Chapter 4

David looked shocked. He glared at Justin.

"Justin! You've got some nerve sticking your nose into my business! This is my family. What right do you have to interfere?"

One of the police officers stepped forward and spoke in a stern voice.

"We don't interfere with how parents educate their children, but when it comes to child abuse, we absolutely have to intervene!"

He looked at Nicole, who was trembling uncontrollably.

"Is there really a child locked inside?"

Nicole ignored David's warning glare and quickly nodded. "Yes! My brother is in there! We just called out to him, but he stopped responding! Something must have happened to him!"

The officer's expression grew grim as he looked at David, who was clearly growing uneasy.

"We need to open the door!" Rhonda yelled anxiously. "He threw the key into the drain. I'm going to find a locksmith right now!"

David tried to stop her again, but the officer's stern glare silenced him. He could only clench his jaw as Rhonda rushed out the door.

The officer stood outside the freezer. "Kid? We're police officers. Are you still conscious? If you are, say something."

I answered, but no one could hear me.

The iron door remained completely still.

The two officers exchanged a look. Their expressions grew increasingly grim.

Nicole's voice turned hoarse with desperation. "It's all my fault! This happened because of me!"

I slowly approached her. I wanted to wipe away her tears, but my hand passed straight through her.

"Don't cry, Nicole."

My eyes welled up with tears, and my chest felt stuffy. "I've never blamed you."

David stood to the side and frowned as if he were still trying to convince everyone.

"I told you nothing would happen! Do you really think I'm some kind of monster who would kill his own son?"

Justin suddenly turned to face him.

"You wouldn't kill Chris, but you'd torture him over and over!

"David, all of us neighbors have seen how you've treated Chris over the years!

"Your son has been walking around in a daze every single day. Do you really not see it?"

David snorted after hearing that.

I froze. For a long time, I hadn't been able to muster any energy. Sometimes I couldn't even walk without falling.

I thought I was simply tired. I never realized my mental state had already deteriorated to such an extent.

The officer frowned even more deeply, and his eyes filled with fury and disgust.

"Chris is my son. How I discipline him is none of your business!" David glared at him.

Not long after, hurried footsteps came from the entrance.

Rhonda had returned with a locksmith.

She was gasping for air as she pointed shakily at the door. "Here. Please, hurry!"

The locksmith nodded and was about to step forward when David snatched the toolbox away.

"No one is opening this door today!"

"David!"

"Dad!"

Rhonda and Nicole shouted at the same time. The officer finally lost his patience. "Hand it over!"

Tears filled my eyes. My heart ached.

I couldn't understand why, even now, with the police and a locksmith standing right there, David was still determined to punish me.

He had a stubborn look in his eyes.

"I said no one is opening it! He's my son. I can do whatever I want with him!"

The officer's expression hardened.

"David, if you continue obstructing us, we have the right to arrest you!"

As he spoke, he pulled out his handcuffs.

David froze. His face turned from pale to flushed and back again. After a long moment, he finally gave in.

"Fine!

"Fine, I'll let him out!"

He then turned to face Nicole. "Once we get him out, look at his legs. That is what happens when you refuse to wear thermal underwear! Do you understand?"

The locksmith quickly took back his toolbox and got to work.

David snorted dismissively. He then retrieved a key from his pocket.

Rhonda and Nicole nearly collapsed from shock. They trembled in anger.

"Y-You actually had the key!"

David spoke nonchalantly. "Of course. Do you really think I'd leave my own son in there forever?

"I don't know what everyone's panicking about! Just watch. He's probably asleep!"

With that, he pushed past everyone and inserted the key into the freezer door's keyhole.