Chapter 2

The man took me to a two-bedroom apartment.

It wasn't large, but it was exceptionally clean.

The room was filled with family photos of my dad, a woman I didn't know, and a little boy.

Even with a quick glance, I could tell it was a warm, loving home.

It was exactly like the cozy scene with Lorelei, her boyfriend, and his daughter eating at McDonald's.

As soon as we entered, the man invited me to sit on the sofa and eagerly went to pour me some water.

But he fumbled around, but couldn't find the kettle.

Seeing his frantic search, I calmly spoke up.

"I don't like interacting with strangers. You can go now."

The man froze slightly, the smile on his face stiffening.

But after a moment, he tried to appease me. "Alright, alright, if that's the case, then I'll head out."

Then the door slammed shut.

It wasn't until I heard the man's footsteps fade away that my rigidly upright posture finally softened.

After a moment of daze, I pulled out my phone, intending to send Lorelei a SnapChat, to tell her I had arrived at my dad's.

But as soon as I opened my phone, I saw Lorelei's SnapChat post.

"Waiting for my daughter to get out of school."

The accompanying picture was of a little girl with a backpack walking out of school.

My fingers tightened around my phone.

A suffocating, bitter ache rose in my chest.

I held it back, forcing myself to switch from the SnapChat interface to a food delivery app.

Just as I was about to order some masks and hats for myself,

I remembered Lorelei hadn't given me any money.

Three days ago, she told me she'd already spoken to my dad, and that he would be responsible for all my future tuition, miscellaneous fees, and living expenses.

So, she wouldn't be giving me my allowance for the month.

My eyes felt raw, and I had to lie down on the sofa to swallow back my tears.

With nothing else to do, I started to daydream.

Thinking of nothing, yet seemingly everything.

It wasn't until the sun had set that a little boy's voice suddenly echoed from outside.

"Mommy, is my big sister really coming to live with us? That's great! I'm definitely going to show her my new Ultraman!"

Hearing the noise outside, I immediately sat up on the sofa, straightening my back.

Remembering I wasn't wearing my mask, I frantically pulled my collar up, trying to hide my face in a messy scramble.

But I was too late. As a hurried sound of the door opening echoed,

It was immediately followed by a startled scream.

"Ah! A ghost!"

Then came the sound of a boy wailing.

My heart seized, and I scrambled to my feet.

The woman who entered was a bit plump, dressed in clothes that weren't particularly trendy.

She glanced at me frantically, then picked up the wailing child.

She must have been scared too, her voice trembling slightly.

"I... I'm so sorry, Aubrey. I... I didn't know you were already home."

"Your dad called me and said... said you weren't coming until tonight."

After saying that, she turned to gently comfort the little boy in her arms.

"Leo, don't cry. What did Mommy tell you before? Do you remember?"

"This is your big sister, Aubrey! Weren't you most excited for her to come?"

The boy's crying subsided with the woman's soothing, but after cautiously peeking at me, he clung to his mom's neck even tighter and started crying again.

His mom looked at me apologetically.

"I... I'm so sorry, Aubrey. Your little brother, he's just a little boy, he doesn't understand yet."

Actually, she didn't need to explain.

After Lorelei found a boyfriend, she once brought his daughter home.

That day, I was sick with a cold and hadn't gone to school.

As soon as the little girl saw a "ghost" in the house, she was so scared she started wailing like a banshee.

Lorelei immediately panicked, rushed over, slapped me, and angrily picked up the little girl, storming out of the house.

When she came home that night, she made a rule for me.

Whenever I was home, except for using the restroom or eating, I had to stay in my room.

Not wanting to be annoying anymore, I spoke up amidst the little boy's cries. "Where's my room?"

The woman's eyes flickered slightly, then she pointed to the bedroom closest to the bathroom.

I pursed my lips, said nothing, and turned to drag my suitcase to the room Elara had assigned me.