My hand clasps Reina’s as we sprint through the back door. The streets are dark and smell of puke, so much puke.
Reina covers her nose with the sleeve of her thin sweater and motions at me to do the same.
It only reduces the smell a little.
It’s atrocious, the scent. I wish I could say I got used to it after sleeping in dirty places, but I didn’t. This pungent sensory assault never gets normal.
“She’s not here!” Mom yells. I want to turn around, but Reina shakes her head.
There’s screaming, shouting, and then something hits the floor behind us, but we don’t turn around.
We run.
We just run.
Mom screams, her voice echoing in the air like a bomb.
“Here, Boss!” someone shouts closer to us.
“Darn it!” Reina pulls me behind a container by the sleeve.
“Don’t touch her!” Mom shrieks, but she’s gurgling on something like her mouth is full of water. “Don’t you dare or Papa will—”
A pop silences Mom. She’s no longer shrieking or talking. She’s no longer…there.
My widened eyes meet Reina’s. I start to run back, to go see Mom, but my sister shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. “Mom said to never look back.”
“But—”
Reina stifles my words as footsteps approach us.
“I saw her. She’s here.” The gruff voice makes goosebumps rise on my arms.
“Get her. Boss won’t accept any mistakes.”
Reina’s clutch on my arm turns steel-like. She leans in, her face like Mom’s when she’s about to say something bad.
I shake my head frantically before she even speaks. “No.”
“Shh.” She places a trembling finger on my lips, shushing me and glancing behind her as the thundering footsteps get closer. “You’ll be okay, Rai.”
I continue shaking my head, unable to stop. My fingers strangle the bracelet Mom gave me for my birthday. It’s a bit big and I have to roll it twice, but it’s Mom’s most precious gift. She said she got it from her own mother, and now, she was giving it to me.
“They’re after Mom’s daughter,” Reina says. “I don’t think they know about me. They only know about you.”
“No.”
“I lived well with Daddy, Rai.” Tears glisten down her cheeks. “We didn’t have to run like you and Mom. We didn’t have to eat leftovers or sleep on the streets. I want you to have that. I want you to have my life.”
“Reina…” I choke.
“You’re Reina now. I’ll be Rai.”
“No…no…” I hold on to her hand, shaking and whispering my denials like a prayer.
She caresses my hair. “I love you, little sis. I’ll find you.”
“No, Rei.”