Looking down at the long trail of car lights winding like a dragon at the foot of the mountain, I quietly took out a thick flashlight from my backpack and began descending carefully.
No one knew that while the search parties combed the mountains for me, I had already slipped back into the town unnoticed.
The trash bin stank, flies buzzing around its rim—but I had no choice. I was starving. I needed strength to keep going.
I reached inside and pulled out half a sticky, oil-soaked glutinous rice cake. Just as I was about to take a bite, a familiar voice rang out behind me.
"Samantha?"
Every hair on my body stood on end. Slowly, I turned.
It was the girl who’d sat next to me on the bus. She stared at me in disbelief, her lips parted in shock.
My instincts kicked in. I grabbed her wrist and dragged her into a nearby alley without another word.
She stumbled, clearly injured—her leg was dragging awkwardly behind her. But she didn’t cry out.
Once I was sure no one had followed us, I released her.
"Why are you here?" I demanded. "You should’ve been sent back… or locked up. How did you get out?"
She flinched, shrinking back a step. “I—I saw you running, so I followed…”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to read her expression. Something wasn’t right.
She bit her lower lip and took a shaky step forward. “Samantha, why did you run? I thought… I thought you were going to college.”
Her question caught me off guard. I said nothing.
She suddenly grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly tight. Desperate.
“I heard the people who arrested us talking. They said our parents were taken away. They said… it was because the driver lost something very important.”
She hesitated, then looked at me dead in the eye.
“You were the only one who went near him after the crash. You took it, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t.” My voice was ice.
I shook her hand off. “They’re lying. All of them. You really believe anything they say?”
She looked heartbroken, eyes glassy with tears. I sighed and backed into the corner of the wall, crouching low in frustration.
I had no choice now. I couldn’t let her go back.
After a long pause, I asked, “Do you want to follow me—or go back alone?”
She wiped her tears, eyes searching mine. “I… I want to stay with you. I’m scared to be by myself.”
“Fine. Then listen to me. Don’t ask questions, and do exactly what I say. Got it?”
She nodded quickly.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Lily Wade.”
I nodded. Leaning against the wall, I pushed myself upright and started walking, motioning for her to follow.
We hadn’t taken more than a few steps when something crashed into the back of my head.
A searing pain exploded through my skull. I turned in shock.
Lily stood there, crying, holding a black brick in her trembling hands.
“I—I didn’t want to… But they said they’d let my parents go if I helped catch you…”
My vision blurred as I collapsed to the ground, blood warmed against the back of my neck, trickling into my mouth.
In the distance, I saw a shadow rushing toward me.
You really can’t trust anyone, I thought bitterly, as darkness swallowed me.
