I Was the Bait for My Brother

The next day, Raymond was gone.

By the time Mom noticed, his small bed was empty, and the blanket was folded unevenly. It was the first time he had ever made his own bed.

"Ray?"

Mom called out as she headed toward the bathroom. She searched under the bed, inside the wardrobe, and out on the balcony, but she found no trace of him.

Her voice began to tremble. "Did he go to the grocery store to look for Emilia?"

I moved faster than my parents. The instant the thought formed, I drifted to the front of the grocery store. Sure enough, Raymond was there.

The neighborhood was nearly empty in the early morning, except for a few elderly people out exercising. Raymond stood at the store entrance. His small hands were tightly clenched around the hem of his shirt.

Mr. Harris was unloading supplies. When he spotted Raymond, he froze for a moment. "Raymond? What are you—"

Raymond's voice was quiet but resolute. "Mr. Harris, please, let my sister go."

He pulled a handful of change from his pocket. There were single dollars and several coins. He carefully arranged them in a row on the ground. "This is everything I've saved. I'm giving it all to you. I won't ever steal anything again."

Then, he dropped to his knees and begged him. "I really won't steal anymore. Please let Emilia come home."

He kept pleading until his voice turned hoarse.

Mr. Harris was flustered and tried to pull him up. "Kid, get up now."

However, Raymond refused to stand. He continued begging.

People nearby began to gather. A woman buying groceries, an old man walking his dog, and students on their way to school all stared at them.

"What's going on here?"

"Isn't that Franklin?"

"Why is this child kneeling here and begging?"

The chatter rose like a tide. Mr. Harris' face flushed, then drained of color. He pulled out his phone and dialed frantically. "Hello? Callie?"

He turned his back and lowered his voice. "Your son is kneeling here in front of me. Yes, he's begging me… There are people everywhere… I can't keep up this act anymore!"

After hanging up, Mr. Harris hauled Raymond to his feet. "Your mom's on her way. We'll go get Emilia, okay?"

Raymond's eyes lit up instantly. He scrambled up, not even bothering to brush the dirt off his knees. "Really? Can Emilia actually come home?"

"Yes, really," Mr. Harris replied.

I drifted to Raymond's side, wanting to dust him off. However, my fingers passed straight through his knee, and I could do nothing. Still, I saw the radiance in his eyes. That determination of wanting to save his sister made him look like a little hero.

My parents arrived shortly after.

Mom tried to take Raymond's hand, but he pulled away. "I want to go get Emilia."

His tone held a persistence Mom had never heard before. She was stunned.

Dad crouched down and looked Raymond in the eye. "Ray, I promise you, we're going to get Emilia right now."

"You promise?" Raymond asked.

"I promise," Dad answered.

On the way to the warehouse, Raymond was restless. He pressed his face against the car window, staring outside without blinking. "Are we almost there? How much further? Will Emilia be mad?"

Mom held his hand and said softly, "No, Emilia won't be angry."

Her voice was gentle, yet I noticed that her hand was shaking. Dad remained silent the entire way, driving very fast.

I hovered on the roof of the car, watching the familiar city streak past beneath me. The sunlight was bright, spreading across the streets and over pedestrians who were alive and able to feel its warmth. As for me, I was only a shadow.

They reached the warehouse. Mr. Harris' hands trembled slightly as he unlocked the door. He rambled, "Emilia is inside. I even brought her bread and water yesterday…"

Raymond rushed inside without hesitation. "Emilia!"