Chapter 2Ten Sticks of Cotton Candy

People screamed and ran toward the mall exits.

But I sat on the bench, not daring to run. I just sped up shoving cotton candy into my mouth.

The cotton candy was so sweet. So sweet it tasted bitter.

Hurry up and eat. Faster. Once I finish, Dad will come get me.

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms lifted me from the bench.

It was the cotton candy vendor lady.

She carried me outside and set me down, gasping heavily for air.

"Stay right here! I'm going to find a police officer to help you find your mom and dad, okay? Whatever you do, don't run off!"

Just then, I saw my sister and rushed over to grab her hand.

"Emma! Where are Mom and Dad?"

My sister shook my hand off forcefully and said hatefully:

"Mom and Dad think you're still inside. They went in to rescue you."

My mind went blank with a buzzing sound. I immediately turned and rushed toward the fire.

I had to find Mom and Dad and bring them out.

The cotton candy lady couldn't catch me in time and shouted anxiously from behind.

"Come back! Child! What are you doing! Come back—!"

I didn't look back. I just waved behind me as I ran.

"Thank you, ma'am!"

I ran back through the heat waves to where I'd been eating cotton candy.

The bench was already blackened by smoke, flames crackling all around it.

"Dad! Mom!" I shouted hoarsely, but there wasn't a single person around.

The cotton candy in my arms had already melted, the sticky syrup smeared all over me.

If Mom saw this, she'd definitely be angry.

I ran desperately, searching for Mom and Dad.

Couldn't find them.

Couldn't find them anywhere.

I tripped and fell, with no strength left to get back up.

The fire and thick smoke quickly surrounded me.

I curled up on the scorching ground, using my last bit of consciousness to pray.

"Mom, Dad, please make it out..."

The pain and suffocating feeling quickly disappeared.

I seemed to float up.

How strange—just by thinking about Mom and Dad, I floated right to their side.

On the chaotic roadside outside the mall, Mom was carefully wrapping a blanket around my sister.

"Don't be scared anymore, Emma. It's okay now." Mom cooed softly to my sister.

Dad held a cup of hot milk tea to my sister's lips.

"Emma, you must have been so frightened. Drink something sweet to calm down."

That's wonderful—Mom and Dad were safe!

Dad turned to the firefighters rushing past, gesturing urgently.

"Excuse me, have you seen a little girl, about this tall, with two pigtails, wearing a white coat..."

Dad was looking for me!

I quickly ran over and hugged Dad's leg.

But I passed right through his body.

"Dad! Lily's right here!"

I shouted loudly, tried several times, but kept missing completely.

Just then, my sister tugged on Dad's sleeve.

"Dad... I think I just saw Lily." Dad jolted, and Mom immediately turned to look at her.

"Really? Where? How is she?" Dad's voice surged with excitement as he gripped my sister's shoulders.

My sister jumped, shrank back, and said quietly, "She left with some lady."

"A lady? What kind of lady? Which way did they go?" Dad asked anxiously.

A flash of guilt crossed my sister's eyes, but Mom and Dad didn't notice.

"I think it was the cotton candy vendor lady..."

"I wanted to scare her a little, so I told her you guys thought she was still inside and went in to rescue her."

"But she completely ignored me. She didn't even ask how you two were. She just left with that lady."

The urgency on Dad's face vanished instantly. His face turned ashen as he let go.

He said coldly, "She really is heartless."