Chapter 3

I watched him quickly throw on his clothes and leave the room. His eyes were red with fury, his fists clenched so tight the veins bulged. He was in his car and gone within minutes. The whole way there, he kept calling me with his jaw locked tight. He seemed absolutely livid. When I still didn't answer after multiple attempts, he suddenly snapped and smashed his phone against the car window. "Joanne! You deserve to die! "You'd better not come back at all! If you do come back, I'll make your life hell!" What had I done now? Roxanne called him, so how could that possibly have anything to do with me? Watching him rage like this just left me completely baffled. But suddenly, I remembered what that man who killed me had said about helping Roxanne get revenge. Could Roxanne have known what happened to me and had called Lucas about it? Then why was he acting like this? Filled with confusion, I followed him all the way to Roxanne's apartment building. Lucas ran upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. Roxanne's door was open, and there was a blood-soaked cardboard box on the floor with a printed note taped to it. "A gift for Ms. Roxanne, from Joanne." Even though I was just a spirit now, I could smell that thick, metallic scent of blood. What the hell was inside that box? Roxanne's face was deathly pale. When she saw Lucas arrive, she immediately threw herself into his arms. "Luke, I'm so scared... "I don't know what Joanne sent me. I was too afraid to open it. Is she home right now?" Her eyes were red with tears as she clung to Lucas' neck, looking innocent and pitiful. Lucas' expression grew even more furious. He carried her in his arms and gently placed her on the couch before moving to open the box. When the cardboard opened, his hands suddenly trembled, and he nearly dropped the "contents" on the floor. Tears began streaming down my face when I saw what was inside. It was my child with Lucas! The baby's eyes were tightly closed as he lay curled up in that cold cardboard box. His umbilical cord had been brutally torn apart, and blood mixed with rainwater had soaked through the bottom of the box. That deranged animal had actually sent my child's body here like this! Heart-wrenching pain spread through me. I wished I could become a vengeful spirit and hunt down the person who killed me! Lucas stared at the mangled child and staggered to his knees. "Joanne! How could you do this?" His eyes were bloodshot, his whole body shaking, but he didn't dare touch the child. Roxanne seemed to realize what she was looking at. She glanced over and nearly collapsed. "Luke, did Joanne abort the baby?" She covered her mouth, choking back sobs. "That was your own flesh and blood. It was already six months along. How could she be so heartless?" Lucas' chest heaved as he redialed my number. Hearing the busy tone, he completely lost it and called his assistant, Timothy Johnson. "Find her! Search every hospital in the city! Bring that woman back to me! I want her to suffer a fate worse than death!" A fate worse than death? I'd been missing for so long, and that was all Lucas had to say. "Luke, what should we do about... this?" Roxanne tremblingly pointed at the box beside them, her voice still carrying that fragile, tearful tone. "Throw it away!" I couldn't control myself anymore. I floated beside him, watching in despair. "But still, this was a human life. Luke, isn't this wrong?" She spoke with a tone of compassion while gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Roxanne, you're still so kind-hearted. This whole mess isn't even your fault, yet you're still thinking about these things." I clenched my fists when I heard Roxanne's fake sympathy. I wished I could drag her down with me. "Dump it in the mountains! I want to see how long that woman thinks she can hide from me!" With his command, several men carried the bloodstained box away. I wanted one last look at my child, but I couldn't escape this space no matter how hard I tried. I fell to my knees in despair and watched helplessly as their figures disappeared. When I turned back around, Roxanne had already nestled into Lucas' arms. "Luke, after everything that happened today, I feel so unsettled." "Don't be scared. I'm right here, aren't I? I'll stay with you tonight." Lucas pulled Roxanne close, his voice gentle and soothing. I laughed bitterly. I'd never seen him look so tender. He always had that hateful glare paired with his vicious tone when he was around me. "Let's go get a drink. We didn't get to properly celebrate my birthday earlier," Roxanne suggested. Lucas nodded, seeming lost in thought about something. I followed them to a bar. The loud music grated on my nerves, but I had no way to leave. "Try this one. I heard it's the bar's new signature drink. It's called 'Lost in Love,'" Roxanne said as she blushed shyly, but Lucas seemed preoccupied and didn't notice. He grabbed the glass and downed it in one gulp, then slammed it hard on the table. The sound made my spirit tremble, and Roxanne jumped too. She wrapped her arms around his, asking softly, "Luke, are you still angry with Joanne?" "Why waste energy being angry at someone like that?" Lucas snorted coldly and reached for another drink, tilting his head back to drain it completely. "Drink slower. Didn't you say you'd keep me company?" Roxanne pouted playfully. "You're right, that's my fault. Tonight I'll drink however much you want, and then I'll take you home." He gently cupped Roxanne's face, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. I laughed at myself mockingly. Why the hell was I being forced to watch this intimate, flirtatious display? The whole situation felt surreal. "I need to use the restroom." The constant stream of alcohol was getting to Lucas. He stood up and left. When he got up, I found myself stuck in place, which meant I could see exactly what Roxanne was planning to do. Suddenly, Lucas' phone on the table lit up. It was a call from the police station.