- 11 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00My family's kept me locked in the psych ward, electrodes on my temples, restraints cutting into my wrists.
00:06I'd lost count of how many shocks the doctor had given me.
00:09Please, please, no, it's hurt. I'll be good. I promise. Stop.
00:15I struggled, I begged, but the doctor didn't even look up.
00:18The nurse pushed the door open, expressionless. I watched her white shoes come closer.
00:23Her family says, up the dose.
00:25The current hit. My body arched, then went limp.
00:29The last thing I saw was the white fluorescent light and the little red dot on the security camera, blinking
00:34on and off.
00:35The line on the heart monitor went flat. I died.
00:38When I opened my eyes, I was standing in an old pawn shop.
00:41I looked down at my hands, translucent.
00:44Welcome.
00:45A voice. Behind the counter. I looked up. A man, 30 maybe.
00:49His eyes were pale gray like glass with no heat in it.
00:53The soul shop. The place where you get what you want most.
00:57He looked up at me.
00:59And what do you want?
01:01What do I want?
01:03I mumbled and clenched my fists.
01:05My nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't feel the pain anymore.
01:09I want to live again.
01:11He set the cloth down.
01:13It won't be cheap.
01:15Pulled out a sheet of parchment from beneath the counter, slid it across to me.
01:19To live again, you trade something of equal value.
01:23Do you know what's worth the most about you?
01:26No.
01:27Your ability to love.
01:29I froze.
01:30He looked at me with those pale gray eyes, voice slow.
01:33You see?
01:34People like you are rare.
01:35You loved your parents.
01:37Loved your brother.
01:38Loved your fiancé.
01:39You even loved the sister who took everything from you.
01:42Stepped on.
01:43Spit on.
01:43And you kept handing them your heart, over and over.
01:47You're mocking me.
01:49I'm doing business.
01:51He tapped the parchment with one fingertip.
01:53Terms.
01:54You surrender your ability to love.
01:56I give you one more life.
01:57Starting the day you turned 12.
01:59The day they brought your sister home.
02:01Why that day?
02:02For the first time, something flickered in his face.
02:04Almost interest.
02:06Because that's where your story went wrong.
02:08I was quiet for a long time.
02:10Then I looked up.
02:12Deal.
02:13I lifted my hand, pressed it to the parchment.
02:15A gold light bloomed where my fingerprint landed.
02:18He took the contract back.
02:19Gave me the smallest nod.
02:20I snapped.
02:21May this life find yourself.
02:24He snapped his fingers.
02:25The world began to fall apart.
02:28Shards of light drifted down like snow.
02:31White light swallowed everything.
02:33Anya, what are you spacing out for?
02:35Our new sister's almost here.
02:37Let's go down and meet her.
02:38Hearing that name again froze me for a second.
02:41My eyes snapped open.
02:42I hadn't been called Anya in six, seven years.
02:45I turned and looked at my twin brother, Cole, next to me.
02:48Sure enough, he'd reverted to his 12-year-old self.
02:51A half-grown boy in a perfectly tailored suit, eyes bright with anticipation.
02:56One of his hands was holding my hand.
02:58I looked down at his slim, clean fingers.
03:00In my head, I saw the handprint it had left on my face when we were older.
03:04I frowned, yanked my arm free.
03:06Cole looked at me confused.
03:08Anya, what's wrong?
03:09The front door opened.
03:11My parents' voices floated up.
03:13Cole!
03:14Anya, come down!
03:15We've brought your sister home!
03:17Cole's eyes lit up.
03:18He dropped me and ran down the stairs alone.
03:20I stood at the top and watched the four of them downstairs.
03:23One big happy family.
03:25I pressed a hand to my chest.
03:28Strange.
03:29My heart was still beating calmly.
03:31But the knife-edge pain as before, it was totally gone.
03:34Cole and I are twins.
03:35For the first 12 years of our lives, my parents only had the two of us.
03:39Cole was older by two hours.
03:41He and our parents spoiled me into a real deal little princess.
03:45Someone joked to my father once,
03:47With a temper like your daughter's, thank God she's engaged to Felix already, or no one would dare marry her.
03:52My father's face went black.
03:54My daughter wasn't born to be married off.
03:57She can stay home for life.
03:59I can afford her.
04:00My mother and Cole didn't say a word.
04:02They just kept showering me with more nice things.
04:05A $3 million bracelet was an ordinary birthday gift back then.
04:08But it was also the last birthday gift I would ever get.
04:11The year I turned 12, an old friend of my father's died of illness.
04:15On his deathbed, he asked my father to take in his only daughter, Olivia.
04:19And after her coming, my family's love, trust, attention, all of it, drifted away from me a little at a
04:24time.
04:25But I still treated her like my own sister before my 18th birthday.
04:28I loved her until the moment I saw her kissing my fiancé Felix in the garden.
04:35I snapped.
04:36Why are you doing this to me?
04:39Do you even see what you're like right now?
04:41You're a lunaturk.
04:43Cole's eyes were full of revulsion.
04:45My parents said nothing.
04:46They watched, like everyone else.
04:48The pain in my chest had me shaking head to toe.
04:50I went at Olivia with a knife, but Cole kicked me into a thicket of thorns.
04:54Every single person there crowded around Olivia, trying to calm her down, begging her not to cry.
04:59Nobody cared that what I'd had in my hand was just a plastic knife from the cake.
05:03My parents had me committed, said I was mentally ill.
05:06Cole kicked and real damage.
05:08I was coughing up blood day and night.
05:10I begged the doctor over and over to call my parents.
05:12Please.
05:13Not a single call got answered.
05:15Then, after another round of electroshock, I stopped breathing.
05:18That was when I saw it.
05:20The soul shock.
05:21The one in the rumors.
05:22I traded everything I had to love with for one more chance.
05:25This time, no one gets to hurt me.
05:27Aina!
05:28Sweetheart, come on!
05:29You've been waiting for a little sister, haven't you?
05:31My mother holding Olivia's hand, smiling, waving me down.
05:34Sister!
05:34Olivia tipped up her clean little face and called me sister.
05:37I didn't react.
05:38I turned and walked back into my room.
05:41Left the four of them looking at each other in the living room.
05:43My father, confused.
05:45What's gotten into her now?
05:47Who upset her?
05:48My mother's voice went thin.
05:50Maybe she just needs a minute to get used to having a younger sister.
05:54It's fine.
05:55I'll go talk to her in a bit.
05:56Olivia's voice cracked.
05:58Mom, Dad, does my sister not like me?
06:02Maybe I should leave.
06:03Before my parents could say anything, Cole jumped in.
06:06Anya's just a little hot-tentured.
06:08Don't be sad.
06:09I'll go tell her off in a minute.
06:11Cole's so grown up.
06:12You take good care of your sister, okay?
06:14Their laughter floated up through the floor.
06:16I stood up and started going through my things.
06:19Too much time had passed.
06:20I couldn't remember everything 12-year-old me owned.
06:22A closer look.
06:23I was almost embarrassingly rich.
06:25No wonder Olivia loved taking my things.
06:28I scooped the jewelry off the vanity and dumped it into my backpack.
06:31I picked up the bracelet and remembered the time she'd smashed it.
06:34That was the first time I'd slapped Olivia.
06:36She'd hidden behind the door with her eyes red, voice tiny, like I was the one who'd broken her favorite
06:41thing.
06:42Sister, I'm sorry.
06:44I really didn't mean to.
06:46I just wanted to look at it.
06:48It slipped.
06:49Then she'd burst into tears.
06:50My parents came running.
06:51Cole came running.
06:52She had wrapped herself around my mother's leg, sobbing like she was going to pass out.
06:57But the moment no one was watching, she looked up at me and smirked.
07:00I pointed at her, trying to tell them truth.
07:02Anna!
07:03How can you be cruel to her?
07:04It's just a bracelet.
07:06You couldn't have let her have it?
07:07Just a bracelet?
07:10That bracelet was the gift Cole had bought me with the prize money from his first IT competition.
07:14And he'd forgotten.
07:16By the time I'd packed up everything, there was a soft knock on my door.
07:20My mother, voice soft, almost too patient.
07:22Anya?
07:23Sweetheart?
07:24Come out.
07:25Dinner's ready.
07:26I didn't answer.
07:27I just opened the door and let her walk me down to the dining room.
07:30My usual seat had Olivia in it.
07:32My father and Cole were both putting food on her plates.
07:34I turned to my mother.
07:36Should I eat on the floor?
07:38Every head snapped up.
07:40My mother's grip on my hand tightened.
07:42Of course not.
07:43My fault.
07:44I forgot to have them bring you a chair.
07:46Anna, please get Anya a chair.
07:47Olivia stood up, her wide, innocent eyes filling instantly.
07:50Sister, I'm sorry.
07:51I didn't know this was your seat.
07:53Here, take it.
07:54Cole jumped up and pushed her back into the chair, shooting me a hard look.
07:57Anna, it doesn't matter where you sit.
08:00Olivia just got here.
08:01Don't scare her.
08:02My parents said nothing.
08:03They were watching me.
08:05So this was tacit approval.
08:07I took the chair from the housekeeper and dragged it to the far end of the table,
08:10away from all of them.
08:11Cole's hands stalled midair over Olivia's plate.
08:14And he opened his mouth a few times, closed it.
08:17We finished dinner in that strange, frozen quiet.
08:19As I stood up to head back upstairs, my father called after me.
08:23He cleared his throat, tried to smile.
08:25Anya, Olivia just lost her parents.
08:28We're her family now.
08:30We should take care of her.
08:31My mother chimed in.
08:32Yeah, mom knows.
08:34You probably aren't used to having a sister yet.
08:36But look at her.
08:38She's so sweet.
08:39Try to spend time with her.
08:40You'll grow close.
08:42My voice came out flat.
08:44And?
08:44My mother froze.
08:46Maybe I'd never spoken to her in that tone before.
08:48My father took a sip of his coffee and forced a smile.
08:51Anya, sweetheart.
08:52Olivia just transferred to her new school.
08:54She's not doing well.
08:55So how about you and Cole both drop back a grade so you can be in the same class as
09:00your sister?
09:01To sell it, he added quickly.
09:02Cole already said yes.
09:04We're just waiting on you.
09:05I looked at Cole.
09:06He was staring at the floor.
09:08Couldn't meet my eyes.
09:10Here we go.
09:11Last time around, it was the same.
09:14They made me and Cole, who were already in seventh grade, drop back to sixth with Olivia.
09:18A year later, my childhood sweetheart, Felix, by then thick as thieves with Olivia, transferred
09:23into our class on the excuse that he wanted to look after me.
09:26After that, the three of them put on their little theater every day.
09:29I made up stories about how I was bullying Olivia, got the whole class to freeze me out.
09:33Brilliant.
09:34But I wasn't going to play with elementary schoolers this time.
09:37Waste of a life.
09:39I tilted my head.
09:40She needs two servants just to get through school.
09:44My father slammed his fork down.
09:45Anya, what did you just say?
09:48I said, since Cole's already volunteered to be her servant, you don't need to drag me into it.
09:52My mother grabbed my arm, eyes wide.
09:55Anya, what are you saying?
09:57What servant?
09:58Your dad just wants you all to spend time together.
10:00Get close.
10:01I have no obligation to get close to her.
10:04Whoever wants to wait on her, can wait on her.
10:07I stared at Cole.
10:08He'd been frozen like a deer in headlights this whole time.
10:11It's settled.
10:12The two of you go to elementary school.
10:14I'll stay in seventh grade.
10:16We leave each other alone.
10:17I turned and went upstairs.
10:18Left the four of them downstairs, consoling Olivia, who couldn't stop crying.
10:22Around nine that night, Cole knocked on my door.
10:25Anya, are you asleep?
10:28What?
10:29Could you open the door?
10:30No.
10:31The hall went quiet.
10:32Just as I thought he'd left, his voice came through again.
10:35Anya, you're upset, aren't you?
10:37No.
10:38You are.
10:39Anya, is it because I only paid attention to our new sister today and ignored you?
10:43I exhaled.
10:44Really?
10:44No.
10:45Cole, you can get close to whoever you want.
10:47I don't care.
10:48The hall went quiet again.
10:50After a long pause, his voice came back.
10:51There was something tired in it.
10:53Anya, Olivia, she's really pitiful.
10:55She's got such a soft heart.
10:56I'm scared she'll get pushed around.
10:58Anya, let me stay with her for a year.
11:00Once she settles in, I'll transfer back to your school, okay?
11:02Right, right, right.
11:04The school is funded by your family.
11:06You can do whatever you want.
11:08I slid my noise-canceling earplugs in, got into bed.
11:11The next morning, I walked into the living room with my suitcase and my backpack.
11:15Everyone froze.
11:18I looked up and saw Felix sitting next to Olivia, my future fiancé, the man who would one day
11:23betray me for Olivia.
11:25At 12, he was already a head taller than Cole.
11:27The moment he saw me, he jumped up, his soft hazel eyes crinkling, voice all bright.
11:32Anya, I'm here to walk you to school.
11:34I looked down, saw Olivia's hand still wrapped around his arm.
11:38You don't need to walk me anywhere.
11:40Ever.
11:40If you want to walk someone else, go ahead.
11:42Why?
11:43I gestured at the suitcase behind me.
11:44Felix wasn't the only one looking lost.
11:46So were my parents.
11:48So was Cole.
11:49Anna?
11:50What's that?
11:51Cole's eyes were red-rimmed.
11:52Clothes.
11:53And some things I need.
11:54And my jewelry.
11:55I won't give them up this time.
11:57Forgot to mention, starting today, I'm leaving here.
12:01What?
12:01What?
12:02What?
12:03What?
12:03All of them at once.
12:04My father came over, cold-faced, and crouched down to look at me.
12:07Anya, why?
12:09Is home not good enough?
12:10Where do you even want to go?
12:12Boarding school.
12:13I set it flat.
12:14His hands on my hair was shaking a little, and he glanced back at Olivia, hesitant.
12:17Is it because... because of Olivia?
12:19Before I could react, Olivia bit her lip and let out a soft, choked sob.
12:23What are you saying?
12:24Of course not.
12:25Anya, you tell us yourself.
12:27Why are you boarding at school?
12:28It can't be because of your sister.
12:29You love her, don't you?
12:31Every face in the room was waiting, hopeful.
12:33They wanted me to say yes.
12:34I love her.
12:35I want to board because I'm being a brat.
12:37But I make it my job to disappoint people.
12:39No, I don't love her.
12:40I hate her.
12:41And it's not just her.
12:42I hate every single one of you.
12:44Their faces went bone white.
12:46Only Felix didn't really react.
12:47He looked like he thought I was throwing a jealous fit.
12:49His face was full of patience and wry indulgence.
12:51When I dragged my suitcase past him, he even reached out to help me carry it.
12:54I dodged.
12:55He didn't get angry, just kept trailing me.
12:57My parents tried to come after me, but Olivia's sobbing cut them off.
13:01Mom.
13:02Dad.
13:04Send me to an orphan.
13:05I don't deserve to be here.
13:07Of course, more cooing, more comfort.
13:09The only odd thing was that Cole, for the first time, didn't say a word.
13:12Felix was still on my heels and climbed straight into my car.
13:15Get in your own car.
13:16No, I'm not going.
13:17I'm coming with you.
13:19My fingertips twitched.
13:20Last life around, the same.
13:21When everyone else turned on me, the only one who didn't take Olivia's side was Felix.
13:26He'd stand behind me when she set me up.
13:28He'd snap back at Cole when Cole yelled at me.
13:30When my parents got more and more disappointed in me, he'd hold me and say softly,
13:33Anya, don't be scared.
13:35You've got me.
13:37I'll always just love you.
13:38I'd clung to him like a drowning person clings to a piece of wood.
13:41Until our 14th birthday.
13:42Olivia collapsed out of nowhere.
13:44Felix, faster than anyone, shoved me out of the way.
13:46A fake medium he'd personally brought immediately took the chance and announced my name was bad luck
13:51and it was crushing Olivia's fortune.
13:53What a flimsy excuse.
13:54I still remember the shock and embarrassment on every guest's face that night.
13:58Every adult in the room could see it for what it was.
14:00A staged public humiliation.
14:02But my parents took me to get my name legally changed without a single argument.
14:05From that day forward, the name I'd had for 14 years, Anya, became a banned word in our house.
14:10They called me Mia.
14:11Mia.
14:11A name picked to protect Olivia.
14:13I hated it.
14:14I hated it until the day I died.
14:15I didn't answer Felix if he'd be transferring to Olivia's class in a few weeks anyway.
14:19I took my paperwork and my boarding fee straight to the dorm supervisor.
14:22When Felix saw me actually hand the money over, the casual look fell off his face.
14:26He finally got it.
14:27I wasn't joking around.
14:28Anya?
14:29Confusion was thick in his eyes.
14:31Why do you hate me too?
14:33What did I do wrong?
14:33His fingers caught at my sleeve carefully, and I slapped his hand off hard, disgust all over
14:38my face, wiped at my sleeve with the tissue, his voice caught in his throat.
14:41Anya.
14:42I walked off down the hallway to the head's office.
14:44Before first period started, I requested a transfer to a new class.
14:47When I came around the corner with an armful of books, I saw Felix again, eyes red.
14:52He looked at the books in my arms and his face crumpled.
14:55Anya, don't transfer, please.
14:59In that exact moment, a basketball came flying out of room 7B and clocked him square in the
15:03head.
15:03I dodged with the books and slipped into the classroom.
15:06Felix went down the hallway, paused to stir.
15:08A boy in the classroom was still in his shooting follow-through, his uniform hung loose on him.
15:12His mouth was stretched into an exaggerated...
15:14Whoa, sorry, didn't mean to hit anyone.
15:16You good, man?
15:17I glanced at him, walked past with my books.
15:19I might have been imagining it, but his arm went stiff for a second.
15:22Then he leaned on a desk with one hand and pointed casually at the seat next to him, voice
15:26all swagger.
15:27Past that is the trash can.
15:29Maybe sit next to me?
Comments
1