On Serena’s wrist, there was a fresh imprint of the girl’s teeth marks. She blew on it like Ma used to, to help the pain. As she ran down the streets, she stopped every minute to rub her joints and discern where to search next. She had a distinct memory the girl making a sharp left, but at which junction?

The plan was picture-perfect in her head: bring Alicia to the front desk, let her panic, then bring her back to the car. Lesson learnt. Never in a million years would she think to account for biting.

But as long as she found Alicia, she could salvage the lesson. If a child touched a boiling pot, their finger would burn. The burn will fade in a few months’ time, but the fear will not. Fear was the best teacher.

It seemed unlikely that Alicia ran this far out, so she returned to the car park to start over. Maybe the girl remembered her advice for getting lost: g back to the spot before we separated and stay put.

She didn’t. Serena doubted her memory. Did Alicia turn left? She pointed in the direction she remembered to double-check; yes, it was a left. Did Alicia turn at all? She swore she remembered the girl disappearing behind a wall. Did Alicia turn earlier or later than she remembered? She had no way to tell.

The junkies by the vending machine cracked the cheat code and scored themselves a round of drinks: Kick the bottom left corner where the logo was on the poster. They had product on them. Ants crawled all over her. Saliva welled up. Adrenaline oozed everywhere.

Her chest felt it the most; that feeling beyond words only addicts understood. Hunger, except it didn’t hurt. Itching, except it didn’t tickle. Butterflies in her stomach, except it wasn’t exciting.

The world became unbearable to live in: air was exhausting to breathe, clothes were humid and restrictive, bones and muscles begged to retire from her body. There was only one way back to comfort and into paradise.

No, no! She promised Wei Xiang on this. If this indescribable feeling ever cropped up, call him. This was a code red. He promised to drop everything, and move heaven and earth to protect her and Alicia from herself.

But if she called him now, he would never let it go: Why did you bring Alicia here? What were you thinking? Why didn’t you try the first five google results on ‘How to talk to your daughter and remind her that her missing father is a terrible person and the consequences of smoking at such a young age?’. Go talk to someone. Ask for help. Everything you are doing is wrong. .

She gritted teeth, and ignored the ants, the butterflies, the adrenaline. A droplet of sweat rolled across her back.

She called Alicia. No answer. Then she remembered it was in her handbag because she had confiscated it. Idiot. Horror stories flooded her mind, telling tales of unspeakable dangers that fell on the girl if she didn’t find her. Taken advantage of. Sold to another country. Forced into a gang. Forced into taking product. Beaten into a bloody pulp.

It was enough to cause a heart attack. But if she had one, she’ll never find Alicia. So she slapped herself out of it and approached the front desk for help.

The man pointed left.

“Have you seen a—” He went back to sleep.

She went left as instructed, and found the main lobby? This was new. For a moment, it fooled her into thinking this was a quality hotel, worthy of at least three stars. The velvet red couches by the waiting area looked comfortable to sit on, as did the wooden chairs by the cafe. A line of gold ran under the counter, attended to by no one. Dinging the bell summoned no one either. She gave the wait thirty seconds maximum, before she broke in to knock on the door of the backroom.

Said door had blue light peeking through the bottom gap, indicating staff inside. Thirty seconds was up; she hooked one leg on the counter.

The door opened. “How may I help you, ma’am?” A Malay lady exited. Serena unhooked her leg, almost tripping.

“My daughter is missing. Could you please help me find her?” She put her hands together and bowed her head low. “She’s only sixteen, and I’m really worried she might’ve got herself into trouble.”

“What are you doing with your daughter at a place like this in the first place? Are you aware that this area is dangerous, especially at night?” She read the lady’s nametag: Dania.

“Please.” She bowed again. “I’m really sorry for troubling you.”

Dania went back into the room, briefed her coworkers on the pitiable situation, and came out with them. The same beige hijab made them look like clones from afar. She could only see differences in their clothes if she hunted for them.

They obliged, thank god. Everyone split up into pairs and searched the area. Everyone asked the vendors and passer-bys still in the area for the missing girl, and received nothing of help.

Dania paired herself up with Serena and asked her for information instead. “What were you doing here with your daughter, if I may ask?”

“It’s a private family affair.” She rushed through her words, Avoiding Dania’s gaze was easy thanks to her shorter height.

“Here? What family affair do you have in this area?”

“It’s private.”

“How did you lose her?”

“I think that store is open.”

She pointed to a thrift store ahead with its lights on. It sold girly dresses and skirts that Alicia would rather die than wear. The vendor didn’t see anything.

“How did Alicia get lost?” Dania rephrased, as if she didn’t understand her the first time.

Serena thought for a moment. Better to obscure the truth, she concluded, lest she hear all the colourful comments Dania had about her parenting.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Those who aren’t parents loved giving parenting advice.

“We were passing through a crowd, and at some point I just lost sight of her.”

“Where did you pass through this crowd? And did anyone in the crowd stand out to you?” Dania’s eyes weighed heavy in concern. Doubt accented the corners.

Serena knew Dania presumed she hid this doubt well, thus the pressing questions.

“No, it was just a crowd of people. I don’t think they were dangerous.”

“You could never be sure. Do you remember anyone in particular? Any features that stood out to you like dyed hair, or…”

“It’s not the crowd, okay? Alicia just lost sight of me and took off on her own. That’s how she got lost.”

“Do you know where she could’ve gone?”

“No.”

A car drove past them. My god, what if Alicia was in a car accident? A grotesque image of the girl in a pool of blood disturbed her. She took a deep, shaky breath, and replaced that thought with… with… to no avail.

“Is there any place here that Alicia recognises?”

“No, she’s never been here before.”

“Hold on, you said you were here for a family affair.”

“Yeah.”

“I—”

“I’ve already said it’s private. I would appreciate it if you stop asking about it, thank you.”

“Sorry ma’am, I’m just looking for more information that could help us find Alicia.”

“I’ve already told you everything of use.”

Dania stopped with the questions at last. Though the doubt and concern never left her eyes.

After a few more minutes of searching, everyone regrouped. Dania suggested expanding the search area, but Serena objected. Alicia couldn’t have gone out that far. But what she saw by the traffic light proved her wrong.

There she was. Hugged against the wall, beating her own head and wailing. Why did she do that? It was always summer in Singapore, but Alicia shivered as if it was winter. Tears burst out as Serena ran to the girl with open arms, but the girl shrieked in retaliation and crawled away from her. Sweat, tears and mucus drenched her nose and mouth, which she wiped away with her shirt.

“Alicia! Why did you run away? I was going to bring you back home!”

“Liar!” The sore throat corrupted her sweet voice. “You were going to leave me here to die! I hate you!”

Serena froze. She found herself back at home with her back turned to Pa. Dania and her clones sprung to action like EMTs, examining the girl for signs of injury, physical and mental. Physical, the sprained foot. Mental, the animalistic fear.

“Does it hurt?” Dania asked, pressing and turning it gently. Alicia winced.

This was her job. But she couldn’t bring herself to move, let alone intervene. The girl limped on one leg whilst leaning on Dania for support, who was at the perfect height for that purpose.

“Let’s…” Serena forced herself to move. “Let’s go home.”

“No!” she continued shrieking. “Help me. She’s going to let me die!” She tugged at Dania.

“Come on! You still have school tomorrow, and you still haven’t eaten dinner yet. You must be starving.”

Doubt filled the rest of Dania’s eye. Concern weighed heavier. She gave Alicia to a coworker and took a stand. The air grew still.

“I beg your pardon? she hasn’t eaten dinner? It’s almost midnight.” Dania accused. A coworker recorded this on their phone.

“Thank you for your help. I’ll bring her to dinner now.” Serena stepped forward. They stepped back. What is this?

“I still have a few things I’d like to ask you before I do that.”

“Please. It’s late. I’m sure your manager would be upset if you stay out here for too long. I appreciate all your help, but we must really get going now.”

“What is the family affair you had to do with Alicia here tonight?”

“As I’ve said, it is private, and none of your business.” She clenched her fists. “Give Alicia back to me.”

“I’m sorry ma’am. I believe this is my business when it concerns Alicia’s safety.”

Safety? Who did this midget think she was? She resisted the urge to rebut and calculated her moves. They believed Alicia over her, because none of them understood Alicia’s strange theatrics. It appeared as if Alicia was held at gunpoint until one realised she reacted the same way towards a fish market. Dania also had an impression that Serena had skeletons in her closet, considering how she dodged her questions earlier.

Serena chose her next words with this in mind. “Alicia was getting into trouble at school. I came here to teach her a lesson and scare her straight.”

“Do you think that is an effective way to discipline your daughter?”

“Do you have a daughter?” Serena scoffed.

“No.”

The volcano erupted. “I beg your pardon? You are not a parent? Yet you are offering me parenting advice? Where did you gain experience working with teenagers, if any?”

“Well, before working at the motel, I tutored students around Alicia’s age.” Dania folded her arms and carried that smug look people did after making a comeback.

Serena pulled her phone out too and threatened to call the police for kidnapping.

“I’m just looking for reassurance that returning Alicia to you will not put her in more danger. Once you’ve given me that, me and my team will leave you be.”

She wanted to kill this midget so badly. “How about the fact that I am her mother? Is that reassurance enough?”

Dania turned to Alicia. “Alicia, why did your mother bring you here?”

“She doesn’t know what’s she’s—” Dania cut her off with a hand up, like a teacher shushing a rowdy student.

“She was going to throw me here with the junkies and let them kill me! And—and she was going to check me into a room and make me stay overnight all alone!” Alicia grabbed onto Dania harder.

Everyone stared at Serena.

“What did you plan to do after leaving Alicia at the motel?” Dania pushed further, so arrogant to think she gained the upper hand. “Were you planning to make contact with a dealer?”

“No!” Her face went white. “I’m not that person anymore! I have a daughter!”

“Anymore?” Alicia uttered.

“No! No! No! I meant—” Serena tensed herself tight. “Give Alicia back now, or I am calling the police for kidnapping! And I will call your manager to get you all fired!” She dialled 9-9-9 on the phone and hovered her thumb over the green button. “Three…”

In one swift move, she put the midget and her clones in their place.

“Two…”

“If I ever see you or your daughter here again, I will not hesitate to call child protective services.” Dania said, ushering Alicia to the front.

The girl protested, trying to run back, but Serena grabbed her in time, and shooed the midgets away. Dania had arrogance that could rival Alicia’s. Good riddance.

Alicia shrieked again and went in for another bite. Serena yanked her head up with her hair and gave her dagger eyes. “Bite me again and I’ll break your phone when we get home!”

Her cheeks burnt stronger. She ignored it.

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Alicia whined all the way back to the car.

“I was going to turn around back to the car after I rang the bell! You really think I’ll let you die here? Huh!” Serena shouted, leaving an echo of pin-drop silence. “Who do you think I am?”

“And you really think that Malay lady was going to protect you? You seriously trust her over your own mother? What’s wrong with you?”

In that pin-drop silence, she drove home. It was only after the echo faded did she compose herself. The right thing to say now was something warm. Kind. Motherly… But she couldn’t think of anything.

“What do you want for dinner?” She asked. Her face ran a high fever all night.