Stolen Freedom

The sun was high in the sky when the students began boarding the bus for their journey back to town. The teacher stood at the bus door, looking visibly tired but still patient.

"Teacher, why are we leaving now? You said we'd leave in the morning!" a student complained, their voice carrying the exasperation shared by many.

"I've already explained this," the teacher replied, her tone firm but kind. "We're fortunate to have gotten a bus at all. Now, let's not waste time. Everyone, get on."

The students groaned but complied, shuffling up the steps and settling into their seats. Some still muttered complaints under their breath, but the teacher's steady gaze silenced any further arguments.

Xin Yi and her friends, Mei, Lan, and Li Wei, climbed aboard together. While Mei and Lan immediately started recounting highlights from the trip, laughing at inside jokes and teasing each other about their failed attempts to take pictures, Xin Yi remained quiet.

She slipped into her seat by the window, staring out as the bus roared to life. Her friends didn't seem to notice her silence at first, too wrapped up in their conversation, but Mei eventually leaned over.

"Xin Yi, you okay?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.

Xin Yi forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

Mei hesitated but nodded, returning to the lively discussion. Xin Yi rested her chin on her hand, gazing out at the passing scenery. Her thoughts swirled with unease.

I need to get back home and see Mom.

No matter how much she tried to focus on the cheerful chatter around her, the weight in her chest wouldn't lift. She clutched her bag tightly, as though holding onto it might steady her restless thoughts.

****

The study in Yi Mansion was a masterpiece of modern design—sleek glass walls framed the room, offering a panoramic view of the bustling city below. The room exuded an air of authority, with its polished marble floors and tall bookshelves filled with meticulously arranged files and artifacts. A single crystal chandelier hung overhead, casting a cool, sterile light on the expansive oak desk in the center.

Lei Xian sat at the desk, the light reflecting off the sharp edges of her tailored suit. Her nails, painted a dark crimson, tapped rhythmically against the desk as she flipped through the folder in her hands. The contrast between her calm exterior and the storm brewing within her was stark.

"Yong Zheng," she murmured, the name slipping from her lips like venom. "Do you think you've won just because you buried the past under layers of lies and deceit?"

She paused, her gaze drifting to the city skyline. The setting sun painted the skyscrapers in hues of gold and crimson, a stark contrast to the darkness in her heart.

"You may have erased the evidence, but you forgot one thing." Her voice grew colder, her grip on the folder tightening. "I'm Lei Xian. I don't stop until I get what I want."

The buzz of her phone shattered the silence, pulling her attention away. She picked it up, her sharp eyes scanning the screen. The first message was brief but powerful:

"Boss, we found the nurse."

Her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile, but it was the second message that truly ignited the fire in her eyes:

"Boss... my sources believe the object is alive."

For a moment, she didn't move, letting the words sink in. The object—alive. A secret that should have been buried along with her trust for her brother.

Lei Xian stood, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she walked to the window. The city lights began to twinkle like stars in the dusk, but her gaze was unyielding, fixed on the horizon. Her fingers curled around the edge of the desk, her knuckles whitening as her determination solidified.

She finally typed her reply:

"I'm coming."

Placing the phone down with deliberate calm, she stared out at the city once more. The faint reflection of her figure in the glass was a haunting reminder of how far she had come—and how far she was willing to go.

"Let the games begin," she whispered, her voice barely audible but laced with promise. "This time, I won't just win—I'll destroy everything you hold dear."

****

Hours later, the bus finally rolled to a stop in the small town. The engine's rumbling died down, and the once-noisy chatter inside the bus turned to the groggy murmurs of sleepy students.

"We're here," the teacher announced, standing at the front. "Gather your things and exit in an orderly manner."

The doors creaked open, and the students filed out one by one, stretching and blinking against the warm glow of the late afternoon sun. Parents waited eagerly, their faces lighting up as they spotted their children stepping off the bus.

Xin Yi stepped down onto the pavement, her heart racing. She swung her bag over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar figure.

"Are you leaving already?" Mei called out, noticing Xin Yi walking briskly toward the edge of the group.

Xin Yi waved a hand without looking back. "Yeah. I need to see Mom."

The urgency in her tone stopped her friends from following, though they exchanged concerned glances.

As families reunited and laughter filled the air, Xin Yi found herself standing alone. Her classmates were embraced by their parents, voices overlapping as they recounted tales of the trip. But no one came for her.

"Is Auntie not here yet?" Mei's voice broke through Xin Yi's thoughts. She and Lan had come back, their expressions tinged with worry.

"Maybe she got held up," Lan offered quickly, trying to sound optimistic.

Xin Yi forced another smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's fine. You guys should go; your parents are waiting."

"But—" Mei began.

"No, really." Xin Yi shook her head firmly. "I'll be okay. I'll call you when I get home, promise."

Her friends hesitated but eventually left with their families, casting worried glances over their shoulders.

As the station emptied, Xin Yi stood in the growing silence. Only her teacher remained, a faint frown on her face as she glanced at her watch.

"Xin Yi," she said gently, "are you sure your mother is coming?"

"She told me she'd be here," Xin Yi replied, her voice barely steady.

The teacher hesitated before pulling out her phone. "Let me book a taxi. I'll drop you off."

Xin Yi wanted to refuse but couldn't muster the words. She simply nodded.

The taxi ride was quiet. Xin Yi stared out the window, her stomach churning with worry. The closer they got to home, the heavier the weight in her chest grew.

When the car stopped at the edge of her street, the driver explained, "The road's too narrow to drive through."

"That's fine," Xin Yi said quickly, already opening the door. She grabbed her bag and bowed to her teacher. "Thank you for bringing me home."

Before the teacher could respond, Xin Yi turned and ran. Her feet pounded against the pavement, her breaths quick and uneven.

Something's wrong. Mom wouldn't just forget. Something's happened.

The thought pushed her forward, faster and faster, until her house came into view.The streets of the town were quiet as Xin Yi ran toward her home. The orange glow of the evening sun cast long shadows, but all Xin Yi could see was the growing darkness in her heart. Her feet barely touched the ground as she sprinted, her bag bouncing on her shoulder. Each step felt heavier, her unease morphing into raw fear.

When she reached the gate, she stopped, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The house stood eerily still, the windows darkened as though they were watching her. Something felt wrong—terribly, undeniably wrong. The gate's cold iron chilled her hand as she reached for it, her fingers trembling so violently that she almost dropped the keys.

Her thoughts spiraled out of control. What if she's hurt? What if she's gone? What if— She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. "No," she whispered aloud, her voice quivering. "She's fine. She has to be."

The gate creaked open, the sound slicing through the silence like a scream. Xin Yi stepped inside, her legs unsteady. The air felt heavy, oppressive, as though the house itself mourned.

Her heart sank as her gaze swept over the front yard. The overturned flowerpots, the shattered ceramic shards on the pathway—each detail chipped away at her hope. She dropped her bag without realizing it, her hands clenching into fists.

"Mom?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper.

She stepped into the house, her shoes crunching against the broken glass scattered across the floor. The scene inside stole the breath from her lungs. The once-welcoming home was unrecognizable. Utensils and papers were strewn across the floor, furniture overturned, and the faint metallic tang of blood hung in the air.

Xin Yi's chest tightened. "No, no, no..." She stumbled forward, her hands gripping the edges of the doorway for support. Tears blurred her vision as she forced herself to move.

She called for her mother again, her voice rising in desperation. "Mom! Please, answer me!" Her cries echoed through the empty house, the silence that followed deafening.

The sight of the dark stain on the floor stopped her in her tracks. Her breath hitched as her eyes locked onto it. The edges of the stain were dry, cracked, and unmistakably blood. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, her hands covering her mouth to stifle a sob.

"No... this can't be real." Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with tears. She stared at the stain, her mind racing with horrifying possibilities. Is this Mom's? Is she… She couldn't finish the thought.

The stillness around her was shattered by the sudden creak of the gate. Xin Yi's head snapped toward the sound, her body frozen between fear and hope. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears.

Someone was there...!!!!

"Who's there?" she called, her voice breaking. She scrambled to her feet, her legs trembling as she backed away from the entrance. The shadow of a figure grew larger, stepping into the dim light.

Xin Yi's pulse quickened, her entire body taut with fear. Her eyes never left the figure as she waited, every muscle in her body screaming to run. But she didn't move. She couldn't.

Please don't let it be bad news, she thought desperately. Please, let it be Mom.....