Murdera

Chapter 4: Fractured

Indie sat numbly in front of the TV, her eyes fixed on the news report. The anchor's voice droned on, but Indie's mind was elsewhere.

"...two months since the brutal murder of the Kane family," the reporter said, her face somber. "John Kane, 47, was shot in the head. His wife, Philippa, 43, was stabbed multiple times. And their 10-year-old daughter, Luna Kane , died from severe head injuries, having lost too much blood..."

Indie's gaze remained blank, her expression unchanged. She had cried all her tears out, and now she just felt numb. The report was just words, a distant echo of a pain she could no longer feel.

The reporter continued, "The police are still searching for the culprit, but so far, no arrests have been made. The only surviving member of the family, 19-year-old Indie Kane, is now in the care of her uncle and aunt, Benjamin and Sydney."

Indie's gaze drifted away from the TV as a bowl of curry suddenly flew towards her, splattering its contents all over her head and face.

"Useless girl!" her aunt, Sydney, shouted. "This curry is disgusting! You can't even cook properly! Who gave you permission to watch TV, huh?"

Sydney continued, "You'll cook again, and this time, it better be perfect. Your uncle will be home soon, and I won't have him thinking we can't even take care of you properly!"

Indie mechanically wiped the curry from her face. She got up went to the kitchen, curry still dripping from her hair and started cooking again. She was a shell of her former self, going through the motions, feeling nothing.

Uncle Benjamin's voice boomed from the hallway, "Sydney, what's going on here? Why is there curry all over the floor?"

Sydney's nervous laughter echoed through the room. "Oh, Indie was eating and got a bit clumsy, that's all. She spilled the curry."

Benjamin's gaze narrowed, but Sydney quickly intervened. "It's okay, dear, I'll clean it up right away" says Sydney.

Indie, still in the kitchen, felt a sense of detachment from the scene unfolding before her. She was already numb, and this was just another example of her aunt's manipulation.

Just then, Benjamin's voice called out to her from the hallway. "Indie, the police have asked you to report to the station. They have something to tell you."

Indie's heart didn't skip a beat. She didn't feel a spark of curiosity or concern. She simply put down the spoon she was holding and turned off the stove.

"Now, Indie," Benjamin's voice pressed on. "They're waiting for you."

Indie wiped her hands on a towel and walked out of the kitchen, her eyes fixed on some point ahead, her expression blank. She was a puppet on strings, going through the motions, waiting for whatever came next.

Indie walked out of the kitchen, her dress and hair still covered in curry stains. Benjamin's eyes widened in surprise as he took in her appearance.

"Indie, what happened to you?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and annoyance.

Before Indie could respond, Sydney jumped into the conversation, her voice overly bright and nervous. "Oh, Indie, dear, don't worry about that! You'd better get ready to go to the police station now. I'll clean up this mess."

Benjamin's gaze narrowed, his eyes flicking to Sydney. He seemed to realize that his wife was trying to cover something up. His expression turned skeptical, and he looked at Sydney with a hint of suspicion.

"Sydney, what's going on here?" he asked, his voice firm.

Sydney's nervous laughter echoed through the room again. "Oh, nothing, dear! Just a little accident in the kitchen. Indie was just... uh... trying to help me cook."