7. A Mysterious Little Girl

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Alice had not yet been found. The fact made Edmund a gloomy person. Even though he kept himself busy with work, the feeling of guilt still weighed on his heart and mind.

The only way for Edmund to feel better was to make Alice's dream of traveling around the world come true. Every chance he got, he visited a place on her bucket list. Five years after Alice left, Edmund chose Mauritius.

“Ed, don't test my patience. Did you know that today we have a meeting with an important investor?" Scott said over the phone.

While focused on driving, the bearded man grumbled, "Didn't I leave a note on my desk? Just tell them those points. I'm sure they will agree."

"But at least, give them a warm greeting. Even if it's only via video call!"

“Scott, can you stop bothering me? Weren't you the one who suggested that I go on this trip? Or do you want my depression to relapse?" he said curtly.

"I understand you need a vacation, but not this suddenly either."

Annoyed, Edmund hung up the phone. He threw it on the side seat with a sullen look. But after a blink of an eye, he gasped. He quickly stopped the car and checked under the side seat. Alice's compass was gone!

“Did I forget to bring it?” he muttered anxiously. His eyes twitched as he tried to remember. Before cold sweat flooded the back of his neck, he turned the car towards the hotel.

“Sir, why are you turning around?”

Edmund's heart almost stopped hearing the little girl's voice. The car moved to the right and left before pulling over again. Once the car was in a safe position, he turned to the back seat.

Apparently, a toddler around four years old was wide-eyed, waiting for the answer.

"Who are you? Why are you in my car?” Edmund breathed unevenly. His eyes still could not believe what he was seeing.

Realizing that she had revealed her presence, the little girl gasped. She covered her mouth with both hands, then buried her back against the car seat.

Edmund now could see her more clearly. She wore a red hoodie combined with a light brown jumpsuit. The hood covered her hair, making her face look rounder. On her lap were a book, a pencil, and a backpack.

Suddenly, the little girl moved forward again. Blinking, she furrowed her brows.

“Sorry, Mister Beard. When I was in the parking lot, I overheard that you wanted to go to Chamarel Falls. Coincidentally, I also want to go there. That's why I secretly get into your car.”

Edmund fell silent with his mouth agape. It took him some time to digest the information. "So, you followed me from the hotel?"

As the toddler nodded, Edmund closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn't understand why he didn't realize that there was a stowaway in his car.

“Why did you secretly follow a stranger like me? Tsk, that's just troublesome. What's your parents' phone number? They must be worried because you disappeared from the hotel.”

With an innocent look, the little girl shrugged her shoulders. “How could I memorize my parents' numbers? I'm still too small. I can't even read yet."

One of Edmund's eyebrows rose. His index finger pointed at the book on the backpack. "If you can't read, then what's the use of it?"

"This?" The mysterious child suddenly became excited. After putting the backpack aside, she stood up, showing the contents of her book to Edmund.

“This is a map to Chamarel Falls. Look! We have passed these two corners and several stops. I actually wanted to take the bus. But that's too risky. I could have gotten lost or kidnapped. I don't want my organs to be sold. Therefore, I am very happy to meet a good person like you.”

Seeing the picture of the map that he didn't understand, Edmund brought his head backward. After blinking, he took the book and examined it.

“Is there no information regarding your parents here?”

“No, Sir. This is my travel journal."

Edmund was suddenly stunned. The girl reminded him of Alice. His wife also had a journal like that.

"Look!" The toddler's sweet voice snapped Edmund to the presence. Her tiny index finger was now poking the page that was full of pictures. Their shapes were strange. Some of them had circle marks.

“This is my holiday target. Currently, we are heading this way. Chamarel Falls.”

Edmund frowned when he saw four long vertical lines which turned out to be a picture of a waterfall. Before the little girl could chatter any longer, he closed the book and put on a firm look.

“Hey, Matchstick, listen to me carefully. If you really want to go to Chamarel Falls, take your parents with you, not me. They will definitely be happy to accompany you there. Now, let's go back to the hotel.”

Unexpectedly, the little girl started to whine. Her head shook faintly. Her hands came together under her chin.

“Please don't go back to the hotel, Mister Beard. Let's just go to Chamarel. This is my only chance. I have to leave this country tomorrow. If we go back now, Mama and Papa will take me to Casela Nature Park. I will never see Chamarel.”

"If you tell your wishes well, your parents will make it happen."

"No! Mama has a phobia of rivers. Because of that, Mama and Papa persuaded me to go to Nature Park. They will never accompany me to Chamarel.” The little girl pouted.

Again, Edmund froze. He always wondered. If Alice were alive, would she be afraid of rivers?

"You mean water phobia?" He tried to suppress his sadness.

“Not a water phobia, but a river phobia. Mama doesn't like seeing running water. Therefore, please, Mister Beard. Don't go back to the hotel. Let's just go to Chamarel."

While returning the book to the back seat, Edmund sighed. “Sorry, I don't want your parents to panic and go to the police. I could be accused of being a kidnapper.”

"No, they won't. I can defend you and say that we are actually friends. You just help me to make my wish come true. You are a good person and the police will not arrest you.” The little girl nodded quickly.

After a brief moment of consideration, Edmund exhaled again. “But I still have to go back to the hotel. I have to pick up something that was left behind.”

The little girl blink in worry. "What is it?"