Stolen Freedom

Lei Xian pressed the cold barrel of the gun against Xin Yi's temple. Her piercing gaze locked on Hua Li, tears streaming down her face as she begged desperately.

"Please... I beg you. Let her go. She's just a child!" Hua Li's voice cracked, a mix of anguish and desperation.

Lei Xian tilted her head, smirking cruelly. "A child?" She lowered the gun slowly, letting the tense air in the room ease for just a moment. Xin Yi gasped, her trembling hands clutching the chair as she struggled to breathe again. But before relief could settle in, Lei Xian spoke again, her voice dripping with malice.

"You want me to spare you?" She walked toward Hua Li, her heels clicking sharply against the concrete floor. "Then let's play a game."

Hua Li's stomach twisted. Her hands trembled as she whispered, "What game?"

Lei Xian crouched, her face inches from Hua Li's. "Hide and seek," she said, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "Here's how it works. I'll count to fifty, and you both run—" she straightened up and gestured around her, "—in different directions. If you manage to escape, you live. But if one of you is caught, the other pays the price."

Hua Li's heart sank. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Lei Xian's laughter echoed through the room. "If you're caught, you'll shoot your precious daughter yourself. And if she's caught... well, she'll have the pleasure of killing you." Her voice was calm, almost playful, as if this twisted game amused her.

"No!" Hua Li shook her head violently. "You can't—"

Lei Xian snapped her fingers, silencing her. "The rules are simple. Play, or I shoot you both right now."

Her men stepped forward, untying Hua Li and Xin Yi. Their wrists bore red marks from the ropes, and their legs wobbled as they were forced to stand. Hua Li immediately wrapped her arms around Xin Yi, pulling her close.

"I'm so sorry," Hua Li whispered, her voice breaking. "I failed you... I couldn't protect you."

Xin Yi clung to her mother, her tears soaking Hua Li's shoulder.

The door creaked open, revealing a sprawling port shrouded in darkness. Dim lights flickered across rows of shipping containers, their towering structures casting long shadows. The salty sea breeze carried an eerie silence, broken only by the distant hum of machinery.

Lei Xian clapped her hands. "Alright, ladies! Positions, please." Her voice was mocking, but her eyes glinted with menace. She leaned closer and whispered, "Run fast, or it's game over."

Hua Li stand beside Xin Yi, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Listen to me," she said in a hushed, urgent tone. "Run south. Don't stop, no matter what. Don't let them catch you. Do you understand?"

Xin Yi nodded, her tear-streaked face pale but determined.

Lei Xian raised her voice. "Ready... set... START!" Her voice rang out, followed by her slow, deliberate counting. "One... two... three..."

Xin Yi bolted south, her heart pounding in her ears. Hua Li sprinted east, her steps heavy but resolute. Their paths diverged, each carrying a desperation to survive.

The port was a labyrinth of steel containers. Xin Yi darted between them, her breath ragged. She found a partially open container and slipped inside, her hands trembling as she pulled the door shut. The air inside was suffocating, and her pounding heart felt deafening in the silence.

Outside, Lei Xian's voice continued to count. "Forty-eight... forty-nine... fifty. Time's up!" She stretched her arms lazily, her grin widening. "Let the hunt begin."

Her men spread out, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. Lei Xian hummed a cheerful tune as she strolled casually, her eyes scanning the shadows. The sound of footsteps grew louder, echoing ominously.

After several minutes, one of the men stopped. A sneaker lay outside a container, its laces undone. The container door was slightly ajar. He signaled to Lei Xian, who approached with a smirk.

She motioned for the door to be opened. The metallic screech of the container echoed like a scream.

Inside, Xin Yi froze, her back pressed against the wall. Her wide, terrified eyes met Lei Xian's triumphant gaze.

"I got you!" Lei Xian said, her tone mocking as if she'd just caught a child in a harmless game. Xin Yi's body trembled uncontrollably, her face drained of all color. Her heart felt like it would explode.

They dragged her out, her legs barely able to hold her weight. She was taken back to the starting point, where Lei Xian handed her a microphone.

"Call for your mother," Lei Xian ordered.

"No..." Xin Yi's voice was hoarse, her tears falling freely. "Mom, please don't come! Just run! Save yourself!" Her plea echoed across the port.

Lei Xian snatched the mic, laughing mockingly. "Oh, what a sweet little bond you two have. How touching!" She leaned closer to Xin Yi, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "But let me tell you a secret, little one."

Xin Yi flinched, avoiding eye contact.

"Hua Li... isn't your real mother," Lei Xian said, her voice dripping with cruel delight. "She stole you from the lab 18 years ago."

Xin Yi's world spun. Her knees buckled, but the men held her up.

"You," Lei Xian continued, circling her like a predator, "are no ordinary girl. You're a creation—a product of science, born in a lab. You're not just precious, you're invaluable." She smiled wickedly. "And now, you belong to me."

Just then, Hua Li emerged from the shadows, her voice breaking. "Stop it! Leave her alone!"

Xin Yi screamed, "Mom! I told you to go! Why did you come back?!" Tears streamed down her face as she fought against the men holding her.

Hua Li took a trembling step forward. "I can't leave you," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "You're my child. I will protect you, no matter what."

The two locked eyes, tears streaming down their faces as Lei Xian laughed maniacally.

"How dramatic," Lei Xian said mockingly. "Let's see how this mother-daughter bond holds up when faced with the ultimate choice."