looked forward to most.

We were seated at the dinner table, waiting for my sister to return from school, when she finally walked in-slowly, unlike her usual self. She seemed... down. At the time, I didn't think much of it, figuring her mood was probably due to her grades slipping.

Her face seemed swollen, though it was hard to tell since she had her hoodie pulled up.

"Hey, sis! Come eat!" I called out, happy to see her.

But she didn't say a word and headed straight to her room. Then I heard the sound of the door being locked.

"Is she in a bad mood?" I asked.

Mom shrugged. "Maybe. Let's eat first. I'll reheat her food later."

After a while, my mom knocked on my sister's door but got no response. Eventually, she used the spare key to open it.

The moment the door opened, she screamed.

By the time my dad and I rushed in, the room was empty except for the wide-open window. I ran to the window and looked down, and what I saw will haunt me for the rest of my life.

At the hospital, my mom kept stroking my sister's hand, waiting for her to wake up, while my dad stood by, watching with sorrow.

My sister's phone kept vibrating, the caller ID showing an unmarked number.

I picked it up and answered.

A woman's voice, mocking and triumphant, greeted me. "Feeling good now? You thought you were so pure and perfect, huh? All that studying for what? If you ever try to steal a guy I've set my sights on again, I'll beat you even harder next time!"

I froze, tears streaming down my face.

My sister had endured bullying for so long, never once telling anyone.

"Come on, Courtney, don't be so harsh. You've scared her so much she can't even speak!" I could hear laughter from several women on the other end.

"You're done for," I growled.

The voice on the phone paused. "Who is this?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. Why did you hit her?"

"I hit her because I wanted to. What are you gonna do about it? We're minors. Even if you report us, what can you do? At most, you'll get some compensation. My family's rich. Do you think we care?"

And with that, she hung up. Moments later, I received a video.

In the video, my sister was naked, her head bowed in shame. Courtney and a group of seven or eight other girls had her cornered. Courtney grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into the camera.

Their laughter echoed through the phone. Rage surged inside me, my fists clenched so tightly I could hear the faint sound of my knuckles cracking.

Since I was young, I'd been quick-tempered and unruly.

When I was four, a kid from our village stepped on my new shoes. I beat him up so badly that I twisted his pinky finger out of joint.

Even though I'm a girl, I've never been any less of a fighter than the boys.

From that day on, no one wanted to play with me. They called me a psycho, said I had violent tendencies.

My parents paid off so many people over the years that, in the end, they had no choice but to send me to a special school. Even there, I was feared, considered the worst of the worst.

My father, who had overheard Courtney's threats, angrily called the school principal.

It was clear Courtney's family had some influence; they had donated several buildings to the school, and the principal tried to mediate.

"Sorry, the school's surveillance cameras are down. We conducted an investigation and found no evidence of bullying. Courtney is from a respectable family, and I don't believe she'd do such a thing. If there was a conflict, it must've been a misunderstanding. Let's just have Yuen apologize to Lilith and leave it at that."

"So you're protecting her because she's wealthy, huh? If you don't give my daughter justice, I'll take legal action!"

The principal grew indignant.

"Please don't make baseless accusations! Our school is strict. Nothing like this would happen here. Even if you sue us, we stand by our conduct."

With that, he hung up. When my father tried to call back, the number had been disconnected.

My father's hands trembled with rage as he slammed the phone to the ground, shattering it like a web of broken glass.

Since no one was going to deliver justice, I'd take matters into my own hands.

I turned and looked at my sister. Her brows were furrowed, her body still hooked up to a ventilator. Covered by the blanket, her injuries were too terrible to see. The marks of bullying were all too clear. No one knew when she might wake up.

My parents, hearts broken, kept vigil by her side, never daring to look away. Seeing them like that filled me with a bitter hatred.

Through gritted teeth, I muttered, "I won't let them get away with this. Every person who hurt my sister will pay."

My parents looked at me, considering my words for a long moment before they gave a heavy nod. I understood-they were giving me their silent approval.

I wouldn't deal with them directly. No, I would drag them into the abyss, torment them piece by piece, and only when they were at their lowest would I deliver the final blow.

I shed my rebellious look-took out my piercings, changed into my school uniform, and slung a backpack over my shoulder. I would take my sister's place and walk into that school myself.