Chapter 4 I I was hungry and thirsty , feeling dizzy . ] " I didn't steal it . " ] David grabbed the silver locket from my neck " Katie says this is hers . If you didn't steal it, then what ? " I grabbed my brother's hand , trying to pry the locket away . ] This was the first time I'd ever been this angry . ] " This is what Mom left for me . I didn't steal it . " [ ] David paused for a moment . Marcus said , " Mom hates you . Why would she leave you anything ? " ] " If Katie says it's hers , then it's hers . " [ ] Dad came back from outside and looked at me . [ ] " What's going on ? " || I wiped away my tears and tried my hardest to explain . " I didn't steal it . I really didn't steal it . " ] Katie cried and tugged at Ryan's sleeve , " But I have one exactly the same . My daddy left it for me . " ] Dad's expression changed too . " You'd better tell the truth . " ] " I didn't steal it … Mom left it for me . " [] Katie's grandmother , Mrs. Johnson , came over too . She said . " Our Katie does have a silver locket , this exact style . " } ] Everyone looked at me differently now . Just like the children at kindergarten ] With disgust and disdain David said , " Children who lie get their tongues cut off . Give it back to her " || I didn't understand how something Mom gave me could be called stealing ( ) " I won't . I won't give it to her . " Dad towered dover me and slapped me hard . " Now you've learned to lie too . " I fell to the ground , scraping my arm . ] Tears poured down Sobbing , I could barely get the words out , " Daddy … you can … kill me … but I still … didn't steal it . " Dad's hand at his side clenched into a fist . I closed my eyes , preparing to be hit again , clutching the locket tightly in my palm . [ ] I knew Dad didn't care about me at all - otherwise how could he not notice that Mom had left this locket for me ? ] Finally Dad gave in . " Since she likes this piece so much , I'm sorry . How much was it ? We'll pay you back . " [ ] Mrs. Johnson said , " It's not expensive . If the child likes it , just let her keep it . " [ ] Dad's voice was cold . " Butler , go get a silver locket - the one from the auction the other day . " ] " Yes , sir . " ] Dad ended up giving Katie a silver locket much more expensive than mine . [] Katie stopped crying . ] ] My brothers also brought her lots of snacks and toys to take home . Those snacks and toys ? They never shared with me . ] My stomach growled again . They looked over at me . ] Frightened , I crawled up the stairs and hid in my room . In the evening , Mrs. Wilson told me to come down for dinner I held my painfully empty stomach , not daring to go out . ] I waited for a long time . ] Until Dad spoke , " Leave her be . " Midnight . ] Π My whole body hurt . ] I couldn't breathe properly either . Death felt close , just like the little hamster at kindergarten - my whole body going stiff . [ ] The door creaked as I pushed it open . The living room light was on . Standing on the stairs , I saw Dad and Mrs. Johnson from next door . Mrs. Johnson was crying and kneeling before Dad . [ ] " That item was Katie's father's keepsake . " " Now the child is traumatized and has a high fever at night . If we're too late , it might be too late . " ] " Could you drive the child to the hospital ? " " If something happens to the child , what will I do ? " Miss Davis had said when you feel unwell , you go to the hospital . ] I could go to the hospital with Katie , right ? Only when I got better could I see Mom She hadn't forgiven me yet , had she ? My legs went weak and I almost tumbled down the steps . ] " Daddy , my stomach hurts , everything hurts . I want to go to the hospital … " I couldn't describe the feeling properly , but they thought I was lying . ] Mrs. Johnson knelt down crying again . [ ] " Miss Claire , please don't do this . Any later and Katie won't be saved . " Dad's eyes looking at me were full of disgust . " You're just like your mother - good at pretending disgusting . " With that , he headed for the door . I chased after him , my little belly cramping like it was being twisted , my body getting hotter and hotter . ] " Daddy … " I carefully grabbed Dad's sleeve . " I can go to the hospital with Katie … " Pretending to be sick for attention is fun ? Deliberately not eating , deliberately making yourself like this - do you think the mistakes you made can be covered up ? " " If you want to die , go die somewhere elser [ ] Dad shook me off and I fell backwards onto the ground . ] ] I even forgot to cry . ] My three brothers stood on the second floor watching the show . " You hurt Katie . This is your punishment . " [ ] " How could the Bennett family have a sister like you - a lying deceiver . " [ ] Ryan laughed cheerfully . " How about this - if you can call Mom back , we'll forgive you . How's that ? " looked at my brothers innocently . " Will you treat me like Katie too ? Give me yummy snacks and lots of toys ? " ] " Will you comfort me too ? " ] My three brothers nodded . " Of course , you're our sister . " " ] Later , they coaxed me down to the basement and locked me in David threw me a phone . [ ] " The first number is Mom's . When you get through , we'll let you out . " " This is punishment for stealing . " I touched the phone and lit it up . Dad had called Mom before , but she never answered once . Maybe the number didn't work anymore . But I still called over and over . [ ] The phone lit up and went dark . ] Finally , someone answered .