longer shrieking or talking. She’s no longer…there.
My widened eyes meet Reina’s. I start to run back, to go see Mom, but my sister shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. “Mom said to never look back.”
“But—”
Reina stifles my words as footsteps approach us.
“I saw her. She’s here.” The gruff voice makes goosebumps rise on my arms.
“Get her. Boss won’t accept any mistakes.”
Reina’s clutch on my arm turns steel-like. She leans in, her face like Mom’s when she’s about to say something bad.
I shake my head frantically before she even speaks. “No.”
“Shh.” She places a trembling finger on my lips, shushing me and glancing behind her as the thundering footsteps get closer. “You’ll be okay, Rai.”
I continue shaking my head, unable to stop. My fingers strangle the bracelet Mom gave me for my birthday. It’s a bit big and I have to roll it twice, but it’s Mom’s most precious gift. She said she got it from her own mother, and now, she was giving it to me.
“They’re after Mom’s daughter,” Reina says. “I don’t think they know about me. They only know about you.”
“No.”
“I lived well with Daddy, Rai.” Tears glisten down her cheeks. “We didn’t have to run like you and Mom. We didn’t have to eat leftovers or sleep on the streets. I want you to have that. I want you to have my life.”
“Reina…” I choke.
“You’re Reina now. I’ll be Rai.”
“No…no…” I hold on to her hand, shaking and whispering my denials like a prayer.
She caresses my hair. “I love you, little sis. I’ll find you.”
“No, Rei.”
“You’re Rei,” she whispers. “It’s our secret. I’ll live as you and you’ll live as me.” Her bottom lip trembles. “Take care of Daddy. Tell him you love him every day on my behalf.” I open my mouth to say something, but she pushes me. “Now, run. Don’t look back. Never look back.”
Footsteps approach as I hold on to her hand.
“Run!” she hisses.
My feet kick into gear as I stumble in the opposite direction.
“I’m here!” Reina’s voice echoes behind me, but I follow her instructions and don’t look back.
Never look back.
“Boss! The girl is here!” yells a thickly accented voice.
I round the corner and run until my legs nearly give out, until my breathing stutters. Snot and tears cover my face, but I don’t stop running. I run and run until I think I’ll collapse and they’ll catch me.
Don’t look back.
Never look back.
I don’t know how long I run. I don’t know how far my legs carry me. Then, I stumble and fall.
Someone in a uniform approaches me. I shrink into the pole, breathing harshly and hugging my knees to my chest.
The tears won’t stop. Mom and Reina’s voices won’t leave my head.
They just won’t.
Murmurs. Screams. Hisses.
They’re all there, in my head.
“Are you okay, kid?” The uniformed man crouches in front of me. He has a red beard and tattoos down his arms.
He looks like the pigs who’ve chased Mom and me all our lives.
I shrink further into the pole, clutching my bracelet tight.
“Kid? Have you lost your way home?”
He doesn’t have an accent like those guys, but he could be one of them.
Don’t trust anyone. The world is out to get you, Rai, Mom used to tell me.
“Wait.” He reaches into his pocket and retrieves a picture then studies it and me intently. “You’re that mogul’s missing daughter.” He retrieves a device from his pocket and says a number then something about finding the missing child. “What’s your name?” he asks me. “Do you remember your name and where you came from?”
Rai Sokolov. Daughter of Mia Sokolov. I’ve been on the run since the day I was born, homeschooled my entire life, and had no friends until Mom brought my long-lost twin sister to meet me a month ago.
Then, they were both taken away.
My mom and my sister.
The only one I have left is my dad. If I want to be with him, I have to forget my life and embrace another one.
A tear falls down my cheek as I whisper, “Reina. My name is Reina Ellis.”
Reina has returned to the forest.
What the fuck is she doing here?
My shoulders are about to fucking snap with tension as I trail through the tall trees, pushing away the low branches.
Does she have a death wish? Those who attacked her that day could be lurking here, waiting for her return.
It was fucking ugly, and that says something considering I hated her at the time.
Hated her? Past tense?
I still fucking do.
My plan is