Obey Until I Die

After my family joined hands to send me to prison for three years, I start learning how to behave myself. I do whatever everyone else tells me to do.

The day I'm released from prison, my wife, Regina Johnson, sits in the car and says coldly, If you ever lay those hands of yours on Ty again, I'll

Before she can say anything else, I jump out of the car, pick up a brick from the side of the road, and smash my hand into a pulp with it.

Regina stares at the bone sticking out and goes pale.

When we get back home, Tyler Lowe, my adopted younger brother, ambushes me in the bathroom and scoffs. "So what if you're the biological son of the Lowe family? I can just as easily have you kicked out of the family!"

Then, he uses a blade to make a small cut on one of his fingers before crying out in alarm, "If you really hate me, Cal, I'll leave right away! Please don't kill me!"

Regina and my older sister, Calista Lowe, enter just in time to witness his display. Shaking with anger, they stomp on my wound with their high heels.

"You haven't changed one bit! If anything happens to Ty, I'll make you pay for it with your life!"

I nod obediently and march straight to the kitchen, where I jump into the massive meat grinder before turning it on.

The blood and bits of flesh spray all over Mom and Dad, who end up walking in right then.

Mom lets out a shrill shriek before fainting, while Dad forces himself to remain composed as he turns off the power.

At this point, even Regina, my sharp-tongued wife, can't find the words to say anything. She stands frozen, her body trembling.

When we're inside the ambulance, Tyler clings to Regina, quivering as he says, "This has nothing to do with me! He jumped into the machine himself. You have to believe me!"

It's almost impossible for me to stay conscious through the unbearable pain, but I muster the strength to nod along with him.

After failing to win over my family, I'd spent three years in prison. Later on, the system told me that if I showed absolute obedience until the day I died, I would receive massive financial compensation and be transported back to my original world.

Chapter 1

My flesh had been shredded almost beyond recognition. It took the doctors at the hospital three days to wrestle me from the clutches of death.

As my wife, Regina Johnson, stared at my heavily bandaged body, pain flashed through her eyes.

She turned to Tyler Lowe and asked slowly, "What exactly happened between you and Calvin in the bathroom that day? He used to value his life so much. Why would he jump into a meat grinder just because someone stepped on him?"

Tyler's eyes darted around evasively as he replied in a wounded tone, "I have no idea. Cal went crazy out of nowhere that day. He called me a phony, saying that I was stealing his place. He said he wanted to kill me"

My older sister, Calista Lowe, shielded Tyler behind her and shot me a vicious glare before saying, "Regina, Ty has always treated you like a sister. How can you suspect him like that?"

She turned back to me, her eyes filled with disgust. "Do you have no shame, Calvin? Ty has been nothing but good to you, yet you're resorting to a nasty trick like this to set him up!

"If you wanted to die so badly, why didn't you just smash your head into a wall or jump off a building? You obviously made this huge scene on purpose to gain sympathy!"

Recalling what the system told me, I swiftly nodded.

There were safety bars installed over the windows, so I couldn't jump from here. But if I smashed my head hard enough into the wall, I could finally be free.

I threw off the blanket and forced myself upright with sheer willpower. The bandages all over my body were soaked through with blood, yet it was as if I couldn't feel the pain anymore.

After taking a deep breath, I hurled myself at the wall with every ounce of strength I had left. The deafening bang echoed in the hospital room.

My skull split open instantly. Blood streamed down my face and blurred my vision. Collapsed on the floor, I touched the dent in my head, feeling wistful. What a shame I didn't die from that.

Just as I gathered my strength to charge at the wall again, Regina grabbed me and yanked me backward. For the first time in a long while, I heard panic and worry in her voice.

"Calvin! What are you doing?"

I opened my mouth and coughed up a huge mouthful of blood.

The next second, my parents rushed over and pulled me into their arms.

"Cal, w-what's wrong with you? You're breaking my heart!" Mom cried out.

With great effort, I forced my heavy eyelids to open and mustered a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "I'm fine, Mom."

Having recovered from the shock, Calista scoffed icily. "How long are you going to keep this act up, Calvin? You might fool Mom and Dad with your pathetic tricks, but you can't fool me! I bet you're just scared you'll get punished for hurting Ty, so you"

Before she could finish, Dad cut her off with an enraged shout. "That's enough, Calista! What kind of a sister are you? Calvin is covered in blood, and his skull is shattered, yet you're still claiming he's just pretending?"

This was the first time Dad had ever yelled at Calista, his precious daughter, because of me. Her chest heaved violently as she stared at him in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Dad's gaze landed on Tyler next. "Explain the situation properly, Ty. What happened that day?"

Looking rather frightened, Tyler said sheepishly, "I already told you what happened, Dad. Even you don't believe me now?"

His eyes reddened as he deliberately exposed the wound on his hand and wiped away his tears. His gaze flickered, and he suddenly crumpled to the floor, bursting into anguished sobs.

"Don't be mad at Callie, Dad. It's all my fault I framed Cal I was jealous of him, so I falsely accused him of hurting me. I'm responsible for everything. I'll apologize to Cal. Just punish me instead"

He cried so hard his voice turned hoarse, as though he had suffered the greatest injustice in the world. Alas, in their eyes, it made him look even more like someone so wronged he couldn't defend himself.

Everyone's expressions turned uneasy. Their gazes kept shifting between Tyler and me.

Regina's grip around me loosened slightly. She now had a conflicted look in her eyes. In the end, she pulled her hand away.

"Calvin, it doesn't matter who's right or wrong anymore. Everything started because of you. All you have to do is apologize to Ty, and this matter is settled"

She hadn't even finished speaking when my parents also looked at me expectantly. They'd set up the stage for me and were now waiting for me to accept the "compromise" they'd laid out for me.

I remembered what Regina had said to me the day I got out of prison.

"If you ever lay a hand on Ty again, I'll"

She hadn't finished the sentence, but I understood what she meant. She would cripple my hands.

Since they all insisted I had bullied Tyler, I should show some sincerity in my apology. I painfully crawled toward the fruit platter beside the bed and grabbed the fruit knife from it.

Before anyone could react, the blade had already plunged into my flesh. My wrist was sliced open, and blood splattered everywhere.

Using all the strength in my body, I viciously twisted the knife further into my flesh. A sickening crunch followed, and I could see my tendons being sawn apart.

The agony swept through my body like a tidal wave. My body shuddered violently before crashing heavily onto the floor.

Blood splattered across Calista's limited-edition high heels, and she screamed as she fell on her butt.

Tyler hid behind Mom, shaking.

Once my parents finally realized what had just happened, one fainted from fright while the other frantically shouted for a doctor.

The sound of their crying mixed with the shrill ringing of medical equipment, throwing the entire hospital room into chaos.

At that very moment, Regina was suddenly nowhere to be found.

Chapter 2

When I woke up again, Regina had returned to the hospital with the surveillance footage from the villa.

She had intended to cement my guilt for deliberately framing Tyler. Instead, she accidentally presented the truth right in front of everyone.

After seeing the footage, everyone fell silent.

Mom was the first to finally reactby giving Tyler a hard slap.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Ty! Cal is your brother. How could you do something like this?"

Dad turned away without saying a word, his eyes red. Even Regina had a flicker of remorse in her eyes.

Tyler trembled in fear, tears instantly spilling out. Looking at me, he said in a shaky voice, "Cal went to prison because of me. I was scared that he'd take revenge on me now that he's out!

"After all, I'm just an adopted son Mom, Dad, you have to believe me. I only did it out of a foolish desire to protect myself If you're upset with me, then I'll just make it up to Cal by ending my life"

After saying that, he acted like he was about to jump out the window, only for Calista to yank him back immediately.

Seeing this, the disappointment on my parents' faces was instantly replaced with heartache.

Calista looked even more devastated, as if someone had ripped her beating heart out.

"Mom, Dad, will you only be satisfied if Ty's dead? It's perfectly understandable for him to feel that way. Who wouldn't be afraid of having a ticking time bomb right beside them?"

My parents and Regina seemed persuaded. They exchanged glances and nodded.

Snorting coldly, Calista grabbed my wrist, mangled flesh and all, and snapped, "Calvin, do you still resent us for sending you to prison? Is that why you staged all this on purpose, looking for a chance to get revenge on Ty?"

The pain dimmed my vision.

"No. I've already learned my lesson over those three years. I'll do whatever you guys tell me to do. Even if Tyler wants me dead, I'll do it."

Calista didn't believe me, and neither did Tyler.

They started testing me.

Calista ripped the locket off my neck. It contained our family portrait and was the thing I treasured most. Normally, I wouldn't even allow anyone to touch it. But now, even after it was thrown to the floor and shattered into pieces, I didn't even blink.

For some reason, that aggravated her. "You really don't care at all?"

I calmly shook my head, replying, "Since you don't want me to care, Callie, I won't."

She froze.

"Mom, Dad, Callie, I'd really like to see whether Cal is telling the truth," Tyler said.

He slowly walked over to Regina and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Cal, I want to make Gina my woman right here, right now."

Regina's body stiffened slightly. She turned to glance at me, but she didn't push him away. They stood right in front of my hospital bed and started kissing.

Chapter 3

It was a taunting, possessive kissa blatantly shameless act.

When Tyler saw that I didn't react, he became even bolder and started tugging off Regina's clothes. Her face turned bright red, but after a feeble attempt to stop him, she completely gave in to him.

The sound of their gasps and heavy breathing drew sideways glances from the people outside the door.

In the past, I would've fought Tyler to the death even if he merely touched Regina's hand. But now, I remained motionless like a statue.

When the two of them finally got up from the floor, Regina's eyes were filled with disbelief. "Calvin, you watched me get intimate with another man, and you don't feel anything at all?"

I slowly lowered my head and replied, "Tyler said he wanted to make you his woman, and you didn't reject him, so of course I went along with it without protesting."

Both Tyler's and Regina's expressions cracked. My parents and Calista came back in, exchanging stunned looks as well.

At that very moment, Tyler flashed a sinister smile and said, "Mom, Dad, maybe Cal had toughened up and learned how to mask his emotions during his time in prison. Why don't we let a professional handle things?"

Calista hurriedly nodded. "That's right. I know a few instructors from an etiquette school. They specialize in dealing with defiant and rebellious people. If he can endure the instructors' punishments, then we can feel at ease bringing him home with us."

My parents hesitated, a trace of reluctance flashing through their eyes.

"Cal, it's only a small test. Just bear with it," Mom said.

I obediently nodded, my gaze still.

Soon, two men dressed in black came in. One of them pointed the tip of an electroshock baton at my throat.

I didn't dodge. I even leaned forward obligingly.

Crackling sounds filled the air as the electricity shot through my veins like poisoned needles. It felt like I had something gnawing on my bones. My entire body convulsed. My senses went numb, but I clenched my teeth and refused to let out a single scream.

This pain was nothing compared to the hellish torment I'd been put through during my time in prison.

Three years ago, I had caught Regina and Tyler kissing in the study. As I trembled with rage, I marched right up to them and punched Tyler.

"You bastard! You're just a thief who stole someone else's family, and you're even setting your sights on your own sister-in-law!"

They decided I was mentally unstablea dangerous lunatic who might kill themso they sent me to prison for rehabilitation.

Thanks to the special care Tyler arranged for me, I was locked in the darkest cell and subjected to constant beatings and humiliation by a group of hardened criminals.

I resisted desperately, clinging to life in the hopes of one day avenging myself.

Then one day, the system told me that if I remained obedient until the day I died, I would be allowed to return to my original world at once and even receive a huge fortune.

So I learned to submit. No matter how they bullied me or abused me, I never resisted again.

When the electroshock baton was finally pulled away, smoke rose from my throat as I collapsed limply onto the bed.

Tyler stared at me in disbelief before demanding, "Don't stop! I don't believe he's actually learned to be this obedient!"

The men, who were actually thugs, exchanged a look before handing me a bottle of sulfuric acid to drink.

Everyone was convinced I would finally tear off my "facade of obedience" and start raging about the injustice like I used to. However, I simply flashed an eerie smile and parted my lips.

The sulfuric acid slowly slid down my throat, scorching me from the inside. My tongue instantly disintegrated. My throat was burned through, and every time I swallowed, it felt like my flesh was being boiled.

As sizzling sounds rang out, massive amounts of blood poured out of my mouth. The unbearable agony made my expression twist grotesquely. My entire face was burning, melting into a bloody mess.

My consciousness started to slip, and I blacked out.

Chapter 4

At last, when my parents saw me lying there with smoke rising from my body and my entire face burned beyond recognition, they let out strangled sobs.

Mom covered her mouth. Huge droplets of tears rolled down her face. "Cal why aren't you fighting back at all?"

She staggered to the bedside, trembling as she stared at the charred wound on my throat.

"Did did you suffer so much in prison that it scared the courage out of you? Tell me what happened. I'll stand up for you"

She was going to stand up for me, huh? Why didn't she offer to do that when they sent me to prison three years ago?

Regina came over as well. As she looked at my facenow corroded beyond recognition by the sulfuric acida pained look came into her eyes, one that I hadn't seen in forever.

"I'm sorry, Cal" Her voice choked with emotion. "Why did you behave so foolishly? From now on, I'll protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you again"

I slowly turned my eyes toward her.

Then, I weakly shook my head and started to speak. My voice slurred and barely coherent.

"You won't. Y-You guys were the ones who sent me to prison Why would you protect me?"

For Regina and my parents, those words felt like a slap to the face.

Calista was standing to the side, her face pale, but she stubbornly declared, "Mom, Dad, Regina, don't let him fool you! He's just having a pity party! He deliberately let those people do this to him so that you'll feel guilty and take pity on him!"

Regina whipped around, her eyes red as she shouted, "Shut up, Calista! Can't you see the state he's in? They poured sulfuric acid down his throat! They used an electroshock baton on him! He almost died!"

"He should've just died then!" Calista screamed right back as she wagged her finger at me. "Look at him! He's completely insane! He'll only cause trouble for the family if we keep him around. I don't think he has learned a thinghe's just acting!"

But the moment her gaze met Tyler's frightened expression, her eyes softened immediately.

"Don't be scared, Ty. As your sister, I will never let you suffer any injustice."

Tyler looked at me and abruptly spoke up in a timid voice. "Mom, Dad, Callie I think there's really something wrong with Cal."

After a pause, he added with a terrified expression, "Do you think he has some kind of mental disorder? What if his show of obedience now is just an act? Once we let our guard down, he might suddenly"

"A mental disorder?" Calista's eyes lit up, seemingly having thought of something. "That's right. I bet he's mentally ill right now. He probably has some kind of personality disorder!

"People like him, who are good at pretending, are the most dangerous. If he can be this ruthless to himself, who knows how he'll hurt Ty once he gets the chance!"

Calista's words made everyone hesitate.

"Cal, your behavior does seem rather abnormal. It's best if we let a doctor check on you," Dad said.

A short while later, two psychiatrists hurried into the room.

Calista was the first to step forward, pointing at me as she declared, "Doctors, he's an extremely dangerous patient with some kind of mental disorder. He also has a violent streak and self-harm tendencies!"

Meanwhile, standing from afar, Tyler shot the two psychiatrists a look, his eyes blazing venomously.

An hour later, the results came out. I was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia.

The doctor handed the report to my parents and suggested that I be isolated for everyone's safety.

After looking at the report, Calista screamed sharply, "Quick! Have him taken away right this minute! Put him in a psychiatric hospitalor better yet, send him back to prison! I'll apply for mandatory confinement!"

She stared at me coldly, as if I weren't her younger brother but her mortal enemy. "A troublemaker like you will only bring disaster to the family. You should just die!"

The word "die" was all my mind grabbed onto. Instinctively, I obeyed the command.

I'd noticed earlier that one of the windows didn't have any safety bars. While Regina and Calista were busy arguing, I climbed onto the windowsill and jumped.

My body fell through the air. The wind roared in my ears.

The ground kept getting closer with every passing second. Above, I saw their horrified faces pressed against the windows.

With a deafening crash, I hit the ground like a watermelon smashed against concrete.

My skull split open. Blood gushed out, forming a pool all around me.