Chapter 3 The Waiting Truck

I rushed to the front door and locked it. There were two locks, and I had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the upper bolt.

Andrew stood in the living room, his face frighteningly pale. "Daniel, don't push me."

I spread my arms in front of the door. "You can't go. Please, Andrew."

He looked at me, his lips trembling. "I'm just asking to be selfish for once. Can't you let me go?"

I shook my head. "Then, I'll go with you. We can ask Uncle Matthew to come with us tomorrow. If you want to see the ocean, I'll save up and take you there someday."

Andrew suddenly started laughing, tears streaming down his face.

"You're only ten. What money could you possibly save?"

"I have my birthday money saved up."

"That's only a few hundred dollars."

"That's still enough to buy lots of things."

His expression softened a little. I had a feeling that he would've stayed if it were just the two of us here.

Unfortunately, Olivia's messages kept coming one after another.

"Andrew, why aren't you out yet? Is your little brother holding you up?"

"Didn't you say you felt suffocated at home?"

"Be brave. I'm waiting for you."

"My cousin is already waiting behind the bus station. He's wearing a black T-shirt and holding a cup of milk tea."

Every message was another push toward temptation, and I could tell he was wavering.

Suddenly, Andrew turned and rushed into his room.

…

By the time I ran after him, he'd already pushed the window wide open.

My heart lurched.

A small storage shed stood beneath the second-floor window. When we were younger, he used to sneak out that way to buy popsicles with me.

I lunged for the hem of his shirt.

I missed, and his white shirt disappeared through the window.

"Andrew!"

He'd already landed on the shed roof and was climbing down the low wall.

My legs nearly gave out, but I couldn't stop. I rushed out of the room, grabbed the landline, and called my father. No one answered.

My father was usually at the construction site, where the machinery was so loud he often couldn't hear anything.

I called Matthew next. "Uncle Matthew! Andrew climbed out the window! Olivia told her cousin to meet him behind the bus station!"

Matthew cursed under his breath and ordered sternly, "Don't go after Andrew. Stay right where you are."

I ignored him. I'd already slipped on my sandals and raced downstairs.

I chased after Andrew, calling out his name as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I'd been reborn at ten, so Andrew was taller and had longer legs. It was no surprise that I couldn't catch up with him.

…

By the time I arrived at the old bus station, I saw him running toward a narrow alley.

It was the loading alley behind the station. Foam boxes were piled in the corners, and melted ice water covered the ground. The air reeked of fish.

It was a stench I'd never forget.

In my previous life, Andrew would clutch his head and scream whenever he smelled fish.

I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Andrew!"

He turned around, panic written all over his face. "Go home!"

I rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "Don't go!"

A white refrigerated truck was parked up ahead.

A man stood beside it. He wore a black T-shirt and had a buzz cut. He was holding two cups of milk tea and a small cake.

When he saw Andrew, he smiled warmly. "Andrew? Olivia sent me to pick you up."

Andrew stiffened.

The man stepped closer. "I'm Finn Wallace, her cousin. She said you like jasmine milk tea with 30% sugar and light ice, so I got you some."

Andrew's eyes lit up after that remark.

However, I felt a chill run down my spine. I stepped in front of him. "Andrew, don't trust him! They're all scammers! They're human traffickers!"

Finn crouched down and smiled at me. "Daniel, don't make a scene. Andrew's all grown up now. He's just going to meet a friend."

He even knew my name.

An old man selling cigarettes nearby glanced at us. "What's wrong with a young man seeing someone? Why's his little brother trying to stop him?"

I stamped my foot. "Call the police! Somebody, call the police!"

Unfortunately, no one moved. Everyone thought I was just a kid throwing a tantrum.

A woman climbed out of the refrigerated truck's cab. She wore a black T-shirt, had thick arms, and a gold chain hung around her neck.

Madison Blake. I recognized her immediately.

The police had shown us her photograph in my previous life. She was the driver of the first truck that had carted my brother around like cattle.

I spun around and screamed, "Uncle Matthew!"

Madison rushed over and clamped a hand over my mouth. I bit down as hard as I could. Soon, the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

She swore. My headband fell to the ground. I immediately snatched it up and jabbed the pointy end into the back of her hand. She flinched in pain and loosened her grip.

Nevertheless, she immediately retaliated by slapping me across the face the very next second. My ears rang.

She dragged me toward an abandoned newsstand at the end of the alley. I kicked and struggled with all my might, but I was too small to fight her off.

She shoved me inside and taped the door shut. I pounded on the glass, crying until my throat went hoarse.

Finn had put an arm around Andrew during my one-sided tussle with her and led him toward the truck.

Andrew glanced back once. I couldn't tell whether he'd seen me through the dirty glass.

The truck's engine started as soon as the truck door was slammed shut.

I noticed a crack in its right taillight. The last two digits of its license plate were 76.