Chapter 10
543 Words
Mom's expression shifted dramatically as if she had recalled something important.
She must have remembered the desperate calls I made to her every month.
Each time, I told her the truth about what I was experiencing at school. I shared everything with her.
But did she really hear me?
She only responded with a few "okays" before reminding me to respect the teachers and then hanging up.
Did she feel regretful?
She must have regretted not caring for me more. She regretted not listening to what I was really saying.
Dad walked over and slapped Mom hard.
The police stepped in to separate them.
"If your daughter is missing, we need to work together to find her. List the places your child used to go and write down any friends they had."
These simple questions left my parents speechless.
They didn't understand me at all and had never thought to try.
The police noticed their confusion and stopped asking questions.
Soon, the police started their search, and the first place they checked was that "place of nightmares."
Mom insisted on going with them. I followed her there, unable to shake off my fear and resistance.
The school was deserted and empty.
It felt as if all traces of me had been erased.
The police searched all the dorms but found no signs of me.
Finally, they entered the storage room.
The walls were covered with terrible words.
My bed had only a thin sheet on it, resting on a wooden board beneath.
The comforter was a blanket Mom had given me in the summer.
But the dorm had no air conditioning, making it hot in summer and cold in winter.
Mom watched, tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't believe I had lived in such a place for a year.
When the police opened the wardrobe, which had been cleared out. Yet, the familiar scent of decay couldn't escape a police officer's notice.
They quickly called for a team to investigate and soon discovered bloodstains hidden in the corners.
Mom couldn't believe that I was dead and kept insisting the police search elsewhere.
"Sir, my daughter isn't here. You should look somewhere else! You can't find her if you just stay here!"
The police found a Nokia phone in the pocket of my clothes, covered in dried blood.
They placed it in an evidence bag.
Mom shook her head as she looked at the Nokia. "That's impossible. What if it's just a nosebleed? My daughter gets nosebleeds easily in the winter."
The police continued their search, and soon they found my diary hidden under the desk.
It recorded everything I experienced after starting school.
The female officer flipped through a few pages but could not bear to read any longer.
Holding back tears, she placed the diary in the evidence bag.
Mom wanted to see it, but the police stopped her.
Her heart began to race, and I could feel her fear.
She cared about me after all. She just got so busy that she forgot to show it.
The police called for reinforcements, and over a dozen officers began to search the school thoroughly.
Still, they found no trace of me.
I was also curious. Where could they possibly be hiding me?
- Writer
