Chapter 4

Iris's POV

After that unsettling night, the next day Mom and Dad took me to see the Super Bowl.

They said it was a "special day" to "witness history." VIP box, champagne, gourmet food - everything seemed so luxurious. But I heard Dad on the phone repeatedly confirming something: "Five million principal... yes, borrow another fifteen million... she's never been wrong..."

Twenty million. That number made my whole body tremble.

The game began: New England Patriots versus Los Angeles Rams.

"If you get this right, we'll make a fortune." Dad didn't directly answer. "If you're wrong..."

He didn't finish, but I saw ice-cold murder in his eyes.

I closed my eyes in terror, desperately searching for images in my mind. But this time was different - I was too nervous, too scared. The prophetic visions began appearing, but blurry: I saw Tom Brady throwing, saw scoring, but... who scored? Which team was ahead?

The images were like a scrambled puzzle, fragmented.

"Hurry up!" Dad urged.

I struggled to see clearly, sweat dripping from my lashes. The vision flashed numbers 24 and 17, but I couldn't tell which belonged to which team. Brady's figure was clear - I saw him celebrating...

"Patriots win," I opened my eyes, voice trembling. "24 to 17."

Dad's face lit up with ecstasy. "Are you sure?"

"Sure, Daddy. Brady will... will throw the key passes." My voice grew smaller.

"You hear that?" Dad shouted into the phone. "Patriots, 24 to 17! Put ALL twenty million on it!"

The game started. First quarter, the Rams unexpectedly took a 7-point lead. Second quarter, they scored another 10. 17-0.

I began sweating coldly. This wasn't what I saw in my blurry vision...

Third quarter, the Patriots finally started scoring. 10-17.

"Look!" I desperately pointed at the screen. "They're catching up! Just like I said!"

First half of the fourth quarter, Patriots scored another 7. 17-17.

There's still hope! Just need one more touchdown!

But in the final ten minutes, everything collapsed.

Brady's pass got intercepted. Not once, but twice in a row. The Rams capitalized and scored another 7.

Final score locked in: Rams 24, Patriots 17.

I was wrong. Completely backwards.

The VIP box fell dead silent.

"Impossible..." Dad's voice trembled. "She's never been wrong... never in two years..."

"Fifteen million..." Mom's face went ashen. "We owe FIFTEEN MILLION..."

Their eyes turned to me simultaneously, those gazes filled with rage, despair, and murderous intent.

Back at the hotel room, true hell began.

"This is ALL YOUR FAULT!" Dad's first punch slammed hard into my cheek. "You worthless piece of GARBAGE!"

"AHHHH—! Daddy, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry?" Mom rushed over, her nails digging deep into my arms. "FIFTEEN MILLION! Do you know what that means?"

"Mommy please... I really saw Brady's comeback..."

"Comeback?" Dad whipped me hard with his belt. "You fucking REVERSED our fortune!"

The belt came down again and again, each strike carrying their fury and desperation.

"We're FINISHED!" Mom screamed hysterically. "Those people will KILL us!"

"All because of YOU!" Dad kicked me hard in the stomach. "You CURSE!"

"Please stop... I can't take anymore..." I curled up on the floor in agony.

"Can't take it?" Mom grabbed the bedside lamp and hurled it at me. "How are WE supposed to take this goddamn debt?"

The lamp struck my head, blood immediately gushing out.

"You RUINED us!" Dad continued whipping with the belt. "Destroyed this family!"

My vision began blurring, only their angry curses and the whoosh of the belt filling my ears.

"WORTHLESS! WORTHLESS! WORTHLESS!"

Consciousness gradually faded in the pain...

Darkness swallowed everything.

Late at night, I woke up in excruciating pain. The room was dark, but I heard Mom and Dad arguing quietly in the living room.

"Fifteen million, Linda! We can't possibly pay it back!" Dad's voice was full of despair.

"Then what do we do?" Mom sobbed. "Viktor isn't someone to mess with..."

"Maybe... maybe we could..." Dad paused for a long time. "Turn her over to Viktor."

"What do you mean?"

"She still has value. Viktor's always been interested in her ability... if we hand her over completely, maybe we can write off part of the debt."

My heart nearly stopped.

They want to SELL me?

"But she's still our daughter..." Mom hesitated.

"Daughter?" Dad laughed coldly. "She's not our daughter anymore. She's our DEBT, our burden, our CURSE!"

"How would Viktor treat her?"

"That's not our problem to consider." Dad said ruthlessly. "We only need to think about saving our own lives."

I used all my strength not to make any sound, but tears flowed uncontrollably.

They're really going to abandon me...

The next morning, their attitude suddenly changed.

"Baby, wake up." Mom gently shook me awake, as if last night's violence never happened. "Mommy bought your favorite chocolate ice cream."

I looked at her warily. The wounds on my body still ached.

"We want to take you somewhere special," Dad sat on the bed, his voice unusually gentle. "To make up for last night's... misunderstanding."

Misunderstanding? They called nearly beating me to death a misunderstanding?

"I don't want to go." I shrank into the corner of the bed. "I want to go home."

"What?" Mom's expression instantly darkened. "Go home WHERE?"

"Our apartment... my pink room..." I said quietly.

"You think you still HAVE a home?" Dad's gentle mask instantly tore away. "You think you still DESERVE those things?"

"I... I can try harder with predictions again... I promise I won't be wrong..."

"It's too LATE!" Mom screamed. "Viktor wants to see us TODAY! You HAVE to come with us!"

"I don't want to! I don't want to meet any Viktor!" I cried in refusal. "I want to go home! I want my toys!"

Dad and Mom exchanged glances, dangerous light flashing in their eyes.

"Since you won't cooperate..." Dad approached me.

"NO—!"

But it was too late. His fist struck hard against my temple, and the world instantly plunged into darkness.