Chapter 4

Late that night, I took out the mirror again.

Mom’s face, streaked with blood and dirt, appeared before me.

I could barely make out her features.

“Little one, I failed… they still tracked me down by my footprints…”

“I was too naive and too desperate, I didn't think of that.”

She mocked herself, weakly.

My heart ached, and I murmured, “It’s okay, sister. We still have a chance.”

She caught her breath, then asked with a flicker of hope, “Tell me.”

I immediately recounted everything I’d heard that day. At the end, I emphasized, “Sister, don’t trust anyone.”

Mom nodded gravely. “Okay, I won’t trust anyone.”

After our talk, I watched my sleeping mom beside me.

I still couldn’t relax.

My wish used to be to stay with Mom forever.

Now, I wished Mom could just disappear. How wonderful that would be.

Ten days later, it was the day of my parents’ wedding, fifteen years ago.

Late that night, I secretly crept out of the rundown shack.

The image in the mirror swayed. Mom, dressed in red, ran without stopping.

Then she paused.

After a long time, she whispered, “The man is gone.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Then hurry and follow the main road! You’ll definitely get out.”

“Okay!”

She nodded with determination.

The night deepened, and my head grew heavier.

The fatigue from working all day swept over me like a tide.

“You’re that liar!”

Suddenly, Mom’s terrified scream jolted me awake.

Followed by the sound of her frantic footsteps.

“Sister! What happened?!” I cried out.

“I… I met a car on the main road. The person inside was the one who kidnapped me and brought me here!”

As her words ended, she let out a piercing scream.

The next instant, the mirror reflected my own pale face.

“Sister! Sister!” I called out anxiously.

The mirror remained unresponsive.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground.

“Who are you talking to?”

Mom’s cold voice reached my ears.

I stiffly turned my head, my pupils instantly constricting.

Mom’s leg was crippled…

“Mom… your leg…”

My words seemed to hit a nerve. The next second, she raised her crutch and slammed it down on me.

“Don’t you dare remind me! Yes, my leg is crippled! Your wonderful father did this to me!”

I hadn’t saved Mom. Instead, I’d caused her to lose a leg.

Tears streamed down my face. I crawled on the ground, frantically punching my own leg.

“I’m sorry! I wish it was my leg that was crippled! I’m useless! Why, why can’t I just get you out of here?!”

My actions seemed to douse Mom’s fury.

She dragged her heavy leg towards me, slowly crouching down.

“Stop hitting yourself. You won’t cripple it that way. You don’t need to act.”

I looked up, my face smeared with snot and tears, meeting Mom’s eyes.

“Mom, I’m not acting. I *will* save you! Please believe me!”

Her eyes widened, their dull, listless gaze seeming to clear.

After a very long time, she wiped away my tears with her hand and sighed.

“You little monster, when you grow up, when you have the ability to leave these treacherous mountains, then come and take me out.”

No, Mom, I’ll take you out soon! I murmured to myself.

For the next few days, I spent my days exploring the village vicinity, memorizing the terrain.

At night, I’d convey the details to my past mom through the mirror.

What panicked both of us was that our chances to speak through the mirror grew fewer and fewer.