Meilin wiggled her newly freed fingers. She was excited that the cast on her arm was finally gone. Meilin's final injury had healed. The scars and branding would stay with her forever. Now, she could start to go back to her regular life.
"Can I keep the cast?" Meilin asked. "My friends drew all over it."
"Sure," the doctor said. "We were going to throw it away. I want to have a check-up next month. Stretch out your arm to gain motion in it. I still want you to take it easy for a while."
"Okay," Meilin said. "Thank you."
She took the cast and left. Her father was waiting for her in the lobby.
As they approached Tyler's house, Meilin got more anxious. His house was the last place she was before her kidnapping. Meilin was walking home when they took her. Jin took his daughter's hand, sensing she became more anxious.
Jin parked in front of Tyler's house. "Call home when you're ready to get picked up," Jin explained. There is no way I'm walking home for a while. "Ming and I aren't working today."
"I will," Meilin promised. "Thank you for the ride. I love you."
"I love you too," Jin said. Meilin climbed out of the car. Meilin didn't know what Tyler's parents did for a living, but she knew it made a bunch of money. They lived in one of the only mansions in Toronto.
Meilin knocked on the front door. Mrs. Nguyen-Baker opened the door, greeting the girl with a gentle smile. "Oh, Mei," she greeted. "How are you, dear? The others are in the backyard."
"Thank you," Meilin said. She walked inside the house, making her way to the backyard.
"Mei's here," Miriam yelled. Meilin's friends sat around the pool. Meilin knew that no one had gotten in since they were all dry. Meilin walked closer to them. "You got your cast off."
"I did," Mei said.
"We're all about to get in," Miriam said. "Can you get in?"
"I can," Mei said. She had her swimsuit on under her clothes. She was wearing a one-piece so they wouldn't see her scars.
"Who's jumping in first?" Priya asked.
"I will," Meilin volunteered. She stripped off her shirt and shorts. Without another word, she jumped into the pool.
Oh no. Mei recognized this place from anywhere. It was her holding cell. "Mei," Abby called. What is she doing? Mei turned around, spotting her friend. "It's okay. You're going to get out of here."
"You shouldn't be here," Meilin said. Abby's face paled. "Abs?"
Abby began to cough a bright red substance. She fell over dead. "Abby," Meilin shrieked.
"She's dead," a voice said. "She followed you. Her life would be safer if you were never born, you little freak. They all would be safer."
Meilin woke up in a sweat.