Chapter 3: Riot

Getting home, Julia locked the door behind her. Sitting on her couch, not minding the wet clothes, she sat quietly, deeply into her thoughts as she felt the house being more empty than usual.

Meanwhile, Chi Lu dragged Ji Ah back home harshly, not caring that the girl was just three years old, ignoring the girl's tears.

Getting home, she threw the girl inside. Not giving the girl a chance to get up, she slapped her harshly. How many times did I ask you not to come to the store to meet me? What's wrong with you? Do you want to ruin my persona? Don't you know that my acting kind is what gave us a place to stay? All because of you, that bitchy woman has something against me.

I'm sorry, Mama, cried Ji Ah, with many tears falling down her face. I didn't know. I'm sorry, Mama. I won't do it again, said Ji Ah, afraid of getting slapped again, using her tiny hand to hold where she's just been hit.

You better, you stupid little bitch; if you ever do something like this again, I won't spare you, said Chi Lu as she used her middle finger to shake Ji Ah's head.

Keep this in that little brain of yours; after saying that, Chi Lu left the girl alone on the floor and went into the room to rest while taking the loaves of bread along with her.

It was midnight, the whole neighborhood being silent with none to little movement except from some men.

The hushed voice sounded in the street until a gun was shot.

Startling everyone in the neighborhood except Chi Lu awake

Knowing they'd started again, the neighbors hurriedly packed themselves and hid in a corner, as this wasn't the first time; it's just that they'd never used firearms before.

They knew tonight was a serious and dark night for the neighborhood.

Suddenly a loud bang was heard, as if something was destroyed; the sound was deafening, but Chi Lu didn't get up because she thought it would all go away; only Ji Ah stood up to check what was going on.

She got up from the cold floor to check what was going on; she saw the whole neighborhood in a frenzied state, with everyone running helter-skelter, houses burning, and some men firing guns, but no one came to call her and her mother.

She stood up, rushed towards the door, and hesitated a minute as she wasn't allowed to enter her mother's room before rushing in and going to wake her mother up.

She called out, Mama, Mama, get up.

Hearing the girl call out her name, Chi Lu got up groggily but suddenly got angry as she saw the girl in her room.

She slapped her fist before asking, Who allowed you into this room? Who told you to come inside this room? Answer me: how many times have I told you not to come into my room?

Not knowing how to answer, the girl was shocked about getting hit again; tears fell hurriedly before she stuttered out f-iiii-re, not being able to form a sentence.

Hearing fire, Chi Lu rushed out of bed and pulled the girl harshly towards herself. Where did you see the fire? Asked Chi Lu, as she was scared of anything fire.

Window, b--ig bui-- buildings, fire, Ji Ah stuttered, trying to stop her tears.

Chi Lu, leaving Ji Ah alone with Force, almost making her fall again, hurriedly went to check on the window to see what was going on.

She saw the same thing Ji Ah saw; the only difference was that the left side of the building was also burning, although they were situated on the right side. It won't be long before the fire spreads to where they were.

Chi Lu rushed to her room to pick up some things; she went and picked up a box and some clothes.

Ji Ah knew what was in the box; the box was filled with pictures of herself and her father when she was just born. Her mother usually looked at it with so much love that she began to wonder what was wrong with her; as she was right here, why couldn't her mother show her the love she showed the picture? She found her mother weird; if only she knew.

Chi Lu packed some money, clothes, and a few other things in the box; she didn't pack anything that belonged to Ji Ah. Chi Lu rushed out of the room before going out the front door with Ji Ah trailing behind her.

But before Ji Ah could get out, Chi Lu pushed her back inside and locked the door on her, then turned around and walked away with only one thought in mind.

It would be better if she died here, as that would destroy the living evidence.