Chapter 2

I couldn't just stand around and let these two human traffickers determine my fate.

My eyes darted around as I secretly scanned my surroundings. The area was extremely remote, with nothing but weeds lining the roadside.

The human traffickers were two muscular grown men. Even if I ran for my life, an eight-year-old child like me had no chance of outrunning them.

After catching their breath, the two men grabbed me again and dragged me along, their pace quickening as the surroundings became increasingly desolate. My heart clenched as anxiety spread through every inch of my body.

Now that I'd been given a rare second chance at life, I absolutely couldn't die like this.

Just as my palms began to sweat from desperation, a striking patch of blue caught my eye in the distance. It was a police kiosk.

My heart leaped. This was my chance!

Without another moment's hesitation, I summoned every ounce of strength I had and sank my teeth into the hand of the trafficker gripping my wrist. The sharp pain made him let out a muffled cry, and he instinctively released my hand.

"Fucking hell! I'm gonna kill you, you little bitch!"

I seized the opportunity to break free from the other man's grip. Putting every ounce of strength my little body could muster into my legs, I sprinted toward the police kiosk, screaming at the top of my lungs as I ran.

"Help! These two men wanna sell me off! Help!"

My shrill cries for help rang out through the deserted alley.

The two traffickers quickly realized what was happening. Cursing furiously, they chased after me, their footsteps drawing closer and closer.

Just as I felt someone behind me reach for the back of my T-shirt, the police officer inside the kiosk rushed out after hearing the commotion.

Spotting the police officer, the two traffickers cursed viciously, but they didn't dare stick around any longer. They fled in the opposite direction, disappearing into the depths of the alley in no time.

My legs gave way, and I collapsed straight into the police officer's warm, sturdy embrace. The tension that pumped adrenaline into my body drained out of me. My body went limp, and I started gasping for air.

The officer patted my back with a warm hand as he gently comforted me. Buried in his embrace, I felt a surge of almost twisted satisfaction well up inside me.

This time around, the Garners could forget about ever reuniting with their biological daughter.

The officer continued to cradle me in his arms as he brought me back to the police kiosk.

There was warm water on the table, along with a few packets of cookies. He crouched in front of me and asked in a soft voice, "Can you tell me what happened? You can take your time. You don't have to be scared anymore."

I drooped my head and allowed my shoulders to shake a little, looking like a child who'd just been through a traumatizing ordeal.

"Those people grabbed me to sell me off."

"How many of them are there?"

"Two."

I did my best to describe the two traffickers, telling the officer their heights, builds, clothing, and other distinguishing features. I was careful not to leave anything out.

After I finished, the officer furrowed his brows and asked me gently, "Where are your parents? Do you have any other family? We can tell your family to come and pick you up."

My eyes reddened, and tears started to fall without warning. I vehemently shook my head, choking on my sobs as I struggled to get the words out.

"My mom and dad… passed away a long time ago. I don't have any other family."

I wasn't lying. My adoptive parents had been orphans themselves. They had no family of their own, and since they'd died, too, I had no family either.

The Garners were related to me by blood, which technically made them my family. But in reality, they were total strangers who'd barged their way into my life and proceeded to destroy it. I wasn't going to consider them my family.

The officer didn't expect to hear that. He quickly pulled out some tissues to wipe my tears before pulling up my records in the system.

Once he finished reading everything, he sighed to his colleague and said, "I just confirmed it. Both her parents are gone, and she doesn't have any other relatives listed in the system. She really is alone in the world."