6
At first, the police officers didn’t dare to easily trust me.
After I presented detailed evidence, they immediately led a team to the scene.
The orphanage where I lived for ten years was located next to an abandoned factory in the suburbs.
Trains carrying coal or wood passed by there every day.
The first train was at 6:10 AM, then at 10:30 AM, and the latest at 8:30 PM.
The difference between each time was no more than ten minutes.
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After the police verified, it matched perfectly with the time points I provided.
I was even more familiar with that abandoned factory.
Every day we were allowed to play outside, the first place my friends and I would go was there.
The factory was surrounded by concrete walls, but there were two large holes through the walls on the south and north sides.
Every time a train passed by, that high and low, ghost–like howling wind seemed like it could pull one’s soul right out of their body.
My friends and I would scream and run excitedly towards the wind.
It was almost the only joy of my childhood.
So I was absolutely certain that the kidnappers were there.
“Mia, you just wait at home. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely bring your parents back.”
I trusted the police’s abilities, but I had to see my parents the moment they were found.
Otherwise, even at home, I would be on pins and needles, every minute and second would be torture.
“Officers, please take me with you. I only recently reunited with my parents, I really don’t want to be separated from them again.”
As if moved by my words, they finally arranged for me to ride in a police car, following at the very end.
The dark suburban area looked like a post–apocalyptic scene.
To avoid alerting the kidnappers, everyone got out of the cars far from the factory.
The advance team of officers snuck in under the cover of darkness.
Then a series of fighting sounds erupted, and one suspect was completely subdued and brought out.
I broke free from the officer’s control, ignoring their attempts to stop me, and ran towards the scene.
I had to be the first to see my parents, to confirm they were safe.
Everything was formless in the darkness.
Suddenly, a series of car headlights lit up behind me, illuminating my path.
My gaze darted around anxiously, my heart almost in my throat.
“Dad! Mom!”
Finally, in a corner of the factory, I saw my parents in tattered clothes.
I ran over and hugged them, tears bursting forth like a broken dam, blurring my vision.
But I could still see the equally emotional expressions on my parents‘ faces.
“Dad, Mom, I finally found you.”
In this life, I finally saved you with my own strength.
The fear of a close call and the joy of reunion made my whole body tremble.
Just as I was about to remove the gags from my parents‘ mouths, I saw my dad’s eyes widen, staring behind me.
I turned around and saw the other suspect emerging from the darkness with a large pair of pliers, his eyes glinting with cunning.
“You dared to call the police? Then die together!”
As the pliers came down, I didn’t feel any pain.
But my vision was filled with crimson.
“Dad!”
