Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Her daughter, Rainy, was waiting for her return.

  “Please, let me go. Let me go! I want to go home!” She kept crying as she struggled while the man behind her continued to use her body like a beast without an inch of mercy.

  “Go home? You can go home once I’m done.” He sneered and rammed himself hard against the woman in front of him. The usual calm and dullness were long gone from his eyes. It seemed that only this woman was capable of bringing out his true self and his ruthlessness.

  He couldn’t let her off. How could he?

  He had thought of her for four whole years. So, he must be sure to have her and everything about her until he grows tired of her. Then, he would not think of her or remember her face.

  “Rainy……” Xia Ruoxin reached out with her hand. Blurred with tears, she could see her daughter cowered, calling for her mother. She bit her lip. As it bled, her heart broke……

  “Mommy.” Rainy scooted down the bed. With Dolly in one hand, she ran to the door and stood there for a long time. However, no one came through. She pursed her lips, ran to the window, and looked out. It was dark outside. Mommy said she would be back soon. Why was she not back yet? Rainy was famished.

  She rubbed her small stomach. It was flat. Mummy would also be hungry when she comes back.

  She ran to the bed, placed Dolly carefully on it, and covered it meticulously with the blanket.

  Then, she marched her way into the kitchen. After searching for a long time, she finally found two packets of instant noodles.

  She brought a small stool, stepped on it, retrieved two bowls from the cabinet which was out of her reach, and put them aside. After some thinking, she used her teeth to open the packets of instant noodles and then put them carefully into each bowl. However, she blinked her eyes and bit on her lip. No water. She went to fetch a kettle which was sitting on the floor. It never moved an inch.

  She squatted until her legs went numb, but the kettle remained at the same spot. She bit her lip again as tears shimmered in her big, round eyes. She took a bowl and put it on the floor. Then, carefully, she poured. The water was scalding hot. Steam came out and almost blinded her eyes. Once she was satisfied with the amount of water, she lifted and put it back. Finally, she blew air into her little hands.

  At last, a smile lit up on her face. One down, another one to go.

  When the noodles were ready, she brought a bowl onto the table on her own. However, while she walked, tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes. Once she reached the table, she tiptoed to place the bowl on it. After wiping the tears off her face, she held her scalded hand with the other hand.

  “Mommy, I’m in pain. It hurts.”


  She wiped her tears continuously and took another look at the kitchen. She bit her red lips and made her way into the kitchen again. Then, she brought the other bowl in. With two bowls on the table, she had no idea she had to add the flavoring in or to cover them properly. She thought they were ready, and she walked to the bed to carry her doll.