Chapter 3

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the skin on my lips crackled and burst.

I unconsciously licked the blood flowing from my lips.

So thirsty, so hot, and my body hurt so much.

In my fading consciousness, I suddenly heard Dad calling my name.

"Connor! Dad's begging you to hold on! Dad's begging you to call for help and not give up on yourself!"

"Stay alive!"

I jerked my eyes open, gasping for air.

Dad was right. I shouldn't give up on myself.

I worked so hard studying for three years, wasn't it all for tomorrow's SAT?

Getting into NYU was my dream, and Dad's too!

I found strength from somewhere and crawled back up to pound on the door.

"Mom, I... I'm begging you to let me out first, okay?"

"If, if you let me out, I'll take you to find Dad."

I tried hard to suppress my trembling voice and soften my tone as much as possible.

After hearing this, Mom seemed quite satisfied with my response. Her expression softened considerably.

She waved to the bodyguard.

"Open the do—"

But before she could finish, Ethan Shaw grabbed her arm and interrupted.

"Vanessa, it's so late. Don't make things hard for the kid."

"He has his test tomorrow. Going back and forth would take several hours. Let him get a good night's sleep first."

Reminded by him, Mom suddenly realized and immediately stopped the bodyguard.

"Connor, your Uncle Ethan is right. The temperature control in there is perfect for sleeping anyway."

"Get a good night's sleep first. Tomorrow morning I'll have the bodyguard wake you up, then we'll find your dad and send you to take the test."

After arranging everything, Mom left with Ethan Shaw.

No matter how much I cried and begged for help, no one answered.

But I kept pounding on the door. Only one thought filled my mind.

Stay alive.

I don't know how long passed before there was finally sound outside.

"Quiet!"

It was the bodyguard Mom left for me.

Annoyed by the noise, he barked at me.

Then I heard the sound of someone unlocking the door!

My heart leaped with joy.

But the hope that just ignited was completely extinguished the next moment!

The bodyguard wrapped duct tape tightly around my mouth and restrained my hands.

He impatiently closed the door again.

"Just sleep when she tells you to sleep. Ms. Turner is your real mother—she's not going to hurt you! You're so damn noisy!"

I whimpered, unable to make any sound.

The dark, scorching space was filled with despair.

The blood blisters on my body burst one after another, especially crisp in this deathly silent night.

Just then, my phone rang.

I fumbled with my bound hands, struggling with all my might to grab my phone and answer the call.

It was Dad's good friend, Lucas Smith.

The moment I learned what happened to Dad, I called him for help.

"Connor, I've already had your dad cremated. I'll give you the ashes."

"Connor, where are you now? Hello? Connor, are you listening?"

He got more and more anxious.

I gasped heavily, struggling to speak.

"I... Mom locked me... in the sauna room."

"I think... I... I can't hold on much longer..."

Lucas cried out, cursing Mom non-stop.

He kept calling my name, telling me to stay conscious.

I tried hard to nod, but my ears were ringing and I couldn't hear anything anymore.

In my fading consciousness, I seemed to see Dad coming to take me away.