Tears leaked from Christen's eyes, and even though she understood how she got to this moment, she still didn't understand why it happened.

Her anger flared to life as her fraternal twin sat there as if none of this was her fault, and at that moment, she hated Anna even though she still remembered a time when they were so close that they finished each other's sentences.

She stared mutinously out the window at this faded tar road that would eventually lead to the overpriced boarding school her father enlisted her into after what happened at their last school.

How had ten months changed everything so drastically?

Anna left for Summer camp, but having a slight cold, she stayed behind. The first day her twin texted her that they didn't have any reception out there, but they still called her that evening and spoke for a few minutes.

She didn't check in the next night, but Christen didn't worry; maybe the reception was bad. By day four, her parents were concerned and called the school.

The camp staff assured them nothing was wrong, but Anna was out canoeing and couldn't answer the phone.

Until that long weekend, they were never apart for more than a few days, but the girl who returned was nothing like the one who left, yet she was the only one who noticed that Anna suddenly hated her.

She did everything within her power to undermine Christen and sat back to watch the aftermath.

Anna got her kicked out of three schools in ten months for behavior she could not believe her parents thought her capable of.

Every time Anna confirmed what everybody else said happened, their parents believed her, but, for some reason, didn't believe Christen—not after the first time.

Even Thomas, their brother and her best friend, stopped trusting her after the second incident.

***

Why did they buy that a good girl like her, a straight-A student two grades ahead of everyone her age, would do such stupid and juvenile things as put a snake in a teacher's locker? Especially since she hated reptiles, while Anna loved them.

Since they were little, she was the overachiever with her future planned, college applications all sent out at age fourteen, honor council, captain of the volleyball team, volunteer lifeguard, and perfect daughter.

Anna had good grades and was the hockey team's captain, but she wasn't Christen and didn't want to be.

Why did her sister suddenly destroy all her plans, hopes, and dreams? It made no sense.

What changed between them?

"Remember, Christen, this is your last chance," her father said coldly, catching her eye in the rearview mirror.

"Yes, Father," she said quietly, tired of defending herself, sick of their disbelief, and heartbroken. He had always been "Daddy," and she had been the apple of his eye, but that was no longer true.

She chose to stare out the window at the lush green countryside instead of being judged by that icy stare that was so like her own. Sometimes when her father looked at her of late, she did not know if she saw disappointment or hatred in his eyes.

"If you get kicked out of this school, you're not going to waste any more of our money," her mother said, glaring straight ahead.

Christen saw her mother's reflection in the side mirror. The corners of that mouth that always used to smile now drooped, and the laughter glittering in her eyes had turned to shards of stone. Her jokes had gone silent, and a glowering darkness had erased her enthusiasm.

She glanced at her sister, sensing the way she was being watched, and a chill ran down her spine when she saw that tiny, satisfied smile.

How can someone become so evil so quickly?

"Yes, Mother," she said, curbing her urge to scream as she turned back toward the window.

"Don't 'yes, Mother,' me! If you pull any of the shit you pulled at Grovendor, you will not be welcome in our house!" her mother yelled unexpectedly, and her world ground to a standstill.

"Cecilia," her father warned shortly.

She could not believe her ears, and pain seared through her as silent tears slid down her cheeks.

Had the world gone mad? How did their perfect family become these heartless people?

"We talked about this, Phil. If she does not behave, she will have to find a place to work and stay because I will not have her back in my house," her mother bit out.

"She is still our daughter!" her father hissed.

"Our daughter was on her way to becoming a brilliant lawyer, not a bloody criminal. She chose to ruin her future and will not do the same to our other children!" Cecilia hissed.

"We are not going to argue all the way there," Phil said decisively.

"You should have sent her away the first time," Anna needled, keeping the argument from dying down.

***

Anna always had good grades; she was the captain of the hockey team, but she wasn't Christen, and she didn't want to be, yet, for no reason that she could divine, Anna had destroyed all her plans, hopes, and dreams.

"Can we stop? I must pee," Mike said, probably wanting out of the car, and she wished she could get out, step off at some gas station and catch a bus to somewhere else.

"The next gas station is four miles away," Phil said, his tone making it clear that he had no intention of stopping.

Mike kicked the back of her seat as if it were her fault, as everything was of late.

"So, now you're punishing Mike because you're mad at Christen?" Anna needled.

"Will everyone fucking shut up!" Phil hollered.

It was the first time she heard her father say such a thing, and her brain wouldn't accept it.

"Phil, watch out!" her mother shouted, but it was too late.

***

The vehicle skidded across the road, and the impact preceded the crunch of metal against metal, breaking glass, screams, and airbags exploding before they flipped through the air.

A moment of weightlessness followed another impact, and the world moved in slow motion as the SUV lifted from the ground two more times before landing upside down and scraping along the tarmac to a violent standstill.

Darkness overtook Christen, even as she noticed that the silence was much worse than their earlier screaming match.