Chapter 2

"Mom! Don't leave Lily here alone!"

"Dad, please! Tell Mom I didn't mean to, please..."

But neither of them looked back at me.

The dog crate was pitch black, with only a tiny air vent.

Bella curled up quietly in the corner. She didn't understand why I was so sad, but she crept over and licked the tears off my face.

I cried and cried, praying they would soften their hearts and let me out.

Back then, I didn't know what claustrophobia was. I just knew I was terrified of dark, enclosed spaces.

I kept banging on the metal door, panic completely overwhelming me.

Mom seemed to grow tired of the noise. She marched over and kicked the crate hard, making the metal bars rattle violently.

"It's just for one night! What are you crying for? Shut up, you're ruining the mood!"

"Cry again and I'll lock you in here for three days! And no dinner for you!"

I didn't dare make another sound. I was terrified of starving.

Ever since my baby brother was born, I hadn't had a full meal in a very long time.

Mom said I needed to be skinny so "they" would like me and send gifts.

I asked her who "they" were.

Mom said they were the viewers on our TikTok live.

Oh! So when Mom made me strip naked, crawl on the floor, and eat like a dog, she was doing it for a livestream.

Mom also said the livestreams made money. Once we had enough, we could buy a big house for my brother and a princess dress for me.

So, I thought livestreaming was a good thing. It was just very cold in the winter. Fortunately, Bella was there to keep me company. Her body was always so warm.

My body trembled. I clenched my teeth, trying my best to fight the fear. I wrapped my arms tightly around Bella, seeking a little comfort.

But my breathing was slowly getting harder. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my throat, and my head grew dizzier.

Don't fall asleep! I told myself.

I just had to hold on until dinner. When Mom brought me food, I would beg her again. Maybe she would soften her heart and let me out.

I counted the seconds in my head.

Finally, I felt like it was dinner time.

The room outside the crate had gone completely dark, and not a single speck of light came through the vent.

I stared at the door, full of hope.

Suddenly, I heard Mom and Dad talking outside.

"Honey, let's have dinner at my mom's place tonight. She said she misses Leo."

"Well... shouldn't we feed Lily first? She's still so young. A little punishment is enough."

Yay! I quickly scrambled to the front of the crate, waiting.

But in the next second, Mom's voice turned screeching and sharp:

"You're actually defending that little brat?! Can't you see she tried to hurt your son?!"

"Skipping one meal won't kill her! If you don't come with me, I'm taking Leo and moving back to my parents' house for good!"

Dad sighed in defeat. He walked over, knelt down in front of the dog crate, and said:

"Lily, you're a good girl. Just bear with it for today, okay?"

"Dad will buy you pizza tomorrow. From your favorite place."

I swallowed hard, almost smelling the delicious scent of pizza.

But Dad, Lily is already so hungry right now. I don't think I can make it until tomorrow.

Didn't you say that as long as Lily stopped crying, I could have dinner?

Why do grownups break their promises?

I decided to be mad at them.

Before I could say anything, Mom impatiently dragged Dad out of the house.

I crawled back to the corner and hugged Bella again. My eyelids felt heavier and heavier, my stomach kept rumbling, and the suffocating feeling grew stronger.

I felt like I had a very long dream.

In my dream, my baby brother hadn't been born yet, and Mom and Dad still treated me like their one and only treasure.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized I was out of the dog crate!

I wanted to pinch myself to see if I was still dreaming, but my little hand passed right through my arm.

I froze.

Suddenly hearing Bella’s anxious whimpers, I rushed to the air vent and looked inside.

A tiny, frail body was curled up inside. Even though she was five years old, she looked no bigger than a toddler, her bones sticking out sharply under her skin.

Wait, is that me?

Am I having an out-of-body experience, just like in the movies?

Suddenly, there was a noise at the door.

Mom and Dad were back!