Minji returned to her people-watching, enjoying the happy vibe of the vacationers. Travelers were always so much more relaxed and open to positive experiences when far away from home and their troubles. The woman who had commented on Ava lingered nearby staring at a large advertisement for clothing most women would never be able to fit into. A man dressed in tennis whites joined her, his slick black hair glistening under the light spilling over the central courtyard from the large skylight overhead. After a quick kiss, the couple draped their arms around each other’s waist and lingered in front of the store’s entrance.
Smooching Bailey’s chubby knee, Minji eyed her husband. After seven years of marriage, they were still madly in love. She’d never believed in forever until Jake, and sometimes she worried that they would somehow drift apart. Throughout their vacation, Minji found herself contemplating other couples. Were they happy? Still madly in love? Did they still appreciate each other? Minji knew a lot of her fears were born out of her parents’ marriage. They’d divorced when she was young and reunited years later after both had married and divorced other partners. Though they now seemed happy, Minji wondered if the second time around would last. Jake’s parents were closing in on forty years of marriage and Minji wanted that for her and her husband.
“No frowning,” Jake said, playfully trying to wipe way the lines forming between her eyebrows.
Lightly slapping his hand away, she said, “Not frowning!”
“You’re forming the Grand Canyon right there,” he joked.
“That’s what Botox is for,” Minji retorted.
“What’s Botox?” Ava asked.
“Something that mommies who frown a lot end up getting,” Jake answered.
Minji rolled her eyes.
A diverse assortment of people strolled through the area. From every corner of the world, people had come to enjoy the artificial beauty and play in the dazzling lights. The energy was dynamic and energizing. Since arriving a few days before, Minji had been inspired to draw several new tattoo designs on her tablet.
A woman in a hijab and sporting a massive Coach purse walked past with a slew of kids in tow eating gelato from the downstairs café. Her weary-looking husband trudged in their wake, gripping huge bouquets of colorful shopping bags. Meanwhile, an elderly gay couple strode hand in hand admiring the scenery and talking in hushed voices. A cluster of pretty black girls surrounded a young woman wearing a wedding veil adorned with colorful condom packets and a pink plastic crown that read ‘Bachelorette.’ Minji hoped Ava didn’t notice the twinkling pink penis necklace around the bride-to-be’s throat.
The massive passage linking the two resorts snaked alongside the fake Grand Canal before splitting around the atrium that sported the beautiful waterfall tumbling off the second floor into the garden area below. The corridor then continued on to even more shops and restaurants. After days wandering around with their family, Minji was certain she had the layout memorized.
“Okay, the tigers are at The Mirage. So that’s our first stop,” Jake decided. “Then we can head to the Hard Rock. I want a t-shirt from there.”
Minji looped the end of the leash a few times around her wrist before taking Ava’s hand. “Perfect. Let’s get this show on the road.”
“It’s really crowded right now, so everyone stay close. I’m looking at you, Ava.”
Ava gave her father a plaintive look while tugging on her leash. “I can’t run away!”
“Good! I’d like my little girl to not go splat in the road.”
Minji winced at the memory of her daughter dodging into the road to greet Jake when he’d returned from an evening run. Luckily their neighbor had seen her in time and jerked her car onto someone else’s lawn, avoiding Ava completely. The mere idea of losing any of her family was enough to make Minji sick to her stomach.
Shoving negative thoughts away, Minji kept in her husband’s wake as he threaded through the crowd toward the escalators that descended from either side of the waterfall. The atrium loomed ahead filled with bright sunlight that reflected off the creamy walls and pillars.
The first sign that something was wrong came when her brain was assailed with what felt like millions of cold needles burrowing into the gray matter. With a whimper, Minji pressed her fingertips to her temples in a futile attempt to stave off the pain. Then the sensation intensified.
Screams echoed through the vast resort in a horrifying chorus. All around her, people flailed about, or gripped their heads in their hands. Jake grunted and stumbled as Bailey let out a shrill cry. Woozy, Minji reached for her screaming baby just as another stab of unbearable agony tore through her brain, blinding her. Rapidly blinking her eyes, she desperately attempted to restore her sight.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Ava wailed. “Mommy, my head hurts! I can’t see!”
Howls of agony reverberated through the mall corridors. Minji tugged on the leash, dragging Ava into her arms. Unable to see, she clutched her daughter close. Paralyzing fear churned in her gut. The pain diminished, but the blindness remained.
“Jake!”
“I’m right here.” A familiar, warm hand floundered against her back then found her shoulder. “I’m right here, hon. I got you.”
Again there was a flash of icy discomfort, then the world returned to sharp focus. To Minji’s horror, blood streamed down the faces of some of the shoppers close to her. Bubbles of the rich liquid formed in their eyes, noses, and ran from their lips. Swaying slightly, the bleeders stared blankly past the faces of their frightened companions. Minji swiftly checked Ava, Bailey and Jake. None of them were bleeding. Lifting Ava onto her hip, Minji pressed against Jake’s side.
“Jake, are you okay?”
“My head is killing me,” he answered. “Check the baby.”
“She’s not bleeding, just crying. What the hell is happening?”
“I don’t know. Keep Ava close!” Jake wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her toward the far wall.