Chapter 5

That night, I developed a raging fever. My head throbbed, and my body alternated between freezing cold and burning heat.

In my delirium, I saw my dad’s oversized backpack swinging before my eyes. He was dragging me by the hand, running through the pitch-black night.

"Hurry, Chloe, faster!" his voice was frantic. "If they catch us, we're dead!"

My legs were too short. I couldn't keep up. Sharp gravel cut into my bare feet, making me want to cry. But I didn't dare make a sound. I just bit my lip and forced myself to run.

Flashlights cut through the darkness behind us, followed by shouting: "Julian Carter! Stop running!"

We sprinted into an abandoned warehouse. He shoved me inside a rusted metal drum.

"Hide here. Don't make a sound. Daddy will be right back."

"Daddy..." I was terrified. I reached out to grab him.

He gave me one last look before slamming the lid shut.

The drum was pitch-black and suffocating.

I heard heavy footsteps outside, shouting, and the sound of things being overturned.

I waited and waited.

He never came back.

Later, the lid was pulled open, and a sympathetic woman took me away.

I stayed at her house for three months before being passed to another family.

The father of that family was a violent drunk. I was constantly covered in bruises.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, people in uniforms arrived.

A young female officer knelt down, brushing the messy hair from my face. "We're going to take you to your mother."

My mother?! Home? Really?

I looked up at her. "Will she want me?"

The officer froze. She didn't answer. She just held my hand tightly and walked me out in silence.