The moonlight streamed faintly through the closed curtains, painting pale streaks across the floor. Harper lay on her bed, her knees drawn to her chest, flicking mindlessly through a book she wasn't reading. Then—a soft knock.
Her head snapped toward the door. Her heart thudded. She scrambled off the bed barefoot, her hair slightly tousled, and pulled the door open.
"Mum!"
Rose stood there, her posture strangely gentle. Not stiff. Not cold. Just… unusual.
"Hello sweetheart."
Harper blinked, uncertain. Her voice was cautious. "Do you want something?"
"Not really! Can I come in?"
Harper hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Sure." She opened the door wider.
Rose entered slowly, glancing around the tidy little room like a visitor. She lowered herself onto the edge of Harper's bed, hands folded in her lap, and offered a warm, unfamiliar smile.
"Why do you look so nervous, Harper?"
Harper scratched her head and laughed awkwardly. "Huh? Oh, I'm not! It's just surprising seeing you ask for my permission to come in here."
"I'm trying to be polite."
"That's cool!" Harper shrugged and leaned against the doorframe.
Rose's eyes softened. "I'm sorry for everything, Harper."
Harper's body stiffened slightly. Her fingers curled around the door handle.
"Sorry?"
"Yes sweetheart! I raised you up but I have never been a mother to you. I feel so remorseful about everything I have done to you in the past, including forcing you and your sister to give blood to Philip."
Harper looked away, biting her lower lip. "It's fine! I know you were just trying to save Philip… but I'm not gonna lie, he is not worth it. He is such a bully."
"You!" Rose chuckled softly, the first trace of amusement Harper had seen in weeks. "I understand! You know he is just a boy."
Harper's face twisted in frustration. "Because he is a boy doesn't mean he shouldn't have manners. He behaves as if he is above anybody else."
Rose sighed deeply, rubbing her palms together. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I'm deeply sorry about everything. I promise to make it up to you."
Harper's voice was small but forgiving. "It's fine, mum."
"I brought you this fruit. I know you like eating fruits."
Rose reached into a small bag and offered a plate of freshly sliced apples. They glistened under the light.
"Thank you, mum."
"I will take my leave now!"
"Alright."
As Rose stepped toward the door, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder.
"Do not sleep late so you won't be late for school tomorrow."
"I won't."
Her eyes lingered. "Also," she said more cryptically, "always keep what is important to you with you at all times. Who knows where you might be tomorrow."
"Sorry?"
Rose simply smiled—warm but unreadable—and pulled the door shut behind her with a soft click.
Harper stared at the closed door, frozen. Her face twisted in confusion, then slowly hardened into suspicion.
"What is she talking about? Is she trying to steal what is important to me? Oh my!" Her voice grew panicked.
She dashed to the closet, flung the doors open, and began throwing clothes aside until she found a small box tucked in the corner. Inside, nestled in cloth, was a delicate necklace.
She clasped it around her neck quickly, hands trembling.
"I know right! She will definitely try to steal this necklace and give it to Philip when he gets back. He already beat me up several times to collect this from me, and it's the only thing my mum left behind. My sister gave it to me before she ran away."
Her face crumbled. She sank onto the bed.
"No! She didn't run away. She was missing. Why would she leave me and run away? It's not possible!"
Tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them away quickly and reached for the apple slices.
"Where could Sincere be? She was probably tired of being treated badly and left the house… I'm gonna find her anyway I can!"
She bit into one of the slices. Her brow furrowed immediately.
"Huh! This apple tastes weird! Oh no! It's sour!"
She licked her hand and swayed slightly. Her eyes rolled shut. She collapsed onto the bed, the plate clattering beside her.
The door creaked open again. Rose stepped in, careful not to make a sound. She peered over her shoulder, then whispered:
"She's asleep. Come inside!"
Robert crept in behind her. He stepped to the bed, gently lifted Harper's limp hand and let it fall. No response.
"She is fast asleep."
"Yes! Carry her outside!"
Robert hoisted Harper over his shoulder like a ragdoll. Rose kept glancing around nervously as they made their way downstairs.
Outside, the night was cold and silent. The car engine purred as Robert opened the back and laid Harper inside.
"Be careful, Robert! Avoid the police."
"Sure! I will be back soon!"
The tires crunched against gravel as the car disappeared into the darkness.
Fog blanketed the docks. The ship loomed in silence under the dim lights of the harbor.
Robert's car rolled inside the loading area. He stepped out, adjusting his coat. Ross waited by the ramp, looking impatient.
"You are late!"
"I'm very sorry, Ross! You know I have to be watchful."
"She is your daughter. Who are you watching?"
"I still need to be careful to avoid a disaster."
"Take her out!"
Robert opened the back door, and two guards helped him lift Harper's limp body.
They carried her down a steel hallway and dropped her into a dark, windowless room. The door shut with a hollow clang.
"Thank you so much, Ross. I will be leaving now."
"Alright! Looking forward to our next business."
"We have no business together again. I have no more child to give out!"
Ross laughed coldly. "We might meet again, Robert! You should go now."
"Yes!"
He turned and left quickly. The ship rumbled beneath their feet, then a loud horn blasted into the night.
"Let's move!" Ross shouted.
The vessel pulled away from the dock. Onboard, Harper lay still in the shadows—unaware that her life had just changed forever.
Robert stepped into the house, the guilt of his actions clinging to him like sweat. Rose met him in the hallway.
"How was it?"
"I have dropped her there."
"Oh!" Rose sighed with relief, pressing a hand to her chest. "That's good to hear. You have worked hard, Robert."
He collapsed into the chair, staring at the floor.
"I'm so worried, Rose."
"Worried? Why are you worried?"
"I won't see my girl anymore. She is gone forever."
"Why do you need to see her? She's not needed here. Only Philip is important to us, and we are going to save him."
"I'm scared that this will backfire on us."
"It will not! What power does Harper hold? Ross will definitely take care of her."
"Are you sure? We know Ross is doing an illegal business. What if he killed her or something?"
"He will not do that. He just needs her to work for the money. She's just gonna be working over there."
"True."
"If you're so worried about this, when Philip's surgery is over, we can move to another city and leave here. No one will ask of Harper if we move to a new city and start a business in there."
"We can do that?"
"Of course we can! We are paying $150k for total treatment. We still have enough to get an apartment and start something up—can open up a factory or something."
"We don't have enough for that."
"We take out your insurance then."
"Rose! You said we can't take it out. That's why we sold Harper away."
"But we need it now, don't we? We can take it out and start a new business, send Philip to a nice school, and get him a car. When everything is done, we can give the business to him later on."
"That's right!"
"Yes, just follow my advice and let's do this! Few months, we can move out."
"I will make plans on it."
"How about the money?"
"I will deposit the money at the hospital tomorrow, then take the rest to the bank."
"No! Please, why would you take it to the bank? We move everywhere with cash only! The only money that should go into your account is your insurance. We don't want police tracking where money came from later on."
"You mean they will catch on?"
"They will! Having that much enter your account at once is questionable, don't you think?"
"I have always had more than that before."
"But not anymore! That was then! When your business was thriving, but now you're barely earning $5k per week. Just leave it! Anytime we need money, we do cash."
"Cool then! That's a brilliant idea."
"Yes, hubby."