As the rain-soaked village of Bonelake trembled under the weight of the first storm of the year, a young girl's world teetered on the edge of collapse. In a small, dimly lit hut near the lake, a tender moment unfolded, shrouded in the shadows of mortality.

Inside, 10-year-old Olivia sat beside her ailing mother, Camilla, her long black hair and sharp blue eyes filled with worry. Camilla's once beautiful face now wore a pale mask, her lips shivering, and her eyes dulled by bruises.

"Mama, are you alright?" Olivia asked, her voice trembling with fear.

Camilla turned slowly, her smile weak, and replied, "Yes, I'm fine, Olivia. Now sleep."

But Olivia couldn't shake off the feeling that her mother was hiding something. It was obvious that Camilla was very sick. Olivia's mind raced back to her friend's tales of death - how people often fell ill before leaving this world forever. A chilling thought crept into her mind, "Is that what's happening to Mama? I can't bear it if she dies."

Olivia stared at her mother for a moment, her eyes searching for answers, before asking again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mama, you won't leave me, will you?" little Olivia asked, her voice trembling with worry.

"No, I won't," Camilla replied, coughing up blood. "Olivia, you know I love you. I will never leave you, even if something bad happens to me. I will always be right here," she said, pointing to Olivia's heart while smiling bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"But Mama..." Olivia started to say, but her dying mother cut her off.

"Olivia, you will be staying with Papa," Camilla said, her voice weak but resolute.

Olivia's frustration boiled over. "But Mama, I want to be with you! Besides, Papa doesn't like me. How am I supposed to be with him? He always beats you and sometimes denies you food, pushing you out at night. You expect me to be with him?"

Camilla was shocked. How did Olivia know? Each time her husband came home drunk, she would tell Olivia to go and play, hoping to shield her from the truth. But Olivia was perceptive, even at 10.

"You won't blame him, Olivia. He loves you," Camilla urged, trying to calm her daughter.

But Olivia's sharp blue eyes flashed with anger. "Anyone who hates you hates me, including Papa!" she declared, her small chest heaving.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Sebastian, Olivia's father, entered, his face twisted in rage. "Camilla! So this is what you've been teaching my daughter?" he bellowed, his voice dripping with malice.

Camilla trembled, knowing she was running out of time. "No, Sebastian, it's not what you think," she whispered, trying to placate him.

But Sebastian's anger had reached a boiling point. "At least let her witness how you'll end!" he snarled, his eyes scanning the room with a crazed gleam. "Let her see you die!!"