ound, and I found myself inside my room. A wave of unease washed over me. Without was

lled out, but the

. With trembling hands, I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open-o

hael, but his room was empty too. My chest

eamed, my voice breaking a

she was-the lady in the red dress. She stood in front of me, laughing like a maniac. The sound

struggling

sud

Lily, w

myself trembling. My brother was beside me, holding me in a fir

ream. Stay with me," he m

ing for the te

about it?" he asked, c

uldn't find Mum, Dad, or you. I was all alone and scared."

t's okay. I'm not planning on leavin

his shoulder, unwi

convenience store, stocking up our bag with snacks, soft drinks, and water

hile before final

ael'

nvestigation by the police, the fire wasn't an accident. So far, two corpses h

ooked up at me with questioning eyes, but I forced a smile, pretending everything was fine. She was s

oose a few clothes, making sure they were plain and inconspicuous. After changing, s

told her firmly. "We'll

I felt a pang of guilt, but we didn't have the luxury of holding

around my hand. Even after changing into casual clothe

m men in b

hey moved-I knew immediately that we were being followed.

irm. I grabbed her ha

bout why we were running. But then,

uld have notic

had given Lily. Everything our parents wanted us to keep safe

ldn't le

ter of time before they caught up. I had n

er. Then, I saw it-a school bus packed with children. She

espite the chaos around us. "You need to get on that school bus and b

e're supposed to stick together, rememb

Lily, but yo

e you behind like we did to Mum and Dad

, but I had no choice. If we stayed

safe was my

re she was seated between the other students. Her tear-f

was safe, nothi

got hurt. I didn't

t let anything

y's

shaking in fear. After a while of sitting and waiting for the school bus to mo

or was locked as the driver informed us to all sit down. I s

hed that my life would be a little better. I was still considering what my next step would

d before he packed on the other side of the road. I knew immediately I

child that is not supposed to be on th

dren to school, so kindly come to the school and lay

earch the bus or we

Do you really think you can come here and take any of these kids away?" I p

he students exited as they ran into the school. I was confused and scared. I didn't know

el, until I saw the same black car again. It was driving towards me. I panicked and

o the woods. I ran as fast as my legs could go. I was getting tired every minute and second. I

the woods, but those men in black suits were standing just right there in front of me."Hey little girl, we don't want to hurt you. We ar

had done to Michael. Looking down the cliff, I felt dizzy at the height,

't think of the fact that I hate heights or the fact that I don't swim

d made it all that mattered. I just hoped that somehow