My Mute Bride

Jolly almost cried. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back so soon. I should have been looking after him overseas.”

Rachel said, “Calm down. Samuel was last seen in the hotel, right? Did you check the surveillance camera?”

Jolly froze, and Rachel knew she hadn’t looked through it yet. “Calm down. I’ll call his teacher.” She then called Samuel’s teacher.

The whole conversation was done in a language Jolly barely understood. After Rachel asked the hotel’s staff to check the surveillance, they told her what they saw a moment later. “The staff said Samuel left on his own. They’ll send the video to us in a moment.” After she hung up, Rachel calmed her friend down. “I’ll go to Astoria tonight.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.You wait here and call the cops once twenty-four hours have elapsed.” After that, Rachel left with nothing but her handbag and keys.

Just when she was about to get into her car, she heard the sound of someone towing a suitcase, and a young child stood behind the car with his luggage behind him. “Mommy!”

Rachel froze, and she stopped opening the door. When she turned around, she saw a boy in a blue navy T-shirt and suspenders. He wore a cap, and tufts of brown, curly hair sprouted underneath it. His eyes were beautifully dark, like olives.

“Samuel!” Rachel ran to him and gave him a hug. “Where have you been? Jolly and I were worried sick!”

Samuel was coughing from how hard he was hugged. “I can’t breathe, Mommy.”

Rachel let him go after that, but she quickly asked, “How did you even find this place? Who gave you the address?”

Samuel blinked. “Hernandez!”

Rachel frowned at the mere mention of that name. “Him again! Forget about it. Let’s go back up.

Jolly’s worried sick.”

him upstairs. When Jolly saw the boy, she thought she

his teacher into holding a summer camp in Astoria and ran off on his own. I ran into him right after I

that, she

hid behind his mother.

son, so she squatted and looked him in the eye.

Samuel went to Jolly just like

upset. “Don’t give me that. You don’t care about me no matter

a look, and Samuel quickly tugged on Jolly’s

person.”

anyone, but Jolly turned away, refusing to

makes you old. You’re a pretty lady, so you should

that. I’m a sad, old witch. Your mother’s

grow up, not her. You can’t grow old just

back any longer, and she chuckled along with Jolly. Then, Jolly flicked

“Who else?” Rachel shrugged.

flirt. And now he’s starting

you, Jolly?” Samuel grinned toothily. “I brought a gift

his nose. “You

inside a black car that was in the neighborhood’s corner. The one in the backseat

but before he could even get out of the car, they saw Samuel calling out to Rachel.

expression was dark. “Look

“All right.”

calls to Justin the next day,

out to her from within the bedroom. “I can’t pick