Chapter 3

The next morning, Dad looked at my empty bedroom and finally realized something was wrong.

"Where's Tina? Did she not come back all night?"

Sipping coffee, Mom didn't even bother to look up. "Why are you so worried? She's probably snuck out to hang out with friends. She's old enough to take care of herself."

But Dad's heart sank. He didn't even bother to change out of his slippers as he bolted downstairs, while I floated after him, filled with hope that he would find me and take me out. I prayed that he wouldn't leave me to rot in the hot trunk.

He ran into the garage, clicked the unlock button on his key fob, and yanked hard on the trunk handle. It didn't budge.

The trunk was completely deadlocked.

"What's going on here? You said you left it unlocked, didn't you?" Dad yelled, sweating with panic.

Mom unhurriedly walked over and let out a cold laugh. "Tina obviously did this on purpose. She threw a fit at the amusement park yesterday, and now, she's probably holding a grudge. I'm sure she locked the trunk to make us panic and give in. I told you, didn't I? She's full of bad habits and way too manipulative."

Tears spilled from my eyes.

"It wasn't me, Mom. Why won't you believe me just once?"

Dad frowned and was about to say something when his phone rang urgently. One look at the screen, and his expression immediately changed.

As he rushed off to flag a cab, he said, "Something came up at work, and I have to go, honey. Remember to let Tina out. Just a few words of lecture are enough—don't take it too far."

Mom nodded dismissively. But the moment Dad left, she linked arms with Nova and glared hatefully at the trunk.

"You spoiled brat! Your dad completely spoiled you! Since he's not here today, you can stay in there and learn your lesson."

Then, she turned to Nova with a warm smile. "Come on. I'll take you shopping for some new clothes. We'll also make up for all the rides we missed at the park yesterday."

"Thank you, Mom," Nova sweetly replied.

I floated after them to the shopping mall. Watching Mom dress Nova up like a princess, I couldn't help but think of my body trapped in the trunk, still wearing a faded, shrunken old T-shirt from three years ago. It felt like someone was tearing my heart up.

Mom hadn't bought me a new outfit since Nova arrived. She always said liars didn't deserve nice clothes, so I could only wear Nova's old hand-me-downs.

Just as Mom was paying for Nova's fifth dress, her phone rang. It was a call from Ted Hancock, a staff member of the apartment's property management team.

"Ms. Wilkins, there's a very strong odor coming from your car in the underground garage. It's really affecting the other neighbors. Please come back and deal with it at once."

Mom furiously hung up the phone. "Tina! How long are you going to keep this up? I can't believe you threw garbage into the car just to embarrass me in front of everyone!"

Looking at her angry face, I helplessly clenched my fists. I didn't understand why this was happening when I clearly hadn't done anything.

By the time Mom and Nova arrived at the underground garage, a crowd of angry neighbors had gathered around the car. The moment they saw Mom, our elderly neighbor, Susie Garrett, fired the first shot.

"What on earth did you leave in that car? Why does it smell so awful? My grandson threw up on his way to school just passing by here this morning!"

"Exactly! The smell is unbearable! Did a rat die in there?"

"Can you clean it up right now? What are we even paying building maintenance fees for?"

Ashamed and heartbroken, I floated in front of them and bowed over and over again. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's not a dead rat; it's just me rotting. I'm really sorry."

But none of the neighbors could hear me. They just kept yelling at Mom.

Mom paled before she turned livid. As she stepped closer to the car, the thick, heavy wave of decay hit her right in the face. She couldn't help but double over and gag, too.

My heart leaped into my throat.

I knew that I was doomed. The weather was intensely hot, and the trunk was too stuffy, so my body must have started rotting after just one night.

"Tina! How long are you going to keep this up? How could you be so vicious?"

I closed my eyes and apologized. "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to."

Hearing her outburst, the neighbors exchanged looks of disbelief. "Wait, what? Did you lock your kid in the car trunk in this heat?"

"Did something happen to her? What kind of mother are you? How could you do that to your kid?"

Stunned by the questions, Mom opened and closed her mouth, but she couldn't say a word.

Then came Nova's pleasant, electronic voice. "Don't worry, everyone. The car's air conditioning and oxygen supply are sufficient. Tina's vital signs are stable.

"The odor is coming from Tina relieving herself in the car. This is a behavioral issue, not a safety concern."