Chapter 3 Online Harassment

Linden was an art student who planned to become a professional painter after graduation. Hands were a painter's most valuable asset. Yet in that fire, he didn't hesitate to use those irreplaceable hands to grab an iron door that was scorching hot. He used both hands to push open the door that had already closed, creating an escape route for himself and Rosalind. The cost was severe disability in both hands, and he might never be able to hold a paintbrush again. Leona was crying hysterically outside the operating room. Linden was undergoing emergency surgery, while Rosalind had inhaled too much smoke and was still unconscious. As for me? I'd escaped quickly enough that my only injury was a raspy voice. Leona caught sight of me in the hallway, looking perfectly fine. She rushed over in two quick strides and swung her hand to slap me, but I dodged out of the way. A passing security guard quickly grabbed her arm. "What are you doing? You can't attack patients!" Leona struggled frantically and shouted, "She's not a patient. She's a murderer! My brother is an artist, and he wrecked his hands in her art studio! "Three people were in that studio, and she's the only one who came out fine. This is murder! "Aurora, you can't stand seeing them happy together, can you? They're supposed to be your best friends, but you had to destroy them just because they wanted to be together! "You're so twisted! I know you like Linden, and when you realized you couldn't have him, you decided to ruin him instead! "My brother was cursed the day he became friends with you!" The hospital was bustling with people, and countless phone cameras were pointed at me. So even Leona knew about Linden and Rosalind's feelings for each other. Yet in my previous life, she'd been the one dropping hints about Linden's supposed feelings for me, urging me to make a move. Security quickly dragged the hysterical Leona away, but the situation had already spiraled out of control online. Someone had spliced together footage of Leona at the fire scene and the hospital, posting it online where it quickly went viral. In the video, my inability to speak made me look even more guilty while Leona screamed accusations at me. People online did some digging and found out the art studio was mine. They also discovered the complicated dynamics between the three of us. They sided with Leona, seeing this nearly insane woman as the victim. Soon, the internet had unanimously decided that I had burned down the studio out of jealous rage when I couldn't have Linden, intending to kill them both. My social media accounts across all platforms were dug up, and they scrutinized every word and action from my past. Countless hate messages and curses flooded my private messages, branding me as the one who deserved to die. My family couldn't bear to watch anymore and called me. "Rory, why don't you take a vacation abroad and clear your head?" Dad's voice was full of concern. "No need, Dad." I laughed softly. "Things are just getting started."