My dad, Commander Grant, was a rescue team captain. He was leading his crew on a training expedition in the snowy mountains when they stumbled upon human remains, half-buried in a snowdrift. After reporting it to the police, his first call was to my adopted brother, Brandon, to tell him to cancel his hiking trip planned for a few days later. One of his teammates, Mike, reminded him, “Hey, Commander Grant, maybe call Leo too? Check on him?” But Dad just snapped, his voice laced with venom, “That damned demon! He deserves to rot out there!” What Dad didn’t know was that I was already dead. Those broken, shattered bones lying before him? They were my body. But he, my own father, didn’t recognize his flesh and blood. 0 “There are extensive marks of blunt force trauma on the bones, and the remains aren’t complete.” “It doesn’t look like an accident. This feels like murder.” My bones were carefully excavated from the snow. An experienced officer, Detective Miller, made the assessment immediately. My dad nodded, his face grim, promising to help find the missing remains. Before they started, he pulled out his phone and called Brandon. “Brandon, there’s been a homicide on the mountain. That climbing trip you booked? Cancel it. Don’t go out these next few days. Stay safe.” “Okay, Dad. I’ll be careful.” Brandon’s voice was warm on the other end, and Dad kept fussing over him with several more cautions. He only hung up when Brandon jokingly said Dad was going to wear out his eardrums. Officer Jenkins, another teammate, remembered something and asked Dad. “By the way, Commander Grant, I heard Leo also mentioned going on a climbing trip a few days ago. Maybe give him a call too?” Dad’s face instantly darkened, and he spoke with clear disgust. “Why even bring up that punk?” “A person who could be so cruel to his own mother, I wish he’d just die out there!” Even though I was already dead, a chill wind swept through my translucent body, making me shiver violently. So that’s how much Dad hated me. But then, why didn’t he recognize me? Why couldn’t he see that the sympathetic pile of bones everyone was looking at belonged to the son he despised with every fiber of his being? 0
The search operation lasted a day and a night. The rescue team scoured the entire mountain. Dad worked for 48 hours straight, without sleep. But still, only a few scattered remains were found. When Detective Miller came to question Dad, his expression was even heavier than before. “We’ve searched the entire mountain, and we’ve only found one leg bone.” “I suspect the victim was dismembered and discarded here.” Dad’s words shocked the officer. “So, the killer likely disposed of the remaining body parts somewhere else?” “Not just the bones, but other human tissue too. Don’t forget, we only have one leg bone so far.” “This is an extremely brutal murder. The killer is far more savage than we imagined.” Dad laid out all his findings. Detective Miller realized the gravity of the situation and, after a moment of silence, replied. “I’ll gather more personnel and expand the search area.” It was then that a teammate spotted a watch wedged in a rock crevice and brought it over. Seeing the watch, my previously low spirits suddenly soared. Dad had given me that watch for my birthday three years ago. He had to remember it! Soon, Dad would recognize me. I clenched my fists in excitement, eagerly anticipating the moment he’d know. But his eyes merely swept over the watch before he immediately handed it to Detective Miller. He told him it might be a personal item of the victim, suggesting he photograph it and post it online to quickly find relatives and identify the body. It was Officer Jenkins, standing nearby, whose eyes flickered with a hint of doubt. The next second, he spoke. “Commander Grant, why does that watch look familiar?” “I remember seeing Leo wear something similar…” Dad’s brows furrowed in displeasure. “There are plenty of identical watches in the world, Officer Jenkins. I don’t know what’s gotten into you today.” “Could it be that little punk asked you to speak up for him? He’s always been manipulative. Don’t fall for his tricks.” Officer Jenkins tried to say more on my behalf, but Dad was called away. Watching his busy back, my heart sank completely. Dad wasn’t like this before. He loved me too. But ten years ago, a dear friend of his passed away due to abuse from her alcoholic husband, leaving behind only her son, Brandon. Dad, ignoring my mom’s objections, brought Brandon home and cared for him as if he were his own son. My mom couldn’t accept it. She demanded a divorce. After a fierce argument, my mom took me to a high bridge, threatening to jump into the river below. The wind on the bridge was wild. I was so scared that I begged my mom to put me down. Later, she slept forever in the cold riverbed, but I survived. When Dad received the call from the water rescue team, he slapped me twice without a word. He called me a murderer, said I was the one who killed my mom. He declared that from then on, Brandon was his only son. He even stripped me of my family name, forcing me to go by Leo, a constant reminder of my supposed sin. I knew Dad hated me. Now that I was finally dead, he must be happy, right? 0
The search operation continued. The school office called Dad, saying I was missing. “Leo hasn’t been at school since yesterday evening. I asked his roommate, and they said he wasn’t there all day yesterday.” “Commander Grant, can you reach Leo? The school has already notified the police to assist in the search.” Ms. Albright’s voice on the phone was anxious, but Dad’s face only showed deep impatience. “Ms. Albright, Leo has always been a liar.” “He used to lie and skip classes all the time. Don’t worry about him; he’ll come back when he’s done playing around.” “But…” Ms. Albright tried to say more, but Dad had already hung up. Brandon was calling him. “Dad, I’m feeling a little unwell. When will you be finished?” The frown that had creased Dad’s forehead because of me instantly smoothed away. He replied patiently to Brandon’s question. “Dad still needs a little more time.” “Brandon, where do you feel unwell? Is it serious? Should Dad take time off to come home and be with you?” His patient words, his fussing attitude, made a pang shoot through my chest. Since Mom left, Dad had never spoken to me in such a gentle tone. He always called me a murderer, saying our family broke apart because of me. But Dad, I was your own son. I wanted your concern too. Even just one word. That evening, Dad still took time off and went home. Watching Brandon on the bed, with a dedicated nanny attending to him 24/7 and a professional doctor on standby whenever he felt unwell, Dad’s eyes overflowed with undisguised concern. “Brandon, how are you feeling?” “Dad!” Brandon exclaimed, his eyes full of delight. He leaned in and hugged him. Watching their heartwarming father-son moment, even as a ghost, my chest ached. But I had no tears. I could only watch Dad fuss over Brandon in bed. After a long while, Brandon lifted his head from Dad’s embrace, his eyes darting around speculatively as he tentatively asked Dad. “Dad, didn’t you say the search operation would take several days?” “Have all those dismembered bodies been found?” Dad’s expression froze, and he instinctively asked. “How do you know the bodies were dismembered?” My spirits, which had been low, suddenly brightened, and I looked at Dad with anticipation. Even if Dad didn’t recognize the watch he’d given me, he couldn’t possibly miss such an obvious clue, could he? But Brandon easily diffused the tension with a single sentence. “I saw it on the news.” “Dad, that person is so pathetic. I wonder how sad his family will be when they find out.” “It is pathetic, but we haven’t confirmed the victim’s identity yet. His family… probably doesn’t know about his passing.” Dad echoed Brandon’s words, completely unaware of the fleeting glint of triumph in Brandon’s eyes. The hope that had finally risen in my heart was snuffed out. Dad, it was me! You’d already noticed a discrepancy, and you still couldn’t recognize me? 0
Dad stayed home with Brandon for a full day. It wasn’t until midnight that a call came from the rescue team, reporting a major discovery at the base camp down the mountain and urging him to return immediately. Dad hurriedly put on his clothes to leave, but Brandon, holding the model plane Dad had given him when he first arrived, appeared, looking at him with teary eyes. “Dad, it’s thundering outside. I’m scared…” Seeing the anxious look on Brandon’s face, a flicker of hesitation crossed Dad’s eyes. Just as it seemed Brandon would successfully keep him home, Officer Jenkins, on the other end of the line, sent dozens of photos from the scene. With just a glance, Dad’s pupils constricted sharply. He quickly reassured Brandon. “Let the nanny stay with you. I’ll be back soon.” Then he bolted downstairs, racing straight to the scene. When Dad arrived at the base camp and was about to enter the scene, Officer Jenkins, who had arrived earlier, stopped him. “Commander Grant, I advise you not to go in…” But Dad pushed his hand away. “I’ve been in rescue for so many years. What kind of situation haven’t I seen?” “Move!” The next second, when he rushed into the scene and saw the well cordoned off by caution tape, he couldn’t help but run to the side and throw up violently. The well reeked of decay. Bloated, decomposed body parts were being retrieved, unrecognizable. Beside them lay a pile of marked, sealed bags containing the murder weapons. There was a hammer, an axe, a saw. Even a heavy grindstone. The police said these were the tools the killer used on the victim. And not just for dismemberment. “These tools were used on the victim repeatedly while he was still alive.” “We found multiple bloodstains at the scene, as well as skin tissue embedded in the rocks, likely left by the victim struggling against the pain.” “He was tortured to death.” “The victim’s information has also been largely deduced: male, a fractured left leg bone consistent with a canine bite. The victim likely had mobility issues…” With each word, Dad’s eyes grew darker. Dad, was he feeling sad for me? The next second, Officer Jenkins seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke. “Commander Grant, I recall your son Leo also had a slight disability in his left leg, and his build… I remember it being similar to this kid’s.” “Officer Jenkins!” The sympathy in Dad’s eyes vanished, replaced by deep anger and displeasure. “What has that punk been telling you? You’ve been mentioning him quite a lot lately!” “I told you, even if that punk dies out there, it has nothing to do with me!” “Besides, someone so desperate to cling to life, who could watch his own mother die, how could he ever die?” Officer Jenkins tried to say more, but Dad had already walked away. The next second, a police officer nearby received a call from the school. “Commander Grant, Leo’s school reported him missing.” But Dad grabbed his phone and smashed it violently on the ground. “Enough! Are you done yet?!” “The victim is already in such a horrible state, and you’re still playing these childish games with that punk!” “If he wants to play missing, let him! Solving this case is what’s important!” The officer tried to say more, but Dad’s phone suddenly rang. Brandon’s voice came through. “Dad, the thunder is really loud, I’m so scared…” Hearing Brandon’s voice, Dad immediately began to reassure him. “Good boy, Brandon. Dad’s coming home now.” But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before the officer behind him called out. “Commander Grant! Come back!” Dad was forced to stop. It was Ms. Albright, who had arrived despite the heavy rain. She brought the surveillance footage from the day I left school. The red jacket I was wearing was identical to the victim’s!
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