In front of the entire family, Aurora paid the money to the assistant and turned to look them hopeful, but all of them were staring at her with a dazed look.
"Mom? Dad? Sisters? Brothers? Emily?" Aurora called out to them.
But all of them seemed to have frozen.
Aurora waved her hand in front of them. "Hello? Anybody home?"
No one moved. Their eyes were wide, their faces frozen like statues.
Aurora's heart started pounding. "Hey! Stop messing around!" She shook Emily's shoulder, but Emily didn't react.
The mist swirled around her again, and the voice sighed.
"You see, Aurora, this is what happens when you try to break the rules. The system doesn't allow it. If people start questioning you too much, it will… freeze them."
Aurora stepped back, her breath shaky. "What do you mean, freeze them?"