Chapter 4

The howling wind instantly drowned out every other sound.

All the motion-sensor lights in the building went out at once.

The surroundings plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the stark white flashes of lightning outside the windows.

The wind shrieked as though it were ripping the air apart, accompanied by deafening crashes as heavy objects were swept away and smashed against the building.

Everyone’s face turned deathly pale under the terrifying force of the storm.

Mr. Parker leaned against the wall and shouted in a trembling voice, “The hurricane is here! We’re on the edge of the eye of the storm! We absolutely cannot stay on the top floor. It’s too dangerous!”

Hearing the chaos outside, Dad immediately released me, grabbed Mom, and sprinted downstairs.

“Come on! Hurry! We need to get downstairs! Ryan must be trapped somewhere outside!

“Even if I have to brave this hurricane, I’ll bring my son home!”

Mom followed behind him, crying hysterically. She didn’t even notice that one of her shoes had fallen off.

The neighbors were afraid something might happen too, so they hurried downstairs with us.

I rubbed my aching cheek, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slowly followed the crowd downstairs.

By the time we reached the lobby on the first floor, every glass door and window had already been boarded up and reinforced.

Four community workers and two police officers stood guard at the entrance, prepared for anything.

Dad rushed forward like a madman and tried to pull open the entrance door, which had been secured with chains.

“Open the door! Let me out!

“My son is still outside! I have to go save him!”

The officer in charge grabbed Dad by the shoulder and sternly stopped him.

“Sir! Calm down!

“The wind is already picking up, and most of the large trees and utility poles along the roads have already been knocked down!

“Going outside right now would be suicide!

“The city’s flood-control command center has issued an emergency order. Everyone must stay indoors and take shelter. No one is allowed to leave without authorization!”

Mom immediately dropped to her knees in front of the officer, clutching his leg as she sobbed.

“Officer, please! I’m begging you!

“My son is only eighteen! He’ll die if he’s out there alone!”

The community workers hurried over to help her up.

“Ma’am, please get up!

“Our rescue teams are already searching throughout the city. We’ll notify you immediately if we get any news!

“But we absolutely cannot open the doors right now. If those powerful winds rush into the building, everyone’s safety will be at risk!”

The lobby descended into chaos.

Crying, shouting, attempts to calm everyone down, and the deafening roar of wind and rain pounding against the entrance all blended.

Dad was sweating anxiously. He turned around and once again directed his hatred toward me.

He pointed at me and shouted at the police officers.

“This is all because of my daughter!

“She kept dragging her feet at home and even lied to us that Ryan was upstairs. She wasted more than an hour of our time!

“If we’d left half an hour earlier, I would’ve already brought my son home!”

Several residents taking shelter nearby joined in, criticizing me.

“How can an older sister act like that?”

“Exactly. Her own brother is in danger, yet she could just sit at home and do nothing. She’s heartless.”

I stood there, coldly watching these people trying to guilt-trip me into taking responsibility. I didn’t say a word.

In my previous life, my parents and I had rushed outside to look for Ryan only half an hour earlier.

In return, my parents died horribly, and I was left permanently paralyzed before Ryan pushed me off the building.

This time, I would never again be the fool who sacrificed herself for him.

Just as Dad raised his fist and tried to charge at me again...

The hurricane had disrupted the signal in the lobby, cutting it in and out. The moment the signal briefly returned—

Ring! Ring! Ring!

A shrill, frantic ringtone suddenly pierced the dead silence of the lobby.

Everyone froze.

Dad stopped in his tracks and tremblingly pulled out his phone.

Two words flashed brightly across the screen:

[Ryan]

Overcome with joy, Dad hurriedly switched to speakerphone and shouted,

“Ryan! Where are you?

“Which shelter are you at? I’ll find a way to come get you!”

On the other end came only the deafening roar of the wind and the explosive sound of glass shattering.

Then Ryan’s terrified, desperate cries rang out.

“Dad! Help me!

“The glass room on the rooftop collapsed! The roof was blown right off!

“I want to come downstairs, but some damn bastard locked the rooftop door from the outside! I can’t open it!

“I’m on the rooftop of our building! The hurricane is about to blow me off!

“Dad! Come save me!”