Chapter 4

"Of course. One look at me and any man is done for. All it takes is a single strand of my hair, and he's lost."

My sister's voice was light, airy, and yet it carried a swagger she couldn't hide.

"Once we marry that little brat off to Mr. Finch tomorrow, we'll have the money to pay the lifetime licensing fee for the system."

"And once you land your rich husband, our happy little family of three is right around the corner!"

My father's glee nearly spilled over.

They kept their voices low, but every word bored straight into my ears.

It hit me like a bolt of lightning.

The family I'd lived with every single day had been scheming against me behind my back.

A year ago, my father swapped out the compact I'd bought with money from my part-time job and filled it with expired flour.

For a whole month I went to class with a face full of rashes, mocked at every turn.

My parents said it was to keep things fair between my sister's looks and mine.

And now they wanted to trade my life for my sister's system fee.

Their happy family of three had never included me.

So I wouldn't have them either.

I took the first step of a heart that had already died, and I ran from that house.

The sky was just starting to lighten.

I walked to the end of the next street over, to an abandoned bridge underpass.

A homeless man with a habit of exposing himself had lived under it for years.

Earlier this year, my family passed by here, and he came chasing after me, tearing off his clothes and cackling.

My father said it was all my fault for being so vain, that the madman had chased me and not my sister, and it had wounded her feelings.

The moment we got home, my mother threw out the one jar of nine-ninety-nine face cream I owned.

That New Year, even my face broke out in chilblains.

I took a deep breath and dialed my mother.

"Vicky?" A disbelieving cry came through the phone.

Then three voices erupted in a hysterical uproar.

"She ran? When did she run?"

"Mr. Finch will be here in a few hours!"

"If we can't hand her over, the whole plan falls apart!"

"I'm on Fifth Ward Street. I've found someone to marry!"

I cut them off, my voice cold.

"This time, there's no way he'll want my sister!"

"We're going to get the marriage license right now!"

I hung up. I didn't run.

Instead, I dialed another number.

A few minutes later, all three of them came running, out of breath.

"You little brat, you've already lost twice! What do you mean, someone to marry!"

My mother was screaming from a hundred feet away.

The noise woke the homeless man beneath the underpass.

I raised my hand and pointed at the bridge.

"My fiancé won't let you take me."

My sister came sauntering over from a distance, swaying her thick waist, smoothing her long hair.

"I'd love to see just what kind of man makes you trust him this much, little sister!"

The homeless man stood, and the second he saw my sister, no other woman existed for him.

He lunged straight at her.

"Whoa! A pretty lady!"

He knocked her flat and started yanking at his own clothes.

"Ah! Stop it! Stop!"

"Dad! Mom! Help me!"

My sister, terrified, found the strength of ten men.

She shoved the homeless man off and bolted.

But he was already hooked on her, chasing relentlessly.

My parents had never seen anything like it, fumbling their phones out in a panic.

"Don't be scared, Evie! Dad's calling the police right now!"

My sister screamed as she fled, "Don't call the police! Don't!"

I watched the chaos, my tone flat.

"The police are already here!"

Two policewomen rode up to meet them head-on.

In a few quick moves they subdued the homeless man and cuffed him to a lamppost.

My sister was so frightened she curled up off to the side.

The moment my mother saw the man restrained, she rushed over to comfort her.

My father said, excited, "Officers, your timing couldn't have been better!"

"Hurry up and take this pervert away!"

The policewoman's expression stayed calm.

"An officer from the local precinct will come to take him."

"Ms. Evelyn Swanson, we need you to come with us."