Chapter 1 Vanished
The summer break after my sophomore year.
Miaomiao had pestered our parents for ages until they finally let her come back to school with me.
“Big Brother! Big Brother! How long until we get there?”
From the moment we boarded, Miaomiao chattered like a little magpie. My head was already pounding.
It was her first long trip. Everything excited her.
“You’ll sleep twice, and then we’ll be there. I’ll wake you.”
Miaomiao was only five. She had no real sense of time.
“Big Brother, these seats are so big! I can lie down!”
She wasn’t even listening. Her little eyes darted everywhere, like she’d walked into an amusement park.
I stowed our luggage and sent Mom and Dad a text that we were on board.
Seeing how excited she was eased some of my worry.
I’d originally planned to buy high-speed rail tickets, but Miaomiao had ridden a regular train before and thought it was more fun.
Twenty hours, though. I wasn’t sure she could sit still that long.
The train started moving slowly. Miaomiao finally quieted down, staring out the window without blinking.
“Big Brother, I need to poop!”
I’d just replied to Mom and Dad. Miaomiao’s little face suddenly scrunched up.
“Shame on you. Didn’t you just go at the station?”
I sighed helplessly and took her hand, leading her to the bathroom in the middle of the Carriage.
“I’ll wait right outside.”
“Okay!”
Her muffled voice came through the door. I could picture her little face all serious and had to smile.
I leaned against the wall, bored, scrolling on my phone and reading a short story.
Halfway through, someone bumped my shoulder.
A dark-faced middle-aged man brushed past in the narrow aisle, heading for the bathroom.
Just as he reached for the door, I stopped him.
“Hey, wait! My sister’s still in there!”
“Someone in there?”
He yanked the door open anyway, looking annoyed, clearly questioning me.
I started to explain, but my eyes swept inside.
Empty.
Clang!
He slammed the door shut.
I froze for a second. Cold sweat soaked my back.
Miaomiao?
Where was Miaomiao??
I’d watched her walk in with my own eyes.
How could the bathroom be empty??